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What is the LL.M. in international law?
The Fletcher School’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) is a post-graduate, full-time academic degree for legal professionals who wish to obtain specialized education in a particular area of international law. Fletcher’s LL.M. in international law is intended to provide a broader contextual understanding—not only of the law but also of the disparate societies and inter-societal milieu in which it is made, interpreted, and applied.

How do I apply for admission to the LL.M. program?
We strongly prefer that applicants use our online application.

What materials do I need to submit with my application?
Applicants to the LL.M. program must submit the following materials:

• Application form
• Application fee of $70
• Official academic transcripts from all previously attended institutions
• Three letters of recommendation
• Resume
• Personal Statement
• Supplemental Essay
• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable)
• Financial Aid Application (if applicable)
• Evaluative Interview (optional)

Additional details and instructions can be found with the online application form, which will be accessible in September, 2007.

Do I need to submit test scores (LSAT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)?
The LSAT is not required for admission to the LL.M. program.

If you are an international student and your native language is not English and you have not earned a university degree where English was the primary language of instruction, then you are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Non-native English speakers will succeed in Fletcher's rigorous LL.M. curriculum only if they are fluent in English. A TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-Based Test or 250 on the Computer-Based Test, or 600 on the Paper-Based Test, or a 7 on the IELTS examination is generally considered minimal evidence of English language ability for graduate study at The Fletcher School. Proficiency in English weighs heavily in the LL.M. admissions process. Applicants whose scores are just above or below these minimums may be required to take an ESL or Legal English course prior to enrolling. Beginning with admission for the 2009-2010 academic year, we strongly recommend applicants also take the ILEC (International Legal English Certificates) examination.

When is the application deadline?
The deadlines for the 2009-2010 academic year are as follows:

November 15, 2009 for Early Notification
January 15, 2010 for Regular Notification
March 1, 2010 for Late Notification

How will I be notified whether I have been accepted into the LL.M. program?
Every effort is made to notify an applicant as quickly as possible about the decision on his or her application, as well as the amount of the financial aid award, if any. Given the volume of applications, it may take considerable time to render a decision, but every effort will be made to notify applicants by the deadlines specified above. Given the vagaries of air mail, affirmative decisions will first be communicated via email (typically within twenty-four hours of a decision being made), and will thereafter be available through the applicant’s on-line account. Formal letters will also be mailed out from the Admissions Office.

What is the benefit of applying for Early Notification?
Through the Early Notification process, applicants can receive an admissions decision by January 1st for enrollment the following September, giving admitted applicants extra time to plan for graduate study. The Admissions Committee uses the same criteria to evaluate applicants who meet the early and regular deadlines. Early Notification is not binding and Early Notification applicants may apply to other graduate programs.

Do you admit students to enroll for the spring semester?
No. The program is a full-time, one-year program beginning in late August.

Who makes admissions decisions?
The Fletcher international law faculty decides jointly who will be admitted, based upon recommendations from the Committee on Admissions.

Are interviews required?
No. An evaluative interview is highly recommended, but is not a required component of the admissions process. Foreign applicants who have not completed English-language degree studies or for whom English is not their native language may be contacted at our discretion for a telephone interview. All applicants who are unable to visit Fletcher are welcome, but not required, to request a phone interview with the Associate Director of the program.

What is the size of the LL.M. class?
Class size is limited to no more than twenty-five, ensuring that students benefit from an extremely attractive faculty-to-student ratio, and active engagement in our unsurpassed intellectual environment. Given the highly-selective admissions process, our LL.M. students will have a global impact that far outweighs their numbers, enriching—and being enriched by—the Fletcher School.

Is work experience required for admission to the LL.M. program?
Most successful applicants will have at least three to five years of professional legal experience. The Committee on Admissions carefully reviews each applicant's personal and professional experience to assess readiness for graduate study at Fletcher. Voluntary positions, internships, and part- and full-time experience all play a role in preparing students for study.

Is international experience required for admission to the LL.M. program?
There is no rigid requirement as to length or nature of international experience, but because the LL.M. is focused on international law, students should have a demonstrated interest in the international environment. For some students, this could mean experience living and/or working abroad. For others, a working or research environment where international issues are the focus could be sufficient. The nature of each applicant’s international experience is assessed in the context of his or her individual application and professional goals. International experience includes time spent living, studying, working, volunteering, or traveling outside of the applicant’s home country.

