FAQs

We are very excited about the opportunity to provide you with useful information about law school admission and legal study in general. Below are some common questions about law school application and admission requirements. Please bear in mind that this is only an overview and that specific requirements may vary depending upon the law school to which one applies.

What are the requirements for law school application?


Application requirements may vary. Below we have listed TU's requirements only. However, these are commonly shared by most law schools.

  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • All applicants must have taken the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
  • All applicants must register for Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).
  • Application to law school.

Note that applicants who graduate from a school outside of the US or Canada may need to have their undergraduate school transcript evaluated. In the past many international applicants used credential evaluation services such as World Education Service; however, LSAC now has the ability to evaluate foreign transcripts. As a result, TU Law now requires international applicants to have their transcripts evaluated by LSAC through the JD Credential Assembly Service (JD CAS).

Note: foreign applicants will need to request the Educational Testing Service send their TOEFL score directly to LSAC so that the TOEFL score, in addition to the transcript evaluation and the LSAT score may be placed into the LSDAS report.

What is the LSAT exam?


The LSAT is a half day standardized exam that tests for reading comprehension and writing skills, as well as logic, reasoning, and analytical capabilities. The exam consists mainly of multiple choice questions and one essay question. The essay question, though not graded, is important because law schools will use it to evaluate a candidate's writing skills.

The LSAT is given four times a year (usually in February, June, September/October & December).

The LSAT does not test your knowledge on any particular subject. Although one cannot necessarily "study" for the exam, one can definitely prepare for it by practicing the exam and developing strategies for selecting the correct answers on the multiple choice portion of the exam. There are prep courses such as KAPLAN available to help students prepare. Also, there are LSAT prep books available in bookstores and sample tests available online. Which preparation technique is right for you will depend upon how you learn. It is VERY important to prepare for the LSAT and do as well as you can. Students will vary as to which learning style suits them best.

For information on the LSAT exam, log on to www.LSAC.org.

What is an LSDAS report?


The LSDAS report is prepared on your behalf by the same company that administers the LSAT exam. Nearly all ABA accredited Law Schools use this service which helps the schools manage the volumes of information we receive each year on our applicants.

LSDAS reports are sent out to every law school to which you apply as long as you have made proper arrangements for that to happen. Once an applicant has applied to a law school, that school may then request your LSDAS to be sent. If the LSDAS report is ready (i.e. all transcripts and reference letters received, LSAT exam taken and score readily available in the report and all necessary fees paid) it will be received anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks after the school has made its request. Applications will not be reviewed if something is missing from the file (i.e. if you a reference letter is missing).

The LSDAS report contains statistical information about an applicant's performance in school and on the LSAT exam, copies of ALL transcripts, copies of reference letters written on behalf of applicant and a copy of the applicant's LSAT essay answer. The LSDAS is also the official way an applicant's LSAT score is reported to a law school.

To learn more about the LSDAS report, log on to www.LSAC.org.

What is taken into consideration for law school admission?


  • Undergraduate GPA
  • LSAT score
  • Character
  • Personal Statement
  • At least two recommendation letters
  • Other factors may include, but are not limited to work history, extracurricular activities, graduate work, capacity for leadership, progression in grades, or excellence in a particular field.

Who should write my reference letters?


Professors are recommended because they have the benefit of having observed you in the classroom environment and can comment in regard to your contributions to class, performance on assignments, overall classroom conduct, etc.

Employers and other business / personal acquaintances may also be good choices if they can comment in detail about an applicants strengths and skills as personally observed by the letter writer.

Law Alumni, Judges and attorneys can be effective choices because of their own perspectives on what it takes to get through law school. However, be aware that letters from these references will work only if such persons know you well enough to write detailed letters which specifically address your personal attributes as well as what the applicant might contribute to the classroom and to the legal field.

Basically, anyone other than a family member will work as a reference. Just remember that the letter should be detailed and truly speak to the applicant's personal skills, strengths, accomplishments, etc.

What goes in the personal statement?


