Ignite Your Legal Career With Admission to Catholic Law and Be the Light
At Catholic Law in Washington, DC, our community is passionate about helping students to achieve their professional aspirations and make a positive difference in the world. We recognize that our students are the future innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will shape the society of tomorrow.
To "Be the Light" is about more than just getting an education – it's about becoming an agent of change. Our graduates are uniquely prepared to use their skills to effect positive social change around the world. We encourage our students to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities. Many of our alumni have gone on to become human rights advocates, public defenders, immigration attorneys, prosecutors, and business leaders, using the knowledge they gained at Catholic Law to fight for justice.
Apply and Earn Your J.D. Degree
Applications for the Fall 2025 Entering Class opened September 1, 2024. Our early decision deadline is December 1, 2024. If your application is complete and submitted by December 1st, you will find out if you have been accepted to Catholic Law by December 20th.
Applications are accepted online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). You must use your LSAC account to submit your application. If you do not yet have an account, you will need to create one. Should you have any technical difficulties using this service, contact the LSAC Help Desk at (215) 968-1393.
-
First Year Application Requirements
To be eligible for admission, an applicant must have received an undergraduate degree from a college or university accredited by one of the regional associations and demonstrated satisfactory performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Records Exam (GRE). The preferred deadline for applicants to both day and evening divisions is March 15. First year students begin their studies only in the fall semester.
In most cases applications are complete when the following has been received:
- The application with a $75 non-refundable application fee (The application fee for the current recruitment cycle has been waived);
- Personal Statement;
- An official report from the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report containing a transcript analysis and LSAT or GRE score. (GRE score reports may be sent directly to us);
- At least two but no more than three letters of recommendation. All letters must be submitted directly to LSAC.
- A note to international applicants: Transcripts from colleges and universities outside the United States or Canada must be evaluated by an organization such as World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators. We will also accept international transcripts through the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service.
Please note that applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education was not received in a school where English is the language of instruction, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The results should be forwarded directly to the Law School.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for admission, an applicant must have received a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by one of the regional associations and demonstrated satisfactory performance on the Law School Admission Test. The test is administered by the Law School Admission Services, Newtown, PA, in cooperation with the nation's law schools. Or, the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ.
No specific pre-legal program is required. Courses that develop verbal and writing skills and encourage logical thinking are considered good preparation for law study. Courses in History, English, Logic, Philosophy, and the Social Sciences are relevant to the study of law but are not prerequisites.
The Columbus School of Law will consider a limited number of Catholic undergraduates for admission after three years of college if they meet applicable admission criteria and if the university will award the appropriate baccalaureate degree upon satisfactory completion of the first year of the day-division program or the first three semesters of the evening-division program.
Candor in Application
Accurate answers to questions on the application are very important. Past arrests, criminal convictions and disciplinary offenses are assessed individually on factors including applicant's age at the time, time lapse since the event, seriousness of the offense, whether the record suggests an isolated event or a pattern, and surrounding circumstances. Such events are rarely the deciding factor in an application, but rather form an element for consideration in the application. Lack of candor and inaccurate disclosure on the application are serious matters which can result in suspension or expulsion if discovered after admission.
-
Standards for Admission
Catholic Law takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, carefully evaluating each one in its entirety to determine an applicant’s suitability for admission. We understand that evaluating cumulative undergraduate GPAs and standardized test scores alone do not fully capture an applicant’s potential. The Admissions Committee considers multiple factors to assess an applicant’s ability to excel in the study of law, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the educational experience of their peers. While grades and test scores are important, they are weighed alongside non-quantifiable factors to provide a comprehensive view of an applicant’s overall potential for the study of law.
Some of the factors that the Admissions Committee may take into consideration include the following: Percentile rank in undergraduate class, superior writing ability, substantial involvement in extracurricular activities, leadership skills, well-prepared and insightful personal statement, employment in undergraduate school while maintaining a high level of academic performance, substantial graduate work, substantial employment in a law-related position or position with a high degree of responsibility or intellectual stimulation, substantial involvement in volunteer community service activities in leadership positions, and any other relevant information concerning an applicant's potential for the study of law.
