Start Your J.D.
Current University of Houston Law Center J.D. students can consider the Joint J.D./LL.M. option.
Joint J.D./LL.M. Program
Earn Your J.D. and LL.M. Together
Build specialized legal expertise at the University of Houston Law Center while completing your J.D.
At a Glance
A Smarter Path to Two Degrees
105Total credits to earn both degrees
15–18Specialty credits, depending on the LL.M. program
~1Additional semester on average, rather than one full-time year
Why Add an LL.M. to Your J.D.?
More Expertise. More Opportunities.
The Joint J.D./LL.M. Program is an opportunity for J.D. students to set themselves apart, develop an expertise in an area of law, and make themselves more marketable in a chosen field of practice. Making the decision now can save you time and money.
Pursue J.D. and LL.M. degrees at the same time.
Develop specialized legal knowledge in your chosen field
Distinguish yourself in a competitive legal market
Complete two degrees in a shorter amount of time
Reduce the additional credit hours and cost associated with a separate LL.M.
How It Works
Your Path to Two Degrees
Select Your LL.M. Specialty
Choose from five areas of specialized legal study.
Complete Required Coursework
Meet the credit and specialty requirements for your selected LL.M.
Earn Both Degrees
The J.D. and LL.M. degrees are awarded together after completion of 105 total credits.
Choose Your LL.M. Specialty
Five Areas of Focus
Gain in-depth knowledge and practical experience in one of the specialized LL.M. programs. Each LL.M. program requires the completion of a specific number of specialty-specific credits.
Tax Law
18 credits of tax law coursework, including Tax Research-5151 and Tax Ethics-5288, plus Federal Income Tax-5459. The four-credit Federal Income Tax course does not count toward the required 18 credits of tax coursework.
View program detailsTwo Degrees, One Integrated Path
The Joint J.D./LL.M. Advantage
Traditional Path
J.D. — 90 credits
LL.M. — 24 credits
Total: 114 credits
Joint J.D./LL.M. Path
Complete the J.D. and LL.M. together.
Total: 105 credits
Hear From Our Students & Alumni
Real Stories. Lasting Impact.
Hear from students and alumni about their Joint J.D./LL.M. experience and how specialized graduate legal study supported their goals.
Toni Rask ’24 — J.D. & LL.M. in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources
“I can't recommend this program enough for anyone who's ever considered an advanced law degree.”
More Student & Alumni Perspectives
Explore another Joint J.D./LL.M. testimonial and learn how the program can support specialized legal study.
Faculty Information Session
Learn more about the Joint J.D./LL.M. Program and its specialty areas.
Student & Alumni Information Session
Maximizing Your Legal Education: Joint JD/LLM Panel Discussion
Watch the Joint JD/LLM Panel Discussion
Aaron Koenck ’19
J.D./LL.M. in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Law.
Additional Pathways
Visiting and Transfer Students
A visiting student to the JD program can apply only after a minimum of 12 credits have been completed and reported at the Law Center.
Visiting Students
The Law Center offers a joint J.D./LL.M. degree program which allows visiting students to earn both degrees in 3.5 years (105 credit hours). Students who visit the Law Center may be eligible to participate in the program through the LL.M. Visitor Program. A visiting student to the JD program can apply only after a minimum of 12 credits have been completed and reported at the Law Center. Students in the joint program must complete an additional fifteen UHLC credits after graduating from the home law school to obtain the LL.M. degree. Joint degree students must meet all J.D. requirements (from home law school) and UHLC LL.M. degree requirements in order to complete the program.
For more information on how to apply to the JD program at the Law Center, visit the Visiting Students admissions webpage or email lawadmissions@uh.edu.
Transfer Students
The UH Law Center offers a joint J.D./LL.M. degree program which allows students to earn both degrees in 3.5 years (105 credit hours). Students in the UHLC JD program can apply to the LL.M. program after the conclusion of the 1L year. Students must be admitted to the LLM program no later than the first semester of the 3L year. Joint degree students must meet all degree requirements in order to complete the program.
For more information on how to transfer to the UHLC, visit the Transfer Students admissions webpage or email lawadmissions@uh.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Joint J.D./LL.M. Program FAQ
Review eligibility, specialty credits, tuition, grading and graduation information for the Joint J.D./LL.M. Program.
When can one apply to the J.D./LL.M. degree program?
A UHLC J.D. student can apply to the joint degree program only after 30 credit hours have been completed and reported, typically after the first year of the J.D. program. A visiting or transfer student to UHLC can apply only after a minimum of 12 credits have been completed and reported at UHLC.
Once admitted to the program, when can I earn credits toward the LL.M. specialty?
Specialty courses can be taken at any time. Specialty credits taken before admission to the joint degree program are applied toward meeting the specialty credit requirement. Joint degree students must maintain a 2.50 grade point average in specialty courses counted toward the LL.M. degree.
How is the J.D./LL.M. designation determined?
Students are considered J.D. through the semester in which the 90th credit is earned.
How is tuition calculated?
Tuition is at the J.D. rate through the semester in which the 90th credit is earned. The LL.M. tuition rate is applied in subsequent semesters.
How are grades and honors designations calculated?
A student is classified as a J.D. student, and in the curve, for all courses through the semester in which the 90th credit is earned. This includes courses that meet LL.M. specialty program requirements.
Class standing is calculated based on all courses that are graded under the J.D. curve. Class standing and honors designations will be against whatever class with whom the student graduates.
When do I graduate?
Students graduate with both degrees when all J.D. and LL.M. program requirements are met, subject to the timing described below.
| Example | Tuition | Included in curve | Degree timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student completes 90th and 105th credit in the same semester. | J.D. | Yes | J.D. degree awarded at the end of the semester; LL.M. degree awarded the following semester. |
| Beginning with the semester after completion of the 90th credit. | LL.M. | No | Receive J.D. and LL.M. degrees concurrently when program requirements are completed. |
Example 1: A student completes both the 90th and 105th credit at the end of the spring semester. The student is considered a J.D. student for tuition purposes and is graded in the curve for all courses taken that semester. There is no distinction between LL.M. and J.D. courses. The student receives the J.D. degree in May and the LL.M. degree the following August.
Example 2: A student completes 90 credits at the end of the spring semester and registers for 15 credits the following fall semester. Beginning with the fall semester, the student is not included in the J.D. curve and is billed at the LL.M. rate. The student receives both degrees in December.
University policy note: Students who complete the 90th and 105th credit in the same semester are considered J.D. students (in the curve) for the semester. To comply with University Policy, the student is awarded the J.D. degree at the end of the semester and the LL.M. degree the following semester.
Which LL.M. specialties are available?
Students may choose Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Law; Health Law; Intellectual Property & Information Law; International Law; or Tax Law.
How many specialty credits are required?
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Intellectual Property & Information Law, and International Law require 15 specialty credits. Health Law and Tax Law require 18 specialty credits. Tax Law also includes the specific course requirements listed in the specialty section above.
Where can I ask questions about the program?
Contact LL.M. Admissions at llmadmissions@uh.edu, request more information, or register for an information session.
Ready to Learn More?
Take the next step toward earning your J.D. and LL.M. together.
Questions? llmadmissions@uh.edu
