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J.D. Degree

Admission process

Apply for Admission

Our admissions committee thoroughly reviews every application to understand the strengths, skills and unique potential of each prospective student. All information you submit is considered, and we encourage you to be thorough and straightforward.

The application cycle runs from early September to August 1. The School of Law reviews applications on a rolling admissions system.

Prospective J.D. students are required to submit:

  • A completed, signed application
  • A personal statement
  • A completed CAS file from LSAC, including a reportable LSAT score
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A copy of all transcripts from post-secondary institutions
  • Your resume or CV
Apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). There is no application fee.

Contact

Admissions Office

1000 LaSalle Avenue, MSL 124, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2015
Email
lawschool@stthomas.edu
Phone Number
(651) 962-4895
Online application on laptop

J.D. Application

Apply Online

The University of St. Thomas School of Law online application service is managed by the Law School Admission Council. You will be asked to register for the LSAC e-application service (even if you already have an LSAC user account.) If you run into technical difficulty with the online application, please call LSAC's Help Desk at (215) 968-1393.

Applying Early is an Advantage

Although the deadline for entrance into the fall class is August 1, students should apply as early as possible to increase the chance for favorable admission and scholarship decisions. We review applications on a rolling basis-meaning applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received in the admissions office and become complete.

Applications are accepted as early as September 1 and are reviewed starting in November. Once a file is completed, it typically takes 6 to 8 weeks for a decision to be reached.

Statue of St. Thomas

Admission Criteria

St. Thomas Law uses a mission-based, highly personalized process to assess applications based on six criteria:

  • LSAT score
  • Undergraduate grades
  • Writing skills
  • Leadership potential
  • Motivation
  • Demonstrated ability to contribute to St. Thomas Law's mission

Although your LSAT score and grade point average are important, your application will not be accepted or rejected based solely upon those criteria. Rather, the admissions committee will also consider your activities, experiences, letters of recommendation and personal statement, and make a qualitative decision based upon all the criteria identified above.

LSAT Scores

St. Thomas Law prefers not to consider LSAT scores that are more than three years old. In no case will we consider an LSAT score that is more than five years old.

If you have multiple LSAT scores, the admissions committee will consider the highest score.

As indicated above, your LSAT score(s) represent one of several factors evaluated in a qualitative assessment of your application.

If you took the LSAT-Flex, the University of St. Thomas will continue to accept your results, provided the exam dates fall within the timeframe above.

Individual working on handheld device

Studying For The Test

LSAT Test Prep

Free LSAT test preparation is available through LSAC’s LawHub. In addition, the site offers resources for students as they complete their applications and decide which law school to attend.

Transfer & Visiting Students

Please contact the admissions office if you have any questions.

Submit the following materials through LSAC:

  • A completed application
  • Letter of good standing from the dean of the previous law school
  • Letter of recommendation from a law school professor of the previous school
  • Law school transcript
  • Personal statement of transfer
  • Official CAS Report (We will request a CAS Report on your behalf. Please confirm your registration through LSAC is up-to-date.)

Transfer applications will not be considered unless the student has completed at least one year at an ABA-accredited law school, except in extraordinary circumstances. Please refer to our Policy Manual‌ for more detailed information regarding transfer eligibility and the transferring of credits.

Submit the following materials:

  • A completed application (link below)
  • Law school transcript (Applicant must be in good academic standing at an ABA-approved law school.)
  • Personal statement as to why the applicant would like to attend St. Thomas Law as a visiting student
  • CAS Report (This can be a copy from the admissions office at current law school.)
  • Written permission from the degree granting school (This can be done after an offer of admission is extended.)

Additional Information can be found on the graduate admission requirements for international applicants webpage.

