Admissions: Application Procedure

Deadlines

Priority deadlines are as follows:

• Fall Admission: File complete by June 1
• Spring Admission: File complete by November 1

Applications for admission will be considered on a space-available basis after the priority deadlines. Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year, and many applicants will receive an admission decision within three weeks from the date their application becomes complete.

Application Checklist

• Application Options
• Non-refundable application fee (US $50.00)
• Official law school transcript(s)
• Official law school class rank (if available)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• Official TOEFL/IELTS score

Detailed Application Material Information

Application Options

1. Apply online through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)
   • To use this option, applicants must pay LSAC a separate registration fee
   • The LLM application fee is waived for applicants who apply online via LSAC
   • International applicants may use LSAC’s LLM Credential Assembly Service to submit other required application materials, or may submit them by mail to the address below
2. Complete our PDF application and submit the application with your supporting documents by mail to:

   University of San Diego School of Law
   Graduate Programs – Warren Hall 207
   5998 Alcalá Park
   San Diego, California 92110-2492

Application Fee

• The non-refundable application fee of US $50.00 may be paid by check drawn on a U.S. bank or by international money order
• Application fee must be payable to: University of San Diego School of Law
• Credit cards are not accepted
• The LLM application fee is waived for applicants who apply online via LSAC
• The LLM application fee is also waived for all USD School of Law alumni

Official Law School Transcript(s)

• International applicants must submit an official English translation or evaluation of an official transcript from each law school attended
• Transcripts should be sent directly from the law school, or may be submitted in a sealed envelope along with other application materials from the applicant
• For applicants from countries in which a university will only release official transcripts to the student, the applicant may submit a photocopy if a notary or other official third party certifies that the photocopy is a true and correct copy of the original document

Official Law School Class Rank

International applicants must submit a class rank, if available.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Please submit a current résumé or curriculum vitae

Personal Statement

Please submit a brief personal statement (2-4 pages) which addresses:

• the nature and extent of your legal background,
• other related professional experience,
• why you will be a successful candidate for this degree,
• how you plan to make use of your graduate degree, and
• any additional information you deem important.

Letter(s) of Recommendation

• Applicants are required to submit at least one signed, original letter of recommendation, but may submit more if desired
• Letter(s) should be from a law professor, attorney, or other legal professional who is familiar with the applicant’s work
• Letter(s) may be sent directly to Graduate and International Programs by the recommender, or may be submitted in a sealed envelope along with other application materials from the applicant

Official TOEFL or IELTS English Language Exam Score

• An applicant is required to submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score if: [1] the applicant’s native language is not English, or [2] the applicant graduated from an international law school.
• Minimum required TOEFL score:
  • 98 points on internet-based TOEFL
  • 600 points on paper-based TOEFL
• Minimum required IELTS score:
  • 7.5 points on academic IELTS
• Applicants must request that the test administrator submit the applicant’s official TOEFL/IELTS score directly to our office (TOEFL institutional code 4849, department code 03)
• Institutional TOEFL/IELTS scores are not accepted

Notice Regarding Submission of Application Materials

Applicants should keep a copy of all materials submitted to Graduate and International Programs. Once original transcripts and documents are submitted as part of an applicant’s admission materials, they cannot be returned or photocopied by Graduate and International Programs for any reason.