Online Law School Admissions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Master of Science in Law and certificate programs are designed for professionals who need legal fluency but don’t intend to practice law. For that reason, no graduate school exam (LSAT, GRE, etc.) is required for admission. Instead, the application process focused on your professional background, your goals, and how this program fits into your career goals.
Admissions Requirements
No graduate school exam (LSAT, GRE, etc.) is required for admission, although a candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree, regardless of its field.
MSL Application Requirements:
- Completed bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Laws, or equivalent degree from a regionally accredited institution. The bachelor’s degree need not be in law.
- $90 application fee
- Completed MSL application
- A current résumé/curriculum vitae
- Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended
- Required statements and essays
- All students admitted to the online MSL will need to meet minimum Graduate College requirements.
Certificate Application Requirements:
The U. of I. is currently seeking U.S. Department of Education approval to make this certificate eligible for federal financial aid. Until then, certificate students are admitted with non-degree status. The certificate is awarded by the College of Law, your courses appear on your University of Illinois transcript, and certificate students are not eligible for federal financial aid. If you're later admitted to the MS in Law, up to 12 credit hours of non-degree coursework (one full certificate) can count toward the degree. Contact admissions for more information.
- Completed bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Laws, or equivalent degree from a regionally accredited institution. The bachelor’s degree need not be in law.
- Completed application
- A current résumé/curriculum vitae
- Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended
- Required statements and essays
- Students admitted to an online certificate will need to meet minimum Graduate College requirements except for minimum GPA, which is not required.
Statements/Essays
All graduate applicants will be required to answer the two required personal statements below in short-essay format (250 word maximum).
Students also have the option to complete two additional questions. They are not required (250 word maximum).
Required Question 1
Please describe pivotal experiences, opportunities, and/or challenges (including any financial or access barriers) that have influenced your educational and professional development.
Required Question 2
At Illinois, we value a student’s ability to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where our graduate students can learn and collaborate productively and positively. Please provide an example of how you contributed to or engaged with a community of students or colleagues with different perspectives, abilities, and experiences to achieve a positive outcome, and reflect on what you learned from this experience.
Optional Question 1
If you believe that your academic record does not demonstrate your true capabilities, please explain why. You may also discuss any gaps in your academic and professional experience.
Optional Question 2
If there is something that you would like to share with the admissions committee that you have yet to discuss in other areas of the application, please do so here. If needed, you may also use this space to expand upon the topics discussed in the above essays.
Required Academic Statement
Students will also be required to provide an academic statement that answers the below prompts (500 word maximum)
- How has your academic and professional background, including any professional training, prepared you for graduate study?
- How will our program help you achieve your intellectual and professional goals?
- What are your academic interests, and why do you wish to pursue graduate studies in this specific program?
Get more information for completing your graduate application on the U. of I. website.
The MSL Degree is Not a Precursor to the JD
The MSL program is designed for those who do not desire a professional law degree, but MSL candidates and graduates will remain eligible to apply for admission to the College of Law’s JD program.
When Does Enrollment Open for the U. of I. Online Law Programs?
Enrollment is now open for the online MSL and certificate programs.
Spring 2027 Start
Application Deadline: January 10
Classes Start: January 19
Support for Your Next Step
We want to help simplify your admissions process. Contact the College of Law Graduate Admissions Team for more information and help with your application.
Office of Online MSL Admissions
University of Illinois College of Law
259 Law Building
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217.300.6880
Email: onlinemsladmissions@illinois.edu
Admissions Considerations
Minimum Academic Requirements for Graduate Admission
The Graduate College minimum requirements for full status admission are below:
- Applicants must have earned at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college in the United States or a comparable degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad.
- An admission grade point average (GPA)* of 3.0 (A=4.0), or a comparable GPA for an international applicant, is a minimum requirement for admission.
- The admission GPA is calculated based on the last two years of undergraduate study. If your undergraduate study is longer than four years, additional semesters may be used to calculate the admission GPA.
- The U. of I. encourages students who do not meet minimum GPA requirements for the MSL program to enroll in a certificate where they may boost their academic record and GPA. If you earn a 3.0 in your U. of I. law certificate program, you will be considered to meet MSL admission requirements and would be able to apply.
- Applicants enrolled in the final year of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college in the United States or a or comparable degree program from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad, and who meet the GPA requirements stated above, will be admitted conditionally pending receipt of final academic credentials showing the undergraduate degree as conferred.
- International applicants must meet minimum requirements based on their country of origin.
See Full Requirements
Minimum Requirement Exceptions
- May qualify for limited status admission with support from the academic program and approval from the Graduate College.
- May qualify for full status admission based on a master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college in the United States or a comparable graduate degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant.
- May qualify for full status admission after completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours as a non-degree or graduate certificate student at the graduate level within the proposed academic major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and receive a cumulative GPA that meets the department minimum for good standing.
- May qualify for full status admission with support from the academic program and approval from the Graduate College if they have completed over 10 years of professional work experience in the field corresponding to the proposed academic major.
International Students
International applicants will need to meet these English proficiency requirements: https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/international-applicants.
Financial Assistance
Check with your proposed program of study office for any specific application deadlines to be considered for financial assistance in addition to admission. Visit the tuition page for additional information.
Master Legal Skills in AI, Privacy, and Compliance
Built for working professionals navigating legal complexity without a law degree. The online MSL from U. of I. delivers stackable credentials in high-demand areas including AI governance, cybersecurity, employment law, and business compliance. Start with a certificate or go straight to the full degree.
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