Judicial Studies LLM

FAQ

Why should I seek a Master’s Degree in Judicial Studies?

A better understanding of the judicial process as a whole can lead to better judging. Participants in the program will develop a deeper understanding of social science evidence and statistics that are often present in trials or appeals. Judges interested in appointments to a higher court or up for re-election will benefit from having an advanced degree from Duke Law as a professional credential. Other reasons include the chance to work with other judges from around the country and the world, a chance to study ways to reform the judiciary, and, simply, the opportunity and challenge of pursuing academic study with colleagues and scholars of similar interests.

What time commitment is necessary for the program?

Judges should expect to spend four weeks in residence at Duke during late May and early June for two consecutive summers. Outside of those four-week periods, judges may be tasked with short papers for each course in lieu of final exams following each session, as well as a substantial reading component.  A typical course has 375-400 pages of reading assigned, and each 4-week session has eight courses.  Reading materials are sent in advance. Judges must also submit a thesis paper ranging from 50-100 pages within nine months after the second semester.

Who is eligible for the program?

State and federal judges in the United States, as well as international judges of equivalent position, are eligible for the program. (Municipal judges, administrative law judges, arbitrators, and special masters are not eligible for the program.)

When should I apply?

Applications may be submitted at any time. NOTICE: Applications for the next entering class, beginning in May 2023, will be due by late spring 2022.  The application is a fillable PDF file. You may need to download the application or save it to your computer to use this feature. Applications for the next class will be considered starting in the summer of 2022.

When will I receive an admission decision?

Admission decisions will be made no later than December 15 of the year prior to the start date.

How much does the program cost?

Duke Law provides a full scholarship, as well as subsidies for food and housing costs. The listed tuition and fees total are approximately $22,000 per year (plus room and board). Judges are requested to pursue all available funding resources from their court, associated agencies, or other funds that may appropriately be used for educational purposes and contribute to the extent they are financially comfortable to do so.

How much time will I have to complete my thesis?

The thesis must be completed by the end of March in the year of graduation (for instance, for the 2021 entering class, thesis papers will be due in March 2023).