Yale Law School
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to LLM, Master’s, and Certificate Programs
Introduction
Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale Law School is one of the world鈥檚 premier law schools. With a rich history, a vibrant academic community, and an accomplished student body, Yale Law School offers an unmatched environment of excellence and educational intimacy in the form of world-renowned faculty, small classes, opportunities for independent research and writing, and student-led reading groups. The Law School is small by design; its impact on the world is measured by its accomplished graduates and its ongoing scholarship and outreach through numerous centers and projects.
The Sterling Law Building, which houses Yale Law School, occupies a city block at the heart of Yale University and downtown New Haven. Clustered around three courtyards, it holds an auditorium, classrooms, faculty offices, the Lillian Goldman Law Library, a student lounge, dining hall, and a day care center. A second building, the Robert C. and Christina Baker Hall, is less than 180 yards from the Sterling Law Building and is a modern extension of the Law School campus. Not only is it an academic hub containing several interdisciplinary centers as well as lecture halls, conference rooms, classrooms, and a media center, but it also houses two stories of residential living open only to law students.
As part of one of the world鈥檚 great universities, Yale Law School draws on its abundant academic resources, including a nearly 15 million-volume library system, world-renowned museums of art and natural history; a Tony Award-winning regional theater; two concert halls, and one of the most comprehensive fitness facilities in the world.
A coastal city on the Long Island Sound, New Haven is sophisticated, fun, easy to navigate, friendly, and affordable. It is a city of distinct neighborhoods, with beautiful architecture, treelined streets, convenient shopping, restaurants for every budget, bookstores, clubs, theaters, movies, parks, and a waterfront鈥攁ll within an easy walk or shuttle ride from the campus.
Physical Facilities
- Students have unlimited access to a premier domestic, foreign, and international legal collection consisting of the best print, electronic, and people resources in the world. For more information, visit the .
- Information technology support office with wireless network connectivity throughout the building
- Payne Whitney Gym
- YLS Dining Hall
Housing
There is plentiful, affordable, and convenient housing in New Haven. Baker Hall houses 111 law students in air-conditioned, furnished one- and two-bedroom units. Each unit has a shared kitchen and bathroom and with private bedrooms. There are additional campus housing options for students with spouses and family.
Should students want to live in New Haven, there are a number of off-campus housing options across the many unique neighborhoods of New Haven from East Rock to the green downtown area. Yale Housing maintains a website that can assist students in finding on- and off-campus options.
LLM Program
Each year, students from all over the world participate in the LLM program, taking advantage of Yale Law School鈥檚 unparalleled opportunities for advanced study, independent research, and intellectual growth. The Master of Laws (LLM) program at Yale Law School is a ten-month course of study intended for students committed to careers in law teaching and scholarship. To qualify, students must have a first degree in law.
The completely elective program has no formal specializations, and no uniform course of study is prescribed for LLM students. Students are encouraged to create an individualized curriculum that reflects their background and interests. The Graduate Programs Office provides a wide range of support services, including assistance in designing individual academic programs and exploring course options. Each LLM student is invited to use the resources of the Law School in whatever program of study will best prepare that individual for a career in research and teaching.
MSL Program
The Master of Studies in Law Program (MSL) is open to a small number of students each year who are exploring law and legal thought in relation to their own disciplines. These students have not previously studied law and are not interested in pursuing a 3-year law degree. To qualify for this program, students must have a PhD in a subject area outside of law or be coming from a career in journalism and intending to inform their reporting through a more comprehensive legal understanding.
In the MSL, students enroll in the required introductory legal courses in the first semester and create a customized curriculum in the second semester.
Intellectual Life
Yale Law School enhances the intellectual life of its academic community by sponsoring a variety of centers, programs, and workshops, inspired by the interests of its faculty and students. These offerings extend the curriculum, support faculty research, and engage the student body in serious academic inquiry. Each center has a particular focus, such as human rights, corporate law, or environmental law and policy. Workshops at YLS allow scholars and students to discuss emerging ideas in fields as diverse as law and economics, human rights, legal history, and international legal reform.
Through organizing reading groups, pursuing supervised independent research and writing, taking courses in other departments and schools at Yale, or presenting papers at the graduate works-in-progress symposium, our LLM students have numerous opportunities to take initiative, explore new subjects and disciplines, engage in collaborative learning, and stretch and challenge themselves in a rigorous academic setting.
Student Services and Organizations
With approximately 15 student affinity groups and over 70 student-led groups, Yale Law School has opportunities for students to engage both socially and intellectually within the community. The Law School encourages students to take advantage of Yale鈥檚 extensive academic, extracurricular, and social offerings. Whether attending classes, organizing a slate of engaging conferences and events, or volunteering to work for the public interest, our students bring their idealism and passion into every aspect of their lives.
Fueled by a globally diverse student body and a flexible curriculum, the Law School provides a range of services and resources to support its LLM students. These include academic counseling offered by the Graduate Programs Office to create a personalized curriculum; to seeking career advice for the path ahead at events sponsored by the Career Development Office; to engaging with fellow students during Community Coffee sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students.
Career Development
The Career Development Office serves to educate students and alumni on the diverse career paths open to them as graduates of the Yale Law School. Through one-on-one counseling, access to online resources and publications, and participation in interview and educational programs, students and alumni gain the confidence and knowledge to successfully identify and realize their career goals. The Graduate Programs Office also sponsors the 鈥淟ife After Yale鈥 series which brings in international alumni and guests who can provide insight on how to develop academic careers.
Application Information
Contact Information
For additional information, please visit Yale鈥檚 , or contact:
Yale Law School Graduate Programs
PO Box 208215
New Haven, CT 06520-8215
USA
Phone: 203.432.1696
Email: gradpro.law@yale.edu