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LLM Degree Requirements

The LL.M. degree requires completion of a minimum of 30 credits over 4 semesters (2 years), including the Master’s Paper and at least one credit in environmental studies in satisfaction of the university-wide environmental studies requirement.  Usually students take 1 mandatory, 3 or 2 elective courses each fall and spring earning between 9 and 6 credits per semester.

There are 4 required courses LW 350 (Business Organizations), LW 334 (European Convention on Human Rights), LW 390 (Master’s Paper), and LW 365 (Administrative Law), typically one per semester. The remaining courses toward the degree are electives selected by students in consultation with their academic adviser.  Students are encouraged to be proactive in designing a program suited to their career and educational goals. Some may choose to concentrate in public or private law; others may prefer to pursue a more general course of study.  Students may also take courses outside of the LL.M. program with the permission of the Program Chair (usually limited to 1 course for the degree).

Unless otherwise noted, each mandatory course carries three credits, and electives carry one or two credits. The academic performance is evaluated through midterm and final exam, class assignments and participation in class discussions.

While the majority of students complete all requirements in two years, the maximum period for completion is three academic years, after which degree candidacy terminates automatically.  A course load of less than 9 or greater than 6 credits per semester requires prior approval from the Program Chair.

All courses must be taken on a letter grade basis.  A cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher is required for graduation and the grades in the transcript must be above D+ letter grade.

It is the students’ responsibility to make sure that they have fulfilled all requirements for timely graduation. If you have any questions, please check with the Registrar’s Office or the LL.M. Program Chair.

Program description

The LL.M. is a rigorous academic and professional program.  Instructors have high expectations of and for students.  The grading scale for coursework corresponds to U.S. university law school programs (see AUA Law Student Handbook 2019-2020).

A Practice-Oriented Approach

The LL.M. program offers each student the opportunity to build the practical skills and knowledge necessary to become an effective professional in an ever more competitive global world.  Our practice-oriented approach emphasizes development of the analytical, advocacy and communication skills that attorneys need to succeed.  Our program affords students a wide-range of opportunities to practice these skills with classroom instruction, problem-solving, supervised legal writing, mock trials and negotiations, advocacy and communication exercises and daily interaction with highly qualified faculty.

 

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the LL.M. program, an applicant must meet the AUA’s graduate admission general as well as the LL.M. program specific admission requirements as outlined below:

  • Hold an undergraduate degree from, or are currently enrolled in the final year of studies at, a 4-year or 5-year program from an accredited or licensed institution of higher education. Applicants holding a Bachelor’s degree from a 3-year program will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Demonstrate English proficiency. Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to demonstrate English language proficiency to be considered for admission. Some applicants may be eligible to receive a waiver of the English Language Proficiency Requirement if they meet the criteria below. Others must submit official exam results confirming English Language Proficiency either from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic). Target score requirements for admission are as follows:

TOEFL IBT – 79 or higher, IELTS Academic – 6.5 or higher.
The TOEFL IBT/IELTS Academic scores are valid for two years.

  • Submit an LSAT* test official score report. Target score requirement for admission is 145 or higher.

* The LSAT is waived for applicants who hold a degree in law.
* The target score requirement may raise for next year’s admission.
The LSAT score is valid for five years.

  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Write a concise and informative personal statement.
  • Work experience and/or volunteering are/is taken into consideration.
  • Previous studies of law (summer schools, trainings), legal internships or legal experience will be taken into account.
  • Majority of LL.M. program students hold LL.B. degrees from the recognized universities in Armenia or abroad. Applicants holding BA degree in other disciplines may also apply. Such applicants should demonstrate strong interest in and motivation to the study of law, as well as basic understanding of the requirements of the legal profession and the opportunities and challenges in the legal career.
  • The program may require an interview.

 

Internal Assessment:

LL.M. applicants unable to take the TOEFL, IELTS, and LSAT test will be tested via in-house assessment.

For TOEFL/IELTS, the assessment will include a written test based on a legal analysis of a real US case or judgment. The assessment for LSAT will include a short analysis of a legal brief and logical argumentation questions, similar to what can be found on the LSAT.

 Please note that the applicants with standardized test scores will have a priority over the applicants with internal assessment results. For more detailed instructions, please visit AUA Admissions page here – https://admissions.aua.am/graduate/application-requirements/.

 

For more information, please follow the below links:

*The LSAT is an admissions test used by U.S. and some foreign law schools.  The expected LSAT score for successful applicants is 145 or higher.  Please note that the LSAT is a skills-based test.  This means that in order to excel on the LSAT you should practice repeatedly the skills that you will use during the test. Most importantly, the skills that you develop in preparation for the LSAT are skills that will help you to become a successful student at AUA Law.

 

 

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