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Admissions & Financial Aid
Apply to the School of Law
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The School of Law seeks to enroll qualified students who will enhance and embrace the school's rigorous educational environment and, as graduates, make positive societal contributions to South Carolina, the region, and the nation. In making admissions decisions, the Faculty Committee on Admissions employs a holistic approach, taking into account all information available about each candidate. No single factor is conclusive. While undergraduate GPA and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) are emphasized, the committee's decision is also influenced by other factors including the applicant's personal statement, employment or other life experience, residency, letters of recommendation, and contribution to a diverse educational environment.
In order to be considered for admission, a candidate must have or expect to have a bachelor's degree from a fully accredited college or university by the date of enrollment in the School of Law or be a participant in the University of South Carolina Honors College Integrated Education Plan. All applicants are required to take the LSAT and to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). While the School of Law will accept the February 2009 test score, applicants are strongly advised to take the test earlier in order to be considered for admission to the Class of 2012. An LSAT score is considered valid for five years. LSAT scores for tests administered before June 2004 will not be considered valid.
To receive priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, an applicant's completed admissions file (including all supporting material) must be received in the Office of Admissions by February 1, 2009. All applications and supporting materials must be received by the School of Law by March 1, 2009. Applicants who do not have their application materials to the Office of Admissions by the March 1, 2009, deadline will not be considered for admission.
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Applicants for First-Year Admission
For the 2008 entering class, there were more than 2,000 applications for 225 seats. It is expected that the competition for the 2008 entering class will be equally keen. All applicants are encouraged to submit to the Office of Admissions any specific information concerning their background or accomplishments that would assist the Faculty Committee on Admissions in evaluating the applicant’s abilities. This information should be provided in the personal statement required of each applicant, or in an addendum or addenda to the application. Applicants are encouraged to submit the application early in order to afford sufficient time to complete the application file (including all supporting materials) by March 1, 2009. Applications not received by March 1, 2009, will not be considered.
Applicants for First-Year Admission Must Submit:
- A completed and signed application form, including a personal statement and a resume. The application and all required materials must be received in the Office of Admissions by March 1, 2009.
- A nonrefundable $60 application fee; a check or money order made payable to "University of South Carolina."
- A complete LSDAS Report forwarded directly from the LSAC. Instructions for obtaining the LSDAS Report are contained in the LSAT registration packet available from the LSAC. A transcript from each college and university attended should be sent directly to:
Law School Admission Council
Box 2700, 662 Penn Street
Newtown, PA 18940-0981
215-968-1001
The LSDAS will analyze and duplicate student transcripts and will send a copy to the School of Law with student LSAT scores. It is the responsibility of the applicant to see that all transcripts are mailed directly to the LSDAS.
Students who are admitted and enroll will be required to provide to the School of Law an official transcript from each degree-granting college or university. - Two letters of recommendation are required. To be useful, recommendations should address the applicant’s ability to study law and should be from persons in a position to assess, from personal knowledge, the applicant’s analytical abilities, personal character, and motivation. Applicants recently completing undergraduate or graduate work are advised that at least one letter of recommendation should be from a faculty member who can attest to the applicant’s ability to enter a competitive professional program.
The School of Law advises that letters of recommendation be submitted through the LSAC service that serves all member schools. This service is included in the LSDAS registration subscription. The letters will be copied and sent to the USC School of Law, along with the LSDAS Report, or as the LSDAS Report is complete. Directions for submitting letters are outlined in the LSAT–LSDAS Registration and Information Book. Each letter writer should receive a letter of recommendation form from the LSAT–LSDAS Registration and Information Book. - Foreign-educated applicants are reminded to follow the application procedures set forth on page 20-21.
To be considered for admission, completed applications, the application fee, and all supporting materials must be received by March 1, 2009. Notification of receipt of an application and of information needed for its completion will be provided via e-mail. Each applicant should provide a current e-mail address and promptly advise the Office of Admissions of any change. The applicant is responsible for ascertaining that required materials are received by the Office of Admissions by the applicable deadline.
