Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies students

The Program

Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is consistently ranked among the top 10 law schools in the United States.

Virginia’s Graduate Studies Program provides an American legal education to lawyers who have obtained their first law degree in their home countries. By maintaining a small and highly selective program of about 50 students, the Law School ensures a supportive atmosphere. LL.M. candidates take classes alongside J.D. students, allowing participants to fully engage in the community and plan their own coursework.

Studying for an LL.M. or S.J.D.

Find out more about what life at UVA Law is like for students in the Graduate Studies Program.

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Fast Facts, 2021-22

LL.M. & S.J.D. Enrollment

52

Countries Represented

18

see all countries

Total J.D. Enrollment

922

Student-Faculty Ratio

6.6:1

Meet the Graduates

Graduate Studies Program alumni discuss UVA Law.

Carlos Ibarguengoitia Zugarramurdi ’16

Carlos Ibarguengoitia Zugarramurdi

Mexico

"There were many reasons for me to come to UVA, among others: its academic excellence; its flexibility to design a high-quality, multi-disciplinary program; and the fact that UVA seeks to create a true community (with all that that implies)."

Kai-Ping Chang

Kai-Ping Chang

Taiwan

"I had a wonderful journey in the UVA LL.M. program. Students have access to learn from the top business law scholars and successful lawyers."

Shafira Putri

Shafira Putri

Indonesia

"All of the school-sponsored lunches and dinners provide a different room for professors and students to interact, exchange thoughts and learn from each other. Combined with the allocation of office hours, the amount of dedication that UVA Law professors show for the students is top-notch."

Carmen Tiburcio

Carmen Tiburcio

Brazil

"I know many other libraries, both in the U.S. and in Europe, and I have no doubt to affirm that UVA's law library was the best I have ever known, not only because of its collections but mainly because of the fantastic librarians who helped me a lot during the completion of my LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees."

Daniel Parodi

Daniel I. Parodi

Chile

"One of the most remarkable things about the School of Law is how smart the J.D.s are. The questions and interactions between students and professors are brilliant."

Maria Londono

Maria Londono

Colombia

"The LL.M. program at the University of Virginia School of Law is small and selective. Students in the program can enroll in any class offered in the J.D. program, including first-year courses."

Cosi Piehler

Cosi Piehler

Germany

"The small classes allow for a lot of discussion about legal questions in the broader societal context."

Satoko Miyashima

Satoko Miyashima

Japan

"UVA Law offers a lot of courses concerning business organization and finance, which are strongly related to my current practice."

Jose Beliz

Jose Beliz

Argentina

"Every LL.M. applicant has a deep desire to pursue a graduate program at an institution that stands out for its academic excellence, stunning campus and renowned reputation, which, hopefully, serves as a solid bridge toward future professional goals."

Matheus Azevedo Bastos De Oliveira

Matheus Azevedo Bastos De Oliveira

Brazil

"UVA Law met every expectation I could have had in my pursuit of an LL.M. degree. Apart from being a top-tier law school in the U.S., UVA provides a springboard for the development of my professional, academic and social skills."

Graduate Studies Contact

Contact

Graduate Studies Office
graduatestudies@law.virginia.edu / (434) 924-3154 / Fax: (434) 982-6682
Slaughter Hall Room 126A