John Rogers Hall, 3120 East Fourth Place, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA
Phone: 918.631.3540 | Website: www.utulsa.edu/law/llm
Introduction
Legal education at The University of Tulsa offers a world of new energy and infinite possibilities. Our law school family proves daily that it is possible for friendliness, challenge, respect, and excellence to coexist in law school. TU College of Law is housed in the newly renovated and technologically advanced John Rogers Hall (take a virtual tour), and on The University of Tulsa campus on historic US Route 66. TU Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and presents a welcoming forum for the study and exploration of legal issues enhanced by professors with exemplary credentials. With an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, a true open-door policy invites students to expand their legal education from the classroom through one-on-one accessibility and interaction with the faculty. Beautiful, culturally diverse, and extraordinarily friendly, the city of Tulsa offers our students award-winning ballet, national touring concerts, world-class museums, gorgeous parks, and vibrant neighborhood shopping areas. Tulsa also boasts an internationally recognized, burgeoning environment for high-tech industry, commerce, and the energy sector.
LLM Curriculum and Specializations
LLM students may choose either general comparative legal study in American law, which covers a broad expanse of expertise, or a specific concentration, including Sustainable Energy and Natural Resources Law or Indigenous and Native American Law. LLM students enroll in and share classes alongside JD students.
American Law for Foreign Graduates LLM
The American Law for Foreign Graduates LLM is specifically designed for non-US trained lawyers. The master's program consists of a full course of study over two semesters equaling 24 credit hours. LLM degree candidates learn US law and US legal methodology (Constitutional Law, Contracts, and Civil Procedure). LLM students complete an additional six to eight courses and are closely counseled in their course selection. Students are invited to choose from courses offered by TU College of Law and the other graduate departments of the university.
Foreign LLM students are required to take:
- Introduction to United States Law
- Legal Research & Writing for Foreign Students
Energy Law Concentration
Approaching its 40-year mark, TU College of Law’s energy programming stands apart nationally and globally for its longevity and balance of energy and environmental law and policy. Select LLM students in the American Law for Foreign Graduates program may pursue an Energy Law concentration. Through this concentration, students
- examine legal and policy approaches for balancing and achieving the important goals of energy reliability, sustainable supplies of natural resources, and a healthy environment.
- study with faculty experts on a range of topics, including
- International Environmental Law,
- Climate Change,
- International Energy and Natural Resources Law,
- Water Law,
- Oil and Gas Law: Basic and Advanced,
- Regulated Industries, and
- Administrative Law.
- have opportunities to interact with leaders and alumni in the energy sector and with energy and environmentally focused programs, law journals, and organizations at the law, engineering, and business schools.
For more information on the Energy Law concentration, visit the Energy Law Concentration website.
Tuition
Tuition for the American Law for Foreign Graduates LLM is a flat rate of $28,000.
American Indian and Indigenous Law LLM
TU offers one of the world’s only LLM degrees in American Indian and Indigenous Law. The LLM program is designed to train international and domestic lawyers in the issues critical to understanding and representing indigenous peoples and Native Americans.
The LLM program offers a balanced approach, emphasizing the three foundational sets of legal principles: international law applicable to indigenous peoples, domestic laws of the United States (federal Indian law), and the law of tribal governments. The array of courses allows students to gain a general understanding of each of the three sets of foundational principles, and either proceed to specialize in one or more of them or develop a related subspecialty, such as in natural resources law. Additionally, TU College of Law offers unparalleled resources and opportunities, including
- a wide range of specialized Indian law courses, including gaming, tribal government, tribal economic development, and natural resources law;
- full-time professors who specialize in Indian law and make pivotal contributions to the field, such as contributing to Cohen's Handbook of Federal Indian Law and writing advanced Indian law casebooks;
- the Gilcrease Museum—created by Thomas Gilcrease, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and now operated by TU—an internationally renowned museum containing significant collections of Native American art and history and artifacts of the American West;
- opportunities to work with nearby tribal governments;
- a law review symposium issue on Indian law; and
- alumni who serve, or have served, tribes throughout the United States as elected officials, tribal judges, attorneys, and in other capacities.
Tuition
Tuition for the American Indian and Indigenous Law LLM is a flat rate of $20,000 or $835 per credit hour.
Professors
Recognized nationally and internationally for their expertise, TU College of Law professors are always accessible to their students. Specializations and practical experience in areas as diverse as international trade, energy regulation, family and juvenile law, criminal law, constitutional law, sports law, Native American tribal jurisdiction, trial advocacy, and health law confirm the rich learning experience available to Tulsa law students. The ability to develop strong relationships with professors will strengthen Tulsa students' law school experiences and their future legal practice in remarkable ways.
Library and Physical Facilities
The Mabee Legal Information Center (MLIC) is an ideal locale for group study and collaborating, preparing for class or exams, working on journal scholarship, conducting extensive research, conferring with reference librarians, or preparing for a moot court competition. Over 50 computers are available for use through the information center, including several laptops that are available for checkout. Quiet study is available in the two main reading rooms, offering inviting, wide-open spaces with natural lighting.
