San Francisco Law School - Application Information

Acceptance to the Law School is determined by the Admissions Committee, which takes into account the LSAT score, undergraduate GPA, professional background, and personal history of each applicant. Due to this review of the individual and his or her accomplishments, there is no mechanical formula required for admittance. The Committee seeks students who will contribute positively to the student body, successfully complete the law school program, and go on to become productive members of the Bar.

San Francisco Law School admits students without regard to age, sex, race, creed, color, physical handicap, sexual preference, national or ethnic origin, or political affiliation, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded to students at the School. It does not discriminate on any of these bases in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or other School-administered programs.

Law School Admission Test
Applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) which is given four times a year at test centers locally, throughout the U.S., and in many foreign countries. Individuals who have previously passed the LSAT may not be required to retake the exam providing that their scores are sufficiently current, acceptable and obtainable from Law Services. Further LSAT information can be obtained at www.lsac.org

PLEASE NOTE. San Francisco Law School does not participate in LSDAS services. All transcripts must be sent directly from your former schools.

Admission Procedure
Completed applications should be submitted by June 15th. Applications received after July 1st will be considered if space is available, but class size limitations may cause consideration to be deferred until the following academic year.

Background
To be considered for admission with Regular Status, applicants must have either a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, an Associate degree from an accredited community college, or have completed, in good academic standing, (a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units) at an accredited institution. The grade point average on all subjects undertaken must be equal to that required for graduation.

Procedure
Applicants wishing to be admitted with Regular Status must submit a completed application form, a résumé, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a $75 non-refundable application fee. In addition, applicants must have all official transcripts and posted degrees sent directly to San Francisco Law School.

Applications will be reviewed only after the LSAT results and all required documents and fees are received by the Director of Admissions.

Personal Statement
Personal statements are writing samples and thus should be well written, grammatically correct and organized. A strong personal statement answers these questions: Why do you want to study law? What in your background leads you to believe you will be successful in law school and in a legal career? What special skills, attributes, and experiences will you bring to the Law School community? What other pertinent matters should the Committee consider in weighing your application?

The statement should be in essay form rather than résumé form and should be no longer than four pages in length, double-spaced and typed. Applicants should not submit books, tape recordings, plays, theses, dissertations, or other such materials in lieu of, or in addition to, the personal statement; these materials will not be evaluated by the Admissions Committee.

Interviews
San FranciscoLaw School encourages visits by applicants. Arrangements may be made for applicants to speak with present San Francisco Law School students or members of the administrative staff. The Law School Admissions Committee reserves the right to request formal interviews as part of the admissions process. All information which applicants wish to have considered by the Committee must be in writing and should accompany the application.

Admission with Special Status
Applicants who are unable to satisfy the academic requirements for admission with Regular Status may be considered for admission as Special Status students. Special Status is designed for students who have achieved a level of maturity and professional experience which has prepared them for successful completion of the law school curriculum.

Special Status
These applicants, in addition to the documentation required of applicants for Regular Status, must submit their educational records, two letters of recommendation from employers and/or others attesting to abilities and potential for success in law school, and an LSAT score satisfactory to the San Francisco Law School Admissions Committee.

In addition, the Committee of Bar Examiner requires that all applicants seeking admission with Special Status pass the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) prior to admission to law school. For further details, contact the San Francisco Law School Director of Admissions or via e-mail at admin@sfls.edu

Upon successful completion of the First Year curriculum, Special Status students must take the First Year Law Students' Examination (FYLSE) administered by the California Committee of Bar Examiners. Students can continue into their second year of study despite their not having taken or not having passed the examination. They will receive credit for study completed up to the time they pass the examination, if they pass it within three administrations of the examination after their first become eligible to take the exam.

Admission to Advanced Standing
In addition to the requirements of applicants for regular status, those students wishing to transfer from other law schools must provide official transcripts of all law study and a letter of good standing from the Office of the Dean of the last law school attended. Only courses successfully completed (C or better grade) are transferable. A student must earn 43 units while in residence in order to graduate from San Francisco Law School.

Applicants not in good academic standing at the time of leaving their prior law school, must also provide two letters of recommendation from the Dean and/or professors at the law school attended who can attest to the student's ability for success in law school and a personal statement by the applicant detailing the circumstances that led to the student's academic disqualification and the remedies taken to ensure success in future study.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to contact all references for a more detailed assessment of each applicant's potential. It is within the discretion of the Admissions Committee if credit is given for any previous courses. In the case of disqualification, credit would be unusual.

Admission with Auditor Status
Students currently enrolled in good standing at other accredited law schools may, with the approval of their Dean, be admitted to San Francisco Law School with non-matriculating or auditor status. Students with auditor status are subject to the same tuition, fees and all policies and regulations of San Francisco Law School. For information regarding required documentation, contact the Admissions Office.

International Applicants
Applicants who have attended schools outside of the United States, must arrange to have transcripts evaluated by either:

San Francisco Law School does not offer other services or issue I-20 forms to foreign nationals. The School does require a level of English proficiency, both verbal and written, consistent with that which must be demonstrated to achieve an acceptable score on the required Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Acceptance Deposit
A deposit of $500 is required of all applicants upon notification of admission, and must be paid by the date indicated in the letter of acceptance. This deposit is credited toward tuition and fees. If the applicant is unable to attend and gives written notice prior to the first day of registration, San Francisco Law School will refund the deposit minus the general fees.