This page is designed to provide prospective and admitted students with more information on the admissions process at the University of San Diego School of Law.
The educational mission of the University of San Diego embraces a commitment to academic excellence, individual dignity and the development of the knowledge, values and skills that will prepare students for service to their professional, global, civic, and faith communities. As a Roman Catholic institution, USD has a moral and theological commitment to educating a diverse student body. Accordingly, USD welcomes and respects those whose lives are formed by different traditions, recognizing that diversity of viewpoint, background and experience (including race; ethnicity; cultural diversity; gender, both in identity and expression; religion; age; socioeconomic status; disability and sexual orientation) among the student body is essential to the full and informed exchange of ideas and to the quality of legal education USD seeks to provide.
While LSAT scores, GRE scores and undergraduate GPAs are important elements, other factors can also be significant in the admissions decision. These factors include: other graduate study; work experience and community or professional service; awards and distinctions; personal recommendations; maturity and character; geographical background; undergraduate and graduate institutions and major; length of time elapsed since completion of undergraduate work; demonstrated motivation, discipline, and leadership ability; demonstrated success in completing a demanding educational program or activity; demonstrated success in overcoming hardship, discrimination, a social or economic disadvantage, or physical disability; and demonstrated evidence of future promise, including the capacity to contribute to the legal profession and society.
The goal of the admissions committee, which serves in an advisory capacity to the dean of the School of Law, is to consider all of the qualitative factors of each applicant that are demonstrative of the applicant's ability to successfully study law and serve as a member of the legal profession. In choosing from among the pool of qualified candidates, the admissions committee — cognizant of the educational mission of the university, the critical role students play in educating one another and the diverse needs of the legal profession — considers the diversity of the class as a whole. The admissions process is highly selective — the School of Law receives over 3,500 applications for 250 available spaces in its entering class.
Information on USD Law’s notification of application decisions. Note that this information is different depending on whether applicants apply as part of the Early Decision program or as a part of Regular Admission.
Regular Admission
The admissions office begins considering completed applications in late fall. Approximately 3,600 applications are individually reviewed each cycle, and it may take several weeks or months for a completed application to be considered. Once the admissions committee has made a decision, applicants are advised promptly of the decision as an offer of admission, an offer of a place on the wait list, or a denial of admission. Because the admission process includes an evaluation of the overall achievements of each applicant relative to those of other applicants, many admission decisions are not finalized until the bulk of applications have been reviewed. Applicants who are in the wait list category may not receive a final decision until late summer. Due to confidentiality concerns, admission decisions are generally not communicated by telephone, nor is information on an applicant released to anyone other than the applicant. If an offer of admission is extended, the admitted student needs to send a deposit to the admissions office by the specified date in order to secure a position in the entering class. The offer of admission will be withdrawn if the required deposit is not received when due.
Early Decision Program
The admissions office will begin to review early decision applications in late fall. Applicants will be advised of the decision no later than December 22. The criteria used to evaluate applicants under this program will be the same as the criteria and selection process employed for regular admissions. This is a binding admission process; you will have until January 15 to confirm your place in the entering class by submitting the required seat deposit.
Higher Education Official Transcripts Requirement: All Applicants
Transcripts are required for all higher education programs attended, including community colleges, undergraduate schools, graduate schools, study abroad, and certificate programs. Official transcripts must be sent to LSAC for inclusion in an applicant’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report. This requirement applies even if attendance in a higher education program was for one academic semester, quarter, or less. Failure to provide a missing transcript will result in an application status of “Incomplete” and therefore, cannot be processed for review.
Applicants who studied abroad as part of their post-secondary education are required to submit official copies of all international transcripts to CAS. Applicants who are unable to upload international transcripts to CAS can use the Parchment transcript delivery service directly from the credit-granting institution. Official copies of international transcripts are not required if credits for study abroad work are clearly indicated on the home campus transcript. Notwithstanding this exception, the Admissions Committee may request an applicant’s international transcripts if they are deemed necessary to assess an applicant’s candidacy for admission. Please note, transcripts cannot be accepted directly from applicants. If you have questions, please contact our office at jdinfo@sandiego.edu.
Official Transcript Requirement
Admitted students must make best efforts to have their official transcripts on file with the Office of Admissions prior to the first day of classes. Only transcripts that include a degree conferral date meet the official transcripts standard. Note, Per ABA Standard 502(d), unless "extraordinary circumstances" apply, a law school must have official transcripts on file for fall matriculating students by October 15th. For students matriculating at any other time, official transcripts must be on file within four weeks of the date classes begin. If the Office of Admissions determines extraordinary circumstances have in fact delayed the receipt of an enrolled student’s official transcripts by stated ABA deadlines, the Office of Admissions will add a written explanation detailing these circumstances to the student's file.
If an enrolled student does not have their final transcripts on file with the Office of Admissions by the applicable deadline, absent a finding of extraordinary circumstances, a student will be automatically withdrawn from the law school. The withdrawn student will remain responsible for all fees and costs associated with their period of enrollment.
Information on the USD Law application requirements.
Character and Fitness
Applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness and other qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the National Conference of Bar Examiners website.
Transcript Requirement
An official transcript is required. See transcript information in the above accordion.
