Graduate Legal Studies, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 211 South Indiana Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Website: www.law.indiana.edu/degrees/graduate
Introduction
As a graduate student, you have many options, and it can be hard to distinguish one school from another. At Indiana University Maurer School of Law, we believe that our program is very different from others you may be considering. Here's why.
First, Maurer Law is the leader in the United States in the study of the global legal profession, and we are using this research to help students become lawyers who both know the law and are prepared to practice in a competitive, global environment. This means that you'll be exposed to contemporary issues in US and transnational law.
Second, our distinguished professors have expertise in disciplines that are crucial to the success of a global lawyer: intellectual property, global cybersecurity, business and commercial law, and human rights, to name a few.
Third, our program offers not only incomparable global legal expertise but also faculty members, staff, and student-peer advisors who will work closely with you to make sure your course of study is best suited to your needs and goals—from the day you apply until well after graduation.
Fourth, the Maurer School of Law is located in a beautiful, safe, and friendly community with all the amenities of a larger city—culture, international cuisine, and a diverse student body. Our students tell us that the community here—both within the law school and outside of it—makes a big difference in their success.
Does a law school that emphasizes both education and community-building sound intriguing? If so, read on for more information about graduate legal studies at the Maurer School of Law.
Law School Enrollment
The Maurer Law student body is diverse in many ways. JD and graduate students take most of their classes together, which enhances learning both in and outside of the classroom.
- Total law school enrollment: 833
- JD students: 692
- Graduate students (LLM, MCL, SJD, and PhD programs): 141
- Representing 32 states and 26 foreign countries
Physical Facilities
Campus
When you arrive at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, you find yourself in a truly beautiful place. Located in picturesque Bloomington, Indiana, the IU campus is one of the most scenic in the nation. The campus has many natural areas, including the grassy expanse of Dunn Meadow and a wooded area near the law school. Historic buildings made from Indiana limestone also cover the campus and contribute to its overall loveliness.
The town of Bloomington offers a low cost of living and is a safe and culturally diverse cosmopolitan community, with a renowned music school, sports teams and facilities, and dozens of ethnic restaurants that are just steps away from the Law School.
Law Library
The Law Library at the Maurer School of Law is among the finest academic law libraries in the country. With nearly 725,000 volumes, it is one of the 15 largest in the country. In addition to its outstanding collection, the Law Library is a showpiece in the Law School. With its five-story atrium and gracious oak and marble details, the Law Library is not only functional but also a beautiful and inviting place for you to study. The Law Library staff are ready to assist you, whether you need to learn how to use electronic resources like Westlaw or help conducting research on international law.
Technology
For technology infrastructure and support, our campus was named among the "most wired" public universities in 2006. Computers and many popular software packages are available to students for purchase at greatly discounted prices. Maurer Law also has a technology team available to help students with technology issues.
Indiana University is also on the leading edge of where technology and policy interconnect. Distinguished Professor of Law Fred H. Cate directs the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research, which was established by Indiana University in 2003 to provide the nation with leadership in applied cybersecurity technology, education, and policy guidance. The center has been awarded several grants in support of research, including a 2011 award from the National Institute of Health to fund a project on protecting privacy in health research.
Housing
Diverse housing options include on-campus apartments or off-campus houses, apartments, and efficiencies, all within walking distance or on convenient bus routes. Bloomington provides a wide variety of affordable housing options and an overall low cost of living, and as a result the cost of a graduate legal education at Maurer Law is considerably less than comparable programs at private universities or public universities in large, metropolitan areas.
Graduate students who come to Bloomington with family will find opportunities for their families, too. Monroe County, Indiana, has first-class public schools with special programs for children of international students, including ESL. Other community centers also provide English conversation practice and language training for spouses of international students.
LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization
The Maurer School of Law offers two master's degrees—the Master of Laws (LLM) and the Master of Comparative Law (MCL)—as well as the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree. Additional programs include a PhD in Law and Social Science, a PhD in Law and Democracy, the IU/Oxford Joint LLM Program in Information Law and Policy, an LLM Thesis, and a Certificate in Legal Studies.
NOTE: Only applications to our LLM, MCL, and SJD programs can be submitted via LSAC.
Most of our graduate programs are designed to meet the needs of foreign-trained lawyers, although the LLM Thesis program and PhD programs admit a limited number of domestic students each fall. For more information about the Certificate, Thesis, and PhD programs and the application process at Maurer Law, please see our LLM, MCL, SJD, PhD website.
Master of Laws (LLM)
The LLM program is a flexible program that allows you to concentrate on areas of law most important to you while ensuring that you receive a solid grounding in American law through select courses for international students that provide a foundation for understanding the US legal system and the role of lawyers in US society. You may pursue a broad range of topics or concentrate your study in a particular area of law.
Students in the LLM program spend two semesters at the Law School, pursuing coursework relevant to their areas of interest. The LLM requires two semesters in residence and the completion of 24 credit hours. Students take approximately 12 credits each semester. Required courses, including Introduction to American Law and Legal Discourse and Writing, will provide you with the foundation necessary for success in an American law school. Aside from these required courses, you can customize your course of study. In this way, you play an active role in designing a customized program that meets your specific needs.
