Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree

The Charleston School of Law requires all applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school prior to enrolling. A final transcript should be sent to LSAC from each degree-granting school denoting the degree was conferred.

Transcripts must be on file by October 15 for fall enrollees. If a transcript is not received by this deadline, a student may complete the current semester but will not be permitted to enroll in a subsequent semester until all transcripts are on file.

LSAT/CAS

Applicants may 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. LSAT scores are valid for five years, and in the case of multiple scores, the Charleston School of Law will use the high score. Applicants are also required to register with the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) Credential Assembly Service (CAS). A current CAS Report is required to complete a file.

If an applicant does not take the LSAT, they must submit either a JD-Next score or GRE score (see below).

JD-Next

In lieu of the LSAT, applicants may participate in JD-Next. More information about the course can be found at JDNext.org. 

There are no conditions an applicant must meet in order to submit a JD-Next score instead of the LSAT. Alternatively, applicants may submit both a JD-Next score and an LSAT score. At this time, there is insufficient historical data to provide an average or range of scores for applicants who are accepted with a JD-Next score. 

GRE

In an effort to increase the accessibility of law school, Charleston School of Law will accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) under the following conditions:

1. An applicant does not have a reportable LSAT score.
2. If an applicant has a reportable LSAT score on file at any time during the admissions process, the GRE score will not be considered.
3. If an applicant has been admitted with a GRE score, receipt of a subsequent LSAT score will result in a reevaluation of the applicant’s file and admission decision by the Admission Committee.
4. Applicants must submit all GRE scores from the past five years. Both total and individual section scores are required. The Admission Committee will evaluate scores from all sections of the GRE.
5. Applicants who choose to apply with only a GRE must submit an explanation for why they have chosen to take the GRE over the LSAT.

We encourage all applicants to take the LSAT; while some merit scholarships will be available for GRE applicants, the majority will be for those with an LSAT score.

J.D. Admission Policy

The primary factors considered in admitting candidates are LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next scores and cumulative undergraduate GPA.  In addition, other factors considered are quality of undergraduate program, quality of undergraduate institution, progressively better grades, graduate work, significant work experience, military service and experience, recorded recommendations, strong writing ability, background experience, extracurricular and/or community activities, public service, increased maturity due to age and work, history of poor test taking, and other outstanding and/or unusual characteristics that would enhance the variety of experiences and perspectives in the entering class.