Studying Master of Laws (LL.M.)

The Master of Laws, or LL.M. degree is a graduate degree connected to the area of Law Sciences. The abbreviation LL.M. stands for "Legum Magister" in Latin. The LL.M. degree is offered by law schools around the globe and is usually the next step after graduating a Bachelor's programme in Law Sciences (Bachelor of Laws, LL.B.). However, some universities of law accept students who completed a non-legal undergraduate degree to apply to a LL.M. degree.

Depending on the law schools and country, LL.M. degrees can take 1 or 2 years to complete. As the LL.B. degree is already sufficient in countries such as the UK in order to practise law, the Master of Laws specializes students with an advanced legal qualification in a certain subject area. Further specialization can be gained with a JD degree ("Juris Doctor").

Because laws are different depending on where you practice them, many countries still require an additional state examination in order to be eligible for practising law, regardless of having an LL.M. degree.