International Students

  • Application Requirements
  • Canadian Students
  • English Proficiency
  • Transcripts
  • Advanced Standing
  • Additional Requirements

    • Application Requirements

    International J.D. students must submit:
    • A completed application
    • Personal statement
    • CAS report
    • LSAT score
    • All post-secondary transcripts
    • Proof of English proficiency
    • At least two letters of recommendation (Through LSAC with your CAS law school report)
    Start or Complete your Application

    Canadian Students

    Canadian students will often study law in the United States and return to Canada to pursue a legal career. St. Thomas courses in contracts, torts, property and corporate law (business associations) will provide you with the core competencies you need to practice law in Canada. Your competencies in Canadian law in the areas of administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law, foundations of law and professional responsibility can be satisfied through examination when you go through the Certificate of Qualification process with the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).

    Contact our admissions office for additional information about studying law at St. Thomas.

    Request Information

    English Proficiency

    St. Thomas policy requires international students to prove a minimum level of English proficiency for university level studies. Score reports must be sent to St. Thomas directly from the testing center or in your CAS report from LSAC and must not be more than 2 years old.

    Native English speakers from the following countries are exempted from this requirement: English-speaking Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Commonwealth Caribbean Countries.

    English Proficiency Requirement

    Transcripts

    If your undergraduate work was done outside the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada, St. Thomas requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC J.D. Credential Assembly Service. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts.

    The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your CAS report.

    Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.

    Advanced Standing

    Students who have earned a law degree outside of the U.S. may be eligible to apply as an advanced standing J.D. student and receive up to 1/3 of the total credits needed to earn a Juris Doctor degree.

    Submit your application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website. To apply, create a J.D. account and select "advanced standing" as the applicant type.

    The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required to apply. If you received an LL.M. in U.S. Law from St. Thomas, a waiver may be permitted.

    Transcripts should be submitted through LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Once you have applied, your transcript will be reviewed by our academic dean to determine the number of credits you will receive for your previous law degree and which courses you will need to complete in order to receive your J.D.

    Additional Requirements

    International students (i.e. students studying in a non-immigrant visa status) must submit additional requirements to the Office of International Students & Scholars after they are admitted to the university in order to be eligible to receive a I-20 or DS-1029 certificate of eligibility for F1 or J1 status.

    International Graduate Requirements

    Application Requirements

    International J.D. students must submit:
    • A completed application
    • Personal statement
    • CAS report
    • LSAT score
    • All post-secondary transcripts
    • Proof of English proficiency
    • At least two letters of recommendation (Through LSAC with your CAS law school report)
    Start or Complete your Application

    Canadian Students

    Canadian students will often study law in the United States and return to Canada to pursue a legal career. St. Thomas courses in contracts, torts, property and corporate law (business associations) will provide you with the core competencies you need to practice law in Canada. Your competencies in Canadian law in the areas of administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law, foundations of law and professional responsibility can be satisfied through examination when you go through the Certificate of Qualification process with the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).

    Contact our admissions office for additional information about studying law at St. Thomas.

    Request Information

    English Proficiency

    St. Thomas policy requires international students to prove a minimum level of English proficiency for university level studies. Score reports must be sent to St. Thomas directly from the testing center or in your CAS report from LSAC and must not be more than 2 years old.

    Native English speakers from the following countries are exempted from this requirement: English-speaking Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Commonwealth Caribbean Countries.

    English Proficiency Requirement

    Transcripts

    If your undergraduate work was done outside the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada, St. Thomas requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC J.D. Credential Assembly Service. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts.

    The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your CAS report.

    Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.

    Advanced Standing

    Students who have earned a law degree outside of the U.S. may be eligible to apply as an advanced standing J.D. student and receive up to 1/3 of the total credits needed to earn a Juris Doctor degree.

    Submit your application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website. To apply, create a J.D. account and select "advanced standing" as the applicant type.

    The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required to apply. If you received an LL.M. in U.S. Law from St. Thomas, a waiver may be permitted.

    Transcripts should be submitted through LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Once you have applied, your transcript will be reviewed by our academic dean to determine the number of credits you will receive for your previous law degree and which courses you will need to complete in order to receive your J.D.

    Additional Requirements

    International students (i.e. students studying in a non-immigrant visa status) must submit additional requirements to the Office of International Students & Scholars after they are admitted to the university in order to be eligible to receive a I-20 or DS-1029 certificate of eligibility for F1 or J1 status.

