Application Instructions
» Online Application for New J.D. Students
The College of Law admits new full- and part-time students each fall. As a prerequisite to enrollment, applicants are required to have earned a baccalaureate degree from a college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education. A final, official transcript evidencing conferral of the degree must be submitted before enrolling. In no event will anyone who has yet to receive a baccalaureate degree or foreign-equivalent be permitted to enroll in the College of Law.
While no particular major will ensure success in law school, a solid foundation in the liberal arts and/or sciences with substantive writing assignments is recommended. The College of Law will review each applicant's transcript to determine whether the applicant has taken a mix of classes that demonstrate his or her ability to read and comprehend rapidly and accurately, to think precisely and logically, and to communicate clearly and correctly.
The Faculty Committee on Admissions and Entering Awards begins reviewing completed applications in late fall. Although applications are accepted until the deadline, we highly recommend that you submit your application early. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, we recommend you complete your file by February 1. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis. Please review the College of Law's Financial Aid website for more information about financial aid and scholarships. Stetson Law awards multi-year scholarships to selected entering full- and part-time law students. All admitted students are considered for scholarships; no special application is needed. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, a range of other personal accomplishments and experiences, and the ability to further the mission of the College of Law. Applicants who wish for their unique circumstances and backgrounds to be considered should include an addendum with their application. Please review the website for more information on scholarships and other aid.
Deferments may be granted for one year only, on a case-by-case basis. Requests for deferment will be considered only if made in writing to the Executive Director of Admissions and Student Financial Planning after the confirmation fee has been paid. Deferment of admission is not available to candidates admitted from the waiting list.
Application Process
All applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). LSAT scores are valid for admission purposes five years from the test date to the application due date. The Credential Assembly Service sends a report that includes your LSAT score(s), copies of your transcripts, and your letters of recommendation/evaluations. The report is sent to the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning once it is complete. You must work directly with LSAC to ensure that all items are received and processed.
Applicants may take the February LSAT. Stetson uses your highest LSAT score, not an average of all scores, for admission.
You may obtain LSAT and Credential Assembly Service registration and information materials from LSAC at LSAC.org, or 215-968-1001.
Application for Admission
Any false or misleading statement, or an inaccurate application, may be the basis for denial of admission, or if admitted, disciplinary action, including but not limited to dismissal from the College of Law, revocation of admission, revocation of credits or degree, or other appropriate sanctions, regardless of when discovered. By transmitting your application you certify that you have read and understood the application, and that the information you have submitted is complete and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief.
Application Fee
A $55 nonrefundable application fee must be paid online through LSAC when you submit your application.
Recommendation Letters and Evaluations
Two letters of recommendation are required, and a maximum of three letters will be accepted. In addition, two recommender evaluations will be accepted, but are not required. Please use the Letter of Recommendation and Evaluation Service provided by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC.org). Academic references are encouraged; however, we recognize that many students have difficulty obtaining academic references and will not penalize candidates if one cannot be obtained.
Personal Statement and Résumé
The Personal Statement should address your reason for wishing to study law, which may include special accomplishments or qualifications pertinent to your application. A concise, two- to three-page double-spaced, format is preferred. Please put your name and identification number (LSAC account number) at the top of each page. Candidates may also submit an addendum to explain unusual circumstances, such as grade fluctuations or wide variance in LSAT scores. Transfer Applicants: Please explain your reasons for wishing to transfer from your current law school.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a résumé along with their personal statement and application.
Transcripts
Official transcripts from all colleges or universities you attended, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, must be sent to LSAC's Credential Assembly Service, regardless of whether you earned a degree from the institution.
Interviews and Campus Visits
The Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning does not conduct personal interviews for the JD program. However, applicants are encouraged to visit the College of Law for a campus tour, attend a first-year law class, and meet with an admissions counselor to learn more about Stetson University College of Law and the admissions process. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning for an appointment at 727.562.7802 or lawadmit@law.stetson.edu.
Deadline for a Completed First-Year Application
Fall 2012 (full- and part-time): Extended until July 1, 2012
The application fee is $55. Applicants to the College of Law must indicate their preferred program, either full- or part-time.
Notification of Application Status and Decision
Applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their application. The office will also inform applicants if there are missing items or if additional information is needed to process the application. When applications are complete and submitted for review, applicants will receive an email with a user name and password which allows for applicants to check their application status online and to confirm address and other contact information. Important: All decisions will be communicated via email. Decisions are not released by phone, except for US military personnel stationed abroad.
Seat Deposit
If admitted, a nonrefundable deposit of $500 is required to reserve a seat. Please note the seat deposit deadline on your letter of acceptance. This deposit will be credited to your tuition upon registration. Please make check or money order payable to Stetson University College of Law.
Character and Fitness Disclosure
Applicants should be aware that the qualifications for admission to the bar, including those related to character and fitness, vary from state to state. Prior to matriculation, applicants seeking to engage in the practice of law are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the rules of the state in which they intend to seek admission, especially those rules relating to registration, deadlines, residency requirements, character and fitness, and courses that may be required during law school. Applicants who are concerned about their eligibility to practice law should contact the Board of Bar Examiners (or the appropriate committee) in the state in which the applicant intends to practice. A Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which includes coverage of character and fitness requirements and contact information for each state, is available on the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners http://www.ncbex.org/comprehensive-guide-to-bar-admissions/.
