Frequently Asked Questions about the M.L.I. Program - University of Wisconsin Law School

[Link here to go to the M.L.I. Overview page.]

What is the M.L.I. program?

It is a course-based master's degree program in law held at the Law School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All or almost all of the courses are taken at the Law School. Students can take courses in other departments at the University if the courses are related to the student's overall study plan.

The M.L.I. degree started in the 1950s at the University of Wisconsin as a legal studies program that emphasized law's interaction with other disciplines, such as economics, business, sociology, land tenure, etc. Because of its interdisciplinary foundation, the M.L.I. program allows up to nine credits of law-related courses from other University departments to be taken by M.L.I. students who wish to do this.

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What kind of student is the M.L.I. program designed for?

It is designed for men and women who have a basic law degree (LL.B.) from a university outside the United States and who want to take courses in American law in the U.S. in a one-year program. The program is also available to applicants from Japan who do not have a bachelor in laws degree who have graduated from Japanese J.D. program.

How much time does it take to complete the program?

Usually around nine months. The fall entry program begins in September of each year. The spring entry program begins in January. The program is designed to be completed in one academic year, not including summer months (September - May, or January-May and September-December). Most students complete the M.L.I. program in two semesters. Some students who begin in September complete the program in early June or later in the summer. There are also students who request permission to complete the program in three semesters.

How many credits are required?

Twenty-four. The 24 credits include 3 credits of directed research and 21 credits of coursework. At least 12 credits of the courses must be Law School courses. The remaining 9 credits can be Law School courses, courses from other University departments, or a combination of both.

Are there required courses?

Yes. Two courses, a total of six credits, are required. These are The American Legal System (Law 601 - 3 credits) and, for fall entry students, Legal Sources (Law 602 - 3 credits). Spring entry students are required to take Legal Writing for M.L.I. Students (Law 603 - 3 credits).

May I take regular J.D. courses?

Yes. Students can select courses from the regular J.D. curriculum. Students can also take up to nine credits of courses from other University departments. (A typical course is three credits; the range is generally two to four credits.)

How do I choose the courses I want to take?

After arriving on campus, each M.L.I. student is assigned a Law School professor as an advisor. This advisor assists the student with course choices. The student registers for courses after meeting with the advisor. The Graduate Programs Office helps M.L.I. students schedule meetings with the advisors after the students arrive on campus.

How good does my English need to be to be eligible for the MLI program?

All of the courses in the M.L.I. program are taught in English so students need strong English proficiency. A TOEFL score of 250 (computer-based), 100 (Internet-based), or 600 (paper-based) or above is desired. In some cases, applicants with lower TOEFL scores but very strong academic records may be considered and accepted conditioned on taking intensive English classes. Write to the Graduate Programs Committee, gradprog@law.wisc.edu for information.

Will you accept English test scores other than the TOEFL?

Yes. We will accept the "MELAB" (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) score and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score as alternatives to the TOEFL.

Do I need to take the GRE or LSAT test for the M.L.I. program?

No.

Will the M.L.I. program let me be eligible to take an American bar exam?

The United States does not have a national bar exam. Each state has its own exam with its own rules. Graduates of the M.L.I. program are usually eligible to take the New York State bar examination if they have an undergraduate degree in law (LL.B.). They may be eligible if they have the Japanese J.D. degree. If you are interested in possibly taking a bar exam, look at the rules for the particular state you are interested in.

When is the deadline for applying to the MLI program?

February 1, 2009 for fall 2009 entry and October 1, 2008 for spring (January 2009) entry. This is the deadline for applying online. It is also the deadline for when the Law School needs to receive all of your application documents. (See the instructions for applying to the MLI program.)

May I enter the M.L.I. program in the spring?

Yes. We now have fall and spring entry.

What are the eligibility requirements to apply to the M.L.I. program?

A degree or diploma representing, at least, an equivalent of a B.A. or a B.S. degree in the United States and that constitutes a first degree in law, or a bachelor's degree and another degree that constitutes a first degree in law (such as Japan's J.D. degree);
A Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, or a B average, from your undergraduate work;
A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score showing high proficiency in English if your undergraduate work was not conducted in English. High proficiency will ordinarily be demonstrated by a score of 250 (Computer-Based Test), 100 (Internet-based), or 600 (Paper- Based Test) or higher.
Adequate Financial Resources. You must certify that you have a minimum of approximately $49,000 for the 2008-09 academic year. Applicants who wish to bring family members with them will need a higher amount.

Why is the M.L.I. program administered by both the Law School and the Graduate School?

The master's degrees of most departments at the University of Wisconsin are jointly administered with the University's Graduate School. The Legal Institutions is a Graduate School "department" that is housed in the Law School. The M.L.I. program follows this typical joint adminstration procedure.

Link to read about the MLI program in the Graduate School's online catalog.

Link to read additional information about the Legal Institutions program in the Graduate School catalog.

How much does the M.L.I. program cost?

Roughly about $49,000 for the 2008-09 academic year. This is based on the tuition rates of 2007-08. Details can be found at Tuition and Living Expenses.

Are there scholarships for the M.L.I. program?

No; candidates for the M.L.I. degree are expected to be self-financed.

How do I apply to the M.L.I. program?

You complete an application form online and mail additional material directly to the Law School. Link to instructions for applying to the MLI program.

I applied to the M.L.I. program. How do I check my application status?

You can check your MLI application status on the same website you used when you applied online to the MLI program. There is a link on this site from the Graduate School that lets you know whether the Graduate School still need materials, such as financial documentation, or whether your application has been completed. Once you have applied online, you should check your application status regularly until you see that your application has been completed.