JDAR

GW Law employs a comprehensive review process. Factors considered include undergraduate performance, school attended, and major; LSAT score(s); writing ability as demonstrated in the personal statement; extracurricular and professional experience as reflected in the resume; letters of recommendation; and any graduate work performed. There is no minimum GPA or LSAT score required. Consistent with the goal of providing an educationally stimulating and diverse environment, the Law School affirmatively seeks to enroll qualified members of all backgrounds.

Applicants must hold (or be in pursuit of) a bachelor's degree awarded by an accredited U.S. college or university or an equivalent degree from a recognized non-U.S. institution.

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in October. An applicant will typically be notified of the admissions decision within two months of the time the application is deemed complete.

 2025-2026 Admissions Timeline & Important Dates

Date	Deadline Description
September 1, 2024	First year JD applications accepted for Fall 2025. 1L application fees have been waived.
November 15, 2024	Transfer/visiting student deadline for Spring 2025.
February 1, 2025	Early Decision application deadline for Fall 2025.
February 1, 2025	Presidential Merit Scholarship application deadline for Fall 2025.
March 1, 2025	Early action transfer application deadline for Fall 2025.
March 1, 2025	First-year JD regular decision application deadline for Fall 2025.
May 1, 2025	Visiting student application deadline for Summer 2025.
May 15, 2025	Transfer student priority review application deadline for Fall 2025.
June 15, 2025	Transfer student application deadline for Fall 2025.
June 15, 2025	GW Junior Early Action application deadline for Fall 2026.
August 1, 2025	Visiting student application deadline for Fall 2025.

 Applicants to the JD degree program may apply either as full-time or part-time students. Both divisions have the same academic standards, and all required and core courses are taught by the full-time faculty. Students initially admitted to the part-time program may petition to transfer to the full-time division as early as their second semester.

Under the law school’s residency requirement, a full-time student will normally take six semesters of study, or three academic years, in order to complete the degree. A part-time student will normally take eight semesters, or four academic years, and one summer session. Full-time students enroll in 12 credits or more (up to 15) per semester. Part-time students enroll in 11 credits or fewer per semester. A total of 84 credits are required to graduate.

First-year students in the full-time program are urged to refrain from outside employment. Upper-class students taking more than 11 credit hours of coursework must limit outside employment to no more than 20 hours per week.

Regular Admission Process

The fall JD application deadline is March 1 for those seeking admission through the regular process. Regular admission decisions will be made on a rolling basis between November and May. Admitted applicants will be required to make nonrefundable seat deposits between April and July.

Binding Early Decision Process

The Binding Early Decision Program is designed for applicants who have researched their law school choices and are certain that GW Law is their top choice. This program allows applicants a means of expressing to the Admissions Committee their commitment to attend GW Law if admitted. Early Decision applicants are given priority review.

• As part of the application for Early Decision, applicants must agree that, upon admission to GW Law, they will:
• Commit to attend George Washington University Law School and pay a non-refundable seat-deposit for fall 2025 enrollment.
• Within five business days of admission to George Washington University Law School, withdraw all applications pending at other law schools and not initiate applications to any other law schools for fall 2025 admission.

Admitted applicants will be eligible for need-based grants; applicants for whom merit award consideration is a prerequisite for matriculation should not apply through this program.

The application deadline is February 1.

Binding Presidential Merit Scholarship Program (Full Tuition)

The Binding Presidential Merit Scholarship Program is designed for applicants who have researched their law school choices and are certain that GW Law is their top choice. Unlike the Binding Early Decision Program, applicants admitted through the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program will be awarded a full-tuition scholarship.

The admissions process is rolling; given the competitive process, applying early in the admissions cycle is strongly encouraged. Part-time students are welcome to apply through the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program.

