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Vanderbilt LL.M.

Top-ranked Law School in the United States

A Transformative LL.M.

The Vanderbilt LLM program equips you with the knowledge and tools you need to launch or elevate your legal career anywhere in the world. You'll benefit from accessible, first-rate faculty, personalized career support, and a small-by-design community located in the heart of vibrant Nashville, TN.

Why Students Love the Vanderbilt LL.M.

Thinking about studying law in the U.S.? Vanderbilt LL.M. students discuss why they chose Vanderbilt, life in Nashville, and how the program helped them advance their legal careers.

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funding your vanderbilt ll.m.

Funding your Master of Laws

At Vanderbilt, we are committed to controlling tuition costs, providing scholarship assistance, and offering strategies and tools for students managing expenses, debt, and personal finances.

Vanderbilt Law School awards merit-based scholarships to LL.M. students each year. All admitted candidates are considered for scholarship awards. There is no application form required in order to be considered for a scholarship award. In addition to the merit-based scholarship awards, we also offer partnership scholarships and loan and financial aid guidance.

Vanderbilt LL.M. Career Services & Bar Exam Prep

Vanderbilt LL.M. Career Services & Bar Exam Prep

The Vanderbilt Career Services Office is committed to providing individual assistance throughout the year. Recent Vanderbilt LL.M. graduates are employed in prestigious law firms, multinational corporations, non-profits, academe, and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad. An LL.M. can also help attorneys transition into more academic and research-focused roles at colleges and universities. These advanced positions often command higher salaries, increasing their financial stability and earning potential.

Vanderbilt’s LL.M. program delivers an advanced legal study of American legal issues and research methods, and it helps prepare students with the theoretical and practical skills needed to take the bar exam. While completing our Master of Laws degree does not automatically qualify students to sit for the bar exam in every state, it supports their journey to working as a lawyer in some states, including New York, California, and Texas.

Meet Our Students

Agnes Pacheco - Philippines

“No question or request is too small or too big for the LL.M. Admissions office, and the staff in the university’s International Student and Scholar Services office were really supportive."

Oscar Del Brutto - Ecuador

"At Vanderbilt, LL.M. students are fully integrated into the law school. The classes are small, so you get to know your professors and the other students."

Bruna Bromfim - Brazil

“Nashville has a justified reputation for southern hospitality, and I really liked the friendly culture. The Vanderbilt campus is in a central location, which made it easier to explore the city.”

Centrally Located

Study Law in the U.S.

Nashville is one of America’s friendliest cities and has been named the nation’s smartest place to live. As a Vanderbilt Law student, you’ll study in the center of a city known for its culture, accessibility, safety, and strong professional network.

One Program. Three Tracks.

Join fellow international LL.M. students at a top-rated American research university. With our small classes, Vanderbilt's LL.M. allows you to learn alongside J.D. students via three curriculum tracks to meet your goals. Our broad curriculum will satisfy course requirements for the New York Bar.

  • Course Track

    Course Track students focus exclusively on course work, choosing their courses from the law school's extensive curriculum. A faculty adviser or a law school administrator will help you tailor your academic program to your career goals and intellectual interests.

    LL.M. students can study virtually any area of law, including international intellectual property, litigation, constitutional law, criminal justice, health policy, and environmental law. 

  • Law & Business Track

    The Law & Business Track offers full-time, intensive academic and professional training in corporate law, securities regulation, finance, accounting, and the principles of corporate governance. Vanderbilt has a well-established Certificate in Law & Business curriculum within the J.D. Program and is widely known for producing lawyers who understand not only the legal and regulatory environment in which businesses operate, but also understand corporate governance, the principles of finance and accounting, and the economic and financial frameworks of transactions.

    Law & Business Track graduates will generally use their training in their home countries to pursue business law careers, as government regulators, or in other international posts that benefit from an excellent understanding of business law and corporate management. Because Law & Business graduates understand how businesses operate, they return to their home countries prepared to work effectively with business executives, managers, and directors to navigate laws and regulations governing business activities.

  • Thesis Track

    Thesis Track students complete a substantial research project that culminates in a scholarly paper. You will work closely with a faculty adviser with expertise in your area of study while choosing courses that support your research interests, conducting legal research, and writing a scholarly paper.

    Only students with strong English language and writing skills who are capable of extended independent research should choose the Thesis Track option. Thesis Track applicants should have a well-developed research focus and indicate their interest in working closely with one or more Vanderbilt law professors in their applications. You may review the faculty profiles to consider whom you would like to pursue an individualized research program at Vanderbilt.

Collaborative. Customizable. Career-Minded.

  • Exceptional Career Outcomes

    Vanderbilt LL.M. students are invited to attend the International Student Interview Program held every January in New York. 

  • Bar Exam Support

    Academic advisors are available to assist students in tailoring curriculums to meet their professional goals and interests.

  • Global Community

    Vanderbilt LL.M. students hail from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds that contribute to a rich educational experience.

Learn More

Learn more about our top-ranked Master of Laws program, located in the vibrant city of Nashville. Request info through the form at the top of this page.