Admissions Policies | 2023-2024 Law Bulletin

JD Admission Requirements

The College of Law offers both civil law and common law curricula as well as four joint degree programs. The civil law curriculum and common law curriculum are available in the full- and part-time day program. Loyola Law’s part-time evening program is exclusively a civil law curriculum.

Loyola Law only admits candidates to its JD program who appear, on the face of their Application for Admission, capable of satisfactorily completing its program of legal education and being admitted to the bar. Candidates who are interested in earning a joint degree must be accepted for admission for the non-JD degree by the sponsoring College or University. Members of the bar may be admitted as non-degree seeking students and register for courses on an audit basis.

Before beginning law school course work, those granted admission to the College of Law must present satisfactory evidence that they have earned an undergraduate degree prior to beginning law school course work, unless admitted through Loyola University’s 3+3 program. Applicants can submit their applications while in progress of their undergraduate degree provided they have completed three-fourths of their undergraduate degree and are expected to have earned their undergraduate degree prior to the start of the first year of law school.

JD applicants compete for a limited number of seats in the incoming class. The Faculty Admissions and Scholarship Committee reviews applications for admission on a rolling basis. The Committee takes a holistic approach in reviewing each application for admission. In addition to the LSAT and/or GRE score and undergraduate academic record, the Committee also considers a candidate’s graduate and/or professional school record if applicable; letters of recommendation; personal statement; resume; employment, leadership, and life experiences; extracurricular involvement; community service; military service; character and fitness statements, if applicable; the LSAT writing sample, if applicable; and, other explanatory or supporting addenda. For a profile of the entering credentials of the most recent 1L class, applicants are advised to read Loyola’s required American Bar Association disclosures.

Loyola Law only enrolls first-year JD students in the fall semester. Transfer and transient students may apply for entry in any of Loyola’s three semesters.

JD Application Requirements

All applicants must register with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Information about both are available online at www.lsac.org. All candidates are required to take the LSAT or GRE. If possible, applicants should arrange to take an admission test by the December prior to the planned enrollment date. An application will not be considered for admission without all required materials. Applications open October 15, 2023 and must be fully submitted to LSAC by July 15, 2024, 5:00PM CST. Applications for admission will not be accepted after the deadline has lapsed. Information about the GRE may be found at ets.org.

Applications for admission to the first-year class of the College of Law must include:

A valid LSAT or GRE score,
A complete CAS Report submitted to Loyola Law through lsac.org that includes transcripts from each college and/or university attended, up to and including conferrals of each bachelor, graduate, or professional degree,
A personal statement,
A resume that includes education, extracurricular activities, work history, community service, and other awards, and
Two recent letters of recommendation (dated on or after the March of the year preceding an applicant’s anticipated law school enrollment). The Law Admissions Office will accept up to four letters of recommendation.

In addition to the above components, international and internationally educated applicants, must also include the following in their application for admission:

Loyola College of Law requires the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, including the Test of Written English and the Test of Spoken English, for applicants for which English is a foreign language. These applicants should contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for TOEFL registration at www.toefl.org. Applicants must request that ETS send relevant scores to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code is 0058. Loyola Law will then receive them in the applicant’s CAS report.
Applicants who completed more than one year of study outside of the United States or Canada must have their academic records evaluated and authenticated by LSAC using CAS.
Foreign-educated licensed attorneys who began their legal education in 2019 or later and wish to be considered for advanced standing and waiver of the standardized test score requirement, must apply using Loyola Law's Transfer & Select Foreign Attorneys Application in LSAC's application portal.

Based upon candidates' answers to questions regarding moral character and potential fitness to practice law, applicants may be required to supplement their application with additional documentation. All supporting documents must be electronically attached to the application.

All incoming students (including transfer students) must submit an official transcript verifying all academic credits undertaken and degree(s) conferred to the Law Admissions Office by the date indicated in their admission offer. Students not meeting this deadline will receive a letter from the Law Records Office notifying the student that their enrollment may be subject to cancellation. Transcripts included with applicants’ Application for Admission do not fulfill this requirement. All materials become property of Loyola University.

1L Scholarships

The College of Law awards competitive scholarships to incoming JD students who demonstrate academic success as well as success on the LSAT or GRE. All applications for admission are reviewed for a scholarship award. No additional application is required. The College of Law aims to notify qualified students of their scholarship offer in tandem with their offer of admission. Scholarships may be classified as renewable or non-renewable and may be up to 100% of tuition. Loyola will give priority scholarship consideration to those who apply by March 1 of each application year. Awards may only be applied to JD tuition expenses within Loyola's College of Law.