Personal Statement
Our office requires that your personal statement to be between 2-3 pages, double spaced with 12 point font and traditional margins. The admissions committee views the personal statement as an opportunity to evaluate the writing and thinking ability of applicants and learn more about their interests, personal background and concerns. Applicants should describe and discuss the aspects of your background, qualifications, experiences, activities, perspectives, etc. relevant to the criteria for selection set forth above. You may also wish to address:
- Why you wish to study law, setting forth your special qualifications
- How you plan to use your legal training
- Reflect on your experiences and highlight your individual skills, strengths, and perspectives.
- Any additional information you deem important for the admissions committee to consider
Standardized Test Requirements
All applicants for admission are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the GRE General Test. Both the LSAT and GRE are administered throughout the year. To register for the LSAT please visit the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website at lsac.org for more information. LSAC offers a free online LSAT prep course through Khan Academy. To register for the GRE General Test and to access a range of test preparation tools, visit the ETS website.
Applicants are required to submit all valid LSAT exam scores if they are on file with LSAC. If an applicant has both LSAT and GRE scores, they may choose not to have their GRE score considered for review. However, if an applicant only has valid GRE exam scores on file with ETS, they are required to certify that any subsequent LSAT exam taken and the resulting score will be reported to the USD School of Law Office of Admissions.
Applicants whose native language is not English need to establish competency in English by successfully completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must send the results of their TOEFL to the Law School Credential Assembly Service.
Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Registration and Transcript Requirements
All applicants need to register with the Credential Assembly Service, Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940-0998. This service collects and analyzes academic data and transcripts on behalf of most United States law schools and sends both the report and copies of the received transcripts to the designated school. Applicants need to request that all colleges, universities and law schools previously attended send official transcripts directly to CAS. Transcripts for work completed prior to registering with CAS should be sent to CAS, not to the USD School of Law. Applicants need to designate the USD School of Law (code 4849) as a recipient of the CAS report. Applicants should allow approximately six weeks for the CAS process.
Applicants whose undergraduate degree was earned outside the United States need to apply to CAS for the JD Credential Assembly Service for Foreign-Educated Applicants. They must also send their foreign transcripts to CAS.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are required by the School of Law. Letters need to be submitted through the CAS service. The directions and forms can be found in the LSAT/CAS registration and information book. Letters will be forwarded to USD with an applicant's CAS report. Letters of recommendation should be from professors or individuals who can evaluate some significant aspect of the applicant's academic background and/or work experience. For first-year applicants, we require you to submit at least 2 letters and we ask that you send no more than three. If the candidate has been out of undergraduate school less than 5 years, we prefer letters from academic sources. For additional information on letters of recommendation requirements for transfer or visiting applicant, please refer to our Transfer or Visitor pages.
Optional Essays
The USD School of Law application includes two specific optional essay prompts. An applicant may submit a response to one or both essays if they assess that either prompt is personally relevant and that the information provided would assist in a comprehensive review of their application.
Optional essays should be included with the original LSAC.org application. If the application was sent, optional essays may be supplied as a .pdf document to jdinfo@sandiego.edu. An applicant's full name, and LSAC Number "L Number" should accompany the submission.
Financial Aid
All applicants are automatically considered for USD Law's merit scholarships. Please refer to the Financial Aid section of this website for more information and instructions on applying for other types of financial aid.
Reactivating Admission Files
Applicants who have applied for admission and either were not admitted or were unable to accept admission at the time may reactivate their applications the following year. To reactivate an admission file, applicants need to follow all the steps of a normal first-time applicant.
Disqualified Students
Students who have attended USD Law and have been academically disqualified must wait one year before applying for re-admission to USD Law. Students who have attended another law school and have been academically disqualified must wait two years before applying to USD Law.
The University of San Diego embraces a commitment to academic excellence, individual dignity and the development of the knowledge, values and skills that will prepare students for service to their professional, global, civic and faith communities. USD has a moral and theological commitment to educating a diverse student body. Accordingly, USD welcomes and respects those whose lives are formed by different traditions, recognizing that diversity of viewpoint, background and experience (including race, ethnicity, cultural diversity, gender, religion, age, socioeconomic status, disability, and sexual orientation) among the student body is essential to the full and informed exchange of ideas and to the quality of legal education USD seeks to provide.
The School of Law is an active participant and supporter of the DiscoverLaw.org campaign. For more information on the LSAC's Discover Law campaign, please visit DiscoverLaw.org.
We accept applications that are prepared and submitted via the Law School Admission Council's web application. This service allows you to use your computer to efficiently fill out applications for all ABA-approved law schools. The preferred method of submitting your application is online via the web application.
If you are unable to apply online and would like a hard copy of the application, please contact our office at (619) 260-4528 or jdinfo@sandiego.edu.
Applications submitted to LSAC for transmission to this law school will be considered postmarked on the day they are electronically submitted. If you experience any technical difficulty, please call the LSAC Help Desk at (215) 968-1393.
The University of San Diego School of Law prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, age, physical disability, mental disability, or other characteristic protected by federal or state law in the admission or status of students, in the hiring, promotion or supervision of faculty, staff or administrators, and in the administration of law school programs and procedures. The facilities and services of the Office of Career and Professional Development are only available to employers whose hiring and personnel practices are consistent with this policy.