Office of Graduate Law Programs, 120 Tremont Street, Suite 150, Boston, MA 02108, USA
Phone: 617.305.6299 | Website: www.law.suffolk.edu/llm
Introduction
For more than 100 years, Suffolk University Law School has produced some of the nation's most distinguished legal professionals. In law firms throughout the world, the judiciary, and the public sector, Suffolk Law graduates are known for their knowledge, competence, ethics, and dedication. As one of the largest law schools in the United States, Suffolk Law has a network of over 24,000 alumni around the world.
Suffolk Law occupies a new and technologically sophisticated building in the heart of Boston, surrounded by key political, legal, and financial centers. It is easily accessible by public transport from all directions. Dedicated in 1999, classical beauty meets cutting-edge technology in our building. With over 3,000 high-speed Internet connections, Suffolk Law ranks as one of the most technologically advanced law schools in the nation. Every seat in the Law School, from the classrooms to the dining hall, is equipped with secure, high-speed connections to the Internet and to the Law School's internal network.
Recognized as one of the top US law schools in legal writing, dispute resolution, and clinical training, Suffolk Law's graduate law programs provide you the opportunity to build practical expertise in the fastest-growing, most in-demand fields of law today.
Law School Enrollment
- Full-time JD: 1,050
- Part-time JD: 500
- Full-time LLM: 15
- Part-time LLM: 10
- Full-time SJD: 8
Figures vary from year to year.
Physical Facilities
Sargent Hall
- 300,000 square feet total building area
- 18 high-tech "smart classrooms"
- 3,000 data ports in the building for instant Internet access
- 7 floors covered by secured wireless network
- Art gallery, bookstore, and cafeteria inside the Law School
- Student lounges on every floor
John Joseph Moakley Law Library
The Suffolk University Law Library occupies floors five, six, and seven of Sargent Hall, covering more than 96,000 square feet of space. Over 360,000 printed books and microfilm volumes are contained here, along with two library computer labs and one computer training room. There are also 22 study rooms and 440 study carrels—all wired for Internet access. In addition, wireless Internet access is available throughout the library along with state-of-the-art video facilities. The library is open seven days a week from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Housing
Suffolk University Law School does not provide on-campus housing for graduate students. However, we do have a dedicated Off-Campus Housing Office (OCHO), where a talented staff will assist you in locating affordable and convenient housing opportunities before you even step foot into Sargent Hall. As a Suffolk Law student, you have the chance to live in one of America's liveliest cities. You also have your choice among Boston's unique neighborhoods—offering attractive housing options. The OCHO at Suffolk University is your one-stop resource as you make yourself at home in Boston.
LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization
General Master of Laws (Boston, MA)
The general Master of Laws program is for students who have already completed a law degree and want to enhance their legal skills by focusing on a particular field or emerging area of the law.
Launched in 2012 to capitalize on the depth and breadth of Suffolk Law's curriculum, this LLM offers you maximum flexibility. You can create your own track in a field of your choosing, or select courses from Suffolk's recognized areas of expertise, including dispute resolution and civil litigation, business law and financial services, biomedical and health law, intellectual property, international law, or labor and employment law.
The Academic Program
- 24 credits required
- Begins in August or January semester
- Full time or part time
- Flexible day or evening options
Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits to earn the LLM degree.
LLM in Global Law and Technology (Boston, MA)
Breakthroughs in science, technology, and communication have resulted in legal challenges never before faced—challenges of global proportions for tomorrow's lawyers. Meet these challenges with Suffolk University Law School's Master of Laws (LLM) in Global Law and Technology. This innovative 24-credit degree program prepares you for the future practice of law.
Students may specialize in:
- Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law
- Biotechnology and Health Law
- International Law and Business
- US Law and Legal Methods
The Academic Program
- 24 credits required
- Begins in August or January semester
- Full time or part time
- Flexible day or evening options
Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits to earn the LLM degree. These credits are composed of required seminars, core courses, and electives. All students are recommended to take three core courses. Those who wish to earn a specialization certificate must take five courses listed within a specialization. Most of the core courses may also be counted toward the specialization requirement. Some core courses may count towards certain US states' bar examination requirements. In addition, students are permitted to take up to 12 credits from the JD curriculum, or more with special permission.
Required Introductory Seminars for the General LLM and the LLM in Global Law and Technology
- Emerging Issues in Law, Information Technology, and Transnational Business
- Introduction to US Law, Legal Reasoning, and Writing (for international students only)
Curriculum
- Over 200 electives offered every year
- Classes from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
- Online legal research instruction
- Practical legal skills training
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree is a post-LLM degree that is awarded upon the completion of an in-depth, publication-quality dissertation that makes an original and creative contribution to the legal literature. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits in the first year. Students will earn credits by enrolling in advanced elective courses, the SJD Seminar, and research credits. In the second and third year, students will focus solely on their dissertation. Students are in residence in the first year and may elect to conduct research off-site in years two and three.
Application Deadlines
- May 15 for fall LLM admission (May 1 for SJD applicants)
- October 1 for spring LLM admission
Foreign applicants who hold a law degree from a non-US jurisdiction must submit the following to complete their application:
- A signed LLM application
- $60 application fee (nonrefundable)
- Personal statement
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- 2 letters of recommendation—from a law professor or legally related employer (in English)
- Original university transcript of law studies accompanied by an official English translation
- Evaluated university transcript to determine United States equivalency. Please use a credential evaluation service such as LSAC's LLM Credential Assembly Service or World Education Services (WES).