Exceptional JD applicants whose application materials demonstrate the Jesuit values of commitment to academic excellence and service to others may be offered the opportunity to participate in the Ignatian Law Scholar (ILS) Program. Law Scholars receive renewable full-tuition scholarships and a faculty mentor. In addition, Scholars gather for special events each semester to get to know each other and other members of the law school community. All applications for admission are reviewed for Program qualifications; there are no additional steps to be considered for the ILS Program.

JD Transfer and Advanced Standing

Loyola welcomes applicants who wish to enroll at College of Law after attending another law school, including select foreign-educated attorneys. An applicant who wishes to apply for transfer or advanced standing admission can do so by utilizing Loyola Law's Transfer & Select Foreign Attorneys Application available through LSAC. At a minimum, two year’s residence (60 credit hours at any time or, if they are the last remaining hours, 45 credit hours) in the Loyola University College of Law is required of students to be eligible for a Loyola degree.

Applicants with prior law school experience must present evidence of successful academic study in their prior law record and have completed at least 15 credit hours at their current law school. In addition to the application requirements for entry as a first-year student, transfer applicants must also submit at least one letter of recommendation from a law school professor, a letter of good standing from their current law school, include an official copy of their most recent law school transcript with their CAS subscription, and statement asserting the reason(s) for transferring to Loyola Law.

Successful transfer applications must demonstrate above average academic study in their prior law school record. Once a transfer applicant is accepted, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will determine how many credits will be accepted by Loyola from their prior law school. No credit will be awarded for a course taken at another law school unless the grade in that course is at least equal to the minimum grade point average required for graduation at that school. If the transfer student has failed to earn a grade that is at least equal to the minimum grade point average required for graduation at the school from which the student seeks to transfer and that course is a Loyola required course, then the student must repeat that course at Loyola. The right to refuse credit in whole or in part is reserved. Transfer quality points are not used in calculating Loyola law school GPAs or rank in class.

Candidates who earned a law degree outside of the U.S. and began their legal studies in 2019 or later may have the standardized test requirement waived, and the opportunity to earn a U.S. law degree at Loyola in less than three years. Loyola Law may grant up to 30 credit hours of advanced standing toward a JD from Loyola for a student that obtained a law degree. The course of study for the J.D. degree must be completed no earlier than 24 months and, except in extraordinary circumstances, no later than 84 months after a student has commenced law study at the law school from which the school has accepted transfer credit.

Special Admission Programs

The College of Law offers qualifying Loyola University New Orleans students admission through two special programs.

3+3 Program

In the 3+3 Accelerated Degree Program (or “3+3 Program”), Loyola University New Orleans undergraduate students may combine the last year of their undergraduate education with their first year of law school. This means that eligible students have the potential to earn their undergraduate degree and law degree in a combination of six years.

Interested students must complete the required courses in their major (including any adjunct courses) and their Loyola Core courses as well as any language requirements before they achieve senior status. The College in which the student is enrolled (i.e. College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, etc.) must grant the student permission to participate in the 3+3 Program. Granting permission means that the student’s College will accept Loyola Law’s first-year coursework in lieu of general elective requirements for graduation. In addition to the Application Requirements described above, candidates’ application materials must include written permission from their dean or departmental chairperson to participate in the 3+3 Program. The Committee must receive complete 3+3 Program applications by April 30.

LSAT/GRE Waiver Program

For a designated admissions cycle and year (if and as approved by the faculty), Loyola University New Orleans College of Law may waive the LSAT/GRE requirement for recent Loyola University New Orleans graduates who earned or will earn an undergraduate degree at Loyola University New Orleans up to 12 months prior to the start of the fall semester, and:

Scored at or above the 85th percentile on the ACT or SAT in application to Loyola, and
Ranked in the top 10% of their undergraduate class through six semesters of academic work, or achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above through six semesters of academic work.

The American Bar Association permits Loyola Law to enroll up to 10% of its entering class through the waiver program. We encourage sincere candidates to contact us regarding the availability of this program for a given admissions cycle and year and, if it is available, to timely apply. Priority consideration will be given by the date the Admissions Office receives an application. Applicants are required to apply through LSAC at lsac.org. Applicants are to complete the application and upload supplemental materials to the application. Once the application and CAS registration are submitted to LSAC, the applicant must contact the Office of Law Admission to complete the waiver process.

Joint JD-degree Programs

The College of Law offers four joint degrees: JD/Master of Laws (LL.M), JD/Master of Business Administration (MBA), a JD/Master of Public Administration (MPA), and JD/Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP).