    International Graduate Requirements

    What is the Candidate Assembly Service (CAS)?

    The Candidate Assembly Service or CAS is offered by LSAC, the Law School Admissions Council. LSAC is the same organization that administers the LSAT exam.

    CAS is a service offered as a convenience to both applicants and law schools. It serves as a clearinghouse for applicant information and data. Your LSAT exam score, cumulative GPA (including all your post-secondary institution transcripts) and a compiled record of your letters of recommendation will be reported to law schools through this service.

    All students applying to St. Thomas Law must register with CAS.

    Application Review

    Please contact the admissions office if you have any questions.

    A student’s LSAT score and GPA are important, but they are only a portion of the application.

    We do not use cut-off or minimum score requirements when making admissions decisions. The medians, 25th and 75th percentiles listed on our website, represent the profile of the previous entering class, and are intended to be used as a gauge to measure the competitiveness of your numerical indices. All applicants should seek to enter the applicant pool as competitively as possible with regard to their LSAT score, undergraduate GPA and their mission fit.

    Prospective students will sometimes ask us about the likelihood of them being admitted based on their LSAT score and GPA. The admissions staff cannot predict, however, if an applicant will be admitted, as we consider many factors when making admissions decisions. If you have questions about the competitiveness of your LSAT score or GPA, we would be happy to visit with you. Please feel free to make an appointment with the admissions office.

    A personal statement and two letters of recommendation are required as part of our application.

    The personal statement and letters of recommendation are a valuable part of the admissions committee's review. The personal statement is used to evaluate mission fit, as well as the writing skills necessary for being successful in law school. Letters of recommendation are useful in highlighting the characteristics, both academic and personal, that an applicant brings to our law school community.

    We require a minimum of two letters of recommendation; however, you may submit as many letters as you deem valuable or beneficial to your application. Also, remember that CAS will accept four general letters of recommendation to be sent to every school to which you apply. Additional letters must be sent directly to the admissions office.

    Your participation in the CLEO or PLSI program will be considered by the admissions committee and should be disclosed as part of your original application. A decision from the admissions committee may be held, pending evaluation of your participation and performance in the program.

    Application Decisions

    Please contact the admissions office if you have any questions.

    Application status can be checked online through LSAC. You will receive an email from St. Thomas Law with your username and password shortly after we receive your application. We will then request your CAS report from LSAC. Your application is complete when we have received a CAS report, including all your undergraduate transcripts and at least two letters of recommendation. It is not unusual for components of the CAS report to have been submitted and remain waiting to be processed by Law Services. A notice is sent to the admissions office whenever additional pieces of information are updated on the report.

    If there’s an issue, we’ll contact you. However, if there are substantial problems with the CAS report that require candidate action, the admissions office will contact you so that you may correct the issue. Applicants should check with Law Services to ensure that their CAS report contains a reportable LSAT score, at least two letters of recommendation and all post-secondary institution transcripts. Feel free to contact our admissions office to check the status of your application.

    Once a file is complete and enters the committee review process, it typically takes 6 to 8 weeks for a decision to be reached. Applicants who have been denied or waitlisted will also be notified of the committee's decision in that same period of time.
    We accept requests for deferment in writing. Should the request be approved, the deferral will be for one year.
    Waitlisted means that the admissions committee has completed a review of your application but has chosen not to make an offer of admission at this time and would like to hold the application for review should there be seats available later in the admissions process. To be waitlisted is distinct from a denial, which means that the committee has reached a final determination on the application and will not review the file further for any openings in this year's entering class.
    Once an applicant has received a decision denying his or her application for this year's class there is no ability to appeal that decision. You are welcome to apply during a subsequent application season but should seriously evaluate your application to see if it could be strengthened to be more competitive in a new applicant pool.
    St. Thomas Law does not offer conditional or provisional admission. We do, however, participate in the Council on Legal Education Opportunity and the Pre-Law Summer Institute summer programs. Students who are applying to or plan to participate in either of these programs should disclose that as part of their application.