LAW OF SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Admissions Process

The Law School makes an initial assessment of the LLM applications and recommends its selected candidates to the University’s Graduate School. The University’s Graduate School then confirms the offer of admission to the candidate via an official letter.

Accordingly, applicants are asked to supply documents and information to both the Law School’s Program Coordinator for the LLM program being applied for and to the University’s Graduate School. The process can be confusing. READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY:

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the Law of Sustainable International Development LL.M. program is highly competitive. We typically enroll only 4-6 students per academic year. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must submit the following. Failure to submit all of these documents by the deadline for admissions will mean that the application cannot be assessed.

(a) Completion of first degree in law (J.D., B.Law, LL.B.)

• U.S. applicants must have completed their first degree in law (J.D. or equivalent) at a school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• International students must have a first degree in law or equivalent. Entry exams (LSAT, GRE) are not required.

(b) Application form and application fee

• Please complete the online application at https://www.grad.washington.edu/application/
• Please send a copy of this completed form with your application packets to both the UW Office of Graduate Admissions and the Asian Law Center
• Please pay the application fee of $45.00 with your credit card online or you may send a check or money order addressed the University of Washington to the Office of Graduate Admissions for $50.00 USD. Please do not send cash.

(c) Transcripts

• We require official transcripts from all universities and/or colleges previously attended. A transcript lists all subjects studied and the results received in those subjects, as well as confirming that degree(s) were conferred by the universities/ colleges attended.

(d) TOEFL Score

• With few exceptions, the Graduate School requires all foreign students to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants must ordinarily attain a score of at least 580 (237 TOEFLC) to be admitted. The median TOEFL of those admitted is approximately 610 (253 TOEFLC).
• If the TOEFL examination has been taken in the last two years, applicants should request the Testing Service to forward an official copy of their most recent score to the Law School Graduate Admissions Office. If the TOEFL has not been taken, applications and a list of test dates are available from your local universities, education foundations, or United States Embassy, or by writing to: Test of English as a Foreign Language, Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A. The TOEFL Website can be found at: http://www.toefl.org/

(e) Letters of Recommendation

• Three letters of recommendation are required. These should come from law faculty or other professionals in law who can best evaluate the applicant’s capacity for graduate study in the United States. Letters which comment on the applicant’s interest in and aptitude for the particular program applied for are most helpful, while letters from prominent persons who do not know the applicant well are not.
• The letter should be addressed to the Graduate Admissions Committee and must also be signed and sealed on the exterior by the writer. Either the applicant or the writer may mail the letter of recommendation.

(f) Statement of Purpose and Résumé

• Applicants should submit a written statement describing their background and interest in the LL.M. program. This statement should mention the primary subject area or topics of interest, past experience in this area (either practical or academic), and how professional aspirations may be furthered by the program. The statement should be no longer than 600 words, but should be as detailed as possible.
• The résumé should list educational qualifications, work experience, date of admission to legal practice (if applicable) and any other professional affiliations relevant for the application.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

More information about application procedures is set out in the Graduate School Application information booklet and at the Graduate School website: www.grad.washington.edu. You must submit two application packets to two separate departments:

(a) The following items should be completed and sent to the UW Office of Graduate Admissions, University of Washington, P.O. Box 84808, Seattle, WA 98124-6108, U.S.A.:

1. One copy of the completed online application form
2. One copy of official transcripts and diploma statements in a sealed envelope from your collegiate institutions
3. Online $45.00 application fee or $50.00 check or money order

(b) The following items should be sent to the Asian Law Center, Law School, William H Gates Hall University of Washington Box 353020 Seattle, WA 98195-3020, U.S.A.:

1. One copy of the completed online application form
2. One copy of official transcripts in a sealed envelope from your collegiate institutions
3. Statement of purpose and resume
4. Statement of language competence (if applicable)
5. Official copy of your TOEFL score (if applicable)
6. Three letters of recommendation

Application Deadline

The final submission date for all applications for the Law of Sustainable International Development Law Program is February 1st. Late submissions will only be reviewed under special circumstances. Applications that arrive well before this final date are encouraged.

International Applicants

All international students (non-U.S. citizens and non-green card holders) must submit the application packet required by the UW Office of Graduate Admissions by November 1st to start the student visa application process. You may submit the application packet required by the Asian Law Center by the regular deadline of February 1st.

Statement of Financial Ability

Upon receiving an application and transcripts from an international applicant, the Graduate School sends the applicant a Statement of Financial Ability form. This form shows that the applicant has sufficient funds to support a year of study in the US. It must be completed with verifications and returned prior to admission.

Admission Decisions

• Decisions are made from May to June on completed applications.
• Applicants will receive from the Law School either a letter offering them conditional admission to the LLM Program or a letter denying their application.
• Those accepted will be required to make a $100 deposit to reserve a place in the program.
• The Graduate School Admissions Office will then issue a formal (final) letter of admission into the LLM Program.
• If the application is successful, and when you have submitted all of the necessary documents, the Graduate School will issue a Visa Eligibility Form, which allows applicant to apply for a U.S. visa.
• The visa eligibility form cannot be issued until the Statement of Financial Ability form has been completed and returned to the Graduate School. Most delays in processing applications occur at this stage, so it is important to complete and return the Statement of Financial Ability form promptly.