Degree Requirements

To earn an LL.M. degree, students are required to be present in residence at USC attending classes and must successfully complete 21 units of credit over two semesters of study. The LL.M. program is offered on a full-time basis only and is not offered part-time. Enrollment begins in the fall only. Students may not begin in the spring term.

LL.M. students are required to take two courses - Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Research in their first semester. Students satisfy their remaining course requirements over the two semesters by enrolling in upper division courses offered at USC Law.

Many of our students tailor their course schedules around specialty areas such as Corporate/Business Law, Intellectual Property, Entertainment Law, and International Law. For those who are interested in completing a certificate alongside their LL.M. degree, we offer a Business Law certificate and an Entertainment Law certificate for our LL.M. students.

No transfer credit for work completed at other law schools will be granted toward the LL.M. degree at USC Law.