Admission Requirements and Application Procedure

Admissions Eligibility Requirements

Applicants who received their law degree in the United States must hold a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to perform satisfactory graduate work as evidenced by high grade-point average or high-class rank in law school. Most U.S. applicants to the University of Houston Law Center have graduated in the upper one-third of their law school classes.

Lawyers educated in other countries must hold a law degree from an accredited university or be admitted to practice before the highest court in their jurisdiction. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to perform satisfactory graduate work by presenting evidence of either a high grade-point average or superior class standing at the school where they earned their law degree.

Application Procedure

Create your LSAC account:

Apply Now (LSAC)

There is no direct application process, therefore, all application materials must be submitted through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). To access the UH Law Center LL.M. application, create an account at LSAC.org.

Application Documentation

All applicants must submit:

• LL.M. Application
• Official law school transcript and certificate/diploma (showing degree title and graduation date), submitted to LSAC directly from the applicant’s law school — photocopies not accepted. For applicants within their last semester of study, the transcript should reflect courses currently in progress to complete degree requirements.
• Statement of Purpose (minimum 300 words; serves as a writing sample/personal interview paper)
• Resume / CV (current & include a complete list of employment history)
• Two letters of recommendation (preferably from professors, colleagues, or employers familiar with your work)

Additional requirements for foreign-trained lawyers:

• English proficiency test: TOEFL/IELTS via LSAC or Duolingo via UH Graduate School
• Copy of current visa, passport, permanent resident card, or I-797C Notice of Action

English Language Proficiency Requirement - Lawyers with Non-U.S. Law Degree

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) requires a test of English Proficiency for all applicants who earned a law degree from a country in which English is not the official language as recognized by the UH Graduate School. A successful applicant will have submitted a score above or comparable to:

TOEFL-iBT: 100 or 5.0
IELTS-Academic: 7.0
Duolingo: 120

List of countries exempt:
North America & Caribbean: U.S.A., U.S. Territories (American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands), Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago
Europe: Gibraltar, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales)
Africa: Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Oceania: Australia, Micronesia Islands, New Zealand
Other: Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (except Malvinas), St. Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands

Regardless of your English proficiency score, ALL foreign applicants are encouraged to take the Legal English Certificate Program.

Application Deadlines

Foreign-Trained Lawyers – Applicants with a first law degree earned outside the U.S. may only begin in the fall semester. Those requiring a student visa must apply by the Priority Deadline to allow sufficient time for visa processing.

Foreign-trained lawyers: Fall start only.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis:

• Applications are not reviewed until all required materials are received.
• Late or incomplete applications cannot be assured review.
• LSAC fees may change; additional documents/fees are subject to LSAC changes.

It is important to review all information, including the Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions, click Get More Information.

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