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Applying to LMU Law

Like most law schools, LMU Law makes offers where applicants appear to have the necessary qualities required for success in law school and in the practice of law. While the cumulative undergraduate GPA and either LSAT or GRE score are the most traditional factors determining admission, we will also consider letters of recommendation; academic performance; community service; extra-curricular or co-curricular activities; evidence of a strong work ethic and maturity; military service; employment history; and an ability to contribute to the diversity of the LMU Law community.

In compliance with ABA Standard 504(a), we must inform applicants of the following:

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Our complete admissions policies and procedures can be found in the Admission Policies and Procedures Manual.

For August 2024 admission, LMU Law will accept either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) as part of the admission process.

Applications for our fall 2024 full-time and part-time/hybrid programs will be available through the LSAC website around October 1, 2023.

FULL-TIME PROGRAM

The application deadline for the full-time program is July 1st.

The full-time program has a priority consideration deadline of March 15th. Applications received by the priority consideration deadline for the full-time program will receive a decision within 15-20 business days. While the entering class for the full-time program usually fills by early April, the Committee will continue to review files and make offers on a limited basis after the priority consideration deadline through the regular application deadline. Applicants who receive a waitlist decision are not denied. The Committee simply needs more time to evaluate the credentials and experience presented compared to the institutional goals for the entering class as a whole and the number of acceptances received to date.  

PART-TIME/HYBRID PROGRAM

With the ABA's approval of our application for acquiescence to the ABA Standards to offer a part-time/hybrid program, LMU Law no longer offers a flex-time program.

The application deadline for the part-time/hybrid program is also July 1st.

There are two priority consideration deadlines for the part-time/hybrid program. The first deadline is February 15th. Applicants who apply by the first priority consideration deadline will be considered first. The second priority deadline is May 1st.

It is our hope to fill the available seats with applicants who apply by the priority consideration deadlines; however, we will continue to review applications and make offers until the application deadline. Offers made will be based on the credentials and experience presented in relation to institutional goals for the program, the number of acceptances received to date, and the remaining seats available. For the 2024-2025 academic year, there will be up to 50 seats available in the part-time/hybrid program. The class of 50 will be divided into two sections of up to 25 each.

Follow the steps below to apply to LMU Law. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Office of Admissions at [email protected] or 865.545.5303.

Steps to Applying for Admission

  •   Complete the Application

    To complete an application to LMU Law, you must first register for a free account on the Law School Admission Council's website - https://www.lsac.org.

    Once you possess an LSAC account, you can locate our application ("Lincoln Memorial University -- John J. Duncan, Jr. School of Law") under the "Applications" tab and then "Member Schools."

    There is no fee to apply.

    You will have two program options: full-time and part-time/hybrid. The part-time/hybrid program is a reduced-load program designed for people who have outside commitments, such as work, and cannot attend school in Knoxville on a full-time basis. Due to LSAC's policies, applicants can only apply to one program per admission cycle.

    FULL-TIME PROGRAM

    The application deadline for the full-time program is July 1st.

    The full-time program has a priority consideration deadline of March 15th. Applications received by the priority consideration deadline for the full-time program will receive a decision within 15-20 business days.

    While the entering class for the full-time program usually fills by early April, the Committee will continue to review files and make offers on a limited basis after the priority consideration deadline through the regular application deadline. Applicants who receive a waitlist decision are not denied. The Committee simply needs more time to evaluate the credentials and experience presented compared to the institutional goals for the entering class as a whole and the number of acceptances received to date.

    PART-TIME/HYBRID PROGRAM

    With the ABA's approval of our application for acquiescence to the ABA Standards to offer a part-time/hybrid program, LMU Law no longer offers a flex-time program.

    The part-time/hybrid program application deadline is also July 1st.

    There are two priority consideration deadlines for the part-time/hybrid program. The first deadline is February 15th. Applicants who apply by the first priority consideration deadline will be considered first. The second priority deadline is May 1st. It is our hope to fill the available seats with applicants who apply by the priority consideration deadlines; however, we will continue to review applications and make offers until the application deadline. Offers made will be based on the credentials and experience presented in relation to institutional goals for the program, the number of acceptances received to date, and the remaining seats available. For the 2024-2025 academic year, there will be up to 50 seats available in the part-time/hybrid program. The class of 50 will be divided into two sections of up to 25 each.

    Character and Fitness: If you answered "yes" to any question in the Character and Fitness section of your application, you must provide detailed information for each answer. If your answer does not fit in the space provided, then you can attach explanations to your application at the time it is submitted. If you need to update an answer or add supplemental information, you can send an addendum to [email protected].

