How to Apply to Rutgers Law

Applicants who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university before the first day of school or who have an equivalent from a foreign institution are eligible. Applicants must also take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and register with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC).

A candidate is evaluated on a number of factors, including whether the person is likely to succeed, whether he or she would benefit from a legal education at Rutgers Law, and what contributions he or she would make to the legal profession and to the public as members of the bar.

Rutgers Law School recognizes that numerical credentials, while useful, do not capture many important factors relevant to a full understanding of an applicant’s aptitude for, and commitment to, studying the law and upholding the values of the legal profession.

Accordingly, Rutgers Law School conducts a broad holistic review of each applicant’s credentials. This includes your UGPA and LSAT score, but it also includes the evidence you provide us concerning your motivation, determination, and ability to overcome adversity; your engagement in extracurricular and community activities; your employment experience; your commitment to serving others; your academic background, including schools attended, course selection, and major; your personal background, including social, economic, and family circumstances; your personal accomplishments; and your potential to contribute to the overall richness and diversity of our student body.
 

All applicants apply online via the LSAC. 

All candidates for admission are required to take the LSAT–offered nine times a year–and must register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If there are multiple scores, the most weight is given to the highest score. Though you can apply to law school before taking the LSAT, your file cannot be reviewed by the Admissions Committee until it is complete, which includes the LSAT score.

In an effort to reduce the financial barriers faced by applicants when applying to law school, Rutgers Law School does not charge an application fee.

There are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar, according to the American Bar Association. Applicants should learn what those requirements are in states they intend to practice, before matriculating in law school. Admission to law school does not necessarily indicate that an applicant will be certified as having the requisite character and fitness to practice law by the relevant bar authorities.

All international students are required to take the LSAT. TOEFL is not required but applicants may submit TOEFL scores separately if they choose. Other requirements for international applicants who are non-US Citizens include the I-20 and the Rutgers Affidavit of Support Form. Applicants with current F-1 visas must submit a photocopy of their I-94 card and complete the required paperwork with an authorized official at their present institution for an F-1 transfer.
 

Rutgers Law has established the Minority Student Program. Offered at both locations in Camden and Newark, any admitted student, regardless of race or ethnic origin, who has a history of socio-economic, educational, or cultural disadvantages can request to be part of the Minority Student Program. A student simply needs to express an interest to be considered for the program on his or her application.

Applications are initially reviewed in the order in which they are completed. Some applications receive an immediate decision; others are held for further review later in the cycle.

Rutgers University is a direct-loan institution, and to be considered for a loan, students must complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. First-year applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships at the time of admission, and recipients will be notified. Visit Financial Aid for more information.
 

Rutgers Law School has two equally dynamic New Jersey locations in Camden and Newark. Applicants are encouraged to visit both locations when tours are operating. Because the campuses are roughly 90 miles apart, most students will stay at one location or another. After completing the first-year required courses, they are allowed to move between campuses freely. Through our state-of-the-art immersive learning classroom, students at either location can also take courses in the holodeck. Convenient on-campus housing is available in Camden and Newark. Applicants can indicate a preference for a campus on the application, and they will be asked for a final decision on where they wish to attend for the required curriculum when they submit their deposit after admission.

Because Rutgers Law School is a single institution with a single admissions decision process, applicants do not “apply to the Camden campus” or “apply to the Newark campus.” All applications, and all admissions, are to Rutgers Law School. Applicants are asked to indicate a non-binding location preference on the application but are not asked to make a firm commitment to a specific campus until after admission. As noted above, that commitment applies only to the first year of study.
 

First-year students can choose between a full-time day program or a part-time evening one. A special admission program is available for international lawyers seeking a J.D. In Camden, admitted students can enroll in Summer Jump Start, a summer course that allows them to take one less class in the fall. Upperclass students have extensive opportunities to take part in hands-on learning through legal clinics, pro bono projects, advocacy teams, and externships. In addition, there are certificate programs Academics in Corporate and Business Law, Criminal Law, and Family Law, which allow students to develop expertise in a specific area.

Students can complete their Rutgers Law degree and earn an additional graduate degree with one of Rutgers University’s other distinguished graduate programs through our various dual-degree programs.