Berkeley University

 

 

 

Location: Berkeley, California.

 

 

Study Programs and general Academic Information:

 

The university is known for specializing in Tech Law.   

Berkeley offers a general LL.M Program in which every student can build his own program to fit his goals and preferences (aside for a few core curriculum courses), and also allows receiving a certification of specialization in different subjects such as Law & Technology, Business Law, International Law and more.

Berkeley offers 4 different tracks to complete the LL.M degree:

1. Professional Track - spread over 2 consecutive summers, 21 required academic units with min. 16 elective units.

2. Traditional Track - 1 academic year, 21 required academic units with min. 16 elective units.

3. Hybrid Option - 1 calendar year: Jan-May online, May-Aug in Berkeley and Sep-Dec online. 24 academic units with min. 15 elective units.

4. Thesis Track - 1 academic year, 21 required academic units with min. 8 elective units and a thesis.

 

Do keep in mind that not all programs offer all the certifications of specialization. Eligibility for the Bar Exams might also change.

 

Recommended Lecturers and Courses:

•  Prof. Andrew Bradt

• Tech Scholarship Seminar

 

 

Admission information:

 

Admission usually starts on August 1st. Each of the LL.M Degree Tracks Berkeley offers has a different deadline for admission, between November and January. It is advised to check the university website for the specific dates for your track of choice and for updated information in general.

 

For admission a student must provide:

1. Online application form

2. Transcripts and diplomas (Sent directly from the issuing university through LSAC)TOEFL/IELTS score

3. Resume/CV

4. 2-3 letters of recommendation, at least one of which from your law professor. It is possible to supply a letter from an employer in the relevant field.  

5. Personal Statement- an essay of up to 3 pages including your background, your legal interests and your reasons for choosing to apply to Berkeley. It is recommended to point out any special activities that might make you stand out, and choices you made to advance yourself to your goal, which studying in Berkeley will also help achieve.    

6. Thesis proposal summary- for those applying for the Thesis Track. Up to one page. Those who apply to the Thesis Track may also submit, if they wish, a writing example that showcases their analytical and expositional skills on a legal subject.

 

Admission fee- 80$

 

Note that it is Mandatory to use the LSAC service for transferring all documents and letters of recommendations to Berkeley.

Also note that all transcripts and diplomas and letters of recommendation must be translated to English by a certified translator if not already written in English and submitted with the original-language versions. It is recommended by Berkeley, though not mandatory, to use the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service which costs 135$.

 

Scholarships and Financial Aid:

 

Tuition, together with other university charges is about 60,000$ a year. Together with accommodation and personal expenses one should expect about 87,000$ all in all. Therefor it is highly recommended to apply for different scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Berkeley currently offers several different scholarships based on the students’ chosen degree Track and legal interests ranging from 10,000$ to full tuition coverage. The university website also includes information about financial aid programs, both American and international.

It is recommended not to depend on the scholarships given by Berkeley as they are relatively hard to receive.

 

Housing, living expenses and other student life information: 

 

Berkeley offers several housing options near the campus for single students (room in shared apartment for around 1100$ or studio apartment for 1300$) and family housing in Albany (about 2000$, about 40 minutes from the campus by university shuttle). For those choosing to look for apartments themselves it is not recommended to consider renting in South Berkeley as while it is relatively cheap and close to the campus, the neighborhood has very high crime rates and is not very pleasant.

Food prices are relatively close to those in Israel, and buses are free of charge for students. Students are also entitled to gym and pool memberships.

There is a Jewish students club in Berkeley which organizes Friday dinners every other week and other Jewish holiday events, and a Hillel branch near the campus.