Admission to Cooley's Graduate Program

How to Apply - Application and Enrollment Deadlines
LL.M. Application Form (PDF)

International Students and Admission
(Non-Degree) Student Status at Cooley
The J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree Program
Tuition and Fees
Financial Aid
Housing
Grading
Career Services
Additional Information

Busy professionals have an opportunity to earn an LL.M. degree in a manner, pace and location conducive to family and work schedules. An LL.M. degree can be earned in intellectual property or taxation. The LL.M. degree can be earned at any of Cooley's three Michigan campuses in Lansing, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids. Students have maximum flexibility in selecting the location at which they attend courses. Traditional classroom videoconference courses between the Lansing, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids campuses are offered. The Graduate IP Program also offers web-based classes.

The LL.M. degree program is designed for both the part-time and full-time study of law with classes primarily offered on the weekend. Sometimes courses are scheduled during weeknights or in an accelerated format. It is possible for a student to complete the program in one year of full-time study, but the full-time student could be faced with time conflicts between courses offered. Not all courses in the curriculum will be offered every term. Students enrolled in the graduate program cannot register for more than 14 credits during a term. All students must complete the academic requirements for the LL.M. degree within five calendar years after entering the program.

Students may be admitted to the program in September, January or May. For admission, the applicant must possess an earned J.D. (or LL.B.) degree from a law school that is approved by the American Bar Association, or be admitted to practice law in one or more states or territories of the United States and have graduated from a law school in the United States determined by Cooley to be reputable and qualified.

Admission to this program will be based on, among other things, graduation from an approved law school, law school grades, undergraduate major and academic performance, a writing sample, a written personal statement, and a letter of recommendation. Applicants who did not graduate in the top half of their law school class will be asked to demonstrate academic capability not reflected in their law school performance.

International Students and Admission

International students may apply to the LL.M. program at Cooley. Click on the link for information about what is required and how to apply. International students should plan ahead because of the time required for the application, admission, and enrollment process.

In special cases, the Associate Dean for International, Graduate, and Extended Programs may admit to the LL.M. degree program an applicant who has earned a J.D. or LL.B. degree from a law school in a common law-based country, or an equivalent degree from a law school in a non-common law-based country, at which the applicant has compiled a distinguished academic record or has clearly demonstrated by experience, academic performance or other qualifications the ability to perform well in the LL.M. program. The ability to demonstrate proficiency in speaking and writing English is required of applicants who are not native English speakers. The Law School may establish one or more methods to determine the requisite proficiency.

Completion of the LL.M. degree does not qualify a graduate student to apply for permission to take the bar examination in every state. Each state applies its own criteria for allowing applicants to take the bar examination and for admitting attorneys to practice law. Lawyers from other countries seeking to practice law in the United States should obtain information regarding the requirements for admission to the bar in the state in which they wish to practice. Information regarding certification for bar examinations is in the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Student Policy Manual.

How to Apply

To obtain information about the admission process or request an application for the LL.M. program contact the Office of Graduate and Extended Programs by e-mail at LLM@cooley.edu or by telephone at (517) 371-5140 ext. 2703. Also, you can download the LL.M. application.

Application and Enrollment Deadlines

The deadlines for application to and enrollment in the LL.M. program are:

Please note ALL deadlines established by the Admissions Office and the Graduate Programs Office. Contact either office with any questions about deadlines.

Guest (Non-Degree) Student Status at Cooley

A guest (non-degree) student may be admitted to Cooley's Graduate Program and earn up to eight credits. Click on the link for more information about non-degree guest student status. Please note that admission as a guest (non-degree) student does not guarantee admission into the program as an LL.M. degree seeking student.

Guest (Non-Degree) Student Application (pdf)

The J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree Program

Cooley Law School students have the opportunity to earn a J.D. and LL.M. in less time through the J.D./LL.M. joint degree program. The joint degree program allows select Cooley students to be "provisionally admitted" into the LL.M. Program while still working to obtain their Cooley J.D. Joint degree students can take up to nine credits of LL.M. coursework in their chosen area before they complete their juris doctor degree. The credits will count toward both degrees, permitting these students to save significant time and money while obtaining the knowledge, skills, and credentials for a successful law practice.

For more information about the J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree Program, click on the link.

J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree Program Application (pdf)

Tuition and Fees

There is no application fee. A $25 non-refundable enrollment fee is charged to reserve a seat. In addition, there is a $500 tuition deposit (applied to your first term's tuition) that must be paid by the deadline date. Cooley charges a $20 non-refundable student activity fee each term. Tuition for graduate courses is $555 per credit hour. Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Financial Aid

Applicants who have questions regarding the availability of financial aid for LL.M. students should contact the Financial Aid Office by e-mail or by telephone at (517) 371-5140, ext. 2210.

Canadian citizens have the opportunity to apply for the Pearson Bursary scholarship offered by Cooley Law School. The Admissions Office can provide you with additional information about the Pearson Bursary and provide an application. The Pearson Bursary scholarship is not available to non-degree guest LL.M. students.

Housing

Please visit www.cooley.edu/housing for more information about housing.

Grading

The grade for the course will be determined based upon performance in the course as demonstrated by a grade on any examination and/or course paper(s) and/or class participation.

Graduate students are graded in all courses, and honor points are assigned to those grades as follows:

Career and Professional Development Office

The Career and Professional Development Office provides a variety of specialized career counseling and services for LL.M. students. Applicants who have questions regarding career services for LL.M. students should contact the Career and Professional Development Office by e-mail or by telephone at (517) 371-5140, ext. 4109.

Additional Information

Lansing Campus

Office of Graduate and Extended Programs
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
300 South Capitol Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
t: (517) 371-5140 ext. 2703
e: LLM@cooley.edu

Professor Joni Larson
Assistant Director, Graduate Tax Program
7th Floor Cooley Center
t: (517) 371-5140, ext. 2706
e: larsonj@cooley.edu

Financial Aid Office
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
300 South Capitol Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 371-5140, ext. 2210
finaid@cooley.edu

Auburn Hills Campus

Professor David Berry
Assistant Director, Graduate Program in Intellectual Property Law
2630 Featherstone
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
t: (248) 751-7800, ext. 7750
e: berryd@cooley.edu

Val Schnable
Enrollment and Student Services Coordinator
2630 Featherstone
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
t: (248) 751-7800, ext. 7767
e: schnablv@cooley.edu

Professor Gina M. Torielli
Director, Graduate Taxation Program
2630 Featherstone
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
t: (248) 751-7800, ext. 7744
e: toriellg@cooley.edu

Professor Gerald Tschura
Director, Graduate Program in Intellectual Property Law
2630 Featherstone
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
t: (248) 751-7800, ext. 7759
e: tschurag@cooley.edu

Grand Rapids Campus

David Dee
Enrollment and Student Services Coordinator
5th Floor Law Center
111 Commerce SW
Grand Rapids , MI 49503
t: (616) 301-6800, ext. 6918
f: (616) 301-6830
e: deed@cooley.edu

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This Page was last updated on: 08/27/2008