DePaul University College of Law challenges and enlightens students by placing the highest priority on innovative programs of instruction that include both traditional classroom theory and professional skills training. We are distinguished by our highly successful centers and institutes, which emphasize collaborative learning among students and faculty in advancing the law and serving justice. Located in a vibrant urban environment, the College of Law brings together students, faculty, staff and alumni committed to serving the public and the legal profession in ways that enhance the social, economic, cultural and ethical values in the broader community. The College of Law is part of a university that derives its fundamental mission from St. Vincent de Paul, who advocated the acceptance of all people and devoted his life to helping the disadvantaged lead dignified lives. We seek diversity in students' special talents, qualities, interests and socioeconomic backgrounds in creating a culture in which student learning is central. DePaul College of Law students can expect an academic environment that weaves together education, experience, service and community.
Academics
At DePaul University College of Law, tradition underlies everything: our deep roots, our enduring values and our commitment to service.
The College of Law provides theoretical instruction as well as offers creative approaches to professional skills training. Law students can earn academic credit by working with real clients on real cases in every type of legal environment. Through our Legal Clinics, Field Placement Program and Trial Advocacy Program, students gain valuable first-hand experience and insight working side-by-side with distinguished faculty members and practicing attorneys.
In addition to the core Juris Doctor curriculum, students also can choose from a variety of joint degrees, graduate programs and certificate options in a number of concentrations.
3+3 Program (BA+JD)
In the 3+3 BA+JD Program, high-achieving incoming first-year undergraduate students are admitted simultaneously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Law. Students complete their first three years in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and their final three years in the College of Law. Students receive the Bachelor of Arts degree after successful completion of their first year of law school. Throughout the program, BA+JD students meet regularly with advisors in both Colleges and have access to a variety of resources to ensure their success.
Key Program Features
- Students earn both a bachelor's and a law degree (Juris Doctor) in as few as six years (three years undergraduate and three years in law school).
- Students save one year's worth of undergraduate tuition and living expenses while gaining a head start in entering the legal profession.
- Students benefit from new curricular offerings and collaborative activities created to prepare them for law school.
- Students receive early (conditional) admission to the College of Law.
- Credits earned in the first year of law school apply toward the BA degree.
- Students may opt out of the College of Law segment of the program and continue in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences during their fourth year.
- If students withdraw after the first semester in the College of Law, they return to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences for the winter quarter.
Program Requirements
In order to maintain status in the program, students must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completing their undergraduate coursework in three years, including meeting the Modern Language Requirement and necessary Liberal Studies Program or Honors Program requirements. Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.35 by the end of their second year of study and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.35 in their third and final year of undergraduate study.
In addition, students must complete a series of two-credit courses, taught by College of Law faculty, prior to matriculation in the College of Law. They are designed to help students understand many aspects of the legal system as well as to complement their undergraduate course of study. The courses are as follows:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PRELAW 150 | THE PRACTICE OF LAW | 2 |
| PRELAW 151 | RECENT CONTROVERSIES IN THE LAW | 2 |
| PRELAW 152 | THINKING ABOUT THE LAW | 2 |
In order to matriculate in the College of Law, students will be required to register with the Law School Admissions Council, submit the College of Law’s online application, comply with all character and fitness requirements for admission, and submit an LSAT score. The activities should be completed no later than February 1 of the participant’s third undergraduate year. The LSAT score will only be used for consideration of merit scholarships; it will not be a factor in the admission of the participant to the program.
Financial Aid
BA+JD students are not eligible for undergraduate scholarships once they start law school. All students will receive a merit scholarship from the College of Law, with merit scholarships beginning at $1,500 per academic year. Students who earn an LSAT score and GPA at or above the College of Law's median LSAT and GPA are the most likely candidates for larger merit scholarships. College of Law students are not eligible for the Double Demon discount.
Admission & Aid
Electronic Application Process
All applicants to the College of Law must submit all materials electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). We only accept applications submitted through LSAC. Please read the application instructions included with the LSAC Electronic Application and follow them carefully. You can access the LSAC Electronic Application at law.depaul.edu or lsac.org.