What is the annual tuition for the LL.M. Program?
Tuition is $40,200 for the 2009-2010 academic year, which includes all expenses related to the Talloires Capstone and High Table luncheon series. In addition, there are considerable education-related expenses applicants should factor into their calculations, including costs related to printing course materials off of Blackboard and the cost of text books. For further information on estimated costs, please consult the Registrar’s office.

Do you offer scholarships?
Yes. The Fletcher School offers scholarships to help defray tuition costs. Applicants who complete the Fletcher scholarship application are considered for scholarship aid on the basis of both need and merit. However, the pool of financial aid that we have to offer is limited, and successful applicants should assume that they will have to secure alternative sources of funding for some, or perhaps a majority, of the costs associated with the program. Accordingly, we encourage applicants to seek outside sources of funding including scholarships and loans as early as possible in the application process. We are unable to offer scholarships, or information on scholarships, to prospective applicants until they have applied to the LL.M. program.

Where can I find sources of financial aid other than from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy?
Many applicants have found the links on the LL.M. Guide website to be a helpful resource. We recommend you look into as many alternative sources as possible.

What are the qualifications for admission?
The LL.M. Program is limited to students who have already met at least one of the following requirements: (1) obtained a J.D. degree from an A.B.A. approved law school in the United States; (2) completed in a foreign country the academic (university-based) legal education required to take the bar examination in that country; or (3) be qualified to practice law (admitted to the bar) in a foreign country. Applicants will be selected on the basis of law school and undergraduate grades, legal and other professional experience, exam scores, TOEFL scores (where applicable), and recommendations. A waiver of these requirements is granted only in exceptional circumstances. We are unable to render any opinion as to the competitiveness of an applicant’s application, as all admissions decisions are made by the LL.M. Admissions Committee.

Who is admitted to the LL.M. program?
Admission to the program is highly selective. While determinations are made by the Admissions Committee on an individual basis, successful applicants generally possess strong academic credentials, a record of professional achievement, and a demonstrable interest in international issues. Our applicants include a number of Fulbright scholars, and approximately 80% of our applicants reside outside of the United States. The LL.M. program is unsurpassed in the depth and breadth of its international offerings, and attracts students from around the world who wish to become part of the Fletcher School’s remarkable global network.

What are the degree requirements for the LL.M.?
The LL.M. program is a residential program lasting one full academic year, with four courses each semester. One of these eight courses must be a seminar or independent study project with a substantial writing requirement in order to satisfy the LL.M. thesis requirement. The topic, scope and length of the writing project must be agreed upon by the instructor (who will act as the thesis supervisor) in advance. The formal thesis deadline is the last day of classes for the academic year; other deadlines may be set by the thesis advisor.

A minimum of five of the eight courses must be in law. A maximum of six of the eight courses may be in law, while at least two courses must be in two other divisions at Fletcher: Economics and International Business; and Diplomacy, History, and Politics.

Students participate in an international law "High Table", an on-going colloquium run by the international law faculty that includes regular presentations by faculty, visiting scholars, speakers, and students concerning their research. Students also attend a three-day, year-end capstone symposium held at Tufts' European Center in Talloires, France.

In addition, LL.M. candidates are required to pass a foreign language proficiency exam if English is their primary language. Foreign language proficiency is not a requirement for admission, but it is a requirement for graduation from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Please note that the rigor of the Fletcher program will not allow time for meaningful second-language instruction, so applicants with weak second language skills should not expect to be able to reach the proficiency required for graduation while enrolled in the LL.M. program. Accordingly, we recommend that applicants address their foreign language deficiency before the commencement of the academic year.

Does Fletcher offer specializations with the LL.M.?
Yes. LL.M. students have the flexibility to create their own programs, and if they so choose they may follow one of three optional curricular tracks within the law curriculum. These optional specializations include Public International Law, International Business Law, and International Economic Law.

Can I do an independent study project?
Yes. An independent study project consists of directed reading and research for credit, providing an opportunity for qualified students to pursue the study of particular problems within the discipline of International Law and Organizations under the personal guidance of a member of faculty. The course may be assigned to a Field of Study according to the topic selected or used to fulfill the thesis requirement. Independent study projects require the consent of the professor and formal approval. For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Can I cross-register for classes at other schools?
Yes. Fletcher maintains formal cross-registration agreements with the graduate schools at Tufts and Harvard Universities. LL.M. students are allowed to cross-register for up to two courses outside of Fletcher, with a maximum of one course at Harvard Law School. On occasion other school’s timelines conflict with that of Fletcher. Before cross-registering, students should confirm that the exam schedule for their proposed course(s) does not conflict with required components of the LLM program, such as the Talloires Capstone. Furthermore, if courses are taken outside of Fletcher in the final term, the Registrar’s Office cannot always guarantee that the grades will be forwarded to Fletcher in time for the student to graduate. If a student has not met all the degree requirements in time for graduation, they will be allowed to participate in Commencement but will not officially graduate until those requirements are all met.

