<p>Widener University Delaware Law School has signed a conditional admission program agreement with the University of Delaware English Language Institute. The agreement will enable international students to receive conditional acceptance into full-time, pre-LLM academic programs at the law school without the need to take a standardized English exam, provided they successfully complete required courses of study.<br /><br />The agreement forms a successful link between the schools that promotes international diversity and global exchange in Delaware higher education. LLM programs provide legal master&rsquo;s degrees and are popular with working attorneys who want enhance their legal education &ndash; particularly attorneys outside the United States. The law school&rsquo;s pre-LLM program is designed for foreign attorneys to spend a year enhancing their research, writing and language skills in preparation to pursue an LLM degree.<br /><br />&ldquo;An LLM degree from the law school in America&rsquo;s corporate law capital is desirable for attorneys around the world,&rdquo; said Eileen Grena, assistant dean for graduate and compliance programs. &ldquo;To be successful in their American legal studies, however, some applicants need to first strengthen their English and other legal skills and writing. This agreement with the University of Delaware&rsquo;s English Language Institute allows prospective students to receive the language preparation they need, right here in Delaware, before embarking on the path to a legal master&rsquo;s degree with us.&rdquo;<br /><br />&ldquo;We look forward to this partnership with the University of Delaware, to strengthen our mutual goals and provide legal education for attorneys from around the globe,&rdquo; Grena added.<br /><br />George Watson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Delaware, said the agreement improves the ability of both schools to compete on a global scale.<br /><br />&ldquo;The world is a much smaller place today. If we want to bring the best and brightest to our institutions of higher learning, we need to do all that we can to make individuals feel welcome and remove any red tape that might force them to look elsewhere,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;This agreement demonstrates that Widener University and the University of Delaware, working in tandem, are committed to bringing the best attorneys to Delaware, whether they are in-state applicants or reside thousands of miles away.&rdquo;<br /><br />Delaware Law School will waive the standardized English exam requirement for students who complete an English for Graduate Studies course at the institute as well as earn a grade of B+ or higher in listening/speaking and reading/writing courses. Students will be accepted into the Pre-LLM program assuming they meet all other admissions criteria. The agreement does not impact students seeking to enroll in the traditional Juris Doctor course of study.<br /><br />Watson and Delaware Law School Dean Rod Smolla signed the agreement Wednesday, Nov. 11. A photo is available <a href="http://bit.ly/1PG2nCa">here</a>.<br /><br />More information about the Pre-LLM program at Delaware Law School is available <a href="ipl://218//W10=">here</a>. More information about the English Language Institute at the University of Delaware is available <a href="http://sites.udel.edu/eli/">here</a>.&nbsp;<br /><br />Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, applied leadership, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience.&nbsp; Its Delaware Law School is the First State&rsquo;s only law school, providing juris doctor, legal graduate and paralegal degree programs with an emphasis on developing legal professionals who reflect the Delaware Way and its traditions of civility, integrity and mutual respect. The school offers signature programs in corporate and business law, environmental law, family health law and policy, and trial advocacy. Widener University is proud to be tobacco free. Visit delawarelaw.widener.edu for more information.</p>
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