
Seattle University School of Law
901 12th Avenue, Sullivan Hall
Seattle, WA 98122-1090
Phone: 206-398-4200
Toll-free: 800-471-1767
Email: lawadmis@seattleu.edu
We offer a path to practice law in the United States for foreign-trained lawyers and other graduates of foreign, non-U.S. law schools. This program allows you to earn a JD degree, providing the opportunity to sit for the bar exam in any state.
How it works:
Note: Sitting for any bar exam is contingent on passing an additional character and fitness test.
Foreign-trained lawyers, and other graduates of non-U.S. law schools may earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Seattle U Law in only two years. Global Accelerated JD students may receive up to one year of credit for their foreign law degree (30 credits). The transfer of credit is not automatic and depends on accreditation, coursework, and grades. In the first year, successful applicants will take 30 credits in required courses; the remaining 30 credits in the second year will include a combination of elective courses, required classes, and professional skills courses. Individual academic advising will be provided to program participants.
Upon completion of all graduation requirements, students will be awarded the JD degree. By earning a JD from Seattle U Law, students will have satisfied all of the legal education requirements to sit for the Bar Exam in any state in the United States.
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.
Applicants to the Global Accelerated Two-Year JD Program for International Lawyers must hold a first degree in law from an accredited or approved university or college outside of the United States that makes them eligible to practice law in their home country and which is at least equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree. The degree granting institution will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are not required to take any entrance exam (LSAT, GRE, etc.) as part of the application process.
Applicants must register with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and complete the JD Application Procedures including the additional procedures for international students (with the exception of the LSAT or GRE). Official law school transcripts must be evaluated by LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). CAS requires that official transcripts from all schools previously attended be sent directly to them. For more information regarding CAS, please visit the LSAC website.
International students must be proficient in spoken and written English. You are required to submit a valid TOEFL or IELTS score unless you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you meet one of these criteria but also have a reportable TOEFL score, we encourage you to self-report it on the JD application.
The following minimum scores are a prerequisite for program entry:
Contact Educational Testing Service (toefl@ets.org) to have your scores sent to LSAC. Use code 0058. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your CAS law school report. For more information on the TOEFL, please contact ETS at http://www.ets.org/.
The Admission Committee will not consider your file complete until the following have been received and processed: