LLM

1420 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Phone: 410.837.4459 | Website: law.ubalt.edu

Introduction

The University of Baltimore School of Law, part of the University System of Maryland, prides itself on personalized service, excellent classroom teaching, and small law school sections. The School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the American Association of Law Schools. UB's law alumni, numbering over 12,000, provide a valuable professional network.

The University of Baltimore School of Law is committed to values of community involvement, public interest, access, and diversity. Students are prepared to lead and serve many sectors of society and the common good. The School of Law teaches legal theory, professional skills, and practical perspectives to empower its graduates for the changing legal environment. The School of Law created the Center for International and Comparative Law and other centers devoted to family law, sports law, applied feminism, and litigation skills to foster in-depth research in selected specializations.

Baltimore affords the advantages of an important legal center, with many law firms, government offices, nongovernmental organizations, and both federal and state courts. The School of Law is located in the city's Mount Vernon Cultural District, only a short distance from Baltimore's bustling downtown and the scenic Inner Harbor area. Situated in a public transportation hub, the School of Law offers easy access to students locally, in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area and across the state.

The School of Law offers two Master of Laws programs. The Graduate Tax Program, begun in 1987, offers an LLM in Taxation and a Certificate in Estate Planning (along with an MS in Taxation). Since its inception, the Graduate Tax Program has graduated over 500 LLM in Tax and MS in Tax students. The Master of Laws in the Law of the United States (LLM LOTUS) program, housed at the Center for International and Comparative Law since 2003, provides core courses on US law for attorneys who earned their first law degree outside the US. As of January 2011, the program has 69 LLM LOTUS graduates.

Law School Enrollment

Total law school enrollment is approximately 1,100 students, with approximately 700 full-time students and approximately 400 part-time students.

Physical Facilities

The John and Frances Angelos Law Center houses classrooms, moot court and mock trial rooms, offices for faculty and for student organizations, meeting rooms, and a large, modern law library. UB's law clinics and its Family Justice Building are located three blocks from the Law Center. Law Center classrooms have instructional technology to facilitate the use of video, computer graphics, and the Internet, and students have access to a free campus-wide wireless network.

Construction is currently underway on a new, state-of-the-art law center adjacent to the Pennsylvania Station transportation hub, currently scheduled to open for classes in spring 2013. The new law center will house all School of Law units under one roof.

The Law Library

• Library hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am–10:00 pm; Friday, 8:00 am–6:00 pm; Saturday, 9:00 am–6:00 pm; Sunday, noon–10:00 pm
• 11 professional librarians, 7 support staff; reference service available 7 days a week
• 357,000 volume print collection, emphasizing US primary and secondary legal materials
• full range of electronic resources, including major legal databases Westlaw and Lexis, specialty legal databases, and interdisciplinary resources
• carrels and conference rooms available for individual and group study
• computer labs and wireless network
• interlibrary loan services, including direct borrowing privileges at all University System of Maryland libraries

Housing

Most students live near UB's urban campus in private apartments. The university has made arrangements with several apartment complexes within a short walk of campus to provide students cost-effective, convenient living options. Rent in the Baltimore area is very reasonable for a US city of its size, ranging from $600 for a studio apartment in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood to $1,500 and up for a waterfront loft overlooking Baltimore's vibrant Inner Harbor.

LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization

The University of Baltimore School of Law offers programs for an LLM in the Law of the United States, an LLM in Taxation, and a Certificate in Estate Planning. A first degree in law must be completed before entering any of these programs. For those without a first degree in law, the University of Baltimore offers the alternative of a Masters degree in Legal and Ethical Studies.

Master of Laws in the Law of the United States (LLM LOTUS)

Lawyers who have earned their first degree in law outside the United States are eligible to study in the LLM LOTUS program. Students learn about the laws and legal system of the US, gain insights about the American legal profession, and refine valuable skills in legal analysis, research, and writing. Our students include those on F-1 student visas, permanent residents, other immigrants, and naturalized US citizens. For students whose immigration status permits, part-time study is available. An intensive, week-long orientation program is held in August.

The LLM program requires completion of 30 credits of course work and can be done in two semesters. Students elect one of two tracks of study: US Practice or Elective Concentrations. Both include required courses on Introduction to the Law of the United States, and Legal Analysis, Research and Writing (LARW). The US Practice track requires certain core doctrinal courses that lay the foundation of American legal concepts. The Elective Concentrations track provides for study of specific areas of the law: business law, criminal practice, estate planning, family law, intellectual property, litigation and advocacy, public service, and real estate practice.

LLM LOTUS Snapshot

• Online application available through LSAC: 1 September 2010 through 31 May 2011
• Complete applications are processed within three weeks of receipt.
• Application deadlines: F-1 students: 1 April 2011; for all others: 1 June 2011
• Application fee: $75
• Letters of recommendation: 2 required
• Transcripts required for applicants with international law degree: LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service required
• All postsecondary transcripts required for applicants with US law degree
• Official score report from TOEFL^® or IELTS™ if English is not the applicant's native language and he or she is not a graduate of a US regionally accredited institution.
• Approximately 20 students participate in this program each year
• Tuition for the program if taken in two semesters is approximately $24,000 (in-state) and $35,500 (out-of-state).

Contact Information

For additional information, please visit the LLM LOTUS website, or contact:

Jane Schukoske
Director, LLM Program in the Law of the United States
1420 North Charles Street, LC202
Baltimore, MD 21201
USA

Phone: 1.410.837.4532
Fax: 1.410.837.4396
E-mail: LLMAdmission@ubalt.edu

Master of Laws in Taxation (LLM in Taxation)

The University of Baltimore School of Law and Robert G. Merrick School of Business offer a unique graduate program leading to the LLM in Taxation for attorneys and MS in Taxation for accountants, the first and only program of its kind in Maryland. Offering the program jointly through the School of Law and School of Business provides the broad training needed by today's tax practitioners. It also permits lawyers and accountants to interact, providing a richer experience for both.

