Academic Calendar

LLM and SJD Programs Admissions

Request a bulletin describing the LLM and SJD programs at Golden Gate University School of Law.

Download and print out the LLM Application Form, or the SJD Application Form(pdf).

View the SJD Procedural Guidelines An LLM candidate must hold a law degree from a US or non-US law school or university. SJD candidates must hold an LLM or its equivalent. Students may tailor a program to their needs by attending full time or part time.

Fall semester classes are scheduled August-December, and spring semester classes are scheduled January-May. A summer session runs May-July, with most classes held in the evening. LLM students may enter the program in fall, spring, or summer. SJD Students may enter the program in fall or spring. Units from a JD program or from any non-law school program cannot be transferred into an LLM program. Up to 6 units from an ABA-approved LLM program may be applicable to an LLM program at Golden Gate University if the student has earned grades of at least B- (2.5). Permission of the GGU program director is required.

Students who have taken LLM program courses while attending the Golden Gate JD program may apply up to 9 units to an LLM program (up to 12 units for the LLM in Taxation Program). All units transferred must be approved by the LLM program director or the graduate law programs administrative director. Students earning an LLM from Golden Gate may apply to that program up to 6 units of coursework in another Golden Gate LLM program. Consent of the program director is required to apply coursework from another program. Deadlines for filing an LLM or SJD application are:

• July 1 for starting the program in the fall
• November 1 for starting the program in the spring
• April 1 for starting the program in the summer

Late applications will be considered if program space permits.

International students seeking visas to enter the US should apply in advance of these deadlines to allow time for visa processing - by May 15 for a fall start date, by October 1 for a spring start date, and by March 1 for a summer start date.

No decision can be made until the application and all supporting documents have been received. Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Application Form
• Application Fee (waived for current GGUSOL students and alumni)
• Personal Statement
• Law School Transcripts (translated, if not in English)

Non-US applicants must submit additional documents. Click Here for more information.

All documents should be sent to:

Graduate Law Programs
Golden Gate University School of Law
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-2968

Application Form

Download and print out the LLM Application Form, or the SJD Application Form(pdf).

Application Fee
An application fee is not required from current GGUSOL students and alumni. For all other applicants, a fee of $60 must accompany the program application. Please make your check or money order payable to Golden Gate University. Or, to have your application fee charged to your credit card, download the Credit Card Authorization Form and include it with your application.

LLM Personal Statement
The personal statement allows an applicant to present credentials in non statistical terms and may include reasons for seeking the degree. Of interest to the admissions committee are the applicant's experiences as a student or practitioner in the subject area of the specific LLM program. The applicant is encouraged to describe the impact of these experiences on his or her decision to undertake graduate legal study.

The statement should be in narrative rather than resume form. It should be typed and no longer than three double-spaced, 8.5x11 inch (or A4) pages.

SJD Personal Statement
The application statement should provide a description of the applicant's reasons for seeking the SJD degree. It should set forth the applicant's intended fields of inquiry and research objectives in specific terms. It should be typed and no longer than ten double-spaced 8.5x11 inch (or A4) pages.

Law School Transcripts
Official transcripts from all law schools attended must be submitted.

From US institutions, official, original transcripts must be sent directly by the institution.

From non-US institutions, applicants must provide an original or certified true copy of academic records for each year of study. These records must be in the original language issued. If not in English, a certified English translation must also be provided.

Academic records should be sent directly by the institution. If included with the applicant's documents, academic records should be in an official, sealed envelope from the institution. Please click here if you are an applicant who received your law degree from outside the United States or if you are an applicant from outside the United States. Letters of recommendation are not required but will be considered if provided. Letters should be from individuals who are well acquainted with the applicant's academic ability or professional accomplishments. An interview is not required but may be scheduled upon request. Visit the Law School Registrar's Office web pages for information on:

• Tuition & Fees
• Payment Policies & Plans
• Tuition Credit & Refund Policies

Download a Credit Card Authorization Form. Golden Gate University School of Law administers a full range of programs to help students who need financial assistance. The Financial Aid Office provides budget and debt management counseling, evaluates students' financial needs, and determines financial aid awards. The Financial Aid Office is also responsible for maintaining standards and procedures that comply with federal regulations, donor restrictions, and university policies, and that most equitably help meet students' financial needs.

Students seeking information regarding financial aid eligibility and application procedures should check the School of Law Financial Aid Office page, Click Here, or contact the office at 415-442-6630 or lawfao@ggu.edu. The Financial Aid Office will provide relevant information and application materials.

Non-US students are not eligible for US government-supported financial aid and must make private financing arrangements. Click Here for scholarship and financial aid information for international students.

A limited number of partial scholarships are available based on merit and/or financial need. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit requests for scholarships along with their applications. Recipients of merit scholarships will be informed of their awards as part of their admission decision letter. The School of Law has exchange programs with the University of Paris, Nanterre; Heidelberg University in Germany; East China University of Politics and Law in Shanghai; and three universities in Thailand (Rangsit, Chulalongkorn, and Mahidol). The School of Law also has cooperative agreements with several other universities in Europe and Asia. Law students from these universities may apply for partial financial support through the exchange program, and students from Golden Gate may apply to attend our exchange partner schools. In addition, faculty exchange lectures occur several times each year.

• University of Paris, Nanterre
• Heidelberg University
• East China University of Politics and Law

Click here for information about non-degree candidate & auditor registration. Contact the LLM & SJD Programs