How to Apply

Applications for fall admission into the J.D. program are available online at www.LSAC.org in early September of each year. We hope you will consider applying to the Charleston School of Law. Additional information is available on our website under FAQs. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Admission at 843.377.2143 or by email.

Requirements for Admission

The Charleston School of Law requires all applicants to have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited school prior to enrolling.

LSAT/CAS

All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) sponsored by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for the purpose of assessing the applicant's capability of satisfactorily completing the educational program. Applicants are also required to register with the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). A current CAS Report is required to complete a file.

Application Fee

A nonrefundable $50 application fee is due when you submit your application through LSAC, unless you have been granted a fee waiver. If the fee presents a financial hardship please contact the Office of Admission by phone, 843.377.2143, or email at info@charlestonlaw.edu.

Character and Fitness Evaluation

Applicants and admitted applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness and other qualifications for admission.  Applicants and admitted applicants, prior to matriculation, are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which the student intends to practice. Information on character and fitness standards for various jurisdictions is available at the National Conference of Bar Examiners' website:  www.ncbex.org.

In no event, however, will the Charleston School of Law admit applicants who do not appear capable of satisfactorily completing its educational program and being admitted to the bar.

Credit for prior education or experience

In compliance with ABA Standard 509, the Charleston School of Law will accept transfer credit from other ABA-approved law schools, provided the student has earned a grade of "C" or better.  Students who seek to transfer to the Charleston School of Law are advised that typically a maximum of 30 credit hours will be accepted on transfer and apply toward a degree from the Charleston School of Law. No credit will be given for prior experience.

Application Information for Transfer Students 

Applicants applying for transfer admission must apply online at www.LSAC.org and indicate your application status as "transfer." Applicants applying to transfer must submit the following items:

(1)  A completed application.

(2)  A statement as to why you seek to transfer.

 (3)  An official transcript of all work taken during the first year of law school. 

(4)  A letter of good standing from the dean or appropriate official at the current law school, written at the end of the first full year of law school, stating that you are in good academic standing and eligible to return. 

(5)  A statement of class rank as of the end of the first full year of law school. If your school does not rank students please have the registrar submit a copy of the policy statement. 

(6)  One letter of recommendation preferably from a law school professor. Additional letters of recommendation may be submitted. 

(7)  An official CAS Report sent directly from LSAC. 

The letter of standing, the official transcript, and the statement of class rank must reflect the grades of the second semester of law school and is typically issued after grades for the second semester have been posted. 

Transfer of Credit and Degree Requirements

Transfer applicants are accepted for either fall or spring semester.  To be eligible to enroll as a full time transfer student, an applicant must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours of classroom studies at an ABA-approved law school. No more than 30 credit hours will be accepted on transfer and apply toward a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law. Only courses in which a grade of "C" or better was earned will be accepted on transfer. The Charleston School of Law provides this information pursuant to ABA Standard 509. For more information about policies relating to transfer students, please follow this link to Transfer Student Policies.

Scholarships

The Charleston School of Law offers both merit and need-based scholarships. Your application to the School of Law is your application for merit scholarships. 

Applicants who want to be considered for need-based scholarship funds should complete the scholarship application. To read about financial aid please visit our Financial Aid information page.

More information

If you would like to receive information on the Charleston School of Law, please complete the contact information form, email the Office of Admission at info@charlestonlaw.edu, or call, 843.377.2143.   

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, The Charleston School of Law is mandated to issue an Annual Campus Security Report outlining School of Law security policies and reporting campus crime statistics.  The report may be found online here.