DePaul University College of Law > Admission & Aid > International Student Programs

International Student Programs

Engaging a global perspective is central to how DePaul University thinks about and teaches the law. This engagement is achieved through a culturally rich community and the integration of a wide range of knowledge and perspectives. The College of Law proudly welcomes highly skilled lawyers from all over the world who are ready to serve society’s local, national and international needs. DePaul offers two programs designed specifically for foreign-trained lawyers and graduates of non-U.S. law schools seeking to expand their legal knowledge and practice capabilities:

  • Two-Year JD for International Lawyers

    DePaul’s Two-Year JD for International Lawyers program attracts foreign-trained lawyers from around the world. As a graduate of a foreign law school, you may enroll in this accelerated two-year program to earn a nationally recognized JD degree, sit for the bar exam and become licensed to practice in the United States.

    At DePaul, you will study alongside traditional JD students, taking the same first-year foundational courses and progressing to specialized coursework in your second year. You may focus your legal studies in one of eight areas: Business Law, Child & Family Law, Criminal Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Law, International Human Rights Law or Public Interest Law.

    Expanded Horizon

    DePaul’s 2015 entering class includes foreign-trained lawyers from more than a dozen countries including: Australia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda and Ukraine. In the TwoYear JD program, you benefit from studying with classmates from the United States and abroad, who share experiences with a decidedly international point of view.

    Accelerated Path

    DePaul does not require the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) for admission to the Two-Year JD program. In addition, you receive one year of credit (28 credit hours) for your existing foreign law degree, which allows you to earn a JD in only two years of full-time study.

    Apply

  • LLM (Master of Laws) Programs

    Many law firms see job candidates with advanced LLM degrees as an indicator of a graduate’s expanded commitment to and capabilities for a specialized multinational environment. In 2015, 23 lawyers completed LLM programs with graduates hailing from ten different countries. DePaul LLM students may complete the program requirements through either an intensive, one-year course of full-time study, or through a more flexible, self-managed part-time regimen.

    Internationally recognized and voted the best in Chicago by National Law Journal readers in 2015, DePaul’s LLM programs are designed to provide you with an expanded set of legal skills and knowledge in one of these specialized areas:

    • Health Law
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Law
      International Aviation Law & Policy
      International Business,       Commercial & Trade Law
      International Cultural Heritage Law
      International Governance & Rule of Law
      International Human Rights Law
    • Taxation
    • U.S. Legal Studies (bar-eligible​)

    Conditional Admission

    DePaul considers conditional admission for students who have a strong overall academic record, but cannot demonstrate the minimum English language requirements (90 on the iBT, 577 on the PBT, or 6.5 on the IELTS). Applicants who are granted conditional admission may enroll in DePaul’s English Language Academy (ELA). Learn more here.

    Apply


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