Southwestern Law School Los Angeles, CA
 

Application Process

The following materials should be sent or transmitted electronically to the attention of the Biederman Institute at Southwestern's general address as indicated at the bottom of this page. Applications are not considered complete until all required documents have been received.

  • Application for Admission
    The same application form is used for both semesters, as well as for both full-time and part-time students. Applicants are encouraged to complete the application online. (To apply for the Spring Semester through the online application, please select the Fall application and indicate that you are applying for Spring by checking that box on the application.)
  • Application Fee
    A nonrefundable $60 check or money order made payable to Southwestern Law School must be submitted with the admissions application form or with the acknowledgment statement if applying online. The canceled check will serve as your receipt.
  • Personal Statement
    The applicant's personal statement should describe the reasons for pursuing an LL.M. degree, as well as any motivation, life experiences, accomplishments, special interests, personal qualities and career objectives. Please include any information that would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in making its decision.
  • Letters of Recommendation
    At least two letters of recommendation should be submitted on behalf of an applicant by persons (other than relatives) who are familiar with the applicant's academic and professional abilities and potential. Letters may be submitted directly by recommenders to the Biederman Institute.
  • Current Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • Official Transcripts
    Official, sealed transcripts from all law schools attended (or currently attending) and all colleges and universities from which you received a degree are required. Transcripts should show the degrees earned, dates awarded, and if applicable, class rank. If law school class rank is not included on your transcript, please request that it be sent by the law school registrar.

Foreign Applicants

Applicants who completed their [undergraduate and/or] legal degrees at institutions outside the United States or Canada must fulfill additional requirements:

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English or whose education has been in a language other than English must achieve a minimum score of 100 on the Next Generation (internet-based) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 250 on the computer-based test, or 600 on the paper-based test. More information on TOEFL is available online at www.TOEFL.org.
  • The degree(s) must be from a university accredited in the country in which it is located or the applicant must be admitted to practice before the highest court in that country.
  • The applicant must submit a degree equivalency statement with an assessment of grade-point average based on foreign academic work as provided by a credentials evaluation service:

    LSAC LL.M. Credential Assembly Service
    662 Penn Street Box 8511
    Newtown, PA 18940-8511
    Tel: 215.968.1315 / Fax: 215.504.1456
    www.LLM.LSAC.org / LLMinfo@LSAC.org

    International Education Research Foundation
    P.O. Box 3665
    Culver City, CA 90231-3655
    Tel: (310) 258-9451
    Fax: (310) 342-7086
    www.ierf.org / info@ierf.org
     
    World Education Services, Inc.
    Bowling Green Station
    P.O. Box 5087
    New York, NY 10274-5087
    Tel: 212-966-6311
    Fax: 212-739-6100
    www.wes.org / info@wes.org
     
    Global Services Associates
    2554 Lincoln Boulevard, #445
    Marina del Rey, CA 90291-5082
    Tel & Fax: (310) 828-5709
    www.globaleval.org / info@globaleval.org


Admission Application Deadlines

It is in the applicant's best interest to apply as early as possible; however, the application file for Fall admission should be completed no later than June 30, for Spring admission no later than November 15, and for Summer admission no later than April 15. Applications submitted after the above dates will be considered on an individual basis. Waiting lists will be established early.

Contact

Tamara Moore, Associate Director of the Biederman Institute
LL.M. in Entertainment and Media Law
Southwestern Law School
3050 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90010-1106

(213) 738-6602
llmadmissions@swlaw.edu