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All students in the School of Law must register for classes through the Law School recorder’s office and not through the IU Registrar’s office or using OneStart.
Office: Law Building, Room 022
Sheila Gerber, Office Coordinator
Phone: 812-855-4809
E-mail: sdgerber@indiana.edu
Alexis Lanham, Recorder
Phone: 812-855-1888
E-mail: adlanham@indiana.edu
Individual course counseling enables each of our graduate students to develop a unique course of study that suits his or her specific academic and career goals.
We offer a one-semester Certificate in Legal Studies and the following graduate degree programs:
Following are the courses specific to our graduate degrees. For more information about all of Indiana Law’s offerings, see a list of Indiana Law courses.
This degree offers two options: the LLM, our most popular graduate degree option, and LLM Thesis. The majority of students pursue the LLM, while a small number of exceptional students gain admission to the LLM Thesis program, generally after one semester in residence as an LLM student.
The LLM provides aspiring legal practitioners and jurists with direct experience in the American legal system. In addition to coursework, students observe judicial proceedings and meet with practicing attorneys and judges.
The LLM requires at least two semesters in residence.
The LLM Thesis provides an excellent foundation in scholarly research and writing. Admission to this program is typically granted at the end of the first semester of work in the LLM practicum program. Under special circumstances, students may be admitted directly to this program. Students may apply to enter the SJD (Doctor of Judicial Science) program as they complete thesis work, though completion of a thesis does not guarantee admission to the SJD program. Students in this program work closely with a thesis advisor.
The LLM Thesis requires two to three semesters in residence.
Indiana Law’s MCL is somewhat shorter than the LLM program and offers foreign law students an opportunity to gain familiarity with American law and legal institutions.
The MCL requires two semesters in residence.
The SJD is for international law graduates who have demonstrated analytical and research abilities and have an opportunity for extended study, research, and scholarly writing. The centerpiece of this program is a doctoral dissertation that is completed under the supervision of Law School faculty advisers. Graduates of this program typically achieve distinction in their home countries as law professors or in public service. All successful SJD candidates have outstanding academic records, provide evidence of excellent reading and writing skills in English, and submit a research proposal of importance and originality. Admission to Indiana Law’s SJD program is highly selective.
The SJD requires a minimum of one year in residence and the following:
The Doctor of Philosophy in Law and Social Science (PhD) involves interdisciplinary research and coursework in law and the social sciences. PhD candidates must complete at least one academic year in residence in both the Law School and in the collaborating IU social science department, as well as completing a course of study as specified by the candidate’s faculty advisors. Candidates take comprehensive exams and must complete a dissertation defense. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL results. Each PhD candidate will be assigned an advisory committee consisting of at least two faculty members from Indiana Law and at least two faculty members from the collaborating academic department. The chairperson of the advisory committee will serve as the candidate’s primary academic advisor.
When applying to the PhD program, applicants must indicate which IU social science department they hope to collaborate. Indiana Law will be responsible for consulting with that department to make an admissions decision. Applicants should carefully research their options for academic collaboration and be sure to mention relevant social science faculty members and/or programs on their application. The supplementary application materials can be found here.
The PhD requires a minimum of three years in residence and the following:
The Doctor of Philosophy in Law and Democracy (PhD) involves interdisciplinary research and coursework in law, anthropology, political science, and area studies for the part of the world in which the candidate wishes to work. PhD candidates must complete the course of study specified in the program description. Candidates take comprehensive exams and must complete a dissertation defense. Each PhD candidate will be assigned an advisory committee, including a primary advisor who is a faculty member associated with the Center for Constitutional Democracy.
Before applying to the Law and Democracy PhD program, applicants should contact Prof. Susan H. Williams to determine whether they are appropriate candidates for the program. The application procedure for this program is slightly different from the application procedure for the PhD in Law and Social Sciences. The supplementary application materials can be found here.
The PhD in Law and Democracy requires a minimum of two years in residence and the following:
The Certificate in Legal Studies is a non-degree program designed for international lawyers whose professional demands limit the amount of time they can pursue legal education abroad. Applicants should specify their interest in this program and submit application materials at least five months before the start of the semester in which they plan to study (fall or spring).
The Certificate in Legal Studies requires at least one semester in residence and at least 8 hours of course work.
Indiana University Maurer School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association
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