UMKC School of Law Named a Top 25 Value by The National Jurist and preLaw magazines UMKC School of Law has been recognized as a top 25 best value in legal education for two years in a row, based on a combination of criteria including tuition, bar passage rate, and job placement.  Articles are available in The National Jurist September 2009 issue here and in the preLaw Fall 2010 issue here. For a link to interviews and contact information for some of our current students, click here. For the application form, click here.   Completed application forms and all required accompanying documentation should be sent to:   UMKC School of Law LL.M. Program for Foreign Students 500 East 52nd Street, LAW 2-200 Kansas City, MO  64110  USA For campus pictures, click here.   Program Overview The LL.M. program provides an introduction to the American legal system and to the skills taught to American lawyers.  It is 24 credit hours, and can be taken in either two or three semesters.  We offer an intensive Legal English Workshop during the summer for those who would like to work on their English before beginning the program.  Students in the three-semester format may undertake a summer internship with a judge, law firms or companies.  There is no thesis requirement, but students produce significant written work in the three required courses (7 credit hours).   Seventeen credit hours are available as electives from the J.D. program.  Students may take a variety of courses or specialize in a particular area such as business and commercial law, litigation, family law, real estate law, intellectual property, international law, or urban land use and environmental law.   The program is small, with 20 or fewer entering students per year, to maintain a low faculty-to-student ratio and to make it a more personal experience.  The LL.M. students are integrated with the J.D. students to promote cultural exchanges, provide an international perspective, and enhance diversity.   Our program not only provides an excellent exposure to American legal systems and practices, but also a true introduction to America itself - in the “real America” - the American Midwest. In addition, our program is perhaps the most reasonably priced of any LL.M. opportunity in America. Our base cost is much lower than most other programs, and we are generous with scholarship aid. We are interested in bringing students here to provide diversity to our student body and perspective to our faculty. The program is competitively priced, with more than $100,000 of scholarship available annually.  Most scholarships are for partial tuition, but one full tuition scholarship is sometimes also available.   The UMKC Experience   UMKC School of Law is more than 100 years old.  It was founded in 1895 by a group of lawyers and judges, and it continues to prepare students for the practice of law.  The school is situated on the UMKC campus, which has more than 12,000 students in various disciplines.  The campus is located in a thriving city with active ethnic communities and many cultural opportunities off-campus, but the foreign community is not so dominant that Chinese and other foreign students cannot easily interact with American students as well.  Housing is available a short distance from the Law School.  The community is clean, safe and uncrowded.  It is an ideal place to experience American culture while studying American law.  Because it is centrally located in the U.S., Kansas City is a good base for traveling to other parts of the country.  Foreign students who have attended UMKC universally praise it for its friendliness and special attention to the needs of foreign students.   Degree Requirements   Earning the LL.M. degree requires the following: Completion of three required courses with grades of Pass or better: Introduction to Law and Lawyering - International (3 credit hours), Introduction to American Law and Culture (2 credit hours), and Introduction to American Legal Skills (2 credit hours). Completion of an additional 17 credit hours from courses approved by the Foreign LL.M. advisor with grades of Pass or better. Successful completion of all coursework within three years from the beginning of the course of studies leading toward the degree. Courses   The following are required of all students in the LL.M. program for foreign students:   Introduction to Law and Lawyering - International (3 credit hours) Introduction to legal reasoning; case analysis and synthesis; case research; structure and style in legal writing with emphasis on expository writing, including office memoranda.   Introduction to American Law and Culture (2 credit hours) Introduction to the American legal system, including government structure, sources of law, common law development, and core substantive areas.   Introduction to American Legal Skills (2 credit hours) Introduction to oral and written advocacy; interviewing, counseling and negotiation; and alternative dispute resolution.   Additional courses are selected with approval of the student's advisor and come from the J.D. program.  Students typically take one required course from the first-year J.D. curriculum, such as Contracts, Property, or Torts, and then take other courses bases on their interests.  A full listing of the course offerings may be viewed at http://www1.law.umkc.edu/academic/courses.htm   Transfer of Credits to J.D. Program   Students may transfer from the LL.M. program to the J.D. program.  