Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law are reunifying to operate as Penn State University’s single law school with two locations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Carlisle and University Park. While ABA approval for the reunification is pending, both schools are currently fully accredited. We submitted an application for acquiescence to operate as a single law school in July 2024 and plan to enroll a unified class in Fall 2025.
**Important Notice: If you are applying through LSAC to the LL.M. or S.J.D. programs at Penn State Law, University Park campus, please be sure to complete the proper application as listed below**
The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Law |
University Park |
PA |
Please be sure to select Penn State Law
For an application to be considered complete, the LL.M. Admissions Office must receive:
- Completed Application and Fee. Applicants may complete the Penn State Law online application or submit an electronic application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Document Assembly Service. The $75 (75 U.S. dollars) application fee can be paid by credit card, check or international money order drawn on U.S. funds and made payable to Penn State University.
- Transcripts. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all relevant academic institutions previously attended. All transcripts must include a certified English translation. The following services are available to applicants who choose to have their credentials evaluated:
- Proof of English Proficiency. LL.M. candidates are required to earn a minimum paper-based score of 575 or an internet-based score of 88 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Penn State Law institutional code for the TOEFL test is 2660. A score of 6.5 on the International Language Testing System (IELTS) is also acceptable.
- An applicant with scores below the minimum listed above may be eligible for admission if the applicant obtains suitable language training or provides otherwise acceptable evidence of proficiency in English prior to enrolling at the Law School.
- International applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement if they have received a baccalaureate or masters degree from an educational institution in a country where English is both the language of instruction and the only official or native language. Countries that qualify an applicant for exemption include Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.
- A Personal Statement: Applicants must submit a one- to two-page personal statement that explains their reasons for pursuing an LL.M. degree as well as their future plans and goals. Applicants are encouraged to highlight significant experiences as a lawyer or law student.
- Résumé. Applicants are asked to submit a résumé outlining all relevant work experience and education.
- Two Letters of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation should come from professors or employers of the applicant. Ideally, letters of recommendation will describe the length and nature of the recommender’s relationship to the applicant and specifically address the applicant’s aptitude for advanced law study in an English language environment.
- Transferring from another ABA-accredited school. LL.M. students attending another ABA-accredited law school may apply to complete the second or final semester of their LL.M. education at Penn State. To earn an LL.M. degree from Penn State, a transfer student must attend Penn State Law for at least one semester as a full-time resident student, earning at least 16 credits at Penn State Law. Total credits to earn the LL.M. from Penn State Law are 24. As part of the transfer admission process, the Penn State Law admissions team will evaluate transferable credits. A minimum grade of B is required for all credits approved for transfer to Penn State Law. Any credits earned at another law school are recorded on the student academic transcript by reference only, and no attempt is made to convert grades to Penn State Law equivalents. Penn State Law required courses typically must be completed at Penn State. Students who transfer into the LL.M. program from another law school will not be eligible to apply for transfer into Penn State Law’s J.D. program.