Massachusetts, United States
About
Private
University Type
24
US News National rank
$96,920
Average Living Expenses
Founded in 1872, Boston University School of Law (BU Law) is renowned for its excellence in legal education. Offering premier graduate programs, BU Law is dedicated to supporting its students in advancing their careers and achieving their professional aspirations.
At the core of the BU Law learning experience is superior teaching and a supportive, dynamic environment in which professors guide, inspire, and challenge students. BU Law professors are devoted to their students — academically, professionally, and individually.
Top Reasons to Pursue your Graduate Law Degree at BU Law
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Academic Excellence: BU Law offers rigorous, top-ranked programs led by distinguished faculty who are leaders in their fields - law firm partners, in-house counsel, judges, advisors, consultants, and government officials - ensuring a world-class legal education.
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Commitment to Student Success: BU Law is deeply invested in student achievement, providing personalized academic support, career guidance, and professional development resources.
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Global Community: A diverse and internationally engaged student body creates a dynamic learning environment that prepares graduates for practice in an ever-evolving legal landscape.
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Modern Facilities: BU Law provides modern classrooms and premier resources designed to support an exceptional legal education experience. Take a virtual tour.
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Extensive Alumni Network: A robust and influential alumni community of 460,000+ from over 140 countries offers valuable connections, mentorship, and career opportunities.
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Boston as a Global Hub: Situated in the heart of Boston, BU Law provides access to leading opportunities in law, finance, healthcare, and innovation.
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Safe and Student-Friendly Environment: Boston is consistently recognized as one of the safest major cities in the U.S., allowing students to focus on their studies and fully engage in city life.BU Law offers internationally trained and domestic lawyers these top programs:
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Best for lawyers trained outside of the United States, this LLM program serves as a comprehensive introduction into the US legal system. Designed for those who want to qualify to take a US bar exam, transfer to a JD program, gain practical experience, and/or explore new practice areas. |
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Best for lawyers seeking advanced training and to gain a global perspective in financial services law. The program provides students with versatile learning formats, including residential or online, as well as full-time and part-time scheduling options. Designed for those who want to work in financial institutions and central banks, have an internship during their course of studies, qualify for a US bar exam, and/or explore new practice areas. |
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Best for lawyers seeking to enhance their expertise in IP law, and who want to become experts in copyright law, patent law, and trademark and unfair competition law. Designed with the ever-changing IP landscape in mind, this program is for those who want to be at the forefront of IP law, gain practical experience from leading Boston-based IP experts, and/or deepen their understanding in this field. |
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Best for lawyers seeking to launch or advance their careers in tax law or corporate transactional practice with a tax focus. The program provides students with versatile learning formats, including residential or online, as well as full-time and part-time scheduling options. Designed for those who want to heighten their practice in tax law, have an internship during their course of studies, make a mid-career shift in specialization, and/or deepen their focus area within tax law. BU Law also offers a Master in the Study of Tax Law for non-lawyers. |
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Ideal for lawyers whose first language is not English, and who aim to establish a robust foundation in legal skills, strategies, proficiency in legal English, and cultural insight within a legal English environment. The first year focuses on expanding legal English vocabulary, legal writing, case analysis, and advocacy skills. The second year focuses on specialized classes from the LLM degree in American Law, Intellectual Property, Banking and Financial Law, or Tax Law. It is also available for non-lawyers who seek to pursue a Master in the Study of Tax Law. |
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Best for accountants, wealth managers, paralegals, non-legal professionals with an interest in advanced taxation, and recent graduates with accounting degrees seeking to deepen their expertise in tax law and related fields. The program offers flexible learning options, including full-time and part-time study formats, designed to accommodate both working professionals and those transitioning into the field. It is ideal for individuals looking to advance their careers, gain practical experience through applied coursework, make a mid-career shift into tax-focused roles, or strengthen their specialization in business tax, estate planning, and international tax law. |
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Best for professionals, scholars, and graduate students in law-adjacent and interdisciplinary fields who want to build a strong foundation in U.S. law without seeking licensure to practice. This degree offers a flexible learning structure, drawing on select JD and LLM courses, and allows students to tailor their studies to areas such as banking and financial law, health law, or intellectual property law. Designed to support both career advancement and academic enrichment, the program is well-suited for individuals working in journalism and media, corporate compliance, public health, higher education, and social sciences. |
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BU Law also offers an Estate Planning Certificate available in online and residential formats (or a combination of both formats). Students can improve their knowledge and practice, without the full commitment or cost of a degree. Those who complete a certificate program and meet the corresponding graduate degree admissions requirements can apply their certificate credits towards a master’s or LLM degree. The program courses are taught by the same leading tax and estate planning experts who teach in the Graduate Tax Program. |
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Courses
LLM in American Law
School of Law
Will you get in? 
Application deadline
Rolling
Degree
Masters
Duration
12 Months
Tuition fee
$73,024/yr
LLM in Banking & Financial Law
School of Law
Will you get in?