    Because of stringent character and fitness qualifications for admission to the bar, we require full disclosure in response to all questions. Failure to disclose information often yields a more serious outcome than the matter itself would have produced had it been revealed by the applicant initially.

    Answering "yes" to any question does not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for admission. The Admission and Scholarship Committee would like the opportunity to review all relevant facts including (but not limited to) the issue(s); offense(s); date(s) of the offense(s); the law enforcement agency involved; and disposition, including fine(s), court costs, or other penalties, etc.

    The American Bar Association (ABA) precludes the admission of applicants who do not appear capable of satisfactorily completing a legal program of study and being admitted to the bar. Similar questions will be asked of you at the time you apply for admission to the bar, so candor and full disclosure are essential.

    Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Contact information for all relevant agencies is available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

  •   Register for the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service and Pay the Fee

    The Credential Assembly Service is a central repository where applicants submit their academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other pertinent items for submission to law schools.

    The fee to register for Credential Assembly Service for the fall 2024 admission cycle is $200. 

  •   Attach Your Responses to the TWO Questions/Statements

    Responses to two written statements/questions are required for consideration to LMU Law. The responses can be uploaded as a single file with two parts. These responses replace the single personal statement. The responses should be uploaded and attached to your application through the "Attachments" tab in your LSAC account.

    Each response is limited to one to two double-spaced pages. 

    Your responses to the statements must be your own work prepared without the assistance of other people, professional writing services, or generative artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT.

    FIRST STATEMENT

    Applicants should answer the following:

    What motivates you to pursue law, and why will you be a successful law student and graduate of LMU Law? 

    SECOND STATEMENT

    Applicants should answer the following:

    LMU Law seeks to enroll students with varied backgrounds and interests and the Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual. Discuss how your interests, background, life experiences, and perspectives would enhance our student body. If applicable, describe any challenges that may have adversely affected your past performance or access to opportunities and which you successfully overcome. These may include linguistic barriers; discrimination; socioeconomic challenges; being the first in your family to graduate from college; significant caregiving or family support responsibilities while in school; or challenges related to the place where you grew up. You may also choose to discuss how your identity, culture, or community has helped shape who you are.

    ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

    You can also attach your resume′ and other documents if you wish; however, they are not required. 

    In the event your LSAT score changes by four or more points over time, we strongly encourage you to attach an addendum explaining why you think the change occurred. This will contextualize your performance on the test as well as provide the Committee with a better understanding of why the highest score should be considered the most valid indicator of your capacity. 

    If you need to explain a response to a question in the Character and Fitness section of your application more fully, you should attach it in the Attachments section. Please include the question number(s) and question(s) to which you are responding should you need to explain further.

  •   Request Official Transcripts for the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service

    An official transcript from each educational institution attended since high school must be sent from each institution directly to the Credential Assembly Service either through the mail or via one of the approved, secure electronic transcript providers, such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scrip-Safe, or Credential Solutions.

    If requesting they be sent by mail, the address to which each transcript must be sent is:

    LSAC Credential Assembly Service

    662 Penn Street

    Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940

    If you received Advanced Placement (AP) credit(s) for courses taken in high school, then you must submit your high school transcript(s) to the Credential Assembly Service as well.

    In addition to the Credential Assembly Service fee, the applicant must pay a Law School Report for each law school to which he/she applies. The current cost of the fall 2024 admission cycle is $45, and again, it must be paid to LSAC for each law school to which the applicant wants her/his Law School Report sent.

    The Law School Report is commonly called the CAS Report.

    If you are an undergraduate student when you submit your transcripts to the Credential Assembly Service, then you must update (resubmit) transcripts from any schools in which you have taken classes since they were submitted initially.

    After you graduate, you will need to submit a final official transcript from the institution from which you received your bachelor's degree. The degree received and the date it was conferred must appear on the final transcript.

  •   Submit and Assign Two Letters of Recommendation to LMU Law

    LMU Law requires at least two letters of recommendation. Your letters of recommendation should be submitted directly to the Credential Assembly Service through a link it sends to each individual making a recommendation.

    There are no specific requirements as to who should write them, such as a professor, employer, acquaintance, etc.; however, they should explain in detail how they know you and the traits they have observed that lead them to recommend you for law school.

    Once the letters are received by the Credential Assembly Service, YOU MUST ASSIGN each letter to each school you want to receive them. They will not be assigned automatically. If you fail to assign both of them to each school, then your file will remain INCOMPLETE until they are assigned by you.

  •   Register and Pay to Take the Either the LSAT or GRE

    LSAT

    The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is offered multiple times each year. The LSAT can be taken either in person at a testing center or remotely via a computer meeting the testing requirements. 