The answer to this question will vary depending upon which school you are asking. Some will say that applicants should write about why they want to go to law school. Others will recommend that you express what you will contribute to the law school as a student. At TU we just say write about whatever is personal to you. Ask yourself, what do I need to convey to the admissions review committee before they cast their votes in regard to my application? If the answer to that question is one of the topics above, obstacles you may have overcome, achievements you have enjoyed, or some other area of importance to you, THAT is what goes into your personal statement.

Some schools require personal statements, others do not. TU Law requires applicants to submit personal statements along with their application.

Personal statements should be well written, concise and free of error. A good rule of thumb is to have someone whose judgment you value proofread your personal statement prior to submitting it to any law school.

How long should the personal statement be?


Again, schools will vary on the length preference for the personal statement. At TU we do not have a required statement length but a couple of paragraphs or one to three pages is common.

How long does it take to get through law school?


At TU, three to five depending upon whether you attend full or part time. Some students may complete their legal education in two and a half years by attending summer school. Although three years is common for all law schools, we encourage you to inquire about the time frame specifics at any law school to which you apply.

All law students are required to complete their legal studies in five years.

How many hours are required a semester?


Usually, and specifically at TU, the first year of law school consists of all prerequisite courses so the first year law student has few course choices starting out. A typical full time first year schedule includes 15 hours in the fall and 13-16 in the spring. Once you complete your required courses, you are at liberty to pick from a variety of electives. Therefore, a semester load is as full as you desire it to be after that first year. The maximum hours you are allowed to take in the spring and fall semesters is 16. The maximum for the summer is 10.

Can I go to law school part time?


Depends upon the law school. Some law schools, including TU, do have a reduced schedule option . If you intend to go to law school part time, it is important you ask the law school's admissions office early in the application process about the reduced schedule option to see if that program will suit your needs. Bear in mind that a part time program will not always mean an exclusively evening program. At TU, the reduced schedule option is typically six to eleven hours of coursework per semester accommodating student who have flexible work schedules or work evenings.

When should I apply to law school?


We recommend about a year prior to the time when you would like to enter law school. Why? Because that gives you ample time to take the LSAT exam, concentrate on the accurate completion of your application, registering for LSDAS, etc. Also, for scholarship consideration and to avoid the additional competitiveness associated with later application, it is always good to apply early. We begin receiving applications into our office each year on September 1st for the following school year. Therefore, we began receiving applications into our office each year on September 1st and we will begin receiving applications for the 2009 school year on September 1st of 2008.

Be aware that some law schools are stricter than others with regard to application deadlines and may not review applications after certain times in the year. Tulsa, like some other law colleges, has what is called rolling admissions which means we review applications pretty much year round (no formal deadline). However, we still recommend that applicants apply early in the year for reasons mentioned above. To allow for adequate preparation for the upcoming semester, applications are not reviewed past July 31st at TU.

What if I take the LSAT more than once?


Whenever law schools receive your LSDAS report it will contain both individual scores and an averaged score if you have taken the LSAT more than one time. It is recommended that all candidates for law school approach the LSAT with the mind set that the first time taking the exam will be the only time to take the exam. In other words, prepare diligently the first time to eliminate the possibility of having to repeat the exam.

Note: if the need to retake the exam does arise, know that TU will look more closely at the high rather than the averaged LSAT score when reviewing an applicant's file. However, this may vary from school to school.

How much does it cost to apply to law school?


Application costs will also vary. At TU, there is no application fee associated with an on line application. There is a $30.00 application fee for paper applications which are submitted. You may also apply to TU via the LSAC website. Doing so will require a $30.00 application fee. TU does not have a preference regarding the method of application.

Schools will vary regarding application methods, preferences and costs.

If you have any additional questions or seek clarification about any of the information contained above, please don't hesitate to call or email our office.

April M. Fox, Assistant Dean of Admissions
april-fox@utulsa.edu
918-631-2709

Tina M. Oliverio, Assistant Director of Admissions
tina-oliverio@utulsa.edu
918-631-3124

Larry R. Curtis, Admission Counselor for Diversity Outreach & LL.M. Recruitment
larry-curtis@utulsa.edu
918-631-5480

Rosemarie Spaulding, Administrative Assistant
rosemarie-spaulding@utulsa.edu
918-631-3163

Kelly Kidder, Department Assistant
kelly-kidder@utulsa.edu
918-631-2406