Applicants interested in the JD/LL.M degree must apply by April 15th of the year of their intended graduation from their JD program to be considered for the joint JD/LL.M program. Scholarships and financial aid are available and will be evaluated when the applicant applies. Only current Loyola Law JD students are eligible to apply to and participate in the JD/LL.M. joint-degree program.

Applicants interested in earning Loyola Law’s joint JD/MBA must also apply to earn the MBA through the College of Business. MBA admission processes are distinct and separate from the JD admission process. To earn both the JD and MBA, the applicant must successfully complete all required credits in both programs.

The JD/MPA and the JD/MURP programs are in collaboration with the University of New Orleans (UNO). Applicants interested must be accepted by both the College of Law and UNO and complete all required coursework at both schools in order to graduate with a JD/MURP and JD/MPA.

Deferring JD Admission

The College of Law does not defer admission or scholarship offers. Admission and scholarship offers are only for the academic year in which they are extended. Applicants who need to postpone their enrollment are encouraged to apply for the next application year.

Re-admission to the JD Program

A suspended Loyola Law student may petition the Faculty Committee on Readmission to be considered for readmission to the College of Law. The Request for readmission must be delivered to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Such a petition for readmission may be granted only if, in the judgment of the faculty, the academic record earned by the student in one or more semesters while enrolled in the College of Law was not indicative of the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the requirements leading to a Juris Doctor degree. In addressing such a petition to the faculty, the student should specifically explain any hardships or other explanations which account for the deficient performance, and explain why those circumstances will not reoccur.

Students whose petitions for readmission to the College of Law have been denied by the Faculty Committee on Readmission may not petition again for readmission until two years have passed since their last enrollment or petition for readmission. Any petition for readmission made at that time will be for admission as a beginning student with no academic credit for prior work attempted. Exceptions to the two-year requirement may be made by the committee for students who have completed more than the first year of law school study, and such students, at the discretion of the Faculty Committee on Readmission, may be readmitted to continue with advanced standing.

Law Master’s Degree Programs Admissions Procedure

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is proud to offer a Master of Environmental Law and Master of Health Law and Administration. These degrees do not qualify students to practice law, but prepares graduates for rewarding careers armed with the knowledge in the law, policy, and compliance of those areas.

The master programs at the Loyola University New Orleans begin in the fall semester, including a one-week intensive course and a week-long orientation.

Fall 2024 Applications open October 15, 2023 and close on July 15, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to apply prior to the priority scholarship consideration deadline of March 1. Applicants are reviewed for scholarship consideration when they apply for their program of interest. There is no separate scholarship application. Scholarships are generally awarded in tandem with offers of admission.

There are no specific undergraduate degrees required to enroll in Loyola Law’s master’s degree programs; however priority is given to people who majored in allied fields. Once admitted, students must present satisfactory evidence that they have earned an undergraduate degree before beginning any coursework within Loyola Law.

Applicants are in competition with one another under a rolling admissions system initially on the basis of undergraduate grade point average. Other factors will be considered to determine the applicant’s acceptability, including but not limited to, letters of recommendation, undergraduate major, life and leadership experience, and graduate and work record.

Exceptional applicants who are Loyola undergraduate alumni (graduated from Loyola with a cumulative GPA 3.000 or better) may be offered expedited admissions to either of the College of Law's Master's degree programs. Exceptional Loyola graduates are guaranteed a scholarship.

Law Master’s Degree Application Requirements

Those who are interested in applying to a masters program at the College of Law may find the application at www.law.loyno/apply-now. In order to be considered for admission, applicants must submit the following:

A complete application for admission,
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions;
One letter of recommendation; and
A written statement on why you want to participate in the program.

At the discretion of Loyola Law, applicants who earned an undergraduate degree from Loyola University New Orleans, may have all or in part of the application components waived. Loyola undergraduate applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of Law admissions to determine whether they are eligible for a waiver. The College of Law reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant if it is determined to be necessary for the university to render an admission decision.

All application materials become property of Loyola University New Orleans.

LL.M Program Admission Procedures

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law offers postgraduate legal studies opportunities for those with domestic or international law degrees. LL.M students may enroll in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.

Priority application deadlines for the LL.M program are:

Spring semester - December 1;
Summer semester - April 1; and,
Fall semester - May 1.

All application materials become the property of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

LL.M Application Requirements for International Lawyers

The LL.M Program in United States Law is available to students who are qualified to practice law in a country other than the United States or completed university-based legal education required to qualify for the practicing bar in that country.

