Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law is the only law school located in the capital city of Indianapolis, just steps away from the center of government, businesses, and major law firms. Degrees offered include J.D., LL.M., S.J.D., the new M.J. degree.

As the only law school in the Indianapolis area, IU McKinney students benefit from over 350 externship/internship opportunities each semester ranging from federal and state governmental posts to large and niche law firm and corporate posts. Its downtown location - in the heart of state government and business - enhances everything bout the student experience and is the driving reason behind its student academic and employment success.

Recognized recently by the International Jurist​ as an A+ program in several competitive LL.M. categories (Best Law Student Experience and Best Value Law School with accolades in Career Preparation) IU McKinney represents the best of what an American LL.M. can offer. Here's what some of its current students and alumni have to say:

Flexible Schedule and World-wide Externships!

Unlike some other law schools, IU McKinney offers day, evening, and summer courses tailored to fit your specific scheduling needs. Interested in an externship? Planning to work during the day and take courses at night? Interested in breaking up your 24 credits into two semesters and a summer instead of two 12-credit hour semesters? Would you prefer to take online classes from home for a semester? At IU McKinney we can accommodate your specific needs. LL.M. students enjoy the flexible scheduling options which allow them to maximize their time with us. Our worldwide externship opportunities, while closed to some LL.M. students at other schools, are precisely the reason why our students have enhanced career opportunities upon graduation.

Indianapolis: A Welcoming and Vibrant Capital City in the Heart of the Midwest

In addition to our unique classroom experience, our law school offers all the advantages of living and studying at the edge of vibrant downtown Indianapolis. With our beautiful and modern campus just a few blocks from the city’s financial and government center, you will have access to a thriving business community, dozens of governmental agencies (including city, county, and state government), and a variety of local, state, and federal courts. Our IUPUI campus, which is Indiana’s premier urban university with over 30,000 students, includes dozens of programs and schools, and is home to Indiana University’s finest professional schools. IU McKinney is a welcoming and diverse environment. Our international student population ranges from 10-15% total enrollment annually with students hailing from over 40 different countries each year.

When you arrive, you will see that Indianapolis has a thriving healthcare industry, a dynamic sporting community, and a downtown that has been rated as one of the best places to live and work in the nation. All this in a city that has one of the lowest cost-of-living rates in the United States.

Top Academics and Research

At Indiana University McKinney School of Law, we strive to attract top candidates from across the globe to study in one of our 7 tracks tailored to your individual interests: American Law for Foreign Lawyers; Corporate and Commercial Law; Intellectual Property Law; International and Comparative Law; Human Rights Law; World Trade Law; and Health Law, Policy, and Bioethics, one of a very small number of elite health law programs that are nationally ranked. The McKinney Legal Writing Program has been nationally recognized for five consecutive years. 

Our research centers and programs include the Center for Law and Health, Center for International and Comparative Law, Program in International Human Rights, and Program on Law and State Government. Our Program in International Human Rights Law has been granted "Special Consultative Status" at the United Nations. Students can also earn a graduate certificate with their JD in one of 7 different areas of law, including criminal law, health law, environmental and natural resources law, and advocacy skills. We also offer 3 law reviews, 8 joint degree programs, and 8 clinics. 

As an LLM student at McKinney, you will have the opportunity to take classes with distinguished state leaders, including justices of the Indiana Supreme Court and the former Attorney General of Indiana. We are honored to have former Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. as a full-time faculty member, as well as Justice Steven H. David ’82, Justice Robert Rucker, Justice Mark Massa ’89, Judge John Baker, and former Attorney General of Indiana Greg Zoeller counted among our teaching faculty over the years.

The Program

Our master’s program consists of 24 credits, with a wide range of elective courses. (Students may choose to take more than 24 credits, at the applicable tuition rate per credit hour, to satisfy bar admission requirements in some states.) You can choose to start your program in either the fall (late August) or spring (early January) term. Students have up to three academic years to complete degree requirements and may opt for part-time and evening study schedules, although foreign students ordinarily graduate in two or three semesters per visa regulations. Students may opt to write a master’s thesis that is worth 2–4 credits. The school provides many externship and optional practical training (OPT) opportunities during your time in Indianapolis. We also provide advanced Legal English instruction in-house if a university placement test indicates this would be a benefit.

Estimated Costs

Significant scholarship assistance is available to students with demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic/professional credentials; however, the LLM program does not typically offer full tuition waivers. The combination of generous scholarships, relatively low tuition, and a low cost of living make the McKinney School of Law one of the most affordable LLM programs in the United States.

• Tuition (24 credits) 2020-2021: $35,616
• Mandatory fees (for entire program): $1,503
• Books and supplies (estimate): $1110
• Housing and living expenses (estimate for 9 months): $12,390
• Health insurance (mandatory for foreign students): $1,524
• Total cost: $52,143

Career Services

The Office of Professional Development provides a series of workshops on career research strategies, résumé and cover-letter writing, bar exams, interviewing skills, and other related topics. Staff members meet with students individually for résumé review, interview practice, and related aspects of career counseling and professional development. In addition, the law school provides a variety of job-search resource materials. Various professional development services are provided to students, including practical pro bono service opportunities such as work with the international community through world trade services, anti-human-trafficking work with victims, policy and legislation, domestic violence and prevention legal services, heroin and addiction issues, support of efforts to aid disadvantaged youth and the elderly, as well as a myriad of programs involving the courts, and other opportunities. Our pro bono program brings a world of experiences to our students and works with each student to tailor these experiences to his or her educational goals.