Master of Laws (LLM) - Online | USC Gould School of Law

The Online Master of Laws (LLM) program offers a part-time curriculum to students who have already earned a first degree in law (BA in Law, LLB, or JD equivalent) from a country outside of the U.S.

Increase your understanding through interdisciplinary study and interaction with legal experts, seasoned academics and policymakers. Earning an Online LLM degree from USC Gould requires completing 21 credit units that provide an opportunity to gain skills in a particular area of law. You can curate your concentration by selecting courses from our available fields of study.

The Online LLM program provides an exciting and rewarding academic environment for international attorneys, government officials, business legal counsel, and recent law graduates interested in pursuing graduate studies in U.S. law.


Format: Part-Time \| Online	Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree	Start: Fall \| Spring \| Summer

Receive more information about our Online LLM degree and be notified of upcoming events:

Through the Online LLM degree, you will develop:

Practical knowledge of the theories, history and use of American law
A strong understanding of the U.S. legal system, government, historical context and foundational values
Insights into how the American legal system differs from other legal systems around the world
Fluency with advanced legal terminology through exposure to substantive texts, cases, statutes and memoranda
The ability to perform legal research and analysis necessary for work in a variety of legal settings
An understanding of legal professionalism and ethics, and the responsibilities required of representatives of clients and officers of the court
Improved English language and writing skills

The LLM is ideal for international professionals, including:

Attorneys
Judges
Government officials
Prosecutors
Corporate legal counsel
Bankers
Recent law graduates

A top-rated law school nationwide, USC Gould is the first law school in Southern California, renowned for its history of innovation and excellence in legal education.

When you join USC Gould, you will become part of a dynamic and diverse law school community, learn from world-class faculty, enroll in small and collegial classes, and join the global Trojan Family network of more than 15,000 law school alumni. Our graduates include partners in the world's largest law firms, pioneers in public service, and presidents and CEOs of industry-leading companies.

The Online LLM prepares graduates for leadership roles in a wide variety of global settings, including business, compliance, education, entertainment, finance, health care, human resources and more. Upon completion of the program on the California Bar Track, international attorneys will be eligible* to sit for the California Bar Exam.

Please Note: USC Gould School of Law cannot determine your eligibility to sit for the California Bar exam since each applicant is reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the State Bar. Therefore, we recommend verifying your California Bar eligibility prior to enrolling in our Online Master of Laws (LLM).

Earn a master's degree from a premier, top-ranked law school, fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
No GRE or LSAT required
100% online – convenient coursework
Part-time and flexible - ideal for working professionals
Students complete their studies in as few as 16 months
Deeply committed and distinguished faculty
Scholarships are available and considered for all applicants
Access to the global USC Trojan Family network, which includes more than 15,000 USC Gould alums worldwide
Create new career opportunities with a degree in U.S. law
Admission decision within two to four weeks of application completion
Three starts per year - fall, spring, or summer
Receive an additional certificate in Business Law, Compliance, Entertainment Law and Industry, Financial Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Law and Compliance, Privacy Law and Cybersecurity and more at no additional cost

Offered 100% Online

USC Gould's Online LLM degree is taught in a 100% digital format that combines self-paced (asynchronous) and real-time (synchronous) components.

In addition to the Online LLM degree, USC Gould offers specialized LLM and master's programs.

Accessible Anywhere

Our interactive, online learning platform is accessible anywhere you have an internet connection.

Weekly Conversation

You will engage in weekly live discussions facilitated by your professor.

Collaborative Classroom

You will have a collaborative online classroom experience - with small classes that allow for greater student and faculty interaction.

Synchronous and Asynchronous

The USC Gould Online LLM is synchronous and asynchronous, including interactive modules, message board participation, assignments, group work, virtual office hours, and weekly live classes. While flexible in scheduling, the program is academically rigorous, with each class requiring 12-16 hours of work each week.

Weekday Schedule

Our unique academic week of Wednesday through Tuesday allows students to best maximize their time, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, to complete their course requirements.

Career Support

Our experienced advisors will provide individualized guidance on course selection to meet your personal and career goals.

At the heart of our educational philosophy is a deep-rooted commitment to student success. Learn more about the student experience from our Online LLM alums:

Luna Hernandez (LLM 2023) is a paralegal from South Africa who decided to pursue an online Master of Laws (LLM) degree at USC Gould to support her career goal of becoming a transactional corporate attorney. The program allowed her the flexibility to keep working full-time as a transactional paralegal, and still pursue her ultimate goal of passing the California Bar exam and becoming a practicing attorney in the U.S.

James Quick (LLM 2023) earned his law degree abroad and decided to pursue an online Master of Laws (LLM) degree at USC Gould to become a practicing attorney in the areas of cybersecurity and privacy law. Quick was looking for an intellectual challenge and thought law might be an area where he could contribute academically to worthy causes once he retired.

When you graduate, you join USC's famed Trojan Family — a vast, global alumni network that will remain one of your most valuable, lifelong professional resources. Thousands of law alumni around the world share a steadfast commitment to nurturing the next generation of students at USC Gould.

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