Applications for admission to the LL.M for International Lawyers include:

First degree in law from an institution outside the United States;
Original copy of transcript(s) from all colleges, universities, or law schools ever attended. Transcripts not in English must be evaluated and translated by a third-party educational evaluation service at the applicants expense;
A complete LL.M Program Application;
Two letters of recommendation; and,
Resume or curriculum vitae.

In addition, students whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test. Students must:

Attain a score of at least 550 on the paper-based version and a minimum TWE score of no less than 5.5.
Attain a minimum score of at least 230 on the computer-based version, or
Attain a minimum of at least 89 on the Internet-based version, with the following scores required: writing (25), speaking (24), listening (20), reading (20).

International LL.M students may take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test in lieu of the TOEFL. Students taking the IELTS must attain a minimum score of 6.5.

The College of Law reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant if it is determined to be necessary for the University to render an admission decision. All application materials become property of Loyola University New Orleans.

LL.M Application Requirements for US lawyers

The College of Law offers lawyers with degrees earned in the United States to attain an LL.M in Environmental Law, Healthcare Law & Administration, Immigration Law, or Customized Study.

Applications for admission to the LL.M Program for US lawyers must submit a complete LL.M Program Application, which includes:

Statement of interest,
Current resume or curriculum vitae,
Transcripts from law school and every post-secondary school ever attended, and
Two letters of recommendation.

Select application requirements may be waived for Loyola Law students who:

are currently enrolled in the JD program,
carries a cumulative LGPA of 2.8 or better after attempting at least 75 credits, and
have not yet earned their JD degree from Loyola Law.

Bar Eligibility for LL.M Graduates

The LL.M is not intended to prepare students for a bar examination. However, completion of an LL.M program may qualify a student to register for a state bar. Each state has its own licensing rules for bar admission. Students are responsible for ensuring that all necessary state bar requirements are fulfilled.

Visa Requirements

Non-U.S. residents will need to have either an F-1 student visa or J-1 exchange visitor visa to study at Loyola. Students applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa must complete and submit the appropriate Affidavit of Financial Support the Office of Law Admissions for the appropriate Affidavit of Financial Support.

International applicants are encouraged to complete their application for admission at least 60 days before the prescribed deadline to allow time to fulfill U.S. immigration requirements. All students must be of lawful immigration status before attending classes at Loyola Law.

Certifying your Application

All applicants and Loyola students are required to provide complete, correct, and truthful information on all university applications, forms, and correspondence. If a student falsifies a record and it is discovered between the time of application for admission and the beginning of classes, it may be considered cause for cancellation of acceptance. If such a falsification is discovered after the student has begun classes, it may be considered cause for dismissal. Whenever an applicant or student discovers that the application is incomplete or inaccurate, the applicant or student should update the application. The College of Law reserves the right to report allegations of misconduct to LSAC's Misconduct and Irregularities Committee for JD candidates and students at any point during the admissions process, through matriculation, and thereafter.

Enrolling at Loyola Law

All new students must complete and return Loyola University’s Medical History Questionnaire to the Office of Student Health Service prior to registration. New Loyola University students must also present proof of required immunizations. Students may apply to the University to be exempted from these requirements. All Loyola Law students are required to have health insurance.

Policy on Sex Discrimination

Loyola University New Orleans, consistent with its Goals Statement and the Character and Commitment Statement, fosters dignity and worth of all members of the Loyola community and its guests, and is committed to maintaining an environment free of discrimination and other misconduct on the basis of sex.

Loyola community members, including applicants, who believe that they have been a victim of discrimination on the basis of sex may report the incident to the University’s Title IX Coordinator:

Dr. Dawn Broussard
Title IX Coordinator
Deputy Student Affairs Officer
(504) 864-7151
dmbrous1@loyno.edu

Policy on Nondiscrimination

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law has fully supported and fostered the policy of not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability status, marital status, national origin, race and/or ethnicity, citizenship, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, admissions, employment practices, and in the activities it operates. This policy complies with all applicable federal and accrediting regulations and guidelines.

Loyola community members, including applicants who believe that they have been a victim of bias may report the incident to:

Government & Legal Affairs (504) 865-2657
Human Resources (504) 861-7756
Office of the Provost (504) 861-3049

Student Grievances and Complaints

The university has procedures to handle student grievances and complaints. Please see the Student Code of Conduct to determine the procedure to follow for a specific grievance or complaint. Law students can contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at (504) 861-5675 for more information.