FOREIGN
SCHOLARS LL.M. PROGRAM
 THE FOREIGN SCHOLARS LL.M. PROGRAM AT THE UH LAW CENTER provides lawyers educated in other
countries an opportunity to pursue intensive studies of the U.S. legal system—and
earn an LL.M. degree that is recognized here and abroad as a high mark of achievement.
The 2006 class includes students from Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Each Foreign Scholar has a faculty advisor who works with the student to tailor a
curriculum that draws upon the student’s interests. Foreign Scholars may pursue a general
course of study or focus their course selection on a specific area of law. For most of
their coursework, Foreign Scholars attend classes with J.D. and U.S. LL.M. candidates—
allowing opportunities to learn from and network with a diverse group of law students.
LL.M. students can pursue their studies by attending either full- or part-time, but
must complete their course of study within three years of admission and comply with all
visa requirements or restrictions.
ADMISSION QUALIFICATIONS
In order to qualify for admission, applicants must hold a degree in law from a university
accredited in the country in which the university is located, or be admitted to practice
before the highest court in their jurisdiction. They must present evidence of their ability
to perform satisfactory graduate work through either a high GPA (grade point average)
or high class standing at their undergraduate law school.
The TOEFL exam is required of applicants who obtained their law degree from a
country where English is not the official language. UH Law Center requires a score of
600 on the paper-based exam, or 100 on the Internet-based test. Students who earned
their law degree outside of the United States are only admitted to begin their studies in
the fall, with classes beginning in early August. The application deadline is February 1.
FOREIGN SCHOLARS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
TO EARN THE FOREIGN SCHOLARS LL.M. DEGREE, students are required to complete a minimum
of 24 credit hours of approved courses and maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or
higher. Students must also be continuously enrolled in the program during the fall
and spring semesters until all degree requirements are met.
Students must also enroll in the following courses as part of the 24 credit-hour
requirement:
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW provides a foundation of American Law.
LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING provides a foundation of vital skills to be used as
a student and a practitioner.
SEMINAR COURSE to satisfy the 40-page writing requirement of an LL.M. degree.
The Seminar Course is taken after Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication.
NOTE: Courses taken as an LL.M. candidate do not ordinarily count toward a J.D. degree.
CURRICULUM
UH Law Center offers one of the largest course selections in the United States. Foreign
Scholars may tailor their education by selecting courses in a variety of practice areas:
BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL LAW
CONSTITUTIONAL AND CRIMINAL LAW
EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR LAW
ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND NATURAL RESOURCES LAW
FAMILY LAW
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
HEALTH LAW
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & INFORMATION LAW
COMPARATIVE LAW
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ADMIRALTY
LAW AND SOCIETY
PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE
REAL PROPERTY, TRUSTS, AND ESTATES
TAXATION
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
For Foreign Scholars, the academic year begins with orientation during the first week of
August. Two classes, INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW and LEGAL ANALYSIS, RESEARCH,
AND COMMUNICATION, commence on the Monday following orientation.
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