Can I pursue a joint degree in conjunction with the LL.M.?
Yes. Students can pursue a joint degree with Fletcher’s Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) program. A joint LL.M./MALD degree would require 2 ½ years (5 semesters) to complete. MALD students who wish to pursue a joint MALD/LL.M. degree must apply separately for the LL.M. program by the end of their first academic year. The five semesters of study must be contiguous. Please keep in mind that the LL.M. Program is a full academic program for a complete academic year beginning in the fall. Students may not start the program in January or during the summer.

If I do a joint LL.M/MALD degree, will I be responsible for writing two theses?
This issue is currently under consideration by the Curriculum Committee. For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Can I switch my current program at Fletcher to the LL.M. Program?
Enrolled Fletcher students who wish to change from their current degree to the LL.M. must do so prior to commencement. They are expected to apply separately for the LL.M. degree and include in the application a letter explaining in detail why they wish to switch their current degree to pursue an LL.M.. Please keep in mind that the LL.M. Program is a full academic program for a complete academic year beginning in the fall. Students may not start the program in January or during the summer.

What resources do you offer for professional development?
The Office of Career Services has a staff with dedicated coaches for each sector that help students realize their career goals. LL.M. students have the option to participate in a ten-week Professional Development Program (PDP) that helps them manage international careers during and after Fletcher. Topics covered in this interactive program include self-assessment; hiring theory; and personal marketing including resumes and cover letters, networking, and interviewing skills. Throughout their Fletcher careers, all students can take advantage of sector-specific coaching, career trips to Washington, DC and New York City, on-campus recruiting and employer information sessions, and a comprehensive internship database. One of Fletcher's greatest assets, our vast alumni network of more than 7,000 graduates, is an incomparable resource for contacts around the globe.

When are classes in session?
Normally, from the first week in September until the last week in April. For more details please consult the academic calendar.

Will a Fletcher LL.M. degree qualify me to take the bar examination?
No. Some states do permit application to the bar by an applicant who does not hold a J.D. if the applicant has taken a minimum number of credit hours in courses offered at an ABA-approved law school. Fletcher is not an ABA-approved law school. Accordingly, credit hours earned in connection with a Fletcher-granted LL.M. degree would not qualify an individual to apply for the bar in any state of the United States.

Is the LL.M. program available part-time or during summers? Does Fletcher offer the LL.M. through long-distance learning? No. Fletcher does offer a program in long-distance learning; for more information visit the Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP). A GMAP component may be added at a later date; however, to ensure programmatic standards and integrity, the residential LL.M program will be solidly established before adding a GMAP component.

I was not admitted to the LL.M. program. Will you provide me with feedback on my application?
The Admissions Committee is happy to provide unsuccessful applicants who wish to reapply to Fletcher with feedback on their application. However, due to the volume of applications we receive, we will honor such requests only if made in writing after May 1st of the year in which you applied. Please provide information on when you are considering reapplying, what professional or academic plans you have for the period until you reapply, and any specific questions you have on your application. We will be happy to provide you with a response in writing.

I was not admitted to the LL.M. program. May I reapply?
While admissions decisions are not subject to appeal, applicants who were not offered admission (or who declined an offer of admission) are welcome to reapply. The Admissions Office maintains applications for a period of three years. Applicants who reapply within the three-year timeframe may take advantage of a simplified reapplication process. Please consult the application policies section of the Admissions Office website for more information.

Will reapplying for another academic year affect my chances of admission?
Each application is considered in the context of the applicant pool for that academic year, so reapplying by itself will have no impact on the likelihood of admission. We encourage all applicants who are interested in reapplying to request feedback on their original application. Applicants have strengthened their applications for succeeding academic years through, inter alia: submitting additional transcripts of strong grades in graduate-level coursework (including Fletcher’s summer program), improving second-language or English skills, submitting higher GRE or other standardized examination scores, expanding their exposure to international affairs, clarifying their post-Fletcher career goals, and gaining additional work experience. Reapplying is no guarantee of admission, but in some cases applicants have benefited from the additional time to become more competitive candidates.