We will not accept any paper application materials or paper updates to your application. Paper materials and updates will not be retained or reviewed by the Admissions Committee and will be discarded. You are welcome to submit updates to your file electronically. Application update materials may be submitted to lawinfo@depaul.edu. Please include your name and LSAC identification number on each attachment.
Disabled applicants in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, or other applicants who require a paper application, should contact the Office of Law Admissions at (312) 362-6831 or email lawinfo@depaul.edu with their request.
Admission Policy
Admission to DePaul University College of Law is very competitive.
We consider numerous factors in evaluating each applicant, including undergraduate academic performance, Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and/or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, advanced degrees, professional work experience, writing ability, potential for leadership, professional and academic recommendations and the applicant's special talents, qualities, interests and socioeconomic and cultural background. No single factor is dispositive when determining admission.
Personal qualities that demonstrate intellectual depth, high ideals and diligence also are considered, as are economic, societal or educational obstacles that have been successfully overcome. Diversity in background and experience among the members of each entering class is a continuing objective. Having a diverse student body allows us to encourage and foster the exchange of different ideas. In addition, a candidate's prior relations with the DePaul University community and her or his potential for furthering DePaul's institutional goals are considered.
Last year, approximately 2,000 candidates applied for 150 seats in the full-time day program and 25 seats in the part-time evening program.
Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, early application is highly recommended, especially for those who desire merit scholarship and financial aid consideration.
For first-year applicants with no previous law school credit, admission is granted only for the fall semester. First-year applicants should ensure that their application and all necessary documents are on file in the Office of Law Admission prior to the suggested application deadline of April 1.
Prospective applicants who have received their baccalaureate degrees from accredited institutions or who have received degrees prior to July of the year for which admission is sought are eligible to apply. Except for students admitted to the 3+3 BA+JD program, anyone who has yet to receive a baccalaureate degree will not be permitted to enroll in the College of Law. No specific fields of study are prescribed at the baccalaureate level.
DePaul University has a nondiscriminatory admission policy; it is the policy of DePaul University that no person shall be the object of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, family relationship status, physical or mental disability, military status, genetic information or other status protected by local, state, or federal law in its employment or its educational settings.
Application Instructions
Letter of Recommendation
One letter of recommendation is required for all applicants. Additional letters are welcome. Letters of recommendation must be submitted through CAS.
Recommendations from an applicant's college professors are particularly useful. Recommendations also may be submitted by employers or colleagues who are in positions to make critical and informed appraisals of an applicant's qualifications.
Personal Statement
A personal statement is required and must be electronically attached to the application for admission. It should not exceed two pages, and may provide the Admissions Committee with information regarding such matters as intellectual interests and pursuits; personal, family or educational background; experiences and talents of special interest; reasons for applying to law school as they may relate to personal goals and professional expectations; or any other factors that will assist the committee's evaluation of the applicant's candidacy for admission. Applicants also may describe, either within the personal statement or as an addendum, how their admission would contribute to the diversity of the College of Law.
Resume
A current resume is strongly recommended and may be electronically attached to the application for admission. It should not exceed two pages. It should include a complete employment record and identify honors, scholarships and commendations received; membership in any scholastic, honorary and professional associations; as well as community, volunteer and extracurricular activities.
Law School Admission Test / Graduate Record Examination / Credential Assembly Service
All applicants must take the LSAT (including LSAT Flex) or GRE. LSAT scores earned more than five years prior to the date of application will not be accepted. In addition, all applicants must register with CAS. Please visit the LSAC website (lsac.org) for additional information.
Application Fee
There is no application fee for the JD program.
International Applicant Information
Applicants who have earned degrees or received diplomas from foreign institutions must submit all materials required of first-time JD applicants.
In addition, applicants who have completed coursework or earned degrees from foreign institutions should submit their foreign transcripts through LSAC's CAS. Foreign transcripts received will be sent to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) where the transcript will be authenticated and analyzed. This service is included in the standard CAS fee. The data will be assembled into a foreign credential evaluation document that contains AACRAO's summary, copies of the transcripts (and translations, as necessary) and a TOEFL or IELTS score, if applicable.