Application deadline
Rolling
Degree
Masters
Duration
12 Months
Tuition fee
$73,024/yr
Masters in The Study of Tax Law (MSLT)
School of Law
Will you get in?
Application deadline
Rolling
Degree
Masters
Duration
12 Months
Tuition fee
$73,024/yr
LLM in Taxation
School of Law
Will you get in?
Application deadline
Rolling
Degree
Masters
Duration
12 Months
Tuition fee
$73,024/yr
LLM in Two-Year LLM Program
School of Law
Will you get in?
Application deadline
Fall, 31/07/2026
Degree
Masters
Duration
24 Months
Tuition fee
$73,024/yr
Masters in The Study of Law (MSL)
School of Law
Will you get in?
Application deadline
Rolling
Degree
Masters
Duration
12 Months
Tuition fee
$73,024/yr
LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law
School of Law
Will you get in?
Application deadline
Rolling
Degree
Masters
Duration
12 Months
Tuition fee
$73,024/yr
Cost of Studying at Boston University School of Law
Average tuition fee
NA
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Living expenses
Average living expenses (Bachelors)
$96,920
Average living expenses (Masters)
$96,920
Admissions at The Boston University School of Law
Application Fee
$85
Rankings for The Boston University School of Law
#24
US News National rank
#41
The World University Rankings
#88
QS World University Rankings
Reviews for Boston University School of Law
Campus life
FAQ
- What are the admissions requirements?
We look for students with strong academic backgrounds and evidence that the candidate can perform well in a rigorous academic program. In addition to transcripts and letters of recommendation, the application also asks for a personal statement and resume or curriculum vitae (CV). All applicants, unless otherwise exempted, are required to submit either a TOEFL or an IELTS exam report. Because students are expected to participate fully in classroom discussions, a high level of English proficiency is critical. All promising candidates receive an interview with the Director and/or the Assistant Director. - How and when should I apply?
We accept applications online through LSAC. Serious candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible as the application assembly and review process can be lengthy. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. - When do the programs start?
Program
Start Dates
American Law
August, January
Banking and Financial Law
August, January
Intellectual Property
August, January
Graduate Tax Program
August, January, May
Two-Year
August, January
Master in the Study of Law
August, January
Master in the Study of Tax Law
August, January, May
Estate Planning Certificate
August, January, May
- Is work experience required?
Work experience for any of our programs are preferred but not required. - How does the admissions process work?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once the Graduate and International Programs Office receives all required materials (transcripts, recommendation letters, proof of English proficiency, personal statement, and resume or CV). Depending on at which stage you submit your application, it can take up to several weeks for our office to receive and review all of your application materials and issue an admissions decision. If you require an expedited decision please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request Promising candidates are contacted to schedule an interview with the Director and/or Assistant Director. The interview is a chance for you to tell us more about your background, interests in the program, and career goals. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you have. In the happy event that a candidate will otherwise be in the Boston area, or is able to travel to Boston prior to admission, we will be delighted to schedule an in-person interview in lieu of a video interview and provide a tour of BU Law. - What is the LLM Credential Assembly Service?
International applicants must register with the LLM Credential Assembly Service provided by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). This service collects and authenticates the academic records and TOEFL or IELTS scores of international lawyers who are applying for admission to US LLM programs, and sends reports to participating LLM programs to which these lawyers have applied. Because applicants will need to obtain only one set of official academic transcripts in order to make them available for all applications to participating law schools, the service should save them time and money. Students therefore do not need to send additional, original transcripts from each of their schools to Boston University School of Law; LSAC will send us all of their records in one package. Applicants can register for this service online. We do not accept application materials submitted in the mail or via email. - How are decisions made regarding applications for admission?
The Program Director and/or Assistant/Associate Directors determine which applicants will be offered admission, in conjunction with the Admissions Committee, based on the applicant’s complete record. As such, grades and academic credentials, work experience, letters of recommendation, awards, language ability, test results, and interviews will all be considered when evaluating an applicant. - May I apply to more than one of your programs?
In order to be considered for more than one program, please notify us via email which programs you would like to be considered for after you have submitted all of your materials via LSAC. You need not resubmit all of your application materials. Any materials already submitted to BU Law via LSAC, such as transcripts, will be available for consideration. However, candidates must still ensure their application is complete and that all other materials requested by our office are received or have already been submitted. Please note that you must fulfill all of the admissions requirements in order to be considered for admission. - What does the program cost?
All the most up to date tuition and fee information for all of our programs can be found here. - Is financial aid available?
The School of Law acknowledges a small number of applicants who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement through our different scholarship programs. These awards come in the form of partial tuition waivers. Please note that full tuition scholarships are not available and students must secure their own funding sources to cover the cost of tuition and fees. To learn more about your financial options, visit the Boston University School of Law Financial Aid Office website. - How will I be notified of the admissions decision?
