Loyola’s PROLAW program attracts a diverse student population. It is comprised of attorneys with practice experience and/or experience in the rule of law field. The program follows a cohort model, where you take your courses in a prescribed order with the same group of students. Your PROLAW cohort will be from around the world—literally. Typically, each cohort has representation from fifteen countries with men and women with 2 to 15 years of professional work experience. You will find your fellow students will bring a wealth of experience and perspectives to your studies.

Courses are taught by experienced practitioners who have multijurisdictional experience in supporting national initiatives aimed at improving the rule of law. Fall courses are offered online, asynchronously, through Loyola’s learning management system. Students will undertake their spring term courses at Loyola’s Rome Center campus in Italy. You will find that this experience will help you establish unique bonds with your fellow students, enhancing your learning and expanding your network. The Rome location provides opportunities to develop valuable networks with leading international rule of law, development and humanitarian relief organizations headquartered in Rome, as well as other Italian and European institutions.

For students interested in completing the program at a slower pace, there is an option to complete over 5 terms, two academic years. This part-time option provides more flexibility for busy professionals. Students begin the program with a series of required foundational courses online but are still required to partake in a term abroad at Loyola’s Rome Campus in Italy. Students complete the program with a capstone project delivered at the end of the second academic year. Students interested in the part-time option should communicate their interest, during the application phase or as soon as possible, via email at prolaw@luc.edu.

The capstone project allows you to apply the knowledge and skills gained through the program to your own area of interest. Past students have focused their projects on: avoiding conflict or re-building peace and security following conflict; protecting vulnerable citizens from violence, displacement and trafficking; strengthening constitutions and key governing institutions; spurring economic development and trade; building inclusive economies where men and women have equal opportunities; preventing and combating corruption; providing access to justice; and mitigating the consequences of climate change on the poor. Some students have chosen to develop their projects together with an external organization, thereby supporting its efforts to address a specific problem or challenge within its mandate and providing a close collaboration opportunity.

There is no required internship in the program. Several students have chosen to complete relevant internships after the end of the program at organizations such as the World Bank, Organization of American States, International Development Law Organization, International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN International Fund for Agricultural Development, UN World Food Program, African Union, and the international criminal tribunals. Students are responsible for securing their internships, but the program offers application support and several internship stipends to successful applicants.

International students with an LLM degree cannot practice law in the United States or sit for the bar examination with this degree. If you received a law degree from outside the United States and are thinking about becoming an attorney licensed to practice in the United States, we suggest you research attending law school to get a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

Due to the unique nature of the PROLAW program, all of the courses in the Rule of Law for Development LLM are mandatory and there is no opportunity for students to transfer credits from other programs or institutions.

Most international applicants are required to submit a current official TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or Pearson Test of English (PTE) score report. The law school requires the following minimum overall scores: TOEFL 95 (IBT) with minimum scores of 24 in the writing and reading sections, IELTS 7 with minimum scores of 7 in the writing and reading sections, Duolingo 125, and PTE 75. Loyola’s code for receiving official TOEFL and IELTS scores is 1412. A waiver of the language requirement may be offered to applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree in English if certification is received from their institution confirming the language of instruction for their degree. A personal interview may be required.

If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit your official international education credentials (e.g. transcripts, mark sheets, degree certificates, graduation diplomas) and evaluation fee directly to any evaluation agency that is a member of the NACES member companies. or to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Loyola accepts evaluations from any NACES member companies and work most frequently with Educational Perspectives and Educational Credential Evaluators, INC. You should request a General Evaluation with Grade Average. You should request your chosen evaluation agency to send the evaluation directly to Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management (GPEM) at gradapp@luc.edu, and that they send your transcripts along with your transcript evaluation. Transcripts received from these evaluators are considered official. Please note this is the preferred method to get your official transcripts to us.

The PROLAW LLM program consists of 27 academic credit hours. The tuition rate in 2023-24 is $1,765 per credit hour, equating to a total tuition cost for the program of $47,655. In addition, you will need to pay $125 in student technology fees for both the fall and spring terms. You will also need to pay the $180 student development fee and $170 CISI health insurance fee for the spring term at the Rome campus. All fees are payable in the first term of the year. Note that the vast majority of course resources are available electronically for free, but you may be required to purchase textbooks or online program access codes as a mandatory requirement of the course.

Applicants who want to be considered for scholarships will need to review the available financial support opportunities and follow the outlined instructions to apply. Scholarships are awarded to admitted students, of any nationality, on a merit and needs basis. Applicants seeking financial assistance should investigate funding sources in their home countries. US citizens and permanent residents may qualify for one of the financial aid programs offered by the Loyola University Chicago. Please consult the Loyola University Chicago Financial Aid Office.

More than 200 women and men from over 60 countries have attended the program since its launch in 2011. Most graduates have returned to their home countries or regional organizations across five continents and have become recognized rule of law leaders in their communities. Others have launched successful international careers. The PROLAW Alumni Network is an alumni-led initiative that aims to provide professional resources to fellow PROLAW students and alumni, and serves as a forum to foster a strong international rule of law community with strong ties to the PROLAW program.