LL.M. in Environmental
and Natural Resources Law

Important Information for International Students

Lewis & Clark has welcomed students from around the world into its LL.M. program. Our LL.M. program is deliberately small and selective so that each student can receive personal attention from the faculty and staff. Our international LL.M. graduates are now at work in many countries around the world.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
about the international LL.M. program in Environmental & Natural Resources Law

I would like to obtain an LL.M. degree at Lewis & Clark, but I am not particularly interested in environmental law. Do you have LL.M. degrees in other areas of the law?

No, not at this time. Our LL.M. degree is limited to students who want to concentrate in environmental and natural resources law. LL.M. students can study many areas of the law that intersect with environmental and natural resources, such as courses in trade and environment, international environmental law, and environmental business law. However, if you are not particularly interested in environmental and natural resources law, Lewis & Clark is not the best law school for you. Try searching for an LL.M. program that fits your needs at LLM Guide.

My ultimate goal is to obtain a doctorate in law. Is the LL.M. program a good way to begin?

The answer to this question depends on your circumstances and your reasons for obtaining a doctorate. See our explanation of the hierarchy of law degrees in the U.S.

I have earned a degree that is not a law degree, but it includes courses in law. Can I apply to the LL.M. program?

Unfortunately, no. You need to hold a law degree in your home country (that is, a degree that would qualify you to take the professional examinations to become a lawyer or judge) before applying to the LL.M. program. We would welcome your application to our J.D. program, however.

My ultimate goal is to practice law in the United States. Would an LL.M. degree help me to reach this goal?

Please take time to read the American Bar Association's advice for prospective international LL.M. students when considering an LL.M. degree if you want to practice law in the United States. Obtaining an LL.M. degree alone, from any institution, does not equip you to practice law in the United States. Successful passage of a bar exam is a prerequisite to practicing law. Almost all state bar associations, with only a few exceptions (primarily New York and California), require a J.D. from an American Bar Association-accredited U.S. law school before registering for the bar examination. Even the jurisdictions that do not require an American J.D. have specific requirements for training and other qualifications of foreign lawyers. Please investigate these requirements before choosing an LL.M. program. If becoming a practicing attorney in the U.S. is your goal, please contact our Admissions Office for more information about our J.D. program.

A very small number of our international LL.M. graduates have successfully gone on to obtain a J.D. degree and practice law in the U.S. Academic credit obtained in our LL.M. program may, under certain circumstances, be applied to our J.D. degree program. This route is feasible only for LL.M. graduates who demonstrate outstanding qualifications for J.D. study. For advice about your particular circumstances, please email Director Lin Harmon at lhw@lclark.edu.

Why do I need to submit a TOEFL score? Are there any alternatives?

Fluency in English is essential to success in any U.S. law school; our top-ranked program is very demanding. The level and pace of instruction requires a sophisticated grasp of written and spoken English, which is why we require a minimum TOEFL or IELTS score. Here are the minimum scores you need in order to meet our standards:

Paper-based TOEFL: 600
Computer-based TOEFL: 245
Internet-based TOEFL: 100
IELTS: 8

For those students who have not attained college-level fluency in English, Lewis and Clark College offers an Academic English Studies program. Admission to AES is separate from admission to the LL.M. program. If you do not meet the English proficiency standards but otherwise are well-qualified for the program, you may apply for conditional admission to the LL.M. program, meaning that you would enter the LL.M. program after successful completion of the Academic English Studies program.

If your TOEFL score does not accurately reflect your ability to speak, write and understand English, we may allow you to submit other proofs of English proficiency. Contact our office for more information.

How should lawyers from other countries prepare for LL.M. study at Lewis & Clark?

Law study in the United States differs in very significant ways from law study in most other countries. At Lewis & Clark, our international students are often surprised by how many small discussion seminars we offer and by the close interactions between students and professors. The kind of active, creative legal thinking that typifies American law schools and the common law system can be daunting for lawyers trained in civil code systems, and the final exams in American law courses often demand not only knowledge of the law but an ability to construct legal arguments on behalf of various parties and think critically about the law.

With these differences in mind, our two-credit Summer Seminar for International Lawyers provides international students with a concentrated introduction to United States legal structure and law study. The Summer Seminar is a prerequisite for Lewis & Clark international LL.M.s - you must pass this seminar before taking the rest of your LL.M. classes. The Seminar begins the first week of August, before the main part of the school year.

Additionally, if you would like to prepare independently for study in the United States while you are still in your home country, our director would be happy to give you suggestions for readings you can do at home.

How can I obtain a study visa to the United States?

Lewis and Clark maintains an International Students and Scholars Office to provide assistance and advice to our international students. This office provides a wide variety of services, including assisting students in obtaining visas to study in the U.S. It is important for you to stay in touch with this office throughout the application and arrival process so that we can make your transition into the United States as easy as possible.

How can I finance my LL.M. studies?

Most U.S. law schools do not provide financial aid for international LL.M. students. Lewis & Clark is an exception to this rule. Highly qualified LL.M. applicants may receive scholarships (up to a maximum of 50% of tuition costs depending on financial need). Obtaining a scholarship award from Lewis & Clark may help you obtain additional grants from other sources. For more ideas about funding sources, visit LLM Guide.

U.S. visa regulations restrict the type of paid work available to international students and their families. You may qualify for some kinds of on-campus employment during your studies. For more information about these restrictions, consult our International Student Services office.

What is the Optional Practical Training program?

OPT is an option for LL.M.s on F-1 visas who complete their degrees and want to gain some practical experience in a legal setting in the U.S. Finding a paid OPT internship may be difficult, and it is best to start your search process early upon arriving in the United States. Law schools do not assist in procuring OPT positions for students; you must find one on your own. Exceptional LL.M. graduates may apply to Lewis & Clark's unpaid teaching fellow program. For more information about OPT requirements, consult our International Students and Scholars Office; to find out more about our teaching fellow position, contact Lin Harmon (see the bottom of this page).

Some of our international LL.M. students choose to experience American law practice through our Clinical Internship Seminar class, which matches students to placements under the supervision of practicing attorneys in law firms, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies. Students are not paid for clinical internships, but they do receive academic credit towards their LL.M. degree.

Can I bring my family with me?

Maybe. U.S. Homeland Security requires a Certificate of Financial Responsibility for all students entering the United States. The financial requirements are considerably higher for families than for individual students. Also, parents of small children are often surprised at the high cost of American daycare for children, and it can be expensive to purchase a car and the mandatory vehicle liability insurance. It is also difficult to even buy a car from a dealership without holding at least an International Driving Permit issued by your home country, in addition to your driver license. Many of our international students have successfully obtained Oregon driver licenses after studying the Oregon driver manual and taking both a computer-based test and a driving test at the DMV. Holding an Oregon driver license can save you a significant amount of money in car insurance premiums.

If you are planning to bring your family, please give full details early in the process to the International Students and Scholars Office so that they can help you plan ahead.

What is the best way to contact Lewis & Clark's international LL.M. program?

If you have questions about our LL.M. program for international lawyers, the most efficient way is to email program director, Ms. Lin Harmon, at lhw@lclark.edu. You may also try calling her at 503-768-6882. Be sure to take the time difference into account when you call. Office hours are generally between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.