Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies | College of Liberal Arts
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Law Certificate

The University of Texas School of Law (Texas Law), in conjunction with the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS), offers an interdisciplinary approach in Latin American and International Law for the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.), Latin American & International Law Concentration. The one-year program takes advantage of the unique faculty talents and course offerings of The University of Texas. It is designed for highly qualified legal practitioners and scholars from both the United States and abroad who seek to increase their understanding of the transnational legal environment in the Americas.

The Latin American & International Law Concentration is one of the broadest and most diverse programs in the United States and the world. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to see current issues and future directions of international and comparative law in economic, political, and social contexts. Faculty members are unparalleled in the breadth and depth of their engagement and knowledge. Robust curricular offerings include human rights, immigration, arbitration, tax, and public international law. The program offers students the flexibility to design a program that complements their academic and professional interests. Clinics specializing in Civil Rights, Human Rights, Immigration, and Transnational Worker Rights give students the opportunity to learn firsthand through cases and projects how to integrate theory, skills, strategy, and law.

Students in the Latin American & International Law Concentration may earn a Certificate in Latin American Studies from LLILAS (in addition to the LL.M. degree from the Law School) by completing at least six credits through LLILAS.

Additionally, students have access to the Law School’s Institute for Transnational Law and the Texas International Law Journal. The Institute for Transnational Law was reimagined and relaunched in 2017 to coordinate the Law School’s programs, resources, and events relevant to the areas of international and comparative law. 

Admission and Application
Application information is available on the Texas Law LL.M. website. The LL.M. Program requires applicants to have a first degree in law (LL.B. or J.D.). Applicants with a foreign law degree must also demonstrate English proficiency by submitting a minimum TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) score of 101 or IELTS Academic score of 7.5.

Applicants to the Latin American & International Law LL.M. should specifically indicate in the cover letter to the application that they are applying to this program. Students whose native language is not English or whose first law degree is not from a law school where English is the principal language should note that they must obtain a score of at least 600 on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Students applying for the Latin American & International Law Concentration are required to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese. Students who are not native speakers of either language must pass a language proficiency test. Alternatively, the language requirement can be met by presenting evidence of two years of college-level Spanish or Portuguese plus performance deemed satisfactory during an oral interview. In special circumstances, proficiency in a language other than Spanish or Portuguese may satisfy the language requirement.

The LL.M. Program at Texas Law is highly selective and currently has a maximum of 50 spots for each incoming class.

Degree Requirements

  • A total of 24 credit hours that must be completed in one academic year (fall & spring semesters).
  • 12 concentration-specific credit hours (see below).
  • A three-credit writing seminar or a two-credit directed research project (with a 30-page paper in a related area).
  • Introduction to U.S. Law. (This course is required for students with a foreign law degree. Foreign students with a background of common law study may request a waiver of this requirement.)
  • Students interested in taking a U.S. state bar exam will also have to take certain bar required courses to be eligible to sit for the bar exam.

Law School Concentration Requirements
Must complete at least 12 credits in Latin American, international or comparative law courses.

Certificate in Latin American Studies from LLILAS
Must complete at least six credits (of the required 12 credits) in graduate-level courses approved by LLILAS.

Questions? Contact LLM@law.utexas.edu.

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