Eligibility Requirements

LLM Programs

If you are interested in applying to one of our LLM programs, including the two-year LLM, you must hold a first degree in law:

• US-trained applicants must be graduates of an accredited law school at the time of matriculation.
• Foreign-trained applicants must hold a first degree in law, or its equivalent, from an accredited or comparably recognized law school or law faculty outside the United States at the time of matriculation. Admission to the national bar of certain jurisdictions may meet the eligibility criteria.
• The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) offers an LLM eligibility guide with some helpful resources, though in some cases Boston University may recognize different credentials.

Students graduating with an LLM from Boston University School of Law must have a predictable level of competence across the range of knowledge and skills generally expected of lawyers. This allows clients, licensing and credentialing authorities, and other interested parties to rely on these competencies. The American Bar Association and state bar associations require some of these competencies; others come from widespread industry practice and expectations. In order to achieve these competencies, known as technical standards, students must enter the Boston University School of Law able to do various functions, either with or without reasonable accommodation, and must maintain these abilities throughout law school in order to graduate.

Master in the Study of Tax Law

If you are interested in apply to our Master in the Study of Tax Law program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or the international equivalent, at the time of matriculation. You do not need a prior degree in law.

Certificates in Estate Planning and Financial Services Compliance

We welcome applications from highly qualified candidates who hold a bachelor degree or equivalent, with relevant academic and/or professional experience in legal services or other related field. As such, although many students with prior legal training enroll in these certificate programs, you do not need to hold a first degree in law to apply. If you wish to receive additional information on the qualifications of students without a first degree in law who are typically admitted to any of our certificate programs, please contact bullm@bu.edu.