How to Apply

JD Application Procedures

The admissions process seeks to identify and select a diverse group of talented students who will succeed not only at the Law School, but who will continue its tradition of excellence in the legal and business worlds. Accordingly, in reviewing applications we focus primarily on the demonstrated qualities and proven skills we deem essential to academic success and intellectual stimulation at the Law School. LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs are important factors in the admissions process. However, numbers alone might not completely reflect an applicant’s ability to succeed in the study of the law, enhance the law school’s educational environment, and deliver legal services in a professionally responsible manner after graduation. Therefore, the Office of Enrollment Management will also consider, among other factors, the personal statement, resume, commitment to public service, leadership, overcoming both economic and historical disadvantages, talents and skills, unique experiences, the nature and difficulty of the applicant’s course of undergraduate studies, the applicant’s entire undergraduate record, (including ascending or descending trends in achievement), graduate work or degrees, significant extracurricular activities, community activities, work experience, letters of recommendation, and personal obstacles that may have interfered with the realization of the applicant’s full potential.

JD Applicants Must:

• Be at least 18 years of age upon entering the first-year class in the fall.
• Have earned a U.S. Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, from an accredited four-year institution recognized by the American Bar Association.
• Have a current Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription.
• Have taken or plan to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Early Action Application (Non-Binding):

The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University offers a non-binding, early action application option for first-year candidates of the J.D. program. This option is designed for students who have completed all application requirements prior to the November 15 Early Action Deadline. To meet the Early Action Application Deadline, you must take the LSAT no later than the fall prior to your matriculation into the program. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis and candidates should be notified of a decision by December 15.

Regular Application:

The regular application may be submitted from October 1 to the April 15 deadline. Regular applications are also considered on a rolling basis and candidates should be notified within 6 to 8 weeks from the completion (not submission) of the application.

Academic Dismissal:

Applicants who have been academically dismissed from another ABA accredited law school must wait at least two years before applying for admission to Hofstra Law. Previously dismissed applicants must apply as first-year candidates and should provide detailed information and documentation from their prior law school regarding their former enrollment.

Application Process:

• Application Form. Applicants of Hofstra Law are encouraged to apply online through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). Prospective candidates may add addendums, resumes, and other items of support by attaching the electronic document(s) to the online application. All supplemental documentation should clearly indicate the question number which it refers. Candidates are asked to complete all sections of the application in the space provided. Please do not place an attachment in lieu of completing the application form. Failure to provide a complete application may result in processing delays.
• Personal Statement. The Personal Statement provides an opportunity for you to present yourself, your background, your ideas, and your qualifications to the Admissions Committee. Please limit your typed statement to 2 double-spaced pages. Attach your Personal Statement to the application form. See question 23 for details.
• Application Fee. If you apply electronically, we will waive the application fee. If you submit a paper application, please include a $75 check or money order payable to Hofstra Law. This nonrefundable fee is not credited toward tuition, and is not applicable toward the fee for the LSDAS.
• Optional: Letters of Recommendation. Recommendations provide useful information in the selection process and should come from those who have had an opportunity to carefully assess you over a sufficient period of time to make a reasonable evaluation. We encourage all letters of recommendation be sent to CAS to be included with your CAS report.
• Register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). For more information, please visit the LSAC website.
• Foreign-Educated Applicants. Hofstra Law requires all foreign educated applicants to submit foreign transcripts to the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service (JDCAS) for evaluation. This service is included in the LSDAS subscription fee. The only exception to this requirement is if you completed foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly notated as such on the home campus transcript.
• Law School Admission Test (LSAT). You may submit a formal application to Hofstra Law prior to taking the required LSAT. However, your application will not be complete until all components of the application have been received. Application forms for the LSAT can be obtained from LSAC. If you have taken the LSAT within five years from the current application cycle, you do not need to retake the test.

Decision Notification:

Hofstra Law releases application decisions in two forms, formal and electronic. Applicants may elect to view the decision of their application via the online status checker, accessible through our website. In addition to the online status checker, the Office of Enrollment Management will send a formal letter to the applicant’s permanent address on file.