ADMISSION: Application Procedure

Step 1:  When to Apply

The John Marshall Law School enrolls an entering class in August and January each year in both the day and evening divisions. Applications should be submitted by March for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. Click here(pdf) for an application or between September 1 and March 1 you may apply online.  PLEASE NOTE ***WE HAVE EXTENDED THE FALL 2010 APPLICATION DEADLINE TO APRIL 1st, 2010!!!!***

First-semester students who enroll in the January entering class will begin their studies with the same sequence of courses as those who enroll in August. Commencement is held in May for those students who complete their studies in May and in January to accommodate students who complete their studies in December.

Step 2:  The Admission Criteria

All candidates who apply to The John Marshall Law School must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrolling. The John Marshall Law School admission committee will take the following criteria into consideration when reviewing your application:

- Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores

- Undergraduate cumulative grade point average (g.p.a.) as well as trend in grades

- College major and rigor of coursework

- Well-written personal statement

- Background including but not limited to personal and professional experiences

- Demonstration of leadership in academic, social, professional and community organizations

- Letters of Recommendation (optional)

Candidates who demonstrate exceptional performance in their academic coursework and on the Law School Admission Test have a higher likelihood for success in the admission process at The John Marshall Law School.  It is important to provide truthful and complete answers to all questions on the application for admission. Failure to disclose any changes to your application during the admission process or during your studies at The John Marshall Law School may result in revocation of admission, disciplinary action, or rejection for admission to the practice of law.

Step 3:  The Application Procedure

Submit the following:

- A completed application that is signed and dated by the applicant.

- A personal statement and any additional statements of explanation that may support your admission to law school. Your personal statement should be a 2-4 page typed and double-spaced document that provides additional information about yourself and your experiences.

- Submit an application fee in the amount of $60.00 made payable to The John Marshall Law School. This fee cannot be waived and is not refundable.

- All applicants must register for the Law School Admission Test. The Admissions Committee will not accept test scores more than five years old.

- All applicants must register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) that prepares and provides a report for the law school. Your LSDAS report includes an undergraduate academic summary; copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and law school transcripts; LSAT scores and writing sample; and letters of recommendation processed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). 

- Letters of Recommendation are not required to complete your application but are viewed favorably.  Students who desire to have recommendations sent   on their behalf are encouraged to use the Law School Admission Council's recommendation service. Your letters will be copied and sent to us along with your LSDAS Report. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters of recommendation in the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book. Forms are also available in the LSACD and on the LSAC Web site.

- Upon acceptance, an applicant must submit a non-refundable tuition deposit. Prior to enrollment, applicants must forward to the law school an official transcript verifying the award of the bachelor’s degree.

Your application is not considered complete until we are in receipt of all items described in the application procedures. It is your responsibility to assure that your LSDAS report is complete with the LSAC. The processing of your application may be delayed as a result of an incomplete LSDAS report. Student may register for the LSAT/LSDAS by contacting the Law School Admission Council. Students may also check their LSDAS report status as well as receive activity updates via the Web, telephone, and by mail.

Internet             http://www.jmls.edu/ / http://www.lsac.org/                 

Telephone         215.968.1001     

Mail                  Law School Admission Council

                        661 Penn Street, Box 2000

                        Newtown, PA 18940-0998

Mail your Complete Application and Supplemental Statements to:

Office of Admission

The John Marshall Law School

315 South Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604 

Reapplication Policy

Applicants who wish to reapply to The John Marshall Law School, regardless of their previous application status, must file a new application, application fee, and updated personal statement. Additionally, applicants must renew their membership with LSDAS to ensure that their LSDAS Report is updated and sent to the law school.

Transfer Applicants

Admission of transfer applicants is always discretionary. Only students in good academic standing who have completed between 24 - 30 semester hours with at least a 2.75 grade point average from an ABA-approved law school will be considered for admission. In addition to the application and personal statement, all transfer applicants must provide a copy of the LSDAS Report, a complete official transcript, and a letter of good standing from the dean of the law school previously attended.

Visiting Students

Law students interested in enrolling in classes as a visiting student at The John Marshall Law School must submit a visiting student application and a letter from the Dean of their law school authorizing enrollment for courses.  In order to be accepted, students must be attending an ABA accredited law school and be in good standing.To apply as a visiting student, please click here.

Foreign Student and Lawyer Applicants

All applicants whose native tongue is not English must submit the following:

-The Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)*

- The Test of Written English (TWE)*

*If an applicant has taken substantial college work in the United States or another English speaking country, TOEFL or TWE can be waived.

Foreign applicants do not need to register for LSDAS, however applicants must send translations of all transcripts directly to the Admission Office and have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services. 

To get more information contact:

Test of English as a Foreign Language

Box 2896, Princeton, NJ 08541-2896

TOEFL code for The John Marshall Law School is 1344

World Education Services

P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station

New York, NY  10113-0745

http://www.wes.org/   212.966.6311

The John Marshall Law School is required by United States government regulations to check the availability of adequate funding for your tuition, fees, and living expenses for the duration of your studies at John Marshall. Applicants must complete the Foreign Applicant Supplement along with documentation of finances available from yourself or a sponsor to meet school and living expenses for the duration of your study at The John Marshall Law School.  The sponsor may be you, a friend or relative residing overseas or in the U.S. All letters must be in U.S. dollar amount equivalents. We will be unable to provide you with the necessary documents to obtain your visa without verification of adequate funding.

Step 4:  The Notification and Decision Process 

Once The John Marshall Law School’s Office of Admission staff have received and processed your application, notice is sent confirming that your file is complete. Due to the volume of applications received it can take six to eight weeks for your file to be processed and a complete notification to be sent.  

Additionally, the Admission Office is extremely busy during the months of January through April. Consequently, it may take an additional six to eight weeks from the time that you are notified that your file is complete for a decision to be made. It is not necessary to contact the Admission Office prior to April 1 for Fall applicants and November 1 for Spring applicants regarding your application status because phone calls and letters only hinder the admission process. The staff of the Admission Office appreciates your patience during this period.  The Admission Committee makes decisions on a rolling basis until the class is filled.  

Step 5:  Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarships and grants are awarded based on merit to entering students who have demonstrated collegiate academic excellence in combination with a competitive LSAT score. All applicants are automatically reviewed for all scholarship opportunities they may be eligible for at the time of admission to The John Marshall Law School.

Applicants who wish to be considered for need-based financial aid, including Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with The John Marshall Law School Financial Aid form. A John Marshall financial aid application will automatically be sent to you upon acceptance to the law school.  The John Marshall Law School also participates in several private loan programs. 

For More Information contact:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

1.800.4.FED.AID (1.800.433.3243)     http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

The John Marshall Law Schoo’s Title IV school code for the FAFSA is G01698

Promptly notify the Office of Admission of any updates or changes to your application at Admissions@jmls.edu or 1.800.537.4280