CAP FAQs

The Conditional Admission Program (CAP) offers law school applicants with a low LSAT score or GPA the opportunity to earn a place in the next entering J.D. class at the Charleston School of Law. The courses are offered online and taught by experienced full-time faculty members. Participants in CAP are admitted to the next entering J.D. class if they earn a minimum of a “C” in each course and have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5.

The Charleston School of Law Office of Admission considers all J.D. applications for CAP. There is no separate application for the program. If selected to participate in CAP, you will receive a Letter of Invitation in the mail from the Charleston School of Law Office of Admission.

To submit your application to the J.D. program, please visit LSAC.org.

If invited to participate in CAP, you will have to complete and submit the following online: Intent Form, Computer Literacy Form and an Exam Disclaimer Form. You must also pay the $500.00 tuition prior to the deadline listed on the “Tuition, Withdrawals and Refunds” page.

CAP is a three week program. It begins with Orientation on a Thursday and Friday, followed by two weeks of classes, and concluding with exams on the subsequent Tuesday and Wednesday. Students enroll in two classes. Each class meets two hours a day, Monday – Friday, with quizzes and a final examination for each class. Final exams will be administered on the campus of the Charleston School of Law. Students wishing to take exams at an alternative location should contact the Office of Admission as soon as possible. Additional charges will be incurred by those requesting an alternate exam site. Please review the schedule for the session you want to attend to ensure you can fully participate in the program.

CAP is a time-consuming and difficult program. Data shows a much higher pass rate for students enrolled in a conditional admission program who are not working. As a result, we do not advise students to hold full-time jobs or take any other classes during the program.

CAP students will use email, online chat rooms, and streaming audio to communicate with other students and faculty. If you are in the Charleston area, you will have limited access to the law library during the public access hours.

Each class meets two hours a day, Monday – Friday, with quizzes and a final examination for each class. Students are also required to participate in the discussion board each week. Attendance in the live chats and participation in the discussion board is mandatory. It is recommended that students access each course at least once a day in order to keep up with the postings and the emails.

The CAP curriculum is comprised of materials and topics from two traditional law school courses. The courses are Criminal Justice and Defamation in the Internet Age. They are offered for zero (0) credits.

Research has indicated that successful students in conditional admission programs spend an average of 60 – 80 hours a week studying.

Participants in CAP are admitted to the next entering J.D. class if they earn a minimum of a “C” in each course and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for both courses.

You will not receive any credits for participation in CAP. Both classes are offered for zero (0) credits.

No, financial aid is not available. CAP is a performance-based admission program. Financial aid is only available for those enrolled in a degree-seeking program. If admission is gained to the School of Law J.D. program, then students may apply for financial aid. To learn more about financial aid for the J.D. program, click here.

The Charleston School of Law has been awarded full accreditation by the American Bar Association. Full accreditation was approved by the ABA’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, during the Council’s meeting in Toronto, Canada, on Aug. 4, 2011.

Typically grades in a performance-based admission program are not given credit or accepted on transfer. You should inquire with those schools about the admission standards of their programs.

The technical requirements are found on the following link: computer requirements. You may use a desktop computer during classes, but you will need a laptop that meets the computer requirements for final exams. Students must be able to access the Internet, send emails with attachments, know the difference between upload and download, and understand how to view a CD. Computer instruction is not a part of this program.

Final exams will be given at the Charleston School of Law in Charleston, South Carolina. The exams will be given using Examsoft, and you will need a laptop that meets the computer requirements for exams. Students are required to take the final exams on the dates and times provided. Students wishing to take exams at an alternative location should contact the Office of Admission as soon as possible. Additional charges will be incurred by those requesting an alternate exam site.

All quizzes and exams are graded anonymously by your professors. Students will receive their grades a few weeks after taking their exams.

Due to security issues, a copy of your final exams with comments will NOT be made available. Exams are graded anonymously, and much time is spent to ensure that the grade is fair and accurate. There is no grade appeal process for CAP.

Comments will not be given on final exams. No grade appeal process exists for CAP, and all grades are final.

Successful completion is defined as actively participating in and passing both CAP courses. Students who participate in CAP and are unsuccessful are not eligible to apply to Charleston School of Law unless they have retaken the LSAT and scored significantly higher than their previous highest LSAT score. Additionally, students who unsuccessfully complete CAP are not eligible to participate in the program again.