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JD Admission

What qualities does ASU Law look for in Juris Doctor candidates?

ASU Law seeks to enroll a dynamic group of individuals who will provide an engaging learning environment. The admissions committee makes decisions after considering all the information provided by the applicant. Among the factors influencing the admission decision are LSAT performance, undergraduate grade point average, quality and grading patterns of undergraduate institutions, previous graduate education, demonstrated commitment to public service, work and leadership experience, extracurricular or community activities, history of overcoming economic or other disadvantages, uniqueness of experience and background, maturity, ability to communicate, foreign language proficiency, honors and awards, service in the armed forces, and publications.

The committee does not conduct interviews and relies solely upon the information applicants choose to share in their application. ASU Law is committed to a more sustainable and resilient future and requires applicants to apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website at LSAC.org.

Application deadlines

The fall 2024 JD application is available through LSAC.

Priority: February 28, 2024
Regular: July 31, 2024

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By completing and submitting your information to ASU, you consent to:

1. ASU using this information to contact you regarding information as you request.
2. The terms of ASU's Privacy Statement.
3. If you are in the European Union or another country or state that has adopted GDPR.
(General Data Protection Regulation) or similar privacy protection, please also read ASU European Supplement to ASU's Privacy Statement.

Admission programs

ASU Law offers binding and non-binding admission programs. Our binding admission programs are designed for applicants who are certain they want to attend ASU Law. When completing the application the applicant must choose from one of the following programs for consideration.

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Binding Admission - O'Connor Merit Scholars Program

The O’Connor Merit Scholars Program is a binding commitment program designed for those applicants who are certain they want to attend ASU Law. There is no minimum requirement.

Binding Admission - Indian Law Leadership Program

The Indian Law Leadership Program is designed to recruit and reward exceptional students who have demonstrated leadership potential and ties within Indian Country, and who have researched their law school options and are certain they want to attend the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. The Indian Law Leadership Program is a binding program tailored for applicants with experience in Indian Country, ties to a tribal community, and an interest in pursuing a job in Indian law in the future. The purpose of the Indian Law Leadership Program is to legally train and educate those who have already demonstrated a commitment toward Indian Country and will continue to give back in the future; therefore, there are no minimum LSAT and GPA requirements to apply to this program. Applicants are required to submit a statement (no more than two (2) pages, double-spaced and font size no smaller than 11 point) discussing any leadership experience in and ties to Indian Country and future goals (please note, this is in addition to your required personal statement).

Binding Admission - O'Connor Honors Program

The O’Connor Honors Program is designed to recruit and reward academically exceptional students who are civic-minded, have demonstrated leadership potential, and who have researched their law school options and are certain they want to attend the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. The O’Connor Honors Program is a binding program tailored for applicants with high academic credentials — applicants must have an LSAT score of at least 168 and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.89 as calculated by LSAC.

Admitted applicants will be designated “O’Connor Fellows” and will enjoy the following benefits:

Full-tuition and fees scholarship for all three years (including increases)
Invitations to special events

In the spirit of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and to continue her legacy, O’Connor Fellows are expected to give back to the community by providing 40 hours of pro bono work each year addressing important social, economic, and political problems or advancing civil discussion and civic action.

Regular Admission Program

The admissions committee reads files in the order they are completed and it is in your best interest to apply early in the cycle well in advance of the February 28, priority deadline. Admission and scholarship decisions are made on a rolling basis, therefore, for the best consideration, applicants should make every effort to apply when the ASU Law application is available beginning August 10.

ASU Achievement Program

The ASU Achievement Program allows applicants who meet certain criteria to apply to the JD program without taking the LSAT. In general, the applicant must have earned or will earn a bachelor's degree from ASU within a particular time frame or be applying as a joint degree candidate. If you are interested in applying to the ASU Achievement Program, please contact our office before applying or registering with LSAC.

In order to be eligible for this program, the applicant must satisfy all requirements listed below:

(a) Bachelor's degree from ASU must be awarded after August 15, 2023, but before August 15, 2024; a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or above through six semesters of academic work; and scored at or above the 85th percentile on the ACT or SAT if you are applying as an ASU undergraduate student,
or
(b) Must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution and be applying as a joint degree candidate to the JD program in combination with another graduate degree at ASU*; a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or above through six semesters of academic work; and scored at or above the 85th percentile on the GRE or GMAT if you are applying as a joint degree candidate.

Any Achievement applicants with a valid LSAT score on file with the LSAC or who register for the LSAT will have their application and/or offer of admission withdrawn. *Any joint degree applicant admitted to the JD program (under (b) above) who does not also earn admission to the other graduate program for joint enrollment will have their admission to ASU Law rescinded.

Application components

Completed applications must be submitted online to ASU Law through LSAC and include the following:

Application fee: This year’s application fee ($65) is waived for all applicants.

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Personal statement

Personal statement: The personal statement should give the committee a better picture of who you are beyond your academic achievements and resume. It should be compelling, show off your writing skills, and include some discussion of why you want to go to law school. It is also an opportunity to highlight specific reasons for your interest in ASU Law. Your personal statement should be no more than two double-spaced, typed pages and in a font size no smaller than 11 point.

Resume

Resume: Your resume should include details about your educational background, work history, military service, leadership roles, honor societies, scholarships, extracurricular activities, public/community service, honors and awards, publications, foreign language proficiencies, and any other significant achievements and involvements. As to work history, include significant employment during and post-college (including organization name, dates of employment, and hours worked). Your resume should be no more than two typed pages and in a font size no smaller than 11 point.

Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

All applicants must register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). An application for admission must include a valid LSAT score (excludes applicants applying to the ASU Achievement program).

An LSAT score is valid for five years. Your LSAT score is considered valid if earned on or after June 2017. LSAC will report all LSAT scores for the past five years.

Official transcripts

Official transcripts: You must have a separate transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution you attended sent to LSAC.

Character and fitness statement

Character and fitness statement: If you answer "yes" to any of the questions in the Character and Fitness section, you must include a separate statement providing a complete description of your actions and full details of the charges and sanctions against you. For example, to be complete, the statement must include a description of all charges or adjudications, including the level of degree and whether it is a felony or misdemeanor. You also must include the date(s) of the matter(s), the status or final disposition of the charge(s), (with the type of plea, such as, not guilty, no contest, Alford, or guilty) including your current status with the disciplinary or criminal authorities (for example, the status of your probation or parole), and the name and address of the authority in possession of those records. You must also include any charges that have been expunged, sealed, or set aside, even if told you do not need to by a judge or attorney. If you participated in a deferment program in order to expunge a criminal activity, you will also need to include that information. Additionally, you must provide your personal account of the events that led to the charges or discipline.

Binding admission contract

Binding admission contract: In order to be considered for any of our binding admission programs, you must sign and submit the binding admission contract provided as part of the application.

Foreign educated applicants

Foreign educated applicants, please refer to special instructions here.

Your application may also include the following optional material:

Letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation: ASU Law accepts up to two letters of recommendation. The recommender should submit the letter directly to LSAC. Please note that since letters of recommendation are optional, the Admissions Office will not wait for letters to complete your file for review.

Inclusive excellence statement

Inclusive excellence statement: Since 2002, ASU has been committed to inclusive excellence. Our charter states that ASU is “a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.” With this in mind, please discuss what experiences and perspectives you would bring to the ASU Law community.

Arizona Residency form

Arizona Residency form: If you claim to be a resident of Arizona, you must submit the residency form.

Optional addenda

Optional addenda: An applicant has the option to submit optional addenda to explain undergraduate performance, standardized test performance, and any other information you would like to provide the admissions committee. Addenda should be no more than one double-spaced, typed page and in a font size no smaller than 11 point.

Elevator pitch

Elevator pitch: You may submit an optional elevator pitch video as part of your ASU Law application in addition to your written materials. The elevator pitch is a concise and compelling summary of yourself that shows your oral advocacy skills. The video should be no longer than 30 seconds.

You will upload your video on the ASU Law website at https://law.asu.edu/videopitch using the email address associated with your written application and your L Number. You should wait at least 24 hours to upload your video after submitting your written materials to account for processing times. Videos should be uploaded within a week of submission of written materials. Videos must be in the form of .mov or .mp4 file types.

Resources for prospective students

Student signing up for an ASU Law clinical program at am information fair.

Review process

Review of applications for admission and scholarship are done on a rolling basis, therefore applicants are encouraged to apply as early in the admissions cycle as possible. The admissions committee will begin reviewing applications as they are marked complete. The admissions committee aims to return decisions within 15 business days from the date the application is marked complete. However, the admissions decision timeframe may increase as we approach the priority application deadline of February 28.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required documents are received by our office. Applicants will typically receive a confirmation email and instructions on accessing the application status checker within three business days of submitting the electronic application.

ASU Law allows applicants to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the preparation of their application materials. Applicants are expected to use this technology responsibly and must certify that the information they submit in their application to ASU Law is true.

Be aware that during the application review process, the admissions committee may request additional information to be provided. Please check your email regularly and ensure that your voicemail box is set up and can receive messages should the Admissions Office need to contact you to request information.

August 10, 2023 – fall 2024 application available
February 28, 2024 – priority application deadline
July 31, 2024 – regular application deadline

Conditional Admission

The admissions committee may admit candidates to the JD program conditionally. Conditional admission candidates will be admitted to ASU Law once the condition indicated in their admission letter is satisfied. The most common reasons for conditional admission are:

English proficiency missing
Maintaining a specified undergraduate GPA requirement
Final undergraduate transcript does not show a degree conferred

Qualifications for admission to the bar

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

See Arizona State University’s professional licensure disclosure.

Applicant responsibility

ASU Law reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission if 1) the applicant fails to meet a seat deposit deadline, 2) the applicant reserves a seat in our entering class and submits a seat deposit or commits to enroll at another law school, 3) the applicant fails to maintain satisfactory academic performance for work in progress, 4) final transcripts fail to show the completion of courses and/or degrees required for admission, 5) the admissions decision was based on false, misleading, or incomplete information submitted by the applicant. ASU Law also reserves the right to require the applicant to submit additional information for any relevant matter.

Final transcript

All students who enroll at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU must provide an official transcript (paper or electronic) from their undergraduate or previous law institution verifying all academic credits undertaken and degree(s) conferred. For students entering ASU Law in the fall semester, transcripts must be received by October 15. For students entering ASU Law in the spring semester, transcripts must be received by February 15. A student who fails to submit his or her official transcript(s) by the deadlines specified above may be subject to administrative withdrawal from ASU Law.

Decision reconsideration

Admission decisions are considered final. An applicant who wishes to have their decision reconsidered must submit a formal request in writing to the Admissions Office explaining the reasons for their request. Requests for reconsideration are granted only in rare and exceptional circumstances, such as when the applicant is able to provide significant, new information that was not available at the time of our decision.