SJD Admissions

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Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) Degree

The law school admits a very limited number of candidates for the SJD degree. This is a highly specialized, research-oriented program and is open only to individuals with outstanding academic qualifications and demonstrated research interests in their field of study.

Applications for the SJD degree will only be accepted through LSAC.org. Please review the application requirements below.


Entrance Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's or equivalent degree from an approved college or university; a JD, or equivalent degree earned with high rank from a law school that is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), or is a recognized non-U.S. institution; an LLM degree with high rank from an AALS- or ABA-approved law school; an outstanding academic record; proven capacity for scholarly work; and proficiency in the use of the English language, both oral and written.


Application Requirements

All SJD applicants must apply via LSAC.org and submit the following to be considered for admission:

  • A completed application form and $80 USD application fee
  • Personal statement
  • Two original letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic or scholarly qualifications
  • Official transcripts from all law, graduate, and undergraduate schools attended
  • Resume
  • An official TOEFL report (Schedule for ETS to send your score to the law school institution and department code: 5246-03) (Applicants with a U.S. LLM degree are exempt from this requirement upon receipt of their LLM transcript
  • Copy of the applicant's LLM thesis OR at least one paper/article in English.
  • A 30-40 page substantive research proposal on your dissertation topic

About the TOEFL

Students whose initial law degree was earned from a non-U.S. law school where English is not the language of instruction are required to take the TOEFL and receive a score in the 100-point range on the Internet-based test or in the 600-point range on the paper-based test. Applicants are responsible for making arrangements for taking the test and having their test scores reported to the law school. Results are sent six to eight weeks after the test is taken; therefore, applicants are advised to make plans to take the test well before the semester for which they are applying.

A bulletin of information, obtainable without charge, contains a description of the test as well as rules regarding application, fees, reports, and the conduct of the test; lists of examination centers; examination dates; and an application blank. The test fee, which should be remitted with the application, entitles the student to have the test score sent to three institutions. On the application for the test, the student should specify that the scores be sent to GW Law's Graduate Programs office.

The institutional code for GW Law is 5246 and the department code is 03. Address inquires to TOEFL, PO Box 6151, Princeton NJ 08541, USA or visit their web site. Information on the TOEFL may also be available from your local United States Embassy or Consulate. Registration for the TOEFL does not constitute application for admission to the George Washington University Law School.