Asian Law Center

ADMISSION APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Ph.D. and LL.M. Admissions

In addition to completing the online application at https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/, all Ph.D. and LL.M. applicants must send required material to BOTH the UW Office of Graduate Admissions AND the Asian Law Center Admissions as set out below.

Ph.D. students should first contact the Graduate Program Administrator at gradlaw@u.washington.edu at least 6 months before the admission deadline for that year to discuss the feasibility of their project and set up an interview with the Asian Law Center Director.

I. Send the following required materials to the Asian Law Center-Admissions (William H. Gates Hall, Box 353020, Seattle, WA 98195-3020):

  1. Copy of online Graduate School Application, signed (original signature) and dated.
  2. Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, and Degree Statement, including date of graduation and title of academic degree awarded. Transcripts should be sent in a sealed envelope.
  3. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation from law faculty for other professionals in law who can best evaluate the applicant's capacity for graduate study in the United States. The letter should be on University or Company letterhead and should be signed and sealed on the exterior by the recommender. There is no specific form for the recommendation letter.
  4. Statement of Purpose:  This is an important component of the application process. We give preference to students who can demonstrate: (a) a genuine desire and need to study U.S. law and the laws of another country; (b) a clear plan for applying their knowledge of Asian and comparative law in the workplace upon graduation; and (c) a plan for contributing to their own society through the acquisition of this degree, beyond the immediate career and financial benefit for them as an individual.
  5. Resume listing educational qualifications, work experience, date of admission to legal practice (if applicable) and any other professional affiliations relevant for the application.

II. Send the following required materials to the UW Office of Graduate Admissions (P.O. Box 84808, Room 301, Loew Hall, Seattle, WA 98124-6108):

  1. Copy of online Graduate School Application, signed (original signature) and dated.
  2. Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, and Degree Statement, including date of graduation and title of academic degree awarded. Transcripts should be sent in a sealed envelope.
  3. TOEFL score: Request Educational Testing Service (PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151) to forward your TOEFL score report using our Institution Code #4854, Department Code “99”. Score reports must be less than two years old.  See http://www.grad.washington.edu/Acad/gsmemos/gsmemo40.htm to see if you are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
  4. UW Statement of Financial Ability form (if you need a visa): once you have submitted your application, log back into the online application to access this form.
  5. If you are currently residing in the United States with a F1 visa, provide photocopies of all I-20 Certificate of Eligibility forms with the F-1 visa stamp, or DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility form) with the J-1 visa stamp or any current visa status forms issued to you.
  6. If you are requesting a DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility Form) for J-1 status, provide the following information: city of birth; legal permanent resident of what country; present position in that country (e.g. student/faculty, name of institution; if employed, name of employer).  If you are currently holding the J-1 visa, let the Office of Graduate Admissions know if you are planning to return home before coming to this University.
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Admitted Students

After you have been accepted, you will receive a letter (or e-mail) of academic acceptance from the Asian Law Center. Please respond to the program coordinator to accept your offer of admission by the date indicated. Once we receive your acceptance, we will send a recommendation of admission to the UW Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants whose admission file is complete and recommended for admission will be sent a formal admission letter by US mail. They will also receive a separate mailing from the UW Registration Appointment Office, including a request for a $100 Enrollment Confirmation Deposit (ECD). Please follow their payment instructions.

For further inquiries on the visa issuance process, please contact gradlaw@u.washington.edu.

In the beginning of the summer, we will send you information via email about the mandatory orientation program for all incoming LL.M. and Ph.D. students. Orientation takes place in the week before classes begin. The date for commencement of classes changes each year; check the UW law school academic calendar to confirm the start date for your year of admission. During orientation week, you will be able to meet with you advisor, make course selections and register for courses.

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Information for International Students

Visas for Studying in the United States

International students intending to study in the Asian Law LL.M., Ph.D. program and Visiting Scholars must obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

An F-1 student is a non-immigrant who is pursuing a full course of study towards a specific educational or professional objective at a school in the United States. Once that objective has been attained, the F-1 student is expected to return to his or her residence abroad.

A J-1 visa student is a non-immigrant who has been selected by a sponsor to participate in an exchange visitor program. Some international LL.M. students arrive under a J-1 visa if they are sponsored by U.S. or other government programs. All international Visiting Scholars arrive under J-1 visa status.

