4 minsResearch shows that when it comes to higher studies, millions of students prefer the American educational system. Computer Science, Engineering and business-related courses are quite popular among Indian students applying to American institutions. Law courses in America are also becoming increasingly popular. We bring you some important aspects that you should be aware of if you are an Indian student looking to study LLB in the USA. If you have questions about the courses available and the application requirements, just get in touch with our counsellors for support.
Let’s get to the list.
1. The admission procedure for international students applying for law courses in the USA
The admission procedures of American law schools are a bit different than the other degree courses.
- For bachelor’s degrees, you should have completed your higher secondary education which is equivalent to the U.S. high school. Some colleges like the Golden West College requires students to be at least 18 years old by the time they begin the course.
- Students should apply for CAS or the Credential Assembly Service. It is a service offered by the LSAC to simplify the applications for Law courses.
- Students should also clear the LSAT exam administered by the LSAC.
- For masters degree courses in Law, students should hold a bachelor’s degree, but not necessarily in Law courses. Most institutions demand that students have a degree that is equivalent to an American degree (American degree courses are of 4-years duration).
- Most of the institutions require that your application for masters course should be submitted through the LSAC or the Law School Admission Council. Some accept direct applications too.
- There might be differences in the educational transcript-related paperwork that you might have to submit. We’ll discuss that in the next point.
2. The documents to be submitted
An international student needs to submit a few important documents while applying for law courses in the USA. You must hold an F1 or J1 visa to study in the USA. Here are some other documents that most of the institutions ask for:
- LSAT score
- Online application form
- Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcript from your previous institution of study
- A resume
- English language test scores
Some of these documents like the LOR should be submitted both to the institution and LSAC, if applicable.
3. The choice of courses available
There are different types of programs for studying Law in America for Indian students. The J.D. or the Juris Doctor program is the professional degree for graduation in law. JD is also available as a Masters course.
The LL.M. or the Masters of Law degree is the postgraduation degree. This degree is for students who have already completed their graduation in law. Students must choose according to their requirements.
There are other associate degrees, certificates or diploma courses too. An example is the Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies offered by the Peralta Community College District. Miami University offers Bachelors degree courses like Bachelor of Arts in Social Justice Studies and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. You can even find Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Philosophy courses that specialise in Law. For example, check out the course offered by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Several institutions offer dual degrees too. If you are looking for JD courses in the USA, here are some options that you can check out:
- BA/JD in Religious Studies offered by Florida Institute of Technology
- The Bachelor of Arts in Business – Law, offered by Arizona State University, Kaplan International is an innovative programme that combines bold subjects like business and law.
- New Jersey Institute of Technology offers Accelerated B.A. in Law, Technology and Culture/JD.
- Bachelor of Science in Political Science/Juris Doctor, offered by Northeastern University is an interesting course.
- DePaul University offers several Juris Doctor degrees clubbed with other BA courses. You can fill in your details in this form and get access to the university prospectus for free.
- If you are looking for pathway courses, then the Pre-Law course offered by Maryville University is a good option.
4. The course duration and time of application
The duration is 3 years for a full-time Juris Doctor course and 4 years for a part-time course. Some of the dual degree programmes will be of a longer duration. For example, the Bachelor of Arts in Geography/Juris Doctor course offered by DePaul University is a 6-years course. The duration for several other courses can be variable.
Waiting for the application deadline may not be a good idea. It’s better to apply early because most of the law schools in America follow a rolling admission process. If the applicant completes the application process early, then the review of the application will also be done swiftly. This increases the chance of admission of the applicant.
Related: know about rolling admissions at universities abroad and EA and ED applications abroad.
5. The language requirements
Almost all the institutions ask for proof of English Language Proficiency, especially for students whose medium of instruction was not English in their previous place of study. Most institutions accept TOEFL or IELTS scores. Some accept Duolingo English Test and PTE too. Check the institution requirement before registering for the test.
Institutions will have a minimum score requirement. So make sure you aim for it as you prepare for the test. Here are the test score expectations in general:
- TOEFL, internet-based – An overall score of 80 with no subsection lower than 17
- IELTS – An overall IELTS score of 6.5
- Duolingo English Test – A minimum score of 110
- PTE Academic – A minimum score of 53
We’d like to reiterate the importance of checking your institution’s requirements before attempting the test.
6. The tuition fees and other fund factors
Some dual degree courses cost around 14 lakhs per year. BA courses in Law cost around 10 lakhs per year. Some interdisciplinary legal studies program costs around 22 lakhs per year, while some other Bachelor of Science degrees with Juris Doctor degree costs around 41 lakhs per year.
You might have understood by now that the tuition fee can vary based on the choice of your course and the institution.
Law courses in America can be expensive for Indian students. Federal loans are available only for U.S. citizens and permanent inhabitants. International students have to depend on private loans. You can also look for the availability of scholarships.
Suffolk University offers scholarships for the BA, BS in Law course offered by them. Check out program details to know more about the scholarships.
Related: look for scholarships for Law courses in the USA.
Need our help to look for the ideal U.S. law courses and submit your applications to your preferred university? Let's have a quick chat. Just fill in the form on this page and we’ll call you back.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in July 2015. Our content writer Roshna Mohan has edited it to include up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.
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