An admission application will be accepted from an applicant who will have received, at the time of law school matriculation, an undergraduate bachelor’s degree from an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. Applicants may apply to begin law school in the fall or spring semester. The Charleston School of Law offers both full-time and part-time enrollment options leading to the Juris Doctor degree.
No particular pre-law curriculum is required; however, exposure to courses that require the individual to think and act creatively are advantageous to the study of law. The studies of the following subjects are beneficial to preparation for pursuit of a law career: English Composition, Public Speaking, United States History, Accounting, Economics, Logic, Literature, Political Science, and Philosophy.
Applications for admission are available on the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) website, www.LSAC.org, in early September of each year for fall admission and early February for spring admission. Additional information may be obtained by visiting our website, www.charlestonlaw.edu, or contacting the Office of Admission by mail: Charleston School of Law, 385 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29403; by phone: 843.377.2143; or by email: info@charlestonlaw.edu. Applicants must complete the following:
*Pursuant to ABA Standard 502, students who do not comply with this rule will be administratively withdrawn from classes and their offer of admission revoked. Any extraordinary circumstances that prevent compliance with this policy must be document and approved by the Dean.
In an effort to increase the accessibility of law school, the Charleston School of Law will accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) beginning with the application for fall 2023 admission under the following conditions:
Both total and individual section scores are required. The Admission Committee will evaluate scores from all sections of the GRE.
We encourage all applicants to take the LSAT; while some merit scholarships will be available for GRE applicants, the majority will be for those with an LSAT score.
The priority application deadline for J.D. applicants is March 1 for fall admission and October 1 for spring admission. All applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The Charleston School of Law will typically begin to review applications in November for fall admission and August for spring admission. It is not necessary to wait until receiving the results of the LSAT to submit a law school application.
A personal statement should be submitted as an attachment with your application to LSAC. The admission committee considers many applicants with strong credentials and makes difficult decisions regarding whom to admit to fill the limited number of seats at the Charleston School of Law. Applicants should provide a candid evaluation of themselves detailing any information that he/she believes will assist the committee in considering their application. Applicants should provide evidence of their abilities and strengths, examples of leadership abilities, maturity, organizational skills and motivation to study law. Applicants may also wish to provide, as an addendum, information relating to cultural and ethnic diversity, public service, educational and financial obstacles that have been overcome or disabilities that may have affected academic performance.
The Charleston School of Law requires the submission of two letters of recommendation. Applicants currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program should have at least one letter of recommendation from a professor or faculty member familiar with their educational abilities. Applicants who have been out of school for some time may provide letters of recommendation from an employer. Recommendations must be sent through LSAC and at least one of the letters should be written in the past year.
Formal interviews are not a part of the normal application process; however, applicants are always welcome to visit the school, attend a class and meet with current students. Applicants with particular concerns should contact the Office of Admission by phone, 843.377.2143; or by email, info@charlestonlaw.edu, to schedule an appointment or for additional information.
The Charleston School of Law admits students selectively after a thorough evaluation of all personal and academic criteria. Those candidates with high qualifications will typically be admitted first. Many factors are considered in the decision of a file. LSAT performance and undergraduate GPA are statistically proven indicators of law school success. Other factors such as postgraduate work, employment, military service, community service, personal circumstances and extracurricular activities will also be weighed in the decision-making process.
Applicants will be notified in writing as soon as possible after a decision has been made. Decision letters will be mailed beginning in early December for fall admission and early August for spring admission. J.D. candidates accepting an offer of admission for fall semester are required to pay a non-refundable $300.00 seat deposit in mid-April and a second, non-refundable $500.00 seat deposit in June. J.D. candidates accepting an offer of admission for the spring semester are required to pay one non-refundable $500.00 seat deposit in mid-October. These deposits will be credited to the first semester’s tuition upon registration. Offers of acceptance are for that year and that year only. Applicants may request a deferral, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.