The first step toward attaining your visa is to apply to the University of Washington and to the Asian Law Center for admission. Be sure to fill out the online application for international students. If you are accepted, the UW Office of Graduate Admissions will send you a USCIS Form I-20 A-B/ID (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - for Academic and Language Students). If you are accepted but do not receive an I-20 form, contact the ALC Graduate Program Coordinator. Please note that the visa process is lengthy and may take several months to complete.

After receiving your I-20, take the USCIS Form I-20 to the nearest U.S. consulate to obtain a student visa. If you applied to more than one university, only bring the USCIS Form I-20 from the school you plan to attend. You must also prove to the consulate that you have the financial resources required for your education and stay in the United States.

For more information on the F-1 visa or other visas, please consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) web page at http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm or visit the University of Washington International Services Office (ISO) web page at http://depts.washington.edu/uwiso/.

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Summer Institute in Transnational Law and Practice

All international candidates in the Asian and Comparative Law program are encouraged to participate in the Summer Institute in Transnational Law and Practice at the University of Washington School of Law in preparation for the LL.M. program.

The Summer Institute is a two-week intensive non-credit program at the Law School specifically designed to introduce international law students and attorneys to the structure, culture and thinking of the American Legal System. The program focuses on three areas—Introduction to the American Legal System and Practice, Legal Skills and Methodology, and Legal English. Sample topics include the United States Constitution, government branches and sources of law, the criminal and civil court systems and procedures, how to read and brief cases, and persuasive legal writing and argumentation. All will be taught by law faculty and practitioners who are experienced in cross-cultural communication.

Details about the Summer Institute, schedule, accommodation, registration and visa procedures are available at the Summer Institute for Transnational Law and Practice website at: http://www.law.washington.edu/AsianLaw/Teach/SI.html

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English Language Study

All candidates in the Asian and Comparative Law program are expected to have a high level of ability in reading, writing and making presentations in English. We recommend that students who are not confident in all of these areas or have a TOEFL score that is close to 580 will also participate in the Summer Institute in English for Business and Law (SIEBL) at the University of Washington. Students may attend both the Summer Institute in Transnational Law and Practice and the SIEBL program.

Occasionally a student with a TOEFL score slightly below 580 is admitted to the LL.M. program on a conditional basis. The condition of admission is attendance at ESL courses run by the University of Washington (separate, additional fees apply) AND attainment of a TOEFL score of 580. The LL.M. degree cannot be conferred on a candidate who gains conditional admission before the TOEFL requirement of 580 has been satisfied. Attendance at ESL courses for students in this category is compulsory.

SIEBL is a five-week program offered by the English Language Program at the University of Washington, specifically designed for international students who have been accepted into graduate programs in law and business in the United States. If you do decide to participate in the SIEBL program, you must notify the ALC Graduate Program Coordinator. For more information on the SIEBL program, go to http://depts.washington.edu/uwelp/siebl/.

As a SIEBL student, you are required to have a SIEBL I-20 from the UW's English Language Program if you plan to study on an F-1 Visa. When attending the SIEBL program, it is necessary that you enter the United States and apply for your F-1 Visa using only the SIEBL I-20. Once you arrive in Seattle, the UW Office of Graduate Admissions can process a transfer I-20 for you. Please feel free to email siblinfo@u.washington.edu with further questions regarding your I-20 or student visa needs.

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International Services Office (ISO) http://depts.washington.edu/uwiso/
The ISO administers the University of Washington’s F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor programs. They will provide you with advice on how to maintain your visa status, assist with the documentation of your status and assist in providing financial reports necessary for financial aid to your government. All international students new to the University of Washington are required to check in with the ISO when they arrive in Seattle. 

Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) http://www.fiuts.org
FIUTS is a non-profit international student service organization on the University of Washington campus. FIUTS offers orientation services for incoming international students every quarter which addresses everything from visa and immigration information, the U. S. health care system, registration, culture shock and more. FIUTS provides opportunities for cross-cultural friendship through host families, education outreach, Wednesday Lunches, trips and tours and more. FIUTS' Women's programs provide a place for female scholars or scholars' wives to meet and discuss numerous topics.

The University of Washington has numerous other resources for international students (see http://www.washington.edu/home/international/)

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Other Program Admissions

Visiting Scholar Program

J.D/ LL.M. Concurrent Degree Program

J.D. Program

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Last Updated 1/4/2008