TU College of Law has 802.11n wireless access available throughout the building. Classrooms are equipped with a full array of technology, including dual wide-screen HD projectors/screens, computers, VGA and HDMI connectivity, wireless microphones, and built-in classroom capture, recording, and videoconferencing capabilities.
The modern Price & Turpen courtroom brings the same state-of-the-art capabilities to the study and training for trial and appellate advocacy. These are outstanding facilities in which the best in preparation is available for TU law students as they prepare for future legal practice and train for many regional and national moot court competitions.
Housing
Law students at TU may choose to live on or off campus. On-campus housing includes well-maintained and modern apartments built exclusively for law and graduate students in single or family-friendly units. Located within an easy walking distance from the law school, each apartment unit includes computer connections, off-street parking, spacious living room and dining areas, and full-size kitchens with utility areas for washers and dryers. Many apartments also have fireplaces and/or vaulted ceilings, and all have a patio or balcony.
With a very attractive low cost of living, the city of Tulsa also offers a great variety of affordable housing opportunities outside the TU campus.
LLM Application Requirements
- Rolling admission with April 1 priority review deadline; fall start date
- Online applications, online through LSAC
- Complete official transcripts (all applicants must submit through LSAC)
- An 800-word personal statement (in English)
- A writing sample (brief, law review article, or any scholarly work in English)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Résumé/CV
- International applicants only—Minimum TOEFL score of 90 or IELTS score of 6.5
- International applicants only—Submit a Confirmation of Financial Resources (CFR) form
Student Services and Professional Development
LLM students are a vital and welcome part of the TU College of Law community. TU offers high levels of LLM academic support and faculty accessibility. The Director of LLMs works individually with students to tailor their academic plans to their ambitions. Students also work with faculty advisors who serve as mentors and provide guidance to help LLM students make the most strategic decisions for their academic and professional goals.
Prior to the start of classes, LLM students enjoy a weeklong intensive, practical, and collegial orientation to US legal education and to the College of Law. Students meet with professors, staff, the LLM class, and JD students to build a sense of community and a strong start to the academic year.
The University of Tulsa also has an on-campus English Institute program for foreign law graduates who need to improve their English language skills prior to entering the law school.
TU College of Law is committed to fostering LLM success from admission and beyond. LLM students have access to writing workshops, training and panels, online job-bank listings, bar-exam preparation support, guest lectures, and conferences with national and international experts. They benefit from ongoing legal-skills training opportunities at the law school. TU LLM students have opportunities to network with TU law graduates working in private firms, the government sector, public policy, and legal academia.
Leadership and Involvement
Student organizations offer opportunity for leadership roles and engagement with the local community. Organizations like the International Law Students' Association; Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Society; Energy Law Journal; Women's Law Caucus; and Native American Law Student Association allow students to be involved while cultivating relationships with colleagues and community leaders.
Location: The City of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa's 200-acre campus is located on historic US Route 66, two miles east of downtown Tulsa. Tulsa is a truly American city with its own unique charm, which has a greater metropolitan area of approximately one million people.
LLM students have access to the array of quality-of-life activities found in any vibrant urban environment, yet with greater convenience of everyday life and a lower cost of living than those of most US metropolitan areas. LLM students take periodic breaks from studying to enjoy Tulsa’s riverfront parks, international and gourmet grocery stores, national and locally owned boutiques, restaurants, farmers markets, ballet, opera, symphony, museums, drive-in movie and independent film venues, golf, hiking, and professional ice hockey, baseball, basketball, and soccer teams, as well as on-campus sports and social activities.
Contact Information
For additional information, please visit the LLM Admissions website, or contact:
Kate Barron-Alicante
Director of LLMs and Global Legal Education
3120 East Fourth Place
Tulsa, OK 74104
USA
Phone: 918.631.3540
E-mail: kate-barronalicante@utulsa.edu
Additional Law Master's Degrees (Non-LLM)
In addition to the LLM program, The University of Tulsa College of Law offers two other master's degrees:
- Master of Jurisprudence in Energy Law (MJEL): The MJEL program is a unique resource available to any person in the world who wants to launch a career involving sustainability of natural resources and a healthy environment without obtaining a JD or sitting for the bar exam. The program incorporates three important components that coincide with national and international interests: providing reliable and affordable energy, protecting human health and the environment, and insuring sustainable supplies of other important natural resources. A student does not have to be an attorney to benefit from the MJEL program. This is an online degree program.
- Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law (MJIL): The Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law (MJIL) is an online degree program for individuals who work in a variety of disciplines and positions that in some way require a solid knowledge of the field but do not require a law degree. With the online MJIL, tribal lawyers and judges, as well as tribal leaders and administrators who possess a bachelor’s degree, will be able to expand and improve their knowledge of Indian law without having to leave Indian Country.
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