Students who perform well in J.D. courses may gain admission without taking the LSAT, but students may also take the LSAT and gain admission to the J.D. program without being at the top of the LL.M. class.  Elective credits earned during the LL.M. program may be applied towards the J.D. degree at UMKC or at most other United States law schools so long as the student earns a grade of C or better.  (Credits for the three required LL.M. courses cannot be transferred for J.D. credit.)   Eligibility   Eligible students will have a college degree in law from a recognized school.  There is no minimum GPA required for admission, but applicants' academic ability will be considered.  Applicants must have demonstrated English proficiency, which will be evaluated through both and English proficiency test score and a personal interview.  The LSAT is not required, but students should take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.  Successful applicants must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper exam (80 on the internet version), or a minimum IELTS score of 5.5.  The required personal interview, however, is an important component of evaluation, and not all students within the low-end of the minimum range will be admitted.  In some cases, the Law School may require additional English study at UMKC prior to the start of the LL.M. program as a condition of admission.   Admissions Process   In order to be considered for admission, a candidate must first submit a complete application packet.  The application packet in its entirety, including all supporting documents (originals or certified copies where indicated) must be received in order to make an admission decision.  Incomplete applications cannot be processed for admission.  The LL.M. for Foreign Students application packet consists of the following: A completed and signed International Student Application for Admission Master of Laws (LL.M). application form. The $60 non-refundable application fee payable by check, money order, credit card (VISA or MasterCard) payable in U.S. dollars. An autobiographical essay or personal statement which includes your motivation for studying law, your interests and future plans, your objectives for attending UMKC. Official academic credentials for undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate studies (transcripts and degree certificates) in both native language and literal English translation.  Photocopies, faxed copies or scanned copies are not acceptable. An official TOEFL or IELTS score report.  English proficiency is required for all applicants.  Photocopies, faxed copies or scanned copies are not acceptable. An original or certified copy of financial statement proving financial ability (with certified literal English translation) must be included to provide proof of sufficient funding to meet all tuition and living expenses for the first year of studies.  This funding should be in the form of liquid assets such as money in a bank account, stocks, bonds or other investments with cash value that can be quickly accessed.  Proof of financial support must be submitted in English and dated less than 12 months prior to the date when the applicant plans to enroll at UMKC.  Photocopies, faxed copies or scanned copies are not acceptable. If the applicant will rely on funding from a family member or other sponsor, the application must include an Affidavit of Support from their benefactor.  An original or certified copy of the original a notarized letter of support explaining the relationship to the applicant and pledging financial support must be included, along with the appropriate supporting financial documents (also originals or certified copies) from the sponsor.  Certified literal English translation must accompany any non-English documents.  Photocopies, faxed copies or scanned copies are not acceptable. One original signed letter of recommendation from a faculty member or administrator at your school, or from an employer.  Photocopies, faxed copies or scanned copies are not acceptable. A legible copy of the biographical information / photo page from  your passport. A current résumé or curriculum vitae. A checklist with complete details is included on pages 1 & 2 of the application form.   Applications must be submitted by December 1 for consideration for early admission, and should be submitted by March 1 for customary processing.  Applications are reviewed once the file is complete, and admission is available for qualified candidates so long as seats remain available in the incoming class.   In addition to the admissions packet, applicants must have an interview with the Director of the program, the Associate Dean for International Programs, or a designee of one of them.  Interviews in person are preferred, but can also be conducted by telephone if necessary.  Interviews will occur in late November of 2010, and, if positions remain open, additional interviews may occur through March of 2011. Professor Patrick Randolph, Director of the Chinese programs at UMKC School of Law and Director of the Peking University Center for Real Estate Law, will conduct student interviews for candidates in China. Please contact Mrs. Nancy Kunkel, Senior Program Coordinator, via telephone (816) 235-1647 or email kunkeln@umkc.edu to arrange an appointment.