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Admissions
Pre-Legal Preparation
All applicants for admission must have a bachelor’s degree from an approved university or college before registering in the School of Law. No specific pre-legal course work is required. Since law draws on knowledge from almost all fields, a broad undergraduate program may be more desirable than one that is narrowly specialized.
First-Year Admission
The law school admits entering first-year students in the fall only. Applications must be submitted by the February 1 deadline for maximum consideration.
All applicants must submit college records through the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service (LSDAS). Applicants must also take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and have their scores reported to the University. The LSAT is given four times a year—in June, September/October, December, and February—at exam centers throughout the United States. Applicants must take the test no later than February in the year they wish to enter. For more information and registration forms, contact the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), www.lsac.org or 215-968-1001.
The law school accepts applicants based on their college records, LSAT scores, application information, personal statements, optional letters of recommendation, and any other information provided.
Application Procedure
1. Applications should be submitted online. Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly to LSAC. Early application is recommended.
2. Take the LSAT. In general, tests are considered current for four years. If the test is taken more than once, the higher score is considered.
3. Register with LSDAS. Request every North American college or university attended to send official transcripts to LSAC. Applicants who received their degree from an institution outside the United States must also register for the Credential Assembly Service (LSDAS) and submit their transcripts to LSAC for evaluation.
4. Upon acceptance, make the tuition deposits required to hold a seat in the entering class.
Admissions Process
The law school attempts to avoid a mechanical approach to admissions. The Admissions Committee comprises four faculty members with years of experience at Santa Clara University who individually study each application. The committee looks for nonquantitative data, including life experience, academic course selection, undergraduate academic improvements, graduate work, employment in law-related fields, and maturity. It is the committee’s function to discover students who show the capacity to become good lawyers.
Pre-Law Honors Program
Academically talented Santa Clara University undergraduates may take part in the Pre-Law Honors Program, participating in law school activities, acting as witnesses in trial practice class, observing moot court competitions, attending scholarly lectures, and interacting with law student organizations. The law school guarantees program admission to participating students who meet specific requirements, including:
1. A strong academic record and graduation from Santa Clara University with a grade point average of 3.40 or higher
2. Written certification from the honors program director
3. A satisfactory LSAT score
Honors program students should notify the law school admissions office regarding program interest early in their careers. Applicants must complete all admissions requirements, including submitting an application before the February 1 deadline, filing transcripts with LSAC, achieving a satisfactory LSAT score, and meeting any seat deposit deadlines.
Early Action
Applicants may request early consideration. If the application is received by November 1 and the admission file is complete by November 30, an admissions decision may be made by December 15. A file is considered complete when all materials have been received from LSAC. Admitted early applicants do not have to make tuition deposits before the usual April 1 deadline. Applicants who wish to apply for early action should indicate this on the admissions application.
Advanced Standing
Applicants who have completed one year of study in a law school approved by the American Bar Association and are interested in transferring to Santa Clara may be considered for advanced standing. The Admissions Committee considers whether the applicant’s qualifications are such that the applicant would have been permitted to enter the law school as a first-year student. They also consider the quality of work for which credit is being sought. Admitted transfer students are generally in the top 25 percent of their class.
Applicants for advanced standing must complete the admissions application and submit it with the $75 nonrefundable application fee. The candidate must also supply:
1. Official transcripts from any other law schools attended
2. A letter from the dean of the law school attended stating that the applicant is in good standing and eligible to return
3. An official transcript from the applicant’s undergraduate degree-granting school
The law school will order a copy of the LSDAS Report upon receipt of an application.
Transfer students may begin their studies in either the fall or spring semester. Final decisions about admission with advanced standing are not made until after the law school has received an official transcript showing final semester grades and a dean’s letter of good standing.
The law school will evaluate the applicant’s record and determine the amount of credit to be allowed toward graduation. This credit will not be used in computing the student’s grade point average.
Transfer applicants should request transfer application materials at least two months prior to their proposed matriculation. Applicants for the fall semester should apply by July 1. Applicants for the spring semester should apply by November 1. The University accepts a limited number of students each year.
Visiting Students
Students who would like to apply Santa Clara course work toward a degree at another law school accredited by the American Bar Association should follow the same admissions procedures as transfer applicants. In addition, applicants should provide a letter from the dean of the law school attended certifying that credit earned while attending Santa Clara will be accepted toward the student’s degree requirements. At the end of each semester, Santa Clara professors are allowed 30 days from the date that exams are available for grading to turn in final grades. It is not possible to provide earlier grades for visiting students. Students who will be visiting the semester prior to graduating should check graduation grade deadlines with their home school.
International Students
More than 100 international students apply to the law school each year. International applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree in a foreign country must register for the Credential Assembly Service (LSDAS) through LSAC. Official transcripts must be sent to LSAC for evaluation.
All applicants for the J.D. program must take the LSAT. To make arrangements for taking the test outside the United States, contact the Law School Admission Council, www.lsac.org or 215-968-1001. Students for whom English is a second language may also be asked to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
An accepted student who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident is responsible for obtaining a student visa in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Contact the admissions office at the time of acceptance for information and required documentation furnished by the law school.
Special Admissions Policy
The law school has adopted a special admissions policy that recognizes the national need for representation in the legal profession of those groups that traditionally have been underrepresented, including, but not limited to, members of ethnic minority groups. To fulfill this policy, the school intends to identify, aggressively recruit, enroll, and provide a tutorial program in the first year for special admissions applicants who show potential for the study of law. The law school also attempts to provide some financial assistance to all needy special admissions applicants.
The University’s special admissions policy recognizes that the traditional criteria of LSAT scores and undergraduate grade point averages are not the only indicators of academic potential. Other relevant factors are:
1. Academic potential and motivation as indicated by letters of recommendation or other sources of information
2. Practical experiences and achievements in service to the applicant’s community
3. Extracurricular studies or activities that indicate motivation for success in law school
To apply under the special admissions policy, applicants should complete the appropriate section of the regular admissions application. An applicant may grant permission for members of law student organizations to review the applicant’s file and make a recommendation to the Admissions Committee.
Campus Visits
Applicants are encouraged to visit the campus. An admissions counselor is available for individual consultation. Applicants may also schedule classroom visits and campus tours by calling or e-mailing the admissions office at 408-554-5048 or lawadmissions@scu.edu.
For More Information
School of Law, Admissions Office: law.scu.edu/admissions or 408-554-5048.
