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Introduction

Charleston School of Law, located in Charleston, South Carolina, is home to the nation’s ninth-largest container port and provides access to global markets through intermodal partners, including international shipping lines, freight forwarders, motor carriers, rail transportation, and supply chain logistics companies.

Located on the Charleston peninsula, the Port of Charleston and Charleston Law provide an incomparable experience for students seeking advanced legal study in global trade and maritime law.

The Program

The course of study leading to the LL.M. degree consists of twenty-four (24) credit hours. At least fourteen (14) credit hours must consist of classes satisfying the global trade and maritime curriculum. The remaining ten (10) hours may be chosen from Charleston School of Law general curriculum. 

The course offerings will provide each student with the opportunity to advance in any of these various sub-specialties and to tailor their studies beyond the basics to their individual professional interests. The flexibility of the curriculum allows foreign-trained lawyers to also enroll in foundational U.S. law courses that make them eligible to sit for the New York bar exam.

The degree can be completed in one academic year, consisting of two twelve-credit-hour semesters. Ordinarily, this will be a Fall-Spring course sequence. Completion of course requirements in one academic year is not required; some students may wish to complete the required 24 hours over a longer period, but no longer than two calendar years.

The aim of the program is to provide both variety and depth in the courses offered, covering the field from the general, introductory level to the sub-specialties comprising global trade and maritime law.

Mentors

Francis Drake Admiralty Inn of Court

The LL.M. program also benefits from the Francis Drake Admiralty American Inn of Court. The charter was awarded by the American Inns of Court on September 20, 2011. The School’s Inn of Court is the only one dedicated to admiralty and maritime law, and it will serve as an important source of mentoring for students in the LL.M. Program. Maritime lawyers and students make up the membership of the Inn. The Inn is currently inactive.

Charleston Maritime Law Institute

The Charleston Maritime Law Institute (CMLI) was established in 2004 and serves as an advisory council with regular meetings to support the maritime law program. This group includes senior maritime lawyers from law firms around the country, chief counsels to major maritime industries, as well as senior State Ports Authority officials and industry leaders from Charleston. With the support of these outstanding people, students visit various port facilities to see the subjects of their studies in action, from port operations and management to cargo and vessel movement. The CMLI meets periodically.

Application and Admission Process

Charleston Law begins reviewing files as they are completed and continues until all seats in the program are filled. The application deadline for the LL.M. program is June 1 for fall admission. An application to Charleston School of Law LL.M. program requires the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• J.D. from an ABA-approved law school, except for international students.
• International applicants with law degrees from schools outside the United States must obtain the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to ensure that the degree-granting school is the equivalent of an ABA-accredited school.
• Completed and signed application for admission. Applications are available at .
• ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (LL.M. CAS) Law School Report. Registration for the LL.M. CAS is available at .
• A minimum of two letters of recommendation, at least one from a law faculty member, a lawyer, or a judge. Applicants should use the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Letter of Recommendation (LOR) service.
• Personal statement. Personal statements should be uploaded as attachments to your ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ application. The admission committee considers many applicants with strong credentials and makes difficult decisions regarding whom to admit to the limited number of seats at Charleston School of Law. Applicants should provide a candid self-evaluation, detailing any information they believe will assist the committee in evaluating their application. Applicants should provide evidence of their abilities and strengths, including examples of leadership, maturity, organizational skills, and motivation to study law. Applicants may also wish to provide, as an addendum, information regarding any educational and financial obstacles that have been overcome or disabilities that may have affected academic performance.
• Current résumé.
• Transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools attended. Transcripts from the degree-granting institution(s) must indicate the degree(s) earned and the date conferred. All transcripts should be submitted by the school(s) directly to ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ.

TOEFL Score and International Applicants

Applicants should be aware that competency in English is critical to success in the LL.M. program at Charleston School of Law, and that demonstrated fluency in English is an important consideration in evaluating applications.

International applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English by completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) within two years prior to submitting the application. For information and questions about the TOEFL, please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Applicants should arrange to take the TOEFL at the earliest possible date to ensure their application is completed by the deadline. Please request that official scores be sent directly to Charleston School of Law.

Tuition and Scholarships

Tuition is currently $30,000 per year. Students are billed on a per-semester basis. Any merit scholarships are typically awarded at the time of acceptance.

Contact Information

For additional information, please  or contact:

Professor Jennifer North
Charleston School of Law
385 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403

Phone: (843) 377-2451
Email: jnorth@charlestonlaw.edu