Congratulations on your admission to Cardozo Law! You are invited to join a diverse but close-knit group of LL.M. students and international exchange students in an engaging environment where you are welcomed and recognized as a significant contributor to our community. We hope the information provided below will be helpful as you make the transition from admitted applicant to Cardozo student. Unless indicated otherwise, the information below is applicable to both incoming LL.M. and incoming international exchange students.
Contact us with any questions
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Accept Your Offer of Admission
Student Visas
Incoming international students who will require a student visa to study at Cardozo Law:
LL.M. Students
- Complete the Application for Form I-20 (F1 Graduate Students), available on the YU International Students Application Forms and Resources page
- Review https://www.yu.edu/international/current-students
Visiting/Exchange Students
- For information on the J visa and the DS-2019, please see https://www.yu.edu/international/prospective-students
- Any questions about student visa or immigration matters should be directed to the Office of International Students & Scholars at 646-592-4203 or OISS@yu.edu
Special Opportunities for International LL.M. Students
International LL.M. students have special opportunities to learn at Cardozo.
Cardozo has several courses specifically designed for international LL.M. students who do not hold a first law degree from a U.S. law school.
Orientation (non-credit – skills & professional values)
The orientation for LLM students at Cardozo is designed to help you transition successfully into the complex and comprehensive legal studies in the U.S. If you have never studied in a law school in America, it is not easy to navigate the library resources, the Bar exam rules and regulations, as well as the curriculum and policies in place. Join Dean Myteberi and her team, in exploring and familiarizing yourself with all the tools you need to master before classes begin.
Introduction to U.S. Law (2/3 credits - skills)
This three-credit course gives students a basic introduction to the U.S. legal system, including the federal system and the use of precedent and methods of analyzing case law. All international students take this course during their first semester of enrollment in the LL.M. program.
Advanced Workshop in Legal Research & Writing - International (2 credits - skills)
This two-credit course focuses on case reading and analysis, basic language structure and writing skills, manual and computer-assisted research skills, analysis and writing, and forms of writing, including letter and memorandum writing. It is taught over two semesters, with one credit being awarded for each semester.
Contract drafting for LL.M. (3 credits - skills)
This three-credit course will examine the role that contracts play in transactional law and how to properly draft and analyze contract language. Students will learn the basic principles of contract drafting by working through drafting and interpretation exercises – in class, on their own, and in teams. The goal is to make students more practice-ready by teaching skills that will enable them to effectuate their clients’ needs through contractual language, and to anticipate and avoid potential legal disputes.
Preparing for Registration
Preliminary Registration for the Spring semester will be processed by the Registrar. The add/drop period for registration will begin on November 28th. Instructions and updated course offerings will be posted on the Registrar page.
Below are some registration materials that you need to master in order to register successfully for the Spring semester. To discuss your specific academic and professional goals, please contact Dean Val Myteberi, Office of Graduate and International Programs at myteberi@yu.edu or Senior Director, Pamela Serota, at pamela.serota@yu.edu.
Meet Your Classmates
Please send a Friend Request for the Cardozo LLM 2024-2025 Facebook page.
Prepare for Your Arrival
Housing Information
- Interested students who have submitted seat deposits may apply for dorm housing at The Benjamin. Please note that it may take up to 5 business days to access the housing portal after completing your deposit payment. Committed LL.M. students who have deposited as well as visiting/exchange students will receive priority housing status.
- For students looking for housing options outside of student housing should review the Housing Guide.
Orientation Information
- Orientation activities and academic programming for LL.M. students entering Spring 2025 will begin on January 9, 2025.
NYC HOUSING GUIDE
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NYC Housing Guide
Updating Your CV/Resume
What is difference between a resume and cv? The US style resume is shorter (1 page, almost always), generally does not contain personal information outside of an ‘interests’ line, and is chronological and may even seem ‘bland’ compared to other formats. Staying with this basic straightforward style makes it familiar to employers, and also allows for your professional and educational highlights to shine.
Please try to revise your current resume/cv so you have it on hand to work with the Office of Career Services upon your arrival at orientation.
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Sample Resumes
Health Insurance Information
University Health Insurance for LL.M. Students
- To assist students in avoiding unanticipated medical costs, Cardozo requires all LL.M. students enrolled in six or more credits to maintain health insurance coverage that meets or exceeds the University’s criteria. Unless a waiver has been granted by the University health provider, students will be automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan, and premium charges will be billed automatically to their Cardozo student account.
- University health insurance will be provided by Risk Strategies, University Health Plans
- Information about coverage start date, costs, waiver requests, and policy enrollment instructions are available here: https://www.universityhealthplans.com/letters/letter.cgi?group_id=607
- Any questions about waivers, coverage, and enrollment should be directed to:
- For waiver, enrollment, eligibility, general benefit questions or plan issues
contact University Health Plans at 833-207-6455. -
For specific benefit or claims questions
contact Aetna at 866-381‐1529.
- For waiver, enrollment, eligibility, general benefit questions or plan issues
Health Insurance for Visiting/Exchange Students
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If you are traveling to the U.S. on a J-1 or J-2 visa, you will be required to carry medical health insurance for the full duration of your program. Students may elect to enroll in YU’s health insurance plan, or provide proof of coverage which meets the following required amounts:
• Medical Benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
• Repatriation of Remains in the amount of $25,000
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
• A policy underwritten by an insurance carrier with:
- an A.M. Best rating of ‘‘A-’’ or above;
- a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims paying Ability rating of ‘‘A-’’ or above;
- a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of ‘‘B+’’ or above;
- a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of ‘‘A-’’ or above;
- a Moody’s Investor Services rating of ‘‘A3’’ or above;
- A policy backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country will also be accepted.
Career Services Information
The Office of Career Services will help you prepare for your introduction to the NY legal market through resume revisions, mock interviews, career counseling, practical training opportunities, and access to Cardozo's jobs database. For more information, email llm@yu.edu.
New York Bar Exam Information for International Students
Many of our international LL.M. students choose to take the New York bar exam upon completion of their LL.M. studies at Cardozo.
- If you are an international LL.M. applicant who intends to take the New York Bar exam, you should first submit an Online Request for Foreign Evaluation of Academic Credentials to the New York Board of Law Examiners.
- After submission of your Online Request for Foreign Evaluation of Academic Credentials, you MUST submit the supporting documentation listed at the New York Bar Exam website.
- Supporting documentation must consist of originals submitted directly to the New York Board of Law Examiners by the issuing institution. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this requirement. Fax copies, photocopies certified by a notary public or like official, and photocopies certified by anyone other than an authorized official at the issuing institution will NOT be accepted.
Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to obtain the necessary law transcript and translation to meet the New York bar requirement at the same time you obtain your official first law degree transcript for the LL.M. application. International students may find it extremely difficult and burdensome to obtain a transcript from their home countries once they are in the U.S. and studying in the LL.M. program.
The evaluation of foreign academic credentials can take up to six (6) months so we recommend that you begin this process immediately.