A total of 30 credits is required for the LLM in Tax. Students can receive advanced credit toward the LLM degree for up to 15 credits of qualifying tax courses taken while enrolled in a JD program at an ABA-approved law school. The curriculum includes required courses on fundamental income taxation, partnership taxation, corporate taxation, tax policy, tax procedure, and tax research, along with several elective course offerings. To meet the busy schedules of working lawyers and accountants, classes are offered on weekday evenings. Students generally take one or two classes per semester and can complete the degree part time in two to three academic years.

LLM in Tax Snapshot

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Graduate Tax Program Office. Typically an admissions decision is made within three weeks of the time the application is complete.
• The application deadlines are as follows: August 1 for fall semester; December 1 for spring semester; May 1 for summer session. Applications completed after these dates may be considered, but preference is given to those received by the deadline.
• To apply, submit the following to the Graduate Tax Program Office:
  • application for admission to the LLM in Taxation;
  • nonrefundable $35 application fee; and
  • one copy of official transcripts from each law school attended, except the University of Baltimore.
  • For applicants who are not graduates of the University of Baltimore School of Law, one letter of recommendation evaluating the candidate's potential for success in the program; and
  • if claiming Maryland residency for tuition purposes, the Maryland In-State Residency Status Form.
• Approximately 100 LLM in Tax and MS in Tax students are currently enrolled in the program.
• Tuition for the entire 30-credit program is approximately $35,000 (in-state) and $50,000 (out-of-state). Total tuition is reduced for students receiving advanced LLM credit.

Contact Information

For additional information, please visit the Graduate Tax Program website, or contact:

Fred Brown
Director, Graduate Tax Program
1420 North Charles Street, LC300
Baltimore, MD 21201
USA

Phone: 1.410.837.4470
Fax: 1.410.837.4560
E-mail: palbiker@ubalt.edu

Certificate in Estate Planning

The University of Baltimore School of Law offers a post-JD program that leads to a Certificate in Estate Planning. The certificate program is geared toward satisfying the specialized, advanced education needs of individuals wanting to practice in the area of estate planning. Under this program, a student will complete 12 credits of coursework in order to receive a Certificate in Estate Planning. The curriculum includes required courses on estate and gift taxation, estate planning, and income taxation of estates and trusts. Students may complete the Certificate in Estate Planning as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with the University of Baltimore LLM in Taxation program.

Certificate in Estate Planning Snapshot

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Graduate Tax Program Office. Typically an admissions decision is made within three weeks of the time the application is complete.
• The application deadlines are as follows: August 1 for fall semester; December 1 for spring semester; May 1 for summer session. Applications completed after these dates may be considered, but preference is given to those received by the deadline.
• To apply, submit the following to the Graduate Tax Program Office:
  • application for admission to the Certificate in Estate Planning program;
  • nonrefundable $35 application fee; and
  • one copy of official transcripts from each law school attended, except the University of Baltimore.
  • For applicants who are not graduates of the University of Baltimore School of Law, one letter of recommendation evaluating the candidate's potential for success in the program; and
  • if claiming Maryland residency for tuition purposes, the Maryland In-State Residency Status Form.
• Tuition for the entire program is approximately $14,000 (in-state) and $20,000 (out-of-state).

Contact Information

For additional information, please visit the Certificate in Estate Planning website, or contact:

Fred Brown
Director, Graduate Tax Program
1420 North Charles Street, LC300
Baltimore, MD 21201
USA

Phone: 1.410.837.4470
Fax: 1.410.837.4560
E-mail: palbiker@ubalt.edu

Financial Aid

The School of Law offers a limited number of partial scholarships to LLM LOTUS students based on academic merit. Applicants who wish to be considered should so indicate on the application form. The School of Law welcomes applications from recipients of Edward S. Muskie Fellowships, Fulbright Scholarships, and other scholarship organizations. Applicants who are Maryland residents may be eligible for in-state tuition rates. The University of Baltimore provides loans through federal, state, and institutional sources to help eligible students meet educational expense needs.

Student Services and Organizations

UB offers a broad array of academic support services to students. Some of the services offered include:

• The Office of Student Services helps students with administrative and personal issues.
• The School of Law's director of academic support holds skills development sessions.
• The Office of Technology Services assists with learning software and support technology and has some equipment available for loan.
• UB's Achievement and Learning Center offers free writing consultations and conversation partners to students for whom English is a second language.

The University of Baltimore School of Law is home to over 30 student organizations that reflect the array of personal and professional interests of law students. These groups organize a number of academic and social events throughout the academic year and are open to all students.

LLM LOTUS students are a part of the law school community and yet form a tight bond as a group. They meet informally as a group with law school staff to share news and field questions. Alumni and students interact and have a social networking group on LinkedIn.com.

Career Services

The Law Career Development Office (LCDO) assists law students to articulate, develop, and attain their professional goals. It offers a range of traditional and innovative services and programs designed to facilitate the career planning efforts of our students, and to maximize their potential for employment. LLM LOTUS students face unique challenges in the US in exploring career and experiential opportunities to complement their scholarly pursuits.

A further mandate of the office is to expand and maintain the law school's nationwide employer network. To that end, the office maintains a law firm database and is actively involved in all aspects of job development, including local, regional, and national employer visits, advertising, promoting local and out-of-town job fairs, and national marketing efforts. LCDO services are available to LLM students beginning in August.

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