St. John's Law teaches from Belson Hall on the university's Queens campus, a subway and bus ride from the courts and firms of Manhattan. The school is known in particular for bankruptcy law, and it runs a dedicated LLM in the field. Foreign-trained lawyers can take an LLM in US Legal Studies. The three-year JD is the route for anyone who wants to practise in the United States.
Queens, New York, United States
Official website: stjohns.edu
St. John's University
Belson Hall, Queens campus
Bankruptcy law
American Bar Association
$68,000 – $75,000
JD tuition; LLM fees differ
$22,000 – $30,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on stjohns.edu before you apply.
Juris Doctor (JD)
Professional DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
LSAT or GRE; TOEFL: 100
LLM in US Legal Studies
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
LLM in Bankruptcy
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
JD/MBA
Professional DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
LSAT or GRE; TOEFL: 100
A long-established focus on bankruptcy law, with its own LLM.
An LLM that introduces foreign lawyers to the US legal system.
Close ties to New York courts, firms and government offices.
JD graduates join law firms, prosecutors' offices and courts across New York.
Some LLM graduates can sit the New York bar exam, depending on their first law degree.
F-1 graduates can use OPT for practical training after the degree.
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
JD and LLM
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
LLM only
Belson Hall is on the Queens campus off Utopia Parkway, among lawns and residence halls. Some law students take university housing, but most rent apartments in Queens or Brooklyn.
Queens is huge, varied and cheaper than Manhattan. The courthouses and Midtown firms are about an hour away by bus and subway, which counts as a normal New York commute.
Form I-20 issued by St. John's University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
JD applications open in the autumn and are reviewed on a rolling basis, so applying by December or January gives the best chance of a place and scholarship. LLM applicants should apply by spring for an August start, leaving time for the I-20 and visa.
The JD starts once a year in August. The LLM in US Legal Studies may also allow a January start; check the current dates.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from St. John's University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
The JD, the LLM in US Legal Studies and the LLM in Bankruptcy are the main programmes. JD applicants need a bachelor's degree and an LSAT or GRE score, and apply through LSAC. LLM applicants need a first law degree and strong English, usually TOEFL 90 or IELTS 7.0.
Many JD students receive merit scholarships based on test scores and grades, and international applicants are considered on the same basis. LLM scholarships are smaller, so ask the graduate and international programmes office.