As part of the Presidential Merit Scholarship application, applicants must agree that, upon admission to GW Law, they will:

• Commit to attend George Washington University Law School and pay a non-refundable seat-deposit for fall 2025 enrollment.
  Within five business days of admission to George Washington University Law School, withdraw all applications pending at other law schools and not initiate applications to any other law schools for fall 2025 admission.
• Applicants who apply through the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program but are not admitted with a full-tuition scholarship automatically will be considered for admission in the regular admission process. If admitted under the regular process, applicants are no longer bound to attend GW Law.

The application deadline is February 1.
 

GW Junior Early Action Program

Fall 2026 Application Opens May 1, 2025

Deadline: June 15, 2025

The GW Junior Early Action Program allows GW undergraduate juniors to apply to the law school one year in advance for deferred enrollment without the requirement of an LSAT score. This program is in accordance with ABA Standard 503.

The program is designed for GW undergraduates who seek early assurance of their admission to GW Law. While the application itself is not binding, an admitted applicant's decision to attend is binding upon their submission of a seat deposit. The student may then begin their senior year with the knowledge that their seat is deferred to the subsequent entering class of GW Law, provided they maintain the level of academic achievement evident in their application.

GW Junior Early Action Program applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Maintained good academic standing through six semesters of undergraduate study;
• Hold a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher;
• Scored at or above the 85th percentile on the SAT, ACT, GRE or GMAT (within the past five years); and
• Have not taken and do not plan to take the LSAT.

Admission through the GW Junior Early Action Program is rigorous. In addition to the above qualifications, applicants must submit:

• A completed GW Junior Early Action application, including resume and two-page personal statement, via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC);
• All official transcripts via the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS);
• At least one letter of recommendation via CAS; and
• An official copy of standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, GRE or GMAT).

GW School Codes:

• SAT - 9122
• ACT - 1915
• GRE - 2473
• GMAT - QK4-JJ-22

Prospective students with questions about the GW Junior Early Action Program should request an appointment with the Law School Admissions Office. We are glad to help. You may reach us at 202.994.7230 or admissionslaw [dot] gwu [dot] edu (admissions[at]law[dot]gwu[dot]edu).

Please note: Per ABA Standard 503, GW undergraduate seniors may choose to apply without an LSAT score, provided they have an alternate test score (SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT) from within five years and have not taken and do not plan to take the LSAT.  Seniors wishing to apply with a test other than the LSAT shall submit the Regular Decision application (not Junior Early Action) and should make an appointment with the Admissions Office (admissionslaw [dot] gwu [dot] edu).

All applicants must submit:

• A completed application, including résumé
• A two-page personal statement
• Test score (LSAT, GRE, GMAT, or JD-Next), unless the test requirement is waived under our test-optional admissions process
• All official academic transcripts
• At least one letter of recommendation via Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

All applicants for the JD program, including international applicants, must register with CAS. This service provides a report that standardizes all undergraduate grades and lists the applicant's LSAT history. The report also includes writing samples from the LSAT, copies of all transcripts, and letters of recommendation. An application for admission will be considered only after the CAS report has been received.

Standardized Tests

LSAT

Information about the Law School Admissions Test may be obtained from the Admissions Office or the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Applicants must have taken the LSAT within the past five years

GRE or GMAT

GRE or GMAT scores may be submitted in place of the LSAT and will only be considered when an applicant has not taken and does not intend to take the LSAT. Scores must be less than five years old. In order to submit scores to GW Law, the GRE code is 2473 and the GMAT code is QK4-JJ-22.

JD-Next

The JD-Next exam is administered by Aspen Publishing. At the end of the JD-Next course, applicants will have the opportunity to select GW Law as a recipient of their scores. This test may be submitted in place of the LSAT and will only be considered when an applicant has not taken and does not intend to take the LSAT. 

Test-Optional Admissions for Select JD Candidates

GW Law has a long tradition of enrolling experientially diverse students. In recognition of the exceptional promise of select applicants, we have established a limited test-optional admissions process.