Every effort is made to notify applicants in a timely manner about the decision on his or her application. Given the expected volume of applications it may take several weeks from the time your application is complete to evaluate it and render a decision. Notification of your admissions decision will be made via email. Please note that we cannot communicate admissions decisions over the phone, but you are welcome to contact our office to inquire about the status of your application. -
If I have been admitted, what happens next?
If you are admitted into the program, we ask that you inform us of your intention to attend BU Law by the date specified in your acceptance letter. Extensions may be granted at the Director’s discretion. Upon confirming your decision to attend BU Law, we require a non-refundable $750 deposit to secure your place in the class.For internationally-educated applicants, once we receive your deposit, we will begin processing your visa documents. We cannot process your immigration documents unless we have received the necessary financial documentation. These include a bank statement or letter and a sponsorship certification form, if necessary. When your financial documentation is complete, we will gather your completed file and send it to the school’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), which will issue your official Form I-20. Once complete, your Form I-20 will be sent to you via email along with an email confirmation that the document has been sent. This process typically takes around four weeks.
Later, we send incoming students course information and other registration materials in anticipation of the beginning of the semester
- If I have been admitted, when should I arrive?
While the mandatory orientation takes place in late August, students are strongly encouraged to arrive in early August to secure housing and get settled. Students who attend a summer Legal English Program at CELOP, which begins in early July, will need to arrive in late June. -
What are the English language proficiency requirements?
We must receive satisfactory proof of your English proficiency in the form of an official TOEFL or IELTS score report, submitted via the LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service.● TOEFL: Beginning January 21, 2026, the TOEFL iBT will report scores on a new 1–6 band scale. Applicants to our graduate programs must achieve a minimum overall TOEFL score of 5.0, with a minimum of 4.5 on each of the individual sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing). (See exception for Two-Year LLM Program.) For tests taken before January 21, 2026, the existing requirement of 100 (0–120 scale), with a minimum of 25 on each of the individual sections, will continue to apply.
● IELTS: The IELTS Academic requirement remains unchanged: a minimum overall score of 7.
Candidates who receive a score below the required minimum on all English proficiency exams are still encouraged to apply to the program since we utilize a holistic approach when reviewing applications.
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What are the English language proficiency requirements for Two-Year Candidates?
The minimum English proficiency scores for admission into the Two-Year LLM are as follows:
● TOEFL: Beginning January 21, 2026, the TOEFL iBT will report scores on a new 1–6 band scale. Applicants to the Two-Year LLM Program must achieve a minimum overall TOEFL score of 4.0, with a minimum of 3.5 on each of the individual sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing). For tests taken before January 21, 2026, the existing requirement of 85 (0–120 scale) will continue to apply.
● IELTS: a score of 5.5 or higher, with no individual section below 5.0.
- What if I took the TOEFL before January 21, 2026?
Scores from tests taken before January 21, 2026 will still be reported on the 0–120 scale. For those scores, our requirement remains a minimum total of 100, with a minimum of 25 on each of the individual sections -
What are the exceptions to the English language proficiency requirement?
You may be exempted from the English proficiency requirement if (1) English is your native language; or (2) you received your first degree in law from a college or university in a country where both the language of instruction and the only official language is English.Applicants who do not automatically qualify for an English proficiency waiver may ask us to waive the English Proficiency Test Score requirement if they have completed at least three (3) years of post-secondary education in a country where both the language of instruction and only official language are English. English waiver requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. To formally apply for an English proficiency waiver, please complete the English Proficiency Exam Waiver Request Form. Please upload the document to your LSAC application in the attachment section.
- Should I apply if my TOEFL or IELTS score is below the suggested minimum?
Proficiency in English is a significant factor in our admissions decisions. Our minimum scores are guidelines for the lowest level of English proficiency required to succeed in our programs, and most admitted applicants have substantially higher scores than that. If your scores fall below our minimums but are otherwise qualified, you may still apply, but we may ask you to retake the exam for our review or attend one of our summer Legal English programs. Please also note that we utilize a holistic approach when reviewing applications and that no one aspect of an application, such as an English proficiency score, will preclude you from admission. - Transfer to JD Program for Internationally-Trained LLM Candidates
Students enrolled in the Two-Year LLM, and the American Law, Banking and Financial Law, Intellectual Property and Taxation LLM programs may apply to the JD program as transfer students during the spring semester of their LLM year and—if they are admitted—may satisfy up to one-third of their JD credits through their LLM coursework consistent with American Bar Association standards. This means they may be able to complete the JD program with two additional years of study. Transfer students who matriculate into the JD program need to complete all the requirements of the JD program. Transfer applicants need to take the LSAT and will be judged in comparison to all other JD transfer candidates. Candidates should not expect preferential treatment by the JD Admissions Committee simply by virtue of attending the LLM program at BU Law. Admission is not guaranteed. For fall semester transfer candidates, application forms and fees are due to the Office of JD Admissions by June 1 and completed files with all supporting documentation are due by August 1. LLM students may take the LSAT as late as June for fall enrollment.