- TOEFL or IELTS Score Report—for students whose first or dominant language is other than English. We look for a score of 100 for the Internet-based (iBT) TOEFL, 250 for the computer-based exam, and 600 for the paper test. We look for an overall score of 7.0 on IELTS.
Applicants who hold a US law degree must submit the following to complete their application:
- A signed LLM application
- $60 application fee (nonrefundable)
- Personal statement
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Official undergraduate and law school transcripts
- 2 letters of recommendation—from a law professor or legally related employer
- Copy of Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report (You may request this from your law registrar's office.)
Additional requirements for SJD applicants:
- A signed SJD application form (PDF)
- Submit two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be from a full-time member of a law school faculty and another of which must be from a professor or faculty advisor of your LLM program.
- Submit a 10–15 page substantive research proposal that will serve as the basis for beginning the dissertation research. It is very important that this research proposal be carefully written and well-organized. The research proposal should
- describe the specific issues to be investigated and the candidate's tentative thesis;
- describe the nature, scope, and methodology of the research to be undertaken in support of the dissertation;
- explain how the proposed research would add to the existing literature;
- provide a preliminary chapter outline; and
- include detailed footnotes supporting the text of the research proposal and a bibliography.
The research proposal may build upon an LLM thesis (either from Suffolk or elsewhere). The research proposal should be a comprehensive document that will form the basis for admission into the SJD program.
Current Suffolk students should identify three faculty members who are willing to serve on the candidate's dissertation committee, one of whom shall serve as the chair of the committee ("Committee Chair"). Non-Suffolk students should contact Director Bridgett C. Sandusky at 617.573.8171 or bsandusky@suffolk.edu for assistance with this requirement. The Committee Chair must have expertise in the primary field of the proposed study. The Committee Chair and at least one of the other members of the proposed dissertation committee must be full-time members of the resident faculty of the law school. The third member may be a full-time member of another law school or university faculty with expertise relevant to the candidate's proposed research. All proposed committee members must agree to supervise the dissertation work of the applicant.
NOTE: All application materials, TOEFL/IELTS scores, transcripts, and recommendation letters should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Law Programs.
Legal English Institute
The Legal English Institute is open to all international Master of Laws students to ensure they have the tools needed to transition successfully to LLM coursework.
This three-week intensive course is designed to introduce you to the US legal system while focusing on the specific language and academic skills you will need to be successful at an ABA-approved law school.
Suffolk Law is one of only a few law schools in the country offering a special language program exclusively for LLM students. The institute is led by an experienced international business lawyer who is also a certified instructor in English for speakers of other languages.
The Legal English Institute runs five days a week from four to six hours a day, covering note-taking, grammar, writing, public speaking, legal vocabulary, and using US legal materials. It's an invaluable way for you to meet other international LLM students and build your network before the start of classes.
Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Tuition
US citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for federal or private loans. International students may be eligible for private loans and should also seek assistance from sources in their home country. Merit and need-based scholarships are available for exceptional LLM applicants. A scholarship statement should be included with your application materials.
LLM tuition is charged per credit. The LLM tuition rate for 2013–2014 is $1,897 per credit.
SJD tuition is charged by the year. The SJD tuition rate for 2013–2014 is $45,528.
Contact Information
For additional information, please visit the Graduate Law Programs website, or contact:
Bridgett C. Sandusky
Director of Graduate Law Programs
Suffolk University Law School
120 Tremont Street
Suite 150
Boston, MA 02108
USA
Phone: 617.305.6299
Fax: 617.305.6276
E-mail: bsandusky@suffolk.edu
Student Life
- Distinguished Transnational Speakers Series
- Donahue Lecture Series
- 14 moot court teams
- 38 student organizations and groups
- 5 law reviews
Boston Life
- Nearly 100 institutions of higher education in Greater Boston
- 350,000 students living in Boston
- A cosmopolitan city of neighborhoods
- Cultural and theatrical events
- Professional sports teams
- Fine dining, nightlife, and shopping
Career Services
In addition to personalized, one-on-one career coaching, the office provides career resources and services, including assessment testing, access to a web-based job listing database, mock interviews and interview preparation sessions, an extensive career library, reciprocity access to a career office in another geographic location to facilitate networking efforts, and resources and advice on alternatives to traditional practice. In addition to the staff at the Career Development Office, the Law School has its own dedicated practitioner in residence who works one-on-one with LLM students and LLM graduates only.
Experiential Opportunities and Honor Boards
The Graduate Law Programs at Suffolk University Law School offer students a wide array of opportunities outside the classroom.
Semester Legal Internships/Curricular Practical Training
Our US and international LLM students have the unique chance among area law schools to participate in semester-long legal internships in Boston to apply their newly acquired legal knowledge to real-world problems. Placements range from state and federal organizations to Boston-area corporations or law firms.
International Summer Internships
Internships around the globe offer the opportunity to apply newly acquired legal expertise to real-world challenges, bridging the gap between theories learned and their practical application. Students have been placed in 46 countries, for periods of one month to three months, with international law firms, nonprofit organizations, and governmental and international agencies.
Journal of High Technology Law
Published entirely online, the Journal of High Technology Law is a highly regarded and unique publication. In addition to providing LLM students an opportunity to research, write, and publish, the online journal supplies extensive links to topics such as communications and media, Internet law, computer law, intellectual property, biotechnology, and more.
Optional Practical Training
The Office of Graduate and International Programs assists you with the visa process during the academic year and the search for legal work in an area related to your studies after graduation.
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