Catholic Law follows a rolling admissions process, meaning applications are reviewed and considered as they are completed. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, with submissions opening as early as September 1. The review process begins in October, and decisions are typically issued 4 to 6 weeks after an application is completed. However, some applications may take longer than six weeks for a decision, and it’s not uncommon for applicants to be placed on a waitlist for consideration later in the spring or summer.
-
Applicants with disabilities
If you have a disability that you believe should be taken into consideration in reviewing your credentials, please so indicate in your application and supply appropriate documentation. Specific tests are required to document a learning disability. This optional and confidential procedure is intended to enhance applicants' opportunities for admission and will not be used to discriminate against individuals.
Some applicants may have disabilities that may not require testing accommodations or special consideration in the credentials review, but may require planning by the Law School to assist students when enrolling. Such disabilities may be mentioned on the application, or students may notify the school after acceptance. It is useful to have as much advance notice as possible to enable the Law School to make necessary accommodations.
-
Transfer Application Requirements
Students may be admitted with advanced standing from a law school accredited either by the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools after completing the first year of law school elsewhere. Students must be in good standing and eligible to continue at their original school. The application deadline is July 1. In addition to your application, personal statement, and resume, the following documents are required:
- Official Law School Transcript demonstrating first-year grades;
- A letter of good standing from the Dean of Academic Affairs;
- Of the two required letters of recommendation, one must be from a current law professor;
- A full CAS report sent to the Admissions Office either by Law Services or the current law school; and
- An official undergraduate transcript sent directly from the degree-granting school.
-
Visiting Student Applications
Students who have completed one year of J.D. studies and who are in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school may apply to be visiting students at the Columbus School of Law for up to one academic year, earning credits for transfer back to their degree-granting school. Visiting student enrollment is on a space-available basis. Students should contact their degree-granting school for information on financial aid eligibility, and the financial aid application process and deadline.
To be considered for admission as a visitor, please submit the following information:
- Completed visiting student application and a statement explaining why you are applying to visit (300 words or less)
- $30.00 Application Fee (check or money order payable to CUA)
- An official letter from your law school dean (or designate) stating that you are currently in good academic standing and unconditionally eligible to return to your present law school. The letter of good standing should indicate that you have permission to visit, specify which semester(s) you can visit, and that you will receive credit for course work successfully completed at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.
- Official Law School Transcript
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@law.edu or at (202) 319-5151.
-
Joint Degree Application Requirements
Applicants to joint Masters/J.D. programs must apply to each program separately, satisfy the requirements of each school, and be accepted by each school independently. For more information on the Masters degrees offered by CatholicU, you may visit the Graduate School's website. -
Admission to the Bar
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 by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Each jurisdiction sets its own criteria for admission to the bar and to sit for its bar examination, including an applicant’s legal education. As graduates of an ABA-accredited law school, graduates of Catholic Law should satisfy most jurisdictions’ current legal education requirements and thus be eligible for admission to the bar in most states. That said, students applying to the Part-Time Hybrid JD Program should check with the jurisdictions in which they may seek admission to the bar to ensure that graduation from this program will make them eligible for taking the bar exam and being admitted to the bar in those jurisdictions. For example, because of limits New York places on the use of distance education, graduates of the Part-Time Hybrid JD Program cannot currently sit for the bar exam in New York without acquiring a waiver from the New York Court of Appeals. Catholic Law will assist any students wishing to take the bar exam in New York with the application for a waiver from the Court.
Eden Olson '21 reflected on her time at Catholic Law, “Law school comes with its challenges but Catholic has made the experience amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!” Learn more about Eden Olson >
Earn Your M.L.S. Degree at Catholic Law
The M.L.S. degree program enhances the ability of professionals to work with lawyers and legal issues, to gain a deeper knowledge of a particular legal field, and to understand laws and regulations. Students can choose to concentrate in the fields of Compliance and Corporate Responsibility, Criminal Justice, Employment and Human Resources, Intellectual Property, and Political Law. Alternatively, students may choose a General U.S. Law option, which allows students to design a course of study that best suits their interests and needs.
