United States Law

The Graduate Certificate in United States Law provides internationally trained lawyers with a basic understanding of U.S. law and legal practice. Students enrolled in the certificate program complete a course introducing the principles and structures of the legal system in the United States as well as additional elective courses focused on U.S. law. Students will develop substantive knowledge of U.S. law and legal practice and gain foundational knowledge of the ever-changing U.S. legal environment. The program is offered in a flexible online format, and credits earned in this certificate program may be counted toward the School of Law’s Master of Laws (LLM) programs, including the online LLM, on-campus LLM, and on-campus experiential LLM.

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Designed for internationally trained lawyers, this 12-credit graduate certificate will provide you with a basic understanding of U.S. law and legal practice in a flexible online format.

• Flexible online format
• Credits earned in the United States Law certificate program could be counted towards the School of Law’s LLM programs

Applicants to the United States Law certificate must hold a first professional law degree, such as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent.

• Online application 
• Resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) 
• Personal statement
• One letter of recommendation
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework 
• TOEFL or IELTS score report if English is not your first language or your first law degree was not completed in English

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

• Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

• 1.Create your application

  Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.

• 2.Submit all required materials

  Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.

• 3.Check your application status

  Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.