The requirement to submit a test score (LSAT, GRE, GMAT, or JD-Next) is waived for select candidates who have significant experience through either:

• Full-time, professional employment of at least four years by the point of enrollment (August 15, 2025);
• Military service;
• Patent Bar passage;
• A doctoral program (such as a PhD or MD); or
• Social entrepreneurship (submit social entrepreneurship request)

Test-optional candidates must not have taken the LSAT within the past five years. Applicants who apply through the test-optional process and subsequently register for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT, and/or JD-Next must notify the Admissions Office immediately. Failure to do so will nullify the admission decision.

In addition, transfer candidates from GW Law’s LLM to JD programs may apply on a test-optional basis.

Transcripts

The academic record, as summarized by the cumulative GPA, is an important factor in our review process. We will, however, note an upward trend in your performance and certainly will consider any factors that influenced your performance in the semesters in which it was not at a level illustrative of your capabilities. You should include an addendum with your application explaining what happened in one or more semesters in which your performance was particularly poor.

We will consider any graduate work you have completed in our evaluation process. However, the graduate GPA is not as important to us as the undergraduate GPA.

 Personal Statement and Optional Identity Statement

Applicants must submit a personal statement on any subject of importance that will assist the Admissions Committee in its decision. It should be no more than two pages, double-spaced. Applicants may also submit an optional identity statement discussing characteristics and accomplishments they believe will contribute positively to the GW Law community and to the legal profession.

Letters of Recommendation

At least one letter of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation/Evaluation Service.

 Early Decision or Presidential Merit Scholarship Agreement

Applicants who apply through either the binding Early Decision process or the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program must complete and submit a Binding Agreement along with their applications.

Waitlist Applicants

Each year we invite a number of strong applicants to be on our waitlist. Please note that we do not rank our waitlist. If and when we are able to make offers of admission to wait-listed applicants, we will review the entire list before making any final decisions.

If you are on our waitlist and would like to add something to your file (for example, your last semester college grades, a work promotion, receipt of an award or honor, an additional recommendation, etc.), you certainly may do so. We will consider all information in your file when the time comes for us to review our waitlist.

We do our best to make decisions on waitlisted applicants as soon as we can. However, applicants should understand that some wait-listed candidates may not receive a final decision until July or August.
 

Transfer Students

A limited number of places are available for students who wish to transfer to the law school after completing one year of legal studies at an American Bar Association-accredited law school. A maximum of 31 credit hours may be applied toward the law school’s degree requirements. The primary factor considered in an admission decision is the student’s first-year law performance. Transfer students may apply for admission to the Law School for either the fall or spring semester. To consider an applicant for admission as a transfer student, the Admissions Office must receive the following:

• A completed application for admission submitted via LSAC.org, accompanied by an application fee of $80
• A transcript of the applicant’s law school record sent directly from the school to the GW Law Admissions Office
• An official undergraduate transcript
• A CAS report
• A letter from an official (for example, dean of students or registrar) of the applicant's current law school stating that the applicant is in good academic standing

The deadlines for submission of transfer applications are June 15 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester.

Please note: Fall semester transfer applicants who apply by March 1 will be automatically considered under the Early Action Transfer Program, through which non-binding provisional admission may be offered based on first-semester law school grades. Final admission will be determined after the spring transcript is received.

Visiting Students

A student who is in good academic standing as a degree candidate at an ABA-accredited school may be admitted to the Law School as a visiting student in order to earn credit for transfer to his or her home institution. While the vast majority of visiting students do their coursework at the Law School during the summer session, students may apply for visiting student status during the fall or spring semester. Admission will be based primarily on space availability.

To consider an applicant for admission as a visiting student, the Admissions Office must receive the following:

• A completed application for admission submitted via LSAC.org, accompanied by an application fee of $80
• A transcript of the applicant’s law school record
• A letter from an official (for example, dean of students) of the applicant's current law school stating that he or she is in good academic standing and is approved for visiting status at GW Law
• Please note the law school will not issue an I-20 form for visiting international students.

The deadlines for application materials are August 1 for the fall semester, November 15 for the spring semester, and May 1 for the summer session.

Review all available financial aid options with GW Law.