Penn State Dickinson Law

Introduction

One of the world's preeminent research universities, Pennsylvania State University combines strength in traditional academics with a future-focused approach to interdisciplinary studies and internationalization. Consistently ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide, Penn State is one of the largest and most respected universities in the United States.

Among the nation’s most well-established law schools, Penn State Dickinson Law is the oldest law school in Pennsylvania and one of the most prestigious ABA-accredited institutions in the United States. For over 185 years, Dickinson Law has produced some of the world’s finest attorneys, judges, government and corporate leaders, and legal scholars.

Why Penn State Dickinson Law?

Selecting the right institution is an important decision. Here are some of the many reasons why previous students have selected Penn State Dickinson Law:

• Our Campus. Dickinson Law offers students an ideal environment with access to world-class resources and leading research faculty. Our historic campus offers a state-of-the-art facility and a modern research library. It is easy to become involved in the campus community. Students participate in a variety of student organizations and activities to explore shared interests, discover new passions and make friends.
• Our Faculty. Students learn from a distinctive and dedicated full-time faculty complemented by an adjunct faculty of practicing attorneys and judges. Our faculty members have spent years practicing law and engage nationally and internationally through practice, research and scholarship. Learn more about our faculty.
• Our Curriculum. Dickinson Law offers a flexible curriculum that allows students to pursue specialized coursework in a wide variety of legal areas. The curriculum provides all coursework necessary to sit for the New York bar examination.
• Our Reach. Penn State boasts a vibrant university community with 24 campuses located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a global alumni network of over 700,000 alumni that both prepares students to work in the global economy and ensures a Penn State connection almost anywhere in the world.

• Our Location. Dickinson Law is located in Carlisle, which is strategically located close to Harrisburg—the capital of Pennsylvania —and its judicial, legislative, and executive offices. Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore and New York City are all accessible by car or train.

  Carlisle continuously ranks as one of the country's most livable small towns in the U.S. due in part to the diversity of its people and institutions, amenities, and array of community activities. The cost of living consistently rates below the U.S. average, making it an affordable, cost-efficient option for attending law school. Generally, everything one needs is within walking or biking distance.

Master of Laws (LL.M.)

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) program at Penn State Dickinson Law is designed for both domestic and internationally trained legal professionals seeking specialized knowledge and advanced study in a particular area of law. During this flexible one-year program, students may enroll in a wide variety of courses that allow concentration in certain aspects of law or law-related topics. Students may pursue specific curricular or certificate tracks in a wide variety of areas, such as:

• Arbitration, Mediation, and Negotiation
• Business Law
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Cyber Law, Data Privacy, and Information Security
• Elder Law
• Government Law & Policy
• Health Law and Policy
• Intellectual Property and Innovation
• International Trial Advocacy
• Security Law
• Tax Law

Eligibility

To be considered for admission, applicants must have earned either a J.D. from an ABA-approved, U.S. law school or the equivalent to the J.D. from an international law school (e.g., LL.B.). Applicants should have experience in legal practice.

Applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of English-language proficiency by providing evidence of either a TOEFL score of 88 or higher, an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher, Duolingo English Text score of 120 or higher, or an equivalent score from another approved assessment.

The LL.M. program is highly selective with limited admission each year. Applications will be evaluated with consideration to previous education, legal qualifications, professional experience, and legal promise as determined by the program application.

Application

Applications are accepted via the Law School Admission Council and are reviewed on an ongoing basis. While most students enroll in the fall semester (August), students have the option of beginning the program in the spring semester (January). Dickinson Law does not assess an application fee. All applicants must register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

Visit the Dickinson Law website for important dates, opportunities to connect and application instructions.

Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)

The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degree is Dickinson Law’s most advanced legal degree. The doctoral program is designed for both domestic and internationally trained legal scholars seeking specialized knowledge and advanced study in a particular area of legal scholarship. It is ideally suited for those who already have an advanced graduate degree in law and want to pursue a career focused on legal research and scholarship.

Dickinson Law offers a flexible course of study that allows students to pursue supervised research leading to the production of a dissertation that should serve as an original and valuable contribution to legal scholarship. While the structure of the S.J.D. program can vary, the degree generally requires three years, one of which is spent in residence. The S.J.D. program at Dickinson Law is highly selective with limited admission each year.

Eligibility

The S.J.D. program at Penn State Dickinson Law is highly selective with limited admission each year. In order to be accepted into the S.J.D. degree, applicants must have already earned an LL.B., B.A., or J.D. degree in law, or its equivalent, from a duly accredited or recognized national or international institution of higher education, as well as either an LL.M. degree from Dickinson Law or another American Bar Association-accredited law school in the U.S. or a duly accredited or recognized foreign law faculty, or another degree equivalent to at least a master’s degree in law.

Each admitted S.J.D. student will be assigned a primary faculty supervisor at the time of admission. As such, each applicant must submit a dissertation proposal that aligns with the expertise of a Dickinson Law faculty member who is willing and eligible to serve as an S.J.D. faculty supervisor. Applicants are encouraged to contact a potential faculty supervisor prior to official applying for admission. See S.J.D. Core Faculty for more information.

Application

Applications are accepted via the Law School Admission Council and are reviewed on an ongoing basis. While most students enroll in the fall semester (August), students have the option of beginning the program in the spring semester (January). Dickinson Law does not assess an application fee. All applicants must register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

Visit the Dickinson Law website for important dates, opportunities to connect and application instructions.

Scholarships

Penn State Dickinson Law is committed to providing every student access to a world-class education. All LL.M. & SJD applicants are automatically considered for generous merit-based scholarships. For the most current information on tuition and fees, please see Cost of Attendance.

Contact Information

To learn more, please Contact Us or join one of our monthly (online) information sessions to learn more about Dickinson Law and our LL.M. program. Take the opportunity to connect with current students, speak with members of our faculty, and ask any questions you may have.