How to Apply: J.D. Admissions
Admissions Policies
In order to be considered for admission, applicants must follow the procedures
outlined in the J.D. Application Procedures, take the LSAT and register with LSDAS, and show that they have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to registering for the first academic quarter in the School of Law. Foreign applicants who have earned a baccalureate degreee and are proficient in English are eligible to apply.
No specified set of undergraduate courses or major is required for admission. However, students should design an undergraduate program that enables them to develop certain skills: facility in reading, writing, and speaking the English language; a critical understanding of human values and institutions; and mastery of the ability to reason creatively and logically. Most colleges have advisors to help students decide how best to accomplish these ends. For additional information, see The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools, published by the Law School Admissions Council and the Association of American Law Schools. The University of Washington School of Law subscribes to the suggestions on pre-law study given in the Guide.
Policy Statement Regarding Admission to Entering Classes of the J.D. Program
Adopted by the University of Washington School of Law Faculty, December 3, 1998
- The primary goal of the admissions process is to enroll students who demonstrate outstanding academic and professional promise and whose background and experience will enhance the diversity of the student body, thereby enriching the Law School educational environment.
- In measuring academic potential, the Law School relies primarily on the applicant's undergraduate grade-point average and performance on the Law School Admission (LSAT). The weighing of these two indicators is determined statistically by reference to past experience at this School. For most applicants, the ranking that results is the most nearly accurate measure of relative academic potential. In cases where numerical indicators do not appear to be an adequate measure of academic potential, the admission decision will be affected by consideration of other factors. They are:
- the difficulty or ease of the undergraduate curriculum and the scholastic quality of the school;
- the nature and attainment of an advanced degree;
- the applicant's post-college experience as it relates to the applicants academic potential;
- any substantial changes in the applicants health or economic position as they would affect academic performance;
- the quality and strength of recommendations which address the applicant's academic potential;
- variations in the level of academic achievement over time;
- documentation of the applicant's performance on other standardized tests (e.g., the SAT test) which may indicate that the LSAT has under-predicted the applicants academic potential, and
- any other indicators that may aid in the determination of academic potential.
- Important academic objectives are furthered by classes composed of students having talents and skills derived from diverse backgrounds believed to be relevant to a rich and effective study of law. An applicant will be regarded as potentially contributing to student diversity if his or her background or experience would not ordinarily be well represented in the student body. Factors that indicate this diversity include, but are not limited to, the following: persevering against substantial obstacles such as prejudice or discrimination, economic disadvantage, family or personal adversity or other social hardships; having lived in a foreign country or spoken a language other than English at home; career goals (with particular attention paid to the applicant's commitment to public service); employment history; educational background (including graduate study); evidence of and potential for leadership (perhaps demonstrated by extracurricular, school, civic or community service achievement); special talents (such as a career as a performance artist); geographic diversity or unique life experiences. This list is not exhaustive and no single factor is dispositive. Furthermore, no factor will confer admission on an academically unqualified applicant.
Applicants are invited to describe these and other aspects of their backgrounds that would benefit the diversity of the law school community.
- Consideration is given to past evidence of a lack of scholarly integrity if it seems there is a strong likelihood that the applicant could not be relied upon to maintain the integrity necessary to the administration of the Law School (e.g., cheating in examinations). Admission may be denied in such cases. No applicant is denied admission on this basis without first being informed of the grounds for the possible denial and being given the opportunity to respond.
- It is the faculty policy that approximately 70% be established as a target for the percentage of Washington state residents in the entering class. Information on establishing state residency is on the Financial Aid site.
LSAT and LSDAS
All first-year applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than the December administration immediately prior to the application deadline. Scores are accepted for tests administered within the last three years. If an applicant has two or more scores on the same score scale, the Law School will use the average of an applicant's scores.
Each applicant is also required to register for the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). Official copies of undergraduate transcripts should be received by Law School Admission Services no later than December 1 to be sure an LSDAS report is received by the law school's deadline for completion of the application file. Registration materials for both the LSAT and LSDAS are in the Law Services Registration Book. Packets are available in most college advising and testing offices and law schools, or you may obtain one by writing to:
Law School Admission Services
Box 2000
Newtown, PA 18940
Tel: (215) 968-1001
http://www.lsac.org
Foreign students who have attended schools which are not analyzed by Law Services can either subscribe to the JD Credential Assembly Service (JD CAS) and have their letters of
recommendation sent to the JD CAS, or they can sign up with the LSDAS as
LSAT-only and have offical transcripts and letters of recommendation sent
directly to the law school.
Character and Moral Fitness
Applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that state bar
admission will involve consideration of a bar applicant's character and
moral fitness for practice. Applicants should acquaint themselves with the bar
admission requirements of the states in which they intend to practice.
Criminal Convictions
Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or other serious crime are still eligible for admission to the University of Washington School of Law; however, because state bar associations often prohibit persons with criminal records from being admitted to the bar regardless of their degrees or training, it may be impossible for such individuals to practice in some states. Persons who have been arrested or convicted for any crime are strongly urged to inquire directly of the bar association in the jurisdiction in which they intend to practice, before applying to law school.
Equal Opportunity and Accommodation Statement