Detailed applicant information may be found below and through the links to the right.
Find out when a Southwestern Representative will be near you. View the downloadable Recruiting Calendar (PDF) or refer to the online calendar (please make sure to check back to verify information and note updates to the downloadable recruiting calendar above).
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Pre-Legal Education - Application File - CAS - LSAT
Letters of Recommendation - Personal Statement
Application Deadline - Interviews - Campus Visits
Transfer and Visiting Students - Foreign Applicants
Pre-Legal Education
Southwestern does not require a particular prelaw major or curriculum and selects prospective law students from every field of undergraduate education. However, since it is especially important that law students learn to communicate orally and in writing, courses that develop these skills are highly recommended.
In reviewing academic work, the Southwestern Admissions Committee looks at trends in an applicant's UGPA, the school(s) attended, the applicant's major area of concentration, and formal study undertaken beyond the undergraduate level. In attempting to determine motivation and potential for success, the Admissions Committee also considers civic and professional activities, evidence of leadership, employment, and law-related work or volunteer experience.
Note: Although graduate work is considered a positive additional factor in an applicant's file, the graduate GPA is not used as a substitute for the UGPA in the overall evaluation, nor can it be combined with the UGPA.
The Application File
Applications for the first-year entering class are accepted for the Fall Semester only. Transfer or visiting students who have completed their first year at another ABA-approved law school may apply for admission for the Fall or Spring Semester, or for the summer session.
The admissions file of a prospective student applying for the first-year entering class will be considered complete and ready for review by the Admissions Committee once Southwestern has received the following materials:
- Application for Admission
- Application Fee ($60)
- Official CAS Report
- Personal Statement
- Letters of Recommendation (up to three)
The official Application for Admission to Southwestern may be completed via the printed form, or electronically through Southwestern's website or the CAS E-APP program. Applicants to all of the J.D. programs (Day, Evening, PLEAS and SCALE) complete the same application and indicate their program of choice on the form. All first-year applicants must also take the LSAT and register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), and should submit a supplemental personal statement and (a maximum of three) letters of recommendation.
Note: Students interested in applying for admission to the SCALE® program should follow the same application procedures and should indicate interest in SCALE on the application form. SCALE classes begin in June, whereas traditional day and evening classes begin in August.
CAS
Every applicant must register with the CAS which provides the law school with the applicant's LSAT score(s) and a summary of all undergraduate academic work. LSAT/CAS registration materials may be obtained from:
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
662 Penn Street
Newtown, PA 18940
(215) 968-1001
lsacinfo@lsac.org
www.lsac.org
For purposes of registration for various admissions services, Southwestern's code number is 4703.
Academic records from foreign institutions must be submitted to the LSAC credentials evaluation service. Click here for more information.
LSAT
The LSAT is a standardized test administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) that is designed to measure certain abilities important in the study of law and is used by law schools in assessing the academic promise of their applicants. LSAT scores earned within the past three-year period are considered. Applicants should register for the LSAT no later than 30 days before the test date.
The 2009-10 LSAT test dates that will allow applicants to complete their files by Southwestern's deadlines for the Fall 2010 entering class are:
- June 8, 2009
- September 26, 2009
- December 5, 2009
- February 6, 2010
The 2010-11 LSAT test dates that will allow applicants to complete their files by Southwestern's deadlines for the Fall 2009 entering class are:
- June 7, 2010
- October 9, 2010
- December 11, 2010
- February 12, 2011
For the 2010 entering class, only scores earned on or after September 2006 will be considered. For the 2011 entering class, only scores earned on or after September 2007 will be considered. See www.lsac.org for alternative dates for Sabbath observers.
Letters of Recommendation
A maximum of three letters of recommendation should be submitted on behalf of the applicant, preferably from college professors who can provide a candid assessment of the applicant's potential for successfully completing a competitive professional degree program. For applicants who have been out of school for some time, letters from employers may be able to address their strengths and abilities as they would relate to potential success in a law school environment.
The CAS Registration subscription includes a Letter of Recommendation Service. Applicants who wish to use this service should follow the directions for submitting letters outlined in the LSAT/CAS Registration and Information Book which includes forms that are to be completed and given to each writer submitting a letter of recommendation for the applicant. Copies of the letters will be sent to Southwestern along with the applicant's CAS Report. Applicants who choose to submit letters of recommendation directly to Southwestern may enclose them with the application or have them sent under separate cover to the Admissions Office by the recommender. All correspondence concerning an applicant's file should include the applicant's full name and LSAC account number.
Applicants holding undergraduate degrees from foreign institutions should refer to the Foreign Applicants section.
LSAT/CAS registration packets may be obtained by contacting the Law School Admission Council at the following address:
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
662 Penn Street
Newtown, PA 18940
(215) 968-1001
lsacinfo@lsac.org
www.lsac.org
For purposes of registration for various admissions services, Southwestern's code number is 4703.
Personal Statement
The applicant's personal statement may address issues such as special interests, motivation, personal qualities, academic experience and social background which may distinguish the applicant from others, and items not fully explained on the official application form. Because the law school does not schedule individual interviews as part of the application process, applicants are encouraged to use the personal statement as an opportunity to share more details with the Admissions Committee, including the kind of information that might be conveyed during an in-person interview. Applicants to the PLEAS program must demonstrate that child/elder care responsibilities require part-time day study; those without child/elder care responsibilities will be considered for the PLEAS Program on an individual basis.
The applicant's personal statement should be two to three pages in length, typed and doublespaced. When applying electronically through the CAS E-App program, applicants may submit the personal statement as an electronic attachment.
Optional Essay
In addition to the personal statement, applicants may choose to write one optional essay. The essay should be no more than two pages in length, typed and double-spaced, and address one of the following issues:
- Discuss an ethical dilemma you have encountered, either personally or professionally, and how you resolved the situation.
- Discuss a risk that has led to significant change, either positive or negative, in any aspect of your life.
- Discuss the life experiences or relationships that contributed to your development as an individual, and provide specific examples of how this relates to your goal of becoming an attorney.
Interviews
An interview is only required for candidates to the SCALE program. This meeting helps to identify those candidates who would most likely be successful in the program and provides each applicant with an opportunity to learn more precisely what is expected of SCALE participants. If the applicant resides outside of the Southern California area, arrangements can be made for a telephone interview.
Interviews are not part of Southwestern's selection process for the Day, Evening or PLEAS programs. Those applicants who wish to enhance their admissions files with additional information not originally submitted with the application are advised to do so in writing.
Note: SCALE interview appointments are initiated by the law school.
Application Deadline
Applications are reviewed as they are completed. Students are therefore strongly advised to apply as early as possible and are encouraged to submit all application materials no later than April 1. Files submitted at later dates will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants should be aware, however, that waiting lists are often established as early as March, and eligibility for certain forms of financial aid most preferred by students (e.g., scholarship programs) may be reduced substantially after April 1.
Campus Visits
The spirit and welcoming atmosphere of Southwestern are best experienced by visiting the school and talking with students, faculty and admissions staff. Southwestern encourages applicants to make an appointment to tour the facilities and to sit in on classes. Special informational open house receptions and application workshops for prospective students are held throughout the fall and spring. To arrange a personalized visit to the campus or for further information regarding admissions, contact the Admissions Office. Click here for a calendar of admissions events.
