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JD

Law

Application Deadline

  • Fall Priority Deadline: Mar 1
  • Fall Application Deadline: May 1

    • Contact Information

    243 JRCB
    801-422-7871
    admissions2law@byu.edu
    Website
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    Admission Requirements
    Required Test

    LSAT, GRE, JD Next, or qualify under the LSAT exemption policy

    Additional Requirements
    1. To be considered by BYU Law, applicants must:
      • Have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to the start of law school
      • Take the LSAT, GRE, JD Next, or qualify under the LSAT exemption policy
      • Sign up for a Law School Admission Council (LSAC) account and Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
      • Submit an electronic application through LSAC which includes:
        • College Transcripts
        • Personal Statement – Two pages about yourself
        • Resume – One page describing your academic, extracurricular, and professional activities
        • Letters of Recommendation – Two letters from professors discussing your academic abilities (professional references are acceptable from non-traditional candidates)
      Optional Essay – One page describing an aspect of your background and experience and how it has affected your life and will allow you to contribute uniquely to BYU Law.
      • Complete Honor Code Commitment and Ecclesiastical Endorsement
        • Both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-Day Saint applicants agree to abide by the Honor Code and Related Policies
        • Latter-day Saint applicants must have an endorsement from both their current bishop and a member of their stake presidency.
        • Non-Latter-day Saint applicants need an endorsement from a member of clergy from their own faith (or a local Latter-day Saint Bishop) and from the non-denominational BYU chaplain.
        • You may begin your Ecclesiastical Endorsement here.
      • International students may need to submit official IELTS, TOEFL, or English3 scores in order to be considered for admission
      To review Law (JD) Admission Resources
    Program Requirements
    The J. Reuben Clark Law School offers a course of graduate professional study leading to the juris doctorate (JD) degree. Additional information about legal education, admissions standards, and procedures—including information about the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and registration with the Law School Credential Assembly Service (LSCAS)—can be obtained from the admissions office of the Law School or on our Web site at http://law.byu.edu/site/current-students/dean-students-office


    Requirements for Degree.
    • Credit hours (90): credits toward the JD degree may be completed no earlier than five fall or winter semesters and no later than sixty months after a student has begun law study at an ABA-approved law school.
    • Required courses: the following first-year courses are required for graduation: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legislation and Regulation, Property, Structures of the Constitution, Torts, Introduction to Legal Research and Writing and Introduction to Advocacy. Each student is also required to take Professional Responsibility during the second or third year.
    • Substantial writing paper: each student will be required to prepare, during his or her second or third year, a substantial writing paper of satisfactory quality.
    • Professional skills requirement: each student must complete at least two credit hours of externship credit or at least one of the second-year or third-year courses designated as a "Professional Skills Course."
    • Residency requirement: graduation requires six regular semesters in residence. Enrollment in summer programs can reduce the number of regular semesters from six to five.
    • Graduation interview: to be held with the Law School registrar four months prior to graduation.
    Program Outcomes
    Competency in Explaining and Applying Fundamental Principles
    Students will demonstrate competency in explaining and applying the fundamental principles of Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Structures of the Constitution, Torts, Legislation and Regulation, and Professional Responsibility.

    Legal Analysis, Reasoning, and Problem Solving
    Students will be able to engage in legal analysis, reasoning, and problem solving.

    Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy
    Students will be able to perform legal research, legal writing, and legal advocacy.

    Ethical Issues
    Students will be able to recognize and resolve ethical issues in light of ethical, moral, and religious principles.

    Lifelong Learning and Service
    Students will have the ability and desire to engage in lifelong learning and service.
    Program Stats
    Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
    Total Students 515.0
    International 16.0
    Male 291.0
    Female 224.0
    LDS 502.0
    BYU Undergraduate 318.0
    Three Year Average Test Scores of Admitted Student
    GMAT Composite Score 612.5
    Five Year Average of Graduated Students
    Average Years to Degree 1.89
    Graduated Per Year 18.6
    GMAT Quantitative Percentile 67.5
    Five Year Average of Admitted Students
    Applied Per Year 206.8
    Admitted Per Year 139.4
    Percent Admitted 67.41
    Average GPA 3.39
    Courses and Faculty

    Department Courses Department Faculty