Admissions

Our Admissions Philosophy

In keeping with our mission, the Colleges seek to admit students from diverse backgrounds to broaden access to the legal profession and promote understanding in the classroom. For each class year, our goal is to identify students who have the determination, work ethic, and intellectual drive to succeed in the study of law.

The Admissions Committee does evaluate the traditional criteria for law school admission—academic grade point averages and, in some cases, LSAT scores—but other considerations are also very important. For example, the applicant's life experience, maturity, moral character, employment or volunteer experience, and ability to communicate may weigh heavily in the admissions decision. All admissions decisions, including the award of transfer credit, are within the sole discretion of the Colleges.

Acceptance to the Colleges is not guaranteed merely because an applicant meets the minimum requirements for admission. However, we encourage you to apply if you are motivated to study law and are otherwise qualified.

Academic Preparation

Most admitted students hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; some have advanced degrees and professional school credentials. We also admit qualified graduates with an associate's degree, or 60 semester units of academic college credits. Exceptionally well-qualified individuals without such credentials may be accepted as "special students." Eligible transfer students may also be admitted.

We have no admissions preference as to undergraduate major. However, those who enter law school with strong analytical and writing skills are generally more successful, so we encourage aspiring law students to take academically challenging courses that emphasize logic, analysis, and expository writing.

Next Steps

Our Admissions Guide provides a step-by-step description of the process, while our Admissions Requirements describe the three categories in which students are admitted—regular, transfer, and special.