Disabled Applicants
The College of Law provides reasonable accommodations for the documented disabilities of students. Applicants who wish to have their disability considered in the admissions process may voluntarily disclose the disability in their Personal Statement. After admission to the College of Law, a student who wishes to request accommodations for a disability should contact the ADA Coordinator.
Solely as part of the College of Law's voluntary efforts, we invite applicants to disclose whether and to what extent an applicant is disabled. Information provided will be kept confidential and will be considered only as permitted by law. An applicant's decision not to supply this information will not result in adverse treatment.
Foreign-Educated Applicants
Foreign-educated students applying for admission to the JD program must meet certain additional requirements. Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate degree at an English-speaking institution must submit a TOEFL score of no less than 600 on the paper-based test or at least 100 on the Internet-based test. TOEFL scores are valid for three years. For TOEFL information, visit www.ets.org. Fluency in English may also be established by alternative assessment, such as scoring at least a 6 in IELTS. For more information, visit www.ielts.org.
Stetson University College of Law requires JD applicants to submit foreign transcripts through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Transcripts for all post-secondary education completed outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada must be evaluated through this service. Foreign coursework through study-abroad, consortium, or exchange programs sponsored by US or Canadian institutions are exempt from this requirement, provided that the work is clearly indicated on the home campus transcript. The Credential Assembly Service report is included in the Credential Assembly Service registration fee. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers will complete a foreign credential evaluation, which will be incorporated into your Credential Assembly Service report. If Stetson determines that a TOEFL score is required, you must contact the Educational Testing Service to request that your scores be sent to LSAC. (LSAC's TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 0058.) Your score will be included in the foreign credential evaluation document that will be included in your LSAC Credential Assembly Service Law School Report.
To use the service, log into your LSAC online account and follow the instructions for registration. Print out and promptly send a transcript request form to each foreign institution you attended, and allow ample time to receive and translate foreign transcripts. Direct questions about the Credential Assembly Service to LSAC at 215-968-1001, or LSACINFO@LSAC.org.
Foreign Attorneys
The Associate Dean of Academics may grant an admitted JD applicant who holds a foreign law degree up to 29 academic credits toward a Stetson JD degree. The credits may be used to satisfy elective credits. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning at 727-562-7802 for more information.
Transfer Applicants
Transfer applicants must use the transfer application available March 1 (Fall Applicants) and November 15 (Spring Applicants) of each year. Applicants must be in good standing at their current law school. To be considered for admission, transfer applicants are required to have earned a minimum of one semester’s grades at an ABA- or state-approved law school. All offers of admission after only one semester of grades are conditional and will be reevaluated if grades show a decline. In order to enroll, admitted applicants must submit final, official law school transcripts and an updated letter of good standing. Please review the Transfer Credit Policy found at www.law.stetson.edu/policies. The following documents are required for the transfer application:
1. Online Transfer Application - must select either full- or part-time;
2. Application Fee of $55;
3. Statement explaining reason for requesting to transfer;
4. JD Credential Assembly Service report (Stetson College of Law will request a copy from LSAC);
5. Official transcript from the law school previously attended; and
6. Documentation from the Dean, Associate Dean or Registrar of the applicant's previous law school confirming the applicant's current standing and law school rank.
The transfer application deadline is August 1 for fall and January 3 for spring. Files must be completed by the deadline and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Transfer applications are evaluated based on the applicant's academic achievement at his or her current law school, reason for requesting transfer, the applicant's disciplinary record (if any), space available, undergraduate and law school grades, and LSAT scores.
Transfer students generally receive credit only for traditional first-year courses offered at Stetson University College of Law, and only for the amount of credits awarded by Stetson Law for those courses. The decision on transfer credits is made by the Associate Dean for Academics. Please see www.law.stetson.edu/transfer for more information.
Visiting Students
Visiting (transient) students should not complete this application, but should contact the Registrar for the appropriate application. The College of Law typically accepts a limited number of visiting students who may take up to 29 credit hours at the College. Visiting student status is not automatically granted, but is based on space available, the applicant's academic credentials and disciplinary record (if any), whether the applicant has a hardship that requires him or her to reside in the area, and various other factors. Visiting status is determined on a semester-by-semester basis. Please contact the Registrar's Office or visit www.law.stetson.edu/registrar for an application, instructions, and deadlines.
Nondiscrimination Policy
Please view Nondiscrimination Policy (PDF).
Notice of Privacy Rights
Stetson University College of Law is covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which is designed to protect students' rights with regard to educational records maintained by the institution. Under this Act, students have the following rights: 1) the right to inspect and review educational records maintained by the institution that pertain to such student; 2) the right to challenge the content of records on the ground that they are inaccurate, misleading or a violation of the student's privacy or other rights; and 3) the right to control disclosures from the student's records with certain exceptions.
The information in this publication applies to the academic year 2011-2012 and is accurate and current, to the extent possible, as of July 2011. The College of Law reserves the right to change programs of study, academic requirements, teaching staff, the calendar and other matters described herein without prior notice, in accordance with established procedures.
Notice of Campus Security Act and Fire Safety Reports
Copies of the annual Campus Security (Clery) Act Report and Fire Safety Report and Plan are available at no charge from the Public Safety Office. To receive a copy, call 727-562-7801, or visit the College of Law's website at www.law.stetson.edu/pubsafety/.
To obtain further information about Stetson University College of Law, contact:
Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning
1401 61st Street South
Gulfport, FL 33707
Phone: 727-562-7802
Fax: 727-343-0136
Email: lawadmit@law.stetson.edu or finaid@law.stetson.edu
Website: http://www.law.stetson.edu/admissions/