LLM Admissions Process
Our Master of Laws (LLM) degree program is a one-year program of study primarily designed for international lawyers and students who hold a degree in law from their home countries and wish to enhance their study of law in the US.
Criteria for Selection
LLM admissions decisions are based on several factors, including academic credentials and professional experience, letters of recommendation, applicants’ English proficiency, and a candidate’s ability to enhance the academic and geographic diversity of the class.
Deadlines
Wake Forest Law employs a “rolling admissions” process, meaning applications are reviewed on a continuous basis throughout the LLM admissions season. Candidates should submit their application and supporting materials as soon as possible.
How to Apply
You can apply through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) (registration required) or through the Wake Forest Law application system. Your application should include:
The application fee is $75. For applications submitted through Wake Forest Law’s online application portal, payment must be made via check, money order or wire transfer. Checks or money orders must be in US currency only and made payable to “Wake Forest University School of Law.” Applicants may also request an application waiver fee.
Applicants must submit official transcripts from each institution of higher learning (university or college) previously attended. Transcripts should be in both the native language of the institution and in English. Transcripts should also include an explanation of the university’s grading system.
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English language proficiency. The following tests are an accepted way to provide proof.
- TOEFL: Applicants must earn a minimum paper-based score of 600 or an internet-based score of 100 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The institution code for the TOEFL is C261.
- IELTS: A score of 7.0 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also accepted
- English Language Proficiency: The TOEFL or IELTS requirement may be waived at the discretion of the LLM admissions committee if the applicant has earned (or will earn), prior to law school matriculation, a baccalaureate-level or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education where English is the primary language of instruction and where the corresponding degree of study was undertaken primarily in one of the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Commonwealth of Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Commonwealth of Dominica
- Grenada
- Co-operative Republic of Guyana
- Republic of Ireland
- Jamaica
- Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Republic of Malta
- New Zealand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The Office of Admissions & Financial Aid may, at its sole discretion, require a TOEFL or IELTS score of any applicant, regardless of education or other attributes.
Applicants must submit a resume or curriculum vitae outlining all relevant academic and professional achievements.
Your personal statement should be 1 to 2 pages in length and explain your reasons for pursuing an LLM degree as well as your future plans and goals. In addition, applicants should describe what course of study they are interested in pursuing and how Wake Forest Law can assist them in achieving these goals.
Applicants are required to submit a minimum of 2 letters of recommendation. Ideally, these letters should come from former law professors or employers and should address the applicant’s ability to pursue graduate legal study. Recommendation letters must be in English or accompanied by an English translation. Letters of Recommendation may be emailed to lawadmissions@wfu.edu if they are sent from the email account of the person writing the letter, or the letters must be mailed directly to the school in a sealed envelope and signed across the seal.
Deadlines
Fall 2025: August Start
Application Available
September 1, 2024
Application Deadline
June 1, 2025
Deposits
All deposits are non-refundable.
Visa Eligibility
Under US immigration regulations, Wake Forest University can only issue a I-20 or a DS-2019 “Certificate of Eligibility” for students who have:
- Been accepted to our LLM program
- Paid all the required deposits
- Provided evidence of sufficient funds to cover all tuition and living expenses while enrolled in the LLM program
Frequently Asked Questions
Each year, the LLM application opens on September 1, and closes on June 1.
Applicants may apply through the online Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Document Assembly Service. If using this method of application, all supporting documentation should be sent to LSAC.
Applicants may also use our Online Application System to complete the application and then send supporting documents to lawadmissions@wfu.edu.
The LLM is a one-year, full-time program starting in the fall semester only. We do not admit candidates in the spring semester or on a part-time basis.
The School of Law employs a “rolling admissions” process, which means we review each application once fully completed. It generally takes between 2 to 3 weeks after your application file is complete for the Admissions Committee to make its decision.
If you are granted admission, your acceptance letter will include the due date and instructions for paying the deposit necessary to hold your seat in the class.
Yes. Under US immigration regulations, Wake Forest University can issue a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) for a student visa only after you have paid the required tuition deposits and have provided evidence of sufficient funds to cover your full course of study and living expenses while enrolled in the LLM program.
After receiving the Certificate of Eligibility, you must schedule an appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate in your country in order to apply for the student visa. You should make an appointment well in advance of the date you intend to travel to the US as some embassies and consulates can take several weeks (or even months) to process visa requests.
Wake Forest University does not offer on-campus housing for graduate students, but there are many off-campus housing options near the Law School. The University also rents off-campus, furnished housing to international students. These furnished houses are very popular with LLM students as they are generally within walking distance of the Law School.
Our Academics page has information on degree requirements, including our core curriculum and writing requirements. A full list of courses offered by the law school can be found in our course catalog.
Yes! Students may specialize in one of a number of relevant and trending legal fields. Students may also create their own specialized course of study when their legal interest aligns with courses offered during their year of study.
No! Check out our Graduate Programs site to learn more about the programs for studying law at Wake Forest, each with its own benefits and challenges.
The LLM class consists of approximately 10 to 20 students each year. The program, like our Law School, is small and selective by design. LLM students take classes with JD students. We emphasize close personal attention, one-on-one interaction with the professors, daily opportunity to interact with JD students, and geographic diversity within the class.
LLM students at Wake Forest Law are eligible to take advantage of the services offered by the Office of Career and Professional Development. LLM students have the opportunity to attend workshops on resume writing, cover letters, internships, mock interviews, networking, and more.
Wake Forest Law is a member of the New York University (NYU) International Student Interview Program. Held at NYU in January of each year, the NYU ISIP brings together international students studying in US law schools with some of the largest international and US firms and companies that are looking for international lawyers with US legal training.
As an LLM, there are a limited number of states in which you may sit for a bar examination, most notably New York and California, though more states are making their exams available to LLM students every year.
Many states with a Uniform Bar Examination allow licensed attorneys from other states to transfer in without a work requirement (depending on your state, you would need to verify this in advance). Academic counseling will be available for those who wish to pursue bar admittance.
With over 20 years of LLM programming, our alumni are located in more than 50 different countries. We can put you in touch with a former student from your region of the world so that you may hear about their experience at Wake Forest Law.
Contact Us
Worrell Professional Center, Suite 1204
1965 Wake Forest Road | Winston-Salem, NC 27109
