J.D. Admissions Requirements
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, so applicants are urged to submit applications prior to the March 1 deadline as spaces fill throughout the admissions cycle. The Admissions Committee begins to review completed files in late October, and it typically takes eight weeks for decisions to be made. Factors considered in the admission decision include the student's writing ability (as demonstrated in the personal statement), undergraduate school attended and major, any graduate work, professional experience, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. There is no minimum grade-point average or LSAT score that is required. Consistent with the goal of providing an educationally stimulating and diverse environment, the Law School affirmatively seeks to recruit qualified members of all groups.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree awarded by an accredited U.S. college or university or an equivalent degree from a recognized non-U.S. institution and must have taken the LSAT within the past five years.
LSAT
Information concerning the Law School Admission Test may be obtained from the Law School's Admissions Office or from Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The test is administered at various centers in the United States. Testing dates are usually in October, December, February, and June. The latest that applicants for fall admission may take the LSAT is February.
Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
All applicants for the J.D. program, including international applicants, must register with CAS. This service provides a report that standardizes all undergraduate grades and lists the applicant's LSAT score. The report also includes writing samples from the LSAT, copies of all transcripts, and letters of recommendation that have been submitted. An application for admission will be considered only after the CAS report has been received.
Personal Statement(s)
An applicant must submit a personal statement on any subject of importance that he or she feels will assist the Admissions Committee in its decision. It should be no more than two pages, double-spaced. Applicants may also submit an optional statement discussing characteristics and accomplishments they believe will contribute positively to the GW Law community and to the legal profession.
Early Decision Agreement
Applicants who apply through the binding early decision process must complete and submit the Early Decision Agreement along with their applications.
Recommendations/Evaluations
At least one letter of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation/Evaluation Service.