-
M.L.S. Application Requirements
Admission to the program is based on a portfolio of information, including a completed application form (see below), undergraduate and graduate transcripts from any accredited schools attended, a personal statement that speaks to the applicant’s interest in the program, a resume, a letter of recommendation, and any standardized test scores (such as the LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, GRE, SAT, or ACT) that the applicant wishes to submit. International students will also be required to submit proof of language proficiency through a TOEFL or IELTS score. Applicants are expected to meet the minimum admissions requirements for other graduate programs at The Catholic University of America. Graduates of foreign universities are eligible for the M.L.S. program and are encouraged to apply. Applications are currently being accepted.
Applicants to the M.L.S. program should understand that the M.L.S. is not intended to prepare students for the J.D. program. Further, under rules promulgated by the American Bar Association, the accrediting body for law schools, no credit may be given towards the J.D. for any courses taken in the M.L.S. program. However, students who successfully complete courses in the M.L.S. program will have a better understanding of law than people who have not. If they eventually do enroll in a J.D. program, the M.L.S. experience might prove beneficial.
Apply and Complete Your LL.M. Degree
Did you get your law degree at a school with limited externship opportunities? Are you interested in working on Capitol Hill or in vital regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Communications Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board, to name just a few?
By getting your LL.M. at Catholic Law you will have access to a wide array of externships as well as access to our supportive and connected alumni community.
-
LL.M. Application Requirements
- Submit a completed Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law LL.M. application and application fee. You can apply online through LSAC.org.
- Official Law School Transcripts: Applicants holding a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school must submit a complete and official law school transcript. The transcripts should be sent directly to LSAC.
- For international applicants: If you earned your first degree in law from an institution outside of the United States, Canada or Australia, you will need to provide a translated copy of those transcripts from an organization such as WES, ECE to LSAC's LL.M. Credential Assembly Service.
- Additional information regarding transcript requests can be found here. Applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education was received in a school located outside the United States, Canada, or Australia, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum TOEFL score required is 100, and the minimum IELTS score required is 7.0. Further instructions regarding the submission of your applicable test scores may be found here. Applicants from ABA-accredited law schools are not required to take the TOEFL or IELTS tests. The TOEFL/IELTS requirement can be waived on a case-by-case basis should the applicant have appropriate documentation of successful completion of one of the following:
- CUA's Intensive English Program
- Level 112 in the intensive English program offered by an ELS Language Center
- A complete Intensive English program at an accredited institution of higher education
- A college-level English Composition class determined to be the equivalent of or more advanced than CUA's English Composition 101 course, with a grade of B or above. (for applicants to undergraduate programs)
- A graduate degree, a Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.), or an Associates Degree (A. A.) from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education or a high school diploma. (Graduates from a U.S. high school are required however to submit SAT/ACT scores.)
- Applicants must provide at least 1 but no more than 2 letters of recommendation, preferably from a member of your law school faculty. The letters must be submitted directly to LSAC.
- A two-page personal statement (not to exceed two pages) indicating why you desire to pursue an LL.M. and how your legal education and employment preparation has led you to make this choice.
- On a separate page, please select a concentration from the law school’s concentration offerings and discuss how your legal training and any legal professional experience has influenced this interest.
- You are required to submit a personal resume or curriculum vitae listing education in law, professional employment, publications, community service, honors, and other achievements you believe should be brought to the attention of the Admissions Committee.
Questions about your application? Get in touch.
The Admissions and Financial Aid Office at Catholic Law is here to help students work their way through the entire admissions process. We invite you to connect with a member of our team to learn more about admission requirements, understand how financial aid works for law students, and receive information on scholarship awards. We want to ensure you have all the information you need to determine if Catholic Law is the right school for you.