206A Hulston Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
Phone: 573.882.2020 | Website: law.missouri.edu/csdr/llm/
Introduction
The University of Missouri School of Law has been training outstanding lawyers for 140 years. Our graduates practice in law firms of all sizes, with the federal and state government, in public interest settings, and serve as judicial law clerks. Alumni serve at all levels of the Missouri judiciary, as both federal trial and appellate judges, in the United States Congress, and as governor of Missouri. Our graduates are found in every county of Missouri, in 49 states, and in more than 25 foreign countries.
The Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution is one of the largest collections of full-time law faculty who focus on dispute resolution. Our scholars publish many leading articles and texts influencing dispute resolution theory and practice around the world. MU is one of the top law schools in dispute resolution.
The LLM in Dispute Resolution Program, the first of its kind in the US, provides a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of theoretical, policy, and practice issues in the dispute resolution field. The program has attracted attorneys from across the nation and 28 countries outside the US. We are strongly committed to diversity and find that both students and faculty benefit from the diversity within our program. LLM classes are small and generally limited to LLM students, creating a close community among faculty and students and building lifelong bonds for networking and collaboration.
Columbia has been called the quintessential college town by U.S. News and World Report. Money magazine, Men's Journal, and MSN.com have all called Columbia one of America's best places to live. Columbia's cost of living consistently rates as more affordable than the national average.
Law School Enrollment
- Total law school enrollment: 405
- LLM program enrollment: 12
(figures may vary slightly year to year)
Physical Facilities
John K. Hulston Hall is a spacious and modern building and a magnificent laboratory for learning. The self-contained facility houses the law school's classrooms, offices, library, computer labs, lounges, and dining areas. The MU Law Library has an excellent collection of legal materials, including a large collection devoted to dispute resolution, as well as numerous computer-assisted research resources. Students have free access to LexisNexis and Westlaw and a campus-wide wireless network. University facilities—including libraries, recreational facilities (gyms, pools), dining halls, etc.—are within walking distance. Take a virtual tour.
Housing
University housing for graduate and professional students is available. Students in on-campus housing may also purchase a variety of optional meal plans. There are on-campus options for family housing for married or single parents. There are also diverse options for off-campus housing within walking distance or on convenient bus routes.
LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization
The University of Missouri School of Law offers a Master of Laws in Dispute Resolution (LLM) degree. The LLM program provides practitioners and scholars with a deeper understanding of theoretical, policy, design, and ethical issues in dispute resolution. Students may enroll full time or part time. LLM students can pursue dual degrees (MA and PhD) from Missouri's School of Journalism. Many LLM students take courses at the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs, where they can earn a Certificate or Master's in Public Affairs in conjunction with the LLM degree.
LLM Program Features
- Study with leading dispute resolution scholars.
- Small class sizes generally limited to LLM students.
- Diverse student body—by age, race, nationality, legal background—that enriches the level of discussion, inside and outside the classroom.
- Students may participate in externships around the nation and the globe.
- Integration of dispute resolution processes in handling of substantive law issues.
- Flexibility—Required classes are scheduled so that part-time students can work up to four weekdays each week. This, together with numerous options for externships and independent study, has enabled practicing attorneys from states such as Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin to earn their degree at MU while continuing to work.
Program of Study
The LLM in Dispute Resolution program requires 24 credit hours of study. A minimum of 12 credits are required courses in dispute resolution—non-binding methods, dispute system design, arbitration, and a major research paper. The remaining 12 credits are electives. Students choose electives according to their interests. With approval, students can apply up to 6 credits of graduate-level courses outside the law school toward the LLM graduation requirements.
Cost
The MU LLM program is competitively priced, with lower tuition than similar programs. Visit LLM Fees and Expenses for current information.
The LLM program offers limited departmental financial support to full-time students—the Rankin M. Gibson LLM Scholarship and the LLM Fellowship. The Law School does not offer graduate teaching or graduate research assistantships.
