When internationally trained lawyer Nataliia Williams set her sights on the Texas bar exam, she learned she first needed an LLM. The wife of a military veteran, she was drawn to Texas A&M University, as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would partially pay for her education. Financial aid, however, was only one facet of the full suite of support offered here.
Texas A&M’s School of Law is nationally recognised for its excellence, ranking #5 as a Best Value Law School and among the top 25 Best Law Schools in the country. These may be impressive figures but what the school truly stands out for is how they nurture students into leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good.
Their Aggie Core Values include “Selfless Service: the commitment to support one another during and after school.” This is exactly what the LLM programme provides, so much so that Williams called Texas A&M “the best school ever in my life.”
Texas A&M University School of Law keeps cohorts and class sizes small to ensure easy access to seasoned professors. Source: Texas A&M University School of Law
Full support for your success in exams and life
Whether you are a non-US lawyer in need of a US law degree or a US lawyer looking to specialise, Texas A&M’s LLM is built with your needs in mind. You can pick from two on-campus, synchronous tracks in Fort Worth or three online options that don’t require an entrance exam and have flexible start dates. Cohorts and class sizes are small, allowing for close connections with peers and personalised guidance from the same faculty that teaches JD students.
Specialised support, both for coursework and bar exam prep, is available too. Katie Metallo, Associate Director of Academic Support for internationally-trained LLMs, will help you adapt to US legal studies and build the skills you need to thrive. Through weekly meetings in the first semester, she will focus on academic skills like legal analysis, outlining, and case briefing. Later on, she (assisted by two teaching assistants) switches to bar exam preparation.
“The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is a section that often scares examinees,” says Metallo. “In my last semester bar prep sessions, we take a close look at the MPT and deconstruct how to master the skills required. Our technique focused on the ‘Murphy Method’ of quick reading, top tier analysis, and strict organisation. Once a student ‘gets it’ and the A&M ‘Murphy Method’ settles in, there is a consistent rise in their scores across the board, not just on the MPT.”
As a law school ranked #2 for national employment outcomes, the skills honed on campus translate just as well to workplaces. Williams, for example, became quicker at writing and reading in English, learned to follow many accents and speaking styles, and developed her teamwork skills.
The Aggie Network is global, with alumni in over 160 countries. Source: Texas A&M University School of Law
One ring, one network, one family
Ask anyone in the legal community, and they’ll tell you Aggies are known for their hard work and dedication. The same is true for Texas A&M’s International LLMs, who bring their elite skills and global perspectives. Williams recalls studying with classmates from 40 countries, an experience that taught her to be culturally sensitive.
While diversity is one of Texas A&M’s strengths, its community is what makes the experience unforgettable. Before classes begin, students take part in a week-long orientation run by the Graduate Programmes team. They start with an introduction to American-style law classes, with Metallo providing over 10 hours on classroom expectations and preparation. The week then ends with a debrief — a time to reflect on the differences between their home country’s law schools and Texas A&M, chat about professors, and even trade tips for navigating accents and note-taking.
In the classroom, everyone supports each other, no matter what programme they’re from. “I’ve seen International LLM and JD students rally together for study groups, note exchanges, and general support. The mentality here at Texas A&M is truly – we all fail or we all succeed together,” says Metallo. And that mindset stays strong even after graduation. Aggies carry it with them into the world through The Aggie Network. It is a global family of more than 600,000 Texas A&M alumni, including thousands of lawyers and corporate executives worldwide.
“Students, faculty, and law school staff all work together to help ensure everyone who wants a legal position can find one in their desired area of practice,” explains Metallo. “The camaraderie doesn’t stop after graduation as students and alumni remain tied to the programme through group chats, email threads, and individual meetings.”
And how do you spot another Aggie out in the world? Look for the Aggie Ring, the proud symbol of this lifelong community.
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