How to Apply

Eligibility

To be eligible for admission to the MS in Law, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Application Deadline

Spring 2023 Priority Deadline*: To receive an application fee waiver and priority scholarship consideration, applicants should apply by November 1, 2022.

Spring 2023 Final Deadline*: All applications for the Spring 2023 semester are due by December 1, 2022.

Fall 2023 Priority Deadline: To receive an application fee waiver and priority scholarship consideration, applicants should apply by April 1, 2023.

Fall 2023 Final Deadline: All applications for the Fall 2023 semester are due by August 1, 2023.

*Spring 2023 Applications are available for Cybersecurity Law and Homeland Security and Crisis Management Law only.

Later applications may be considered on a space-available basis. For semester start dates, please refer to the MS in Law academic calendars.

Review Process

Applicants are evaluated through a thorough assessment of the prior academic record, professional experiences, accomplishments, and interest in our program. We seek students who will enhance the professional development of their peers and who will contribute in positive ways to the community as a whole.

Credit Transfer

Students may not transfer or apply credits earned elsewhere toward Master’s program degree requirements.

Application Checklist

A completed application to the Master of Science programs consists of the following:

PART I

1. Completed online application: Create an account in our application portal and complete the required information. You will have the ability to save your application in progress and log back in at a later time to complete it.

2. Statement of interest: Your statement of interest should be between 500 and 1000 words and should primarily address your area of interest and your reasons for applying to the MS in Law program. You may also wish to include information about your personal and/or professional background. You will upload your statement to the application portal.

3. Résumé or CV: At minimum, the résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) should detail all educational institutions attended and degrees and non-degree certifications received, with dates, and all employment, with dates. It is also helpful to include skills, honors, awards, accomplishments, and interests. You will also upload your résumé or CV to the application portal.

PART II

4. Character and fitness form: Please include explanations, where appropriate. You will also upload your character and fitness form to the application portal.

5. Non-refundable $35 application fee: The fee is paid by check, made payable to the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. The application fee will be waived for applications completed by April 1, 2021.

6. Transcripts: Please arrange for each college or university you have attended, for any period of time, to send us a transcript of your work at that institution. Transcripts should be sent directly by the issuing institution to Maryland Carey Law either electronically to msl@law.umaryland.edu or mailed to:

Office of Admissions – MS in Law Program
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
500 West Baltimore Street
Suite 130
Baltimore, MD 21201

7. Letter of recommendation: We require one letter of recommendation, preferably from an individual who can speak to your professional accomplishments and interests, such as a current or former supervisor in an employment context. We will consider up to three letters, should you wish to arrange for additional letters to be sent. We are primarily interested in learning about your work ethic, motivation, professional skills and accomplishments, and interest in further education. You will notify your recommenders through the application portal and they will receive an email with instructions for how to submit their letter.

Applicants with Disabilities

The School's admissions policies fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws and regulations. Consistent with the School's commitment to diversity, the life experiences and backgrounds of applicants with disabilities may be viewed positively in admissions decisions. Applicants may use the personal statement or a separate, optional diversity statement to emphasize these factors.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this application or about the admissions process, please contact the Office of Admissions at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law at (410) 706-3492 or msl@law.umaryland.edu. Be sure to notify the Office of Admissions promptly of any change in your address as well as any new facts that may change the responses to any part of your application.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or age. The University is required by federal regulatory agencies to supply admissions and enrollment information by racial, ethnic and gender categories. Provision of the information is voluntary and will not be used to determine eligibility for admission.

UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination »

English Language Competency Exams

Because facility with written and spoken English is necessary in order to successfully participate in our academic experience, applicants for whom English is a second language or not their primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). English Proficiency is proven by an official TOEFL score of at least 600 paper-based or 90 internet-based, an official IELTS score of at least 7, previous attendance at a U.S. institution, or proof that English is the applicant’s native language. Request that scores be sent directly to the law school. Note: TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years.

No provision of this website shall be construed as a contract between any applicant or student and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The University and the School of Law reserve the right to make changes without prior notice in requirements for admission, curriculum, programs and their availability, standards for advancement and graduation, and rules and regulations. The University also reserves the right to make changes in the rates of tuition and fees. The University further reserves the right to ask a student to withdraw at any time when it is considered to be in the best interest of the University.