Application Requirements
Application Deadline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as space is available. However, all new LLM students start the program in the fall semester (which begins in mid-August). New students are not admitted in the spring or summer semesters.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the LLM Program in Dispute Resolution, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Applicants must have completed the first degree in law (JD, LLB, or equivalent) required for law practice or law teaching in the country in which law studies were pursued.
- Applicants must possess a minimum 2.5 (A = 4.0) grade-point average (GPA) in their law program, and a 3.0 GPA for work completed in any additional graduate or advanced-degree program.
LLM Admission Policy
The LLM Admissions Committee reviews the total application package and selects qualified applicants who would best benefit from and contribute to the LLM program. These are complex judgments based on factors including, but not limited to, the following:
- The committee is especially interested in how applicants plan to combine their prior experiences with our LLM education to advance a career in dispute resolution. Applicants' statements of purpose should address this as specifically as possible.
- The committee looks for indications that applicants have the ability to do the rigorous academic work in the program. The LLM program is not primarily a training program. Although the program includes practical skills courses, a majority of the work is theoretical and involves a substantial amount of reading, research, and writing. The committee reviews applicants' transcripts from law school and other educational programs, but applicants may demonstrate academic ability in other ways, especially if a significant period has elapsed since the applicants were in school.
- The committee prefers applicants with significant prior legal experience. Applicants without significant prior legal experience are considered more favorably if they have other relevant full-time work experience or accomplishments and/or a demonstrated interest in dispute resolution.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must be able to read, write, understand, and speak English sufficiently well to participate in and contribute well to the class experience.
- The committee tries to select a group of students with a combination of experiences that provides some relevant diversity as well as shared experiences to make for a rich class experience.
LLM Application Materials
- Application form—apply online or download a hard copy application (PDF)
- Official transcripts from undergraduate institutions, law schools, and any other institutions of higher education attended; transcripts from schools outside the United States must be translated into English.
- Official TOEFL score report (international applicants only). The Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) is the preferred test of the LLM program. The IELTS is acceptable only in those situations where the TOEFL IBT is unavailable.
- Professional résumé
- Statement of purpose (300–500 words stating reasons for pursuing this degree)
- Two letters of recommendation: one from an academic source and one from a professional source
- Financial support application form (if applicable)
Contact Information
Karen Neylon
LLM Program Coordinator
Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution
206 Hulston Hall
University of Missouri School of Law
Columbia, MO 65211
USA
Phone: 573.882.2020
Fax: 573.882.3343
E-mail: mulawcdr@missouri.edu
Student Services and Organizations
Student organizations are a vibrant part of the intellectual and social environments at the School of Law. They provide LLM students with opportunities to enhance their professional and personal development through programs and activities, as well as intellectual, cultural, and volunteer opportunities. For example, past LLM students have consulted with the editors of our Journal of Dispute Resolution on particular articles, served as judges during student competitions such as "Mediation Advocacy," and networked with JD-student members of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Organization (ADRO) and International Law Student Association (ILSA), among others. See a list of student organizations.
In addition, there are many university-wide student organizations that may be of interest to LLM students, including social and support organizations for students from many countries around the world.
The MU International Center provides support and services for international students and scholars.
Career Services
We help LLM students with career development in several ways.
- The LLM program has a webpage with advice about careers in dispute resolution and links to webpages listing jobs in the field. (See Dispute Resolution Careers.)
- We publish an e-newsletter, which includes job notices of particular interest to our students and alumni. (See Newsroom & Events for an archive of past newsletters.)
- Faculty members often serve as resources and references for LLM students.
- The Law School's Office of Career Development is also available to help with cover letters, résumés, and job search strategies and tools. (See the Career Development Office website). They may also provide individualized counseling, specialized group seminars and programs, access to online career databases, and facilities for tele- and video-conferencing.
« Back to LLM/Graduate Law Program Guide