LLM in Child and Family Law
What defines a family? How are children's rights evolving? How do lawyers advance the needs of children and families? How can legal systems become more equitable? The practice of child and family law requires both a sensitive manner and a discerning legal mind to address these important and evolving questions impacting children and families. The Master of Laws (LLM) in Child and Family Law degree program is designed to sharpen and inform both qualities. This program offers a comprehensive study of the most current legal issues involving children and their families.
The opportunity to work closely with nationally recognized faculty members and experienced practitioners in the field means you'll be well-versed in this transforming discipline.
Our commitment to you
The LLM in Child and Family Law degree is committed to developing three resonate threads: advocacy, leadership, and equity. These three threads come to life in each course in the program, link your learning from one semester to the next, and prepare you to be a more effective lawyer working on behalf of children and families.
Upon graduation with the LLM in Child and Family Law, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values to advance these three threads:
Knowledge
You will demonstrate advanced knowledge of legal rules and procedures in the fields of child and family law. You will gain a deep understanding of the specific areas of the law that impact children and families—from education to child welfare, mental health to juvenile justice, domestic relations to domestic violence, and many others. Policy considerations will become familiar to you as you tackle current issues impacting the field of child and family law in well-informed ways. You will discover or enhance your own leadership qualities while exploring the meaning of advocacy in a variety of contexts. The knowledge you will gain will equip you to advance equitable solutions for children and families.
Skills
You will be able to:
- Conduct complex and specialized legal research and analysis;
- Engage in scholarship that contributes to the greater understanding of law and policy as it affects children and families;
- Understand how child development and family dynamics influence child and family law and policy;
- Effectively compare perspectives on issues facing children and families in a global environment;
- Comprehend the historical, socio-economic, and cultural context in which child and family laws, policies, and practices are developed and implemented;
- Identify and articulate areas in which laws and policies should be improved to promote positive outcomes for children, families, and communities;
- Appreciate the unique legal and ethical needs and circumstances of child and adolescent clients;
- Further develop written and verbal advocacy skills that are central to being an effective advocate for children and families;
- Advance the needs of children and families through the deepening of advocacy skills relevant to various contexts and circumstances;
- Understand and apply professional leadership skills to organizational management and as a change agent;
- Identify and strategize ways to create legal systems grounded in equity; and
- Generate systemic reform and progress.
Professional Values
You will be prepared to exercise proper professional responsibilities to your clients and serve as a leader in promoting the legal needs of children and families by embracing the following values:
- Integrate professional values of honesty, civility, and respect for others in your advocacy work;
- Exercise ethically responsible judgment in interactions with clients and your peers;
- Respect and abide by the laws, practice, and procedures of legal system while envisioning and harnessing opportunities for reform;
- Adhere to the tenets of servant leadership to manage organizations and initiatives to serve children and families;
- Understand the importance of using your knowledge and skills in service of advocacy to support children and families in times of need and to foster effective systemic responses that meet their need; and
- Commit to transforming inequitable systems and building equitable responses in their place.
By The Numbers
30+
Offers more Child and Family Law Courses than any law school
#1
Named Top Family Law Program in 2015 and 2018
Terms 1–4
- Electives
Term 5
- LLM Child Law Thesis
Education Immersion Weekends and Networking
The Graduate and Online Programs Team annually offers an Education Immersion Weekend (EIW). EIWs offer tailored programming on a current/relevant topic of interest at the intersection of child law/compliance/health law to reinforce learning objectives, provide a venue for networking, and foster communication among students, alumni, and faculty members. EIWs are usually held at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. At this time, EIWs remain optional but strongly encouraged. For more information, please email LawOnlineAdvising@luc.edu.
Campus-based events and symposia offered through the Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy, the ChildLaw Program, and the Journal of Compliance Studies are open to all students and alumni free of charge. Students are encouraged to regularly check their Loyola email accounts for information on upcoming events as well as follow the School of Law on social media.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
To apply for the LLM in Child and Family Law program, you must possess a Juris Doctor or its international equivalent from an accredited college or university.
