Foreign-trained lawyers, and other graduates of foreign, non-U.S. law schools, may earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Seattle University School of Law in only two years. Students who are admitted to the Global Accelerated Two-Year JD Program for International Lawyers 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 of the accelerated program, successful applicants will take the required courses for JD students (30 credits); the remaining 30 credits in the second year of the program will include a combination of elective courses, required courses, and professional skills courses. Individual counseling as to course requirements and course selection will be provided to program participants.

Upon completion of all of the coursework and satisfaction of all graduation requirements, students admitted through the Global Accelerated Program will be awarded the JD degree. By earning a JD from Seattle University School of Law through this program, 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 to the bar by contacting that jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

To be eligible for the Global Accelerated Two-Year JD Program for International Lawyers, applicants 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 have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Applicants to the Global Accelerated Two-Year JD Program for International Lawyers should complete the standard application materials including the additional procedures for international students. Official law school transcripts must be evaluated by the Law School 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.

Applicants who are not native English speakers, or who do not hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution at which the primary language of instruction is English, are required to take the TOEFL exam. A minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the internet-based test, or 250 on the computer- based test is expected. The Law School also accepts scores from the IELTS examination, for which a minimum score of 7.0 is expected.

Applicants must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that an official TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC’s TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 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:

• Completed and digitally signed application for the Admission through LSAC
• Nonrefundable $60 application fee
• Official CAS report which should include:
  1. Two letters of recommendation
  2. Foreign transcript evaluation from LSAC
  3. TOEFL score report (if necessary)
• Personal statement
• Resume