Application Pre-Requisites
Applicants may seek admission for degree or non-degree (i.e. audit) status for the following programs:
• the LL.M. or J.S.M. degree (24 credits for the equivalent of 8 courses)
• Certification of Expertise (15 credits for the equivalent of 5 courses)
• Professional Certification and Designations (course-by-course)
• Continuing Professional Education (course-by-course)

J.S.D (Ph.D. level Doctor of the Science of Law) program (3 year research based dissertation)
Non-degree (audit) applicants will neither receive a course grade nor course credit, but will in all other academic aspects be considered a regular student in the program, receiving feedback and grades for assignments/examinations/papers submitted and having full access to the faculty.

LL.M. (Master of Laws)
LL.M. degree applicants have earned a Juris Doctorate (J.D.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), or an equivalent legal degree from a law school in the United States or from an accredited foreign University law faculty.

J.S.M. (Master of Science of Laws)
J.S.M. applicants have earned an accredited Bachelors degree or its foreign equivalent, generally in accountancy, business, finance, or economics, and are able to show a strong commitment from previous academic experience and professional experience to undertake a rigorous legal study that includes extensive writing, research, and critical legal thinking. J.S.M. candidates will be assessed and judged against the same standard as the LL.M. candidates, and the program requirements are the same in all respects.
J.S.D. (Doctor of the Science of Law)
J.S.D. applicants have earned the LL.M. or J.S.M. degree. The LL.M, J.S.M., or its equivalent degree, must have had a thesis requirement as part of its graduation requirements.
Certification of Expertise

Degree and non-degree candidates may seek a Certification of Expertise in a certain field, generally in association with certification of the relevant professional association.
(1) International Financial Services
(2) Anti-Money Laundering & Compliance
(3) Wealth Management & Private Banking
(4) E-commerce / Intellectual Property
(5) United States Taxation
(6) Trusts/Company Administration & Compliance
Continuing Professional Education

Professional continuing education (e.g. CPE and CLE) is an annual requirement for many professional associations. A degree or non-degree students should consult with his or her relevant professional association to determine whether courses undertaken in this program may fulfill such requirements.

Application Procedures and Protocols for LL.M. and J.S.M Degree Programs
LL.M. degree applicants apply to the Graduate Program Office.
Application to the LL.M. and J.S.M. program must submit the following -
(1) The completion of an application form
(2) Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
(3) Two letters of recommendation
(4) One page personal statement
(5) Official transcripts from all previous law school/law faculty and universities
(6) Thomas Jefferson application fee of $100

Applicants with completed applications will have a telephonic or face-to-face admissibility discussion with Asst. Dean William Byrnes.
Foreign transcripts
Applicants with foreign transcripts must have the transcripts evaluated by the LSAC LL.M. credential assembly service. Go to https://llm.lsac.org/llm/logon/splash.aspx
Non-degree applicants
Non-degree applicants may submit directly to Thomas Jefferson -
(1) The completion of an application form
(2) Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
(3) One page personal statement
(4) Application fee of $100

J.S.D.
The application for the J.S.D. requires significant preparation, focused on the “Memo of Novelty of Publishable Topic”. The 6 items required to complete an application are:

(1) J.S.D. Application Form including a Description of the Novelty of the Publishable Topic
(2) Certified transcripts from the previous LL.M./J.S.M. program, all previous law school/law faculty and universities
(3) Copy of LL.M./J.S.M. Thesis
(4) Three letters of recommendation that specifically address the applicants ability to undertake a rigorous research and publication project
(5) $200 Application Fee
(6) List of (at least) three potential supervising faculty members with resumes/CVs supporting the faculty members’ specific expertise in the subject matter

Admission Time Periods
Admission is thrice per year:
FALL – completed application deadline June 30th for early September start date
SPRING – completed application deadline October 31st for early January start date
SUMMER – completed application deadline March 15th for late May start date
Once the completed application is received, Prof. Byrnes will schedule a call with the applicant within a week. The Admissions Committee’s decision will be emailed within 10 business days after the telephonic interview.

Application Procedures and Protocols

Click Here to Open and Print out an Official Application Form