ADMISSION
To apply for the LLM in Child and Family Law program, you must possess a Juris Doctor or its international equivalent from an accredited college or university.
Fall Term
Application Deadline
August 1
Spring Term
Application Deadline
December 1
Testimonials

Diane Geraghty
Faculty
“Over the years, Loyola has played a key role in transforming children’s law and policy into a robust and well-respected area of professional specialization.”

Laura Hoffman
Alumni
“I am forever grateful to Loyola for giving me a strong foundation to foster professional development. ”
Tuition and Fees
The School of Law and Loyola's Office of Student Financial Assistance are committed to helping you secure the necessary financial resources to make your legal education at Loyola affordable.
As part of our commitment, the Civitas ChildLaw Center awards a fellowship totaling up to 25% of tuition to a full-time incoming LLM student. In exchange for graduate fellowship support, LLM Fellows serve as research or teaching assistants, contribute to the Center’s monthly newsletter, assist in conference and event planning, and/or perform administrative tasks. You must apply and be accepted into the LLM in Child and Family Law degree program before a fellowship application will be reviewed. To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter and short writing sample no later than August 1 to the LLM Fellowship Committee at childlaw-center@LUC.edu or gsanch3@luc.edu.
FAQs
Do I need a JD degree and need to be a member of the Bar?
LLM applicants must possess a primary law degree. For U.S. lawyers, this is a JD degree. For international lawyers, the degree may vary per country. If you have earned a JD degree from a non-ABA accredited institution in the United States, you must also be a licensed attorney.
What are some of my "real world" study opportunities?
In addition to formal courses, you may have the opportunity to:
- Represent child clients through the Child Law Clinic
- Assist in the editing of the Children's Legal Rights Journal
- Complete an externship in Chicago's large child advocacy community
What defines a family? How are children's rights evolving? How do lawyers advance the needs of children and families? How can legal systems become more equitable? The practice of child and family law requires both a sensitive manner and a discerning legal mind to address these important and evolving questions impacting children and families. The Master of Laws (LLM) in Child and Family Law degree program is designed to sharpen and inform both qualities. This program offers a comprehensive study of the most current legal issues involving children and their families.
The opportunity to work closely with nationally recognized faculty members and experienced practitioners in the field means you'll be well-versed in this transforming discipline.
Our commitment to you
The LLM in Child and Family Law degree is committed to developing three resonate threads: advocacy, leadership, and equity. These three threads come to life in each course in the program, link your learning from one semester to the next, and prepare you to be a more effective lawyer working on behalf of children and families.
Upon graduation with the LLM in Child and Family Law, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values to advance these three threads:
CURRICULUM
This 24-credit-hour program is offered exclusively online and can be completed in 5 terms at the part-time rate of pursuit. The courses are primarily asynchronous—no set login times—but faculty do hold live, virtual sessions throughout the term.DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
To apply for the LLM in Child and Family Law program, you must possess a Juris Doctor or its international equivalent from an accredited college or university.
ADMISSION
To apply for the LLM in Child and Family Law program, you must possess a Juris Doctor or its international equivalent from an accredited college or university.
Tuition and Fees
The School of Law and Loyola's Office of Student Financial Assistance are committed to helping you secure the necessary financial resources to make your legal education at Loyola affordable.
As part of our commitment, the Civitas ChildLaw Center awards a fellowship totaling up to 25% of tuition to a full-time incoming LLM student. In exchange for graduate fellowship support, LLM Fellows serve as research or teaching assistants, contribute to the Center’s monthly newsletter, assist in conference and event planning, and/or perform administrative tasks. You must apply and be accepted into the LLM in Child and Family Law degree program before a fellowship application will be reviewed. To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter and short writing sample no later than August 1 to the LLM Fellowship Committee at childlaw-center@LUC.edu or gsanch3@luc.edu.