Applicants for Transfer Admission
An applicant who has successfully completed at least one year of law study at an American Bar Association–accredited law school may apply as a transfer student to the USC School of Law. In considering transfer applications, the Faculty Admissions Committee takes into account criteria similar to those considered for admission to the first-year class (see page 20). In addition, the committee heavily weighs the transfer applicant’s law school GPA and class rank.
Transfer applications must be postmarked no later than May 30, 2009, and files must be complete by June 30, 2009. The Faculty Committee on Admissions meets in early-July to review transfer applications and to make decisions regarding offers of acceptance. In order for a file to be considered complete, grades for two complete semesters, approximately 30 credit hours, must be available for review.
The School of Law accepts a maximum of one year’s credit toward a J.D. degree for work completed at another law school. During the first year at the School of Law, a transfer student will have no class rank. Upon completion of two full semesters at the School of Law, a cumulative GPA and class rank will be computed according to School of Law policy on the basis of all law school grades earned. Based on the cumulative GPA, transfer students will be eligible for all University and School of Law awards.
Please note that transfer students may encounter scheduling problems during their first semester.
Applicants for Transfer Admission Submit:
- A completed and signed application form, including a statement of why a transfer is desired. The application must be postmarked by May 30, 2009. The completed application and all supporting materials described below must be received by June 30, 2009.
- A nonrefundable $60 application fee; a check or money order made payable to "University of South Carolina."
- An official transcript of all work completed at the law school previously attended and a statement of class rank or percentile in class. This information should be provided upon completion of the second semester of the first year of law school.
- A complete Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) Report sent directly from the LSAC or the applicant's law school. If the applicant previously applied to the School of Law, a copy of the LSDAS Report should be in the original application file.
- A letter from the dean of the law school previously attended certifying good standing, class rank, and eligibility to return. This letter should be sent upon completion of the first year.
- One letter of recommendation.
- A final official undergraduate transcript sent directly from the applicant's undergraduate school to the School of Law.
Applicants for Transient Admission
A student currently enrolled at another ABA-approved law school may apply to attend the University of South Carolina School of Law and receive credit toward the J.D. from his or her law school. Transient applications must be postmarked no later than May 30, 2009, and files must be complete by June 30, 2009. Decisions regarding transient applications are made in early-July.
Applicants for Transient (Visiting) Admission Submit:
- A completed and signed application form, including a statement of the reason for visiting. The application must be postmarked by May 30, 2009. The completed application and all supporting materials described below must be received by June 30, 2009.
- A nonrefundable $60 application fee; a check or money order made payable to "University of South Carolina."
- Official transcripts from all law schools attended, mailed directly from the law school to the USC School of Law.
- A letter of good standing from the dean of the law school currently attended. The letter should provide information regarding academic standing, eligibility to return, and a statement granting permission to attend the USC School of Law. Any information relating to the courses to be taken, credits earned, or other requirements should also be included.
- One letter of recommendation.
Admission of Foreign-Educated Students
USC School of Law requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript.
This service is included in the LSDAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LSDAS report. If we determine that you need to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the JD Credential Assembly Service is 0058. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your LSDAS law school report.
To use the JD CAS, log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.
Questions about the JD Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001, or lsacinfo@lsac.org.
Deferment
Admitted applicants may request a one-year deferment by submitting a written statement to the Office of Admissions. The statement should detail the reasons for the request. Deferments are approved on a case-by-case basis.
Open House
The School of Law will host an open house session on Saturday, January 17, 2009. For more information on this session, please refer to the School of Law web site. To reserve a space at the open house session, send an e-mail with the subject line "Open House" to usclaw@law.sc.edu. Please be sure to include your full name in the e-mail text.
Students who are not able to attend the open house are invited to visit the School of Law. Visits to the School of Law are for the applicant’s information only and are not taken into consideration in the admissions process.