Applicants who were educated in foreign countries at institutions where English is not the primary language must also register for the TOEFL (toefl.org) or IELTS (ielts.org). Applicants who register for the TOEFL must advise Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send their TOEFL score to DePaul University College of Law (institution code 1165).
LSAC will incorporate the applicant's foreign credential evaluation, TOEFL or IELTS score and associated documents into the regular CAS report.
While the College of Law strongly encourages international applicants to submit their foreign transcripts to the CAS, we will also accept detailed evaluation reports from Educational Credential Evaluators (ece.org), World Educational Services (wes.org) or from any other member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
International applicants who have graduated from foreign law schools may receive up to 28 credit hours toward the JD degree. The determination of applicable credit is made upon admission. For additional information, including a copy of the Financial Affidavit of Support Form for International Students, please visit International Student Admissions.
Joint Degree Programs
DePaul offers the following joint-degree programs: the JD+MBA degree with the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business; the JD+MS in Public Service Management, JD+MA in International Studies, JD+MNM in Non-profit Management, JD+MPA in Public Administration, JD+MPP in Public Policy, JD+MS in International Public Service, and JD+MS in Public Service Management, all with the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences' School of Public Service; the JD+MS in Computer Science Technology with the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media; and the JD+Masters in International and European Business Law with the Pontificia Universidad Comillas (Madrid, Spain).
Those seeking a joint degree first must apply and be accepted for admission to the College of Law. Admission is made to the appropriate joint degree program only after completion of the first-year core curriculum in the College of Law with above average academic achievement. Thereafter, if accepted into the joint degree program, law students begin their joint degree studies.
A separate application may be required for each program and should be submitted during the first year of law school. In addition, an entrance exam such as the GRE or GMAT may be required depending on the requirements of the program to which the applicant is applying.
More information about joint degree programs is available at law.depaul.edu.
Transfer Applicant Information
DePaul University College of Law welcomes applications from students who will have completed, within the preceding two years, at least one year of study at another ABA-accredited law school. Transfer applicants may apply for admission to the day and evening programs during the fall and spring semesters. Transfer applicants admitted to the College of Law may receive up to 30 hours of credit toward the JD degree. The determination of applicable credit is made upon admission. DePaul University does not have an articulation agreement with any university or law school program regarding transfer admission.
Students applying for transfer admission complete a different online application than first-year applicants. Transfer applicants are required to submit the following: transfer student application form, one letter of recommendation from a law school professor, resume, personal statement and current LSAC CAS report. In addition, transfer applicants must submit directly to the Office of Law Admissions:
- a letter of good standing indicating eligibility to return from all previously attended law schools and
- law school transcripts from all previously attended law schools.
Law school transcripts must provide grades for all coursework attempted. While a transcript showing spring grades generally is required to review the application, the Admissions Committee may make an exception and grant a conditional admission based upon an applicant's strong academic performance in the fall semester. Class ranks are not required to evaluate an applicant's transfer application.
In evaluating transfer applicants, the Admissions Committee will consider the applicant's undergraduate academic record, LSAT score, law school grades, personal statement, letter of recommendation and other information requested in the application.
Financial Assistance
DePaul University and the College of Law provide a range of financial assistance in the form of loans and scholarships. Should you wish to apply for financial assistance, indicate your intent in the application for admission. Financial aid applications will be available shortly after October 1.
Scholarship Assistance
All admitted students are automatically considered for applicable scholarship awards. No separate application is required. Dean's Scholarships are awarded to entering law students based upon their achievements, personal qualities and potential to contribute to the DePaul law community. Scholarship recipients are notified of their award in the acceptance letter.
Need-Based Assistance
To apply for loans and other need-based assistance, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required and can be obtained after October 1 at colleges and universities or at the FAFSA website (fafsa.ed.gov). The FAFSA code for DePaul University College of Law is 001671. The FAFSA must be complete and on file in the Office of Financial Aid on or before March 1 in order to receive full consideration for DePaul-administered financial aid.
For additional financial aid and scholarship information, visit the DePaul University College of Law website at law.depaul.edu.