Areas of Focus
You may, but need not, choose a special area of focus, such as:
- Business and Commercial Law
- International and US Securities Regulation
- Constitutional and Public Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Environmental Law
- Family Law
- Globalization and the Legal Profession
- Information, Communications, and Privacy Law
- Intellectual Property
- International and Comparative Law
- Labor and Employment Law
- Property Law
- Tax Law
Each of these substantive areas is supported by courses that are topically focused and taught by faculty who are leaders in their fields. Some of our notable professors include
- Professor Alfred Aman Jr., one of the world's leading scholars on law and globalization and founder of the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies;
- Professor Paul Craig, the author of EU Administrative Law, the definitive text on the subject, and Professor of English Law at Oxford University, who also teaches at Maurer Law each fall semester;
- Professor Marshall Leaffer, a Distinguished Scholar in Intellectual Property Law and the author of the best-selling treatise, Understanding Copyright Law;
- Professor Jayanth Krishnan, scholar of comparative legal systems and director of the India Initiative, part of the Center on the Global Legal Profession;
- Professor Susan Williams, leading expert on first amendment law, comparative constitutional law, and feminist jurisprudence, and director of the Center for Constitutional Democracy; and
- Professor J. William Hicks, nationally recognized expert in securities law and author of the five-volume treatise, Exempted Transactions Under the Securities Act of 1933.
All of our professors take an active interest in the significant contributions that international graduate students make to the academic community at Maurer Law.
LLM Admission Criteria
Applicants who received their undergraduate education outside the United States are generally required to have a degree in law or a strong undergraduate concentration in legal coursework.
Applicants for whom English is not their first language must demonstrate fluency in English via a TOEFL score of 87 IBT, IELTS score of at least 7.0, TOEIC score of at least 850, or equivalent TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC scores in other formats. The Graduate Admissions Committee may interview applicants (via phone, Skype, or in person) before making a decision on admission.
Master of Comparative Law (MCL)
The Maurer School of Law offers an MCL degree for law graduates who were not specifically educated in a common law jurisdiction but wish to gain familiarity with American law and legal institutions. The MCL degree program requires two semesters in residence and the completion of 20 credit hours.
Applicants for whom English is not their first language must demonstrate fluency in English via a TOEFL score of 87 IBT, IELTS score of at least 7.0, TOEIC score of at least 850, or equivalent TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC scores in other formats. The Graduate Admissions Committee may interview applicants (via phone, Skype, or in person) before making a decision on admission.
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) program provides a small number of students the opportunity for extended study, research, and scholarly writing. The centerpiece of this program is a doctoral dissertation completed under the supervision of Maurer Law faculty. Graduates of this program have achieved distinction in their home countries as law professors or in public service. All SJD applicants must have outstanding academic records, evidencing excellent analytical ability and writing skills (in English). Applicants submit a research proposal, which will be the basis for their dissertation. The SJD dissertation is expected to be of publishable quality and make an original contribution to scholarship. Upon matriculation, SJD students must spend at least one year in residence at the Law School. The SJD degree is awarded upon the successful completion of at least 30 credit hours (includes up to 8 credit hours for relevant coursework approved by the dissertation advisor; all other credits are research credits), a proposal defense (which takes place in the first semester of matriculation), and a dissertation defense.
Our SJD program is for international law graduates who already hold an LLM degree and who have demonstrated exceptional analytical and research abilities. Applicants for whom English is not their first language must demonstrate fluency in English via a score of 100 IBT, 7.5 IELTS, or equivalent TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC scores in other formats. Prospective applicants who are unable to achieve the required level of English proficiency are encouraged to improve their English and to apply once they have met these minimum requirements. Applicants having completed a US LLM degree are not automatically exempted from the above English proficiency requirement.
Contact Information
For additional information about Indiana University Maurer School of Law's graduate programs, please visit the LLM, MCL, SJD, PhD website, or contact:
William Schaad
Director of International Admissions
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
211 South Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
USA
E-mail: lgradadm@indiana.edu
Student Services and Organizations
Maurer Law has more than 30 active student organizations in addition to university groups for nearly every nationality represented by international students on campus. Among the law school student organizations in which international graduate students have participated are the International Law Society, the Student Bar Association, the Asian and Pacific-Islander American Law Student Association, the Korean Law Student Association, the Environmental Law Society, the Business and Law Society, the Feminist Law Forum, and the Public Interest Law Foundation.
Students also participate in numerous law school-sponsored social events, such as a popular fall soccer tournament, bowling, a Halloween costume party and trick-or-treating for children of students, formal dances, a Lunar New Year celebration, and a graduation party. All new international graduate students are grouped with an International Peer Group Assistant (IPGA), who is a JD student interested in learning about other cultures and helping international students feel at home in Bloomington. Graduate students are introduced to other American students and a wealth of social and cultural opportunities through their IPGAs.
Career Services
At the Maurer School of Law, the Office of Career Planning and Development (OCPD) works in conjunction with the Graduate Legal Studies Office to conduct a regular series of workshops on career research strategies, résumé and cover letter writing, bar exams, interviewing skills, and other related topics. Staff members in both offices meet with students for résumé review, interview practice, and related aspects of career counseling. In addition, Maurer Law provides a variety of job-search resource materials.
Each year, Maurer Law participates in the New York University School of Law International Student Interview Program (ISIP). This program brings employers (ranging from multinational firms such as Baker & McKenzie to the United Nations and the World Bank) to New York City to conduct interviews with international graduate students.
Alumni Services
Across the globe, our more than 9,800 living JD, LLM, MCL, SJD, and PhD alumni provide leadership and services in their professions and communities. As a graduate of Maurer Law, you will be able to search our alumni directory; keep in touch with fellow graduates via the directory, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn; submit news about your career or accomplishments; and more.
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