    To test in person at a testing center, you will need to schedule your test within seven (7) days of when scheduling becomes available. If you are unable to schedule your test by your administration’s test center scheduling deadline, you can request a test date change through your LSAC online account for an additional fee. Alternatively, you can choose to schedule an online, live remotely proctored session. If you do not schedule your test or request a test date change, your LSAT registration will be automatically withdrawn without a refund.

    To test remotely, you must schedule your test at least three (3) days before testing begins for your administration. If you’re unable to schedule your test by this deadline, you can opt to request a test date change through your LSAC online account for an additional fee. Otherwise, your LSAT registration will be automatically withdrawn without a refund. Before scheduling to test remotely, please ensure your testing space and equipment meet the remote-testing requirements which are linked on the LSAC website.

    The announced 2023-2024 LSAT testing dates and registration deadlines are:

    PRIMARY TESTING DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE SCORES RELEASED TO TEST TAKERS
    June 9-10, 2023 April 25, 2023 June 28, 2023
    August 11-12, 2023 June 29, 2023 August 30, 2023
    September 8-9, 2023 July 25, 2023 September 27, 2023
    October 13-14, 2023 August 31, 2023 November 1, 2023
    November 10-11, 2023 September 28, 2023 November 29, 2023
    January 12-13, 2024 November 30, 2023 January 31, 2024
    February 9, 2024 December 26, 2023 February 28, 2024
    April 12, 2024 February 29, 2024 May 1, 2024
    June 7-8, 2024 April 23, 2024 June 26, 2024

    The LSAT test dates and application deadlines have been listed as a courtesy and are subject to change without notice.

    While the above-listed information is provided for convenience, always refer to the LSAC website to ensure the correct test date and registration deadline for any LSAT. Registration deadlines and test date information can be obtained on the LSAC website: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsat-dates-deadlines-score-release-dates

    The cost to take the LSAT during the 2023-2024 admission cycle is $222. It includes the LSAT Writing Exercise, which is completed on a separate day and time from the LSAT. 

    LMU Law will not accept LSAT scores more than five years old. In keeping with LSAC reporting, scores earned prior to June 2018 will not be considered for admission to fall 2024 programs.

    GRE

    Similar to the LSAT, you can take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) either in person at an approved testing center or remotely with your computer. 

    You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days). This applies even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously.

    When selecting a test date, make sure your scores will be reported in time for your application deadlines. Score reports are sent to your designated score recipients approximately 10–15 days after your test date. When choosing a test date, allow time for delivery of your scores to LMU Law.

    The cost to take the GRE for the 2023-2024 admission cycle is $220.

    Additional information about the GRE, its testing requirements, and fees, can be found through the Educational Testing Service's website or this link: https://www.ets.org/gre.html

  •   Complete the LSAT Writing Sample

    The LSAT Writing Sample is a required component of LMU Law's admission process for LSAT takers. Because GRE takers must take a writing component as part of the GRE, you can request a waiver of the LSAT Writing Sample by emailing the Office of Admissions. Please include your LSAC "L" number and registered name with your request.

    To complete the LSAT Writing Sample, you must go to your LSAC account, download the required software, and complete the 35-minute LSAT Writing Exercise.

    You can take the LSAT Writing Sample no sooner than eight days before your scheduled LSAT and no later than one year after you have taken the test.

    The computer on which you type the LSAT Writing Sample must have an active camera and microphone while you are writing your response. No outside assistance is permitted.

    Do not delay in taking the LSAT Writing Exercise. Even though everything else (e.g. application, personal statement, two letters of recommendation, Credential Assembly Service Report with your LSAT score), has been received, your Law School/CAS Report with your LSAT score will not be released to ANY law school until you have completed the LSAT Writing Sample.

    If you have already completed an LSAT Writing Sample for a prior administration of the LSAT, then you do not have to complete a new writing sample unless you want to complete a new one.

    Generally, it takes between one-to-three weeks for your LSAT Writing Exercise to post to your account after you have completed it.

    For more information, visit https://www.lsac.org/lsat/taking-lsat/about-lsat-writing.

  •   Information for Academically Disqualified Students

    LMU Law considers the admission of applicants who were disqualified academically. An applicant who has been disqualified academically must demonstrate that he or she possesses the requisite ability to succeed in our program of legal education. The applicant must also demonstrate that the previous disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete the course of study at our law school, extraordinary circumstances contributed to his or her inability to meet the academic requirements, and the circumstances resulting in the student's academic disqualification have been remedied or no longer exist.

    An applicant who was disqualified academically cannot apply for admission until one (1) calendar year has expired since the student's disqualification. Example: If you were disqualified academically from law school after your first semester, e.g. December 15, 2022, you cannot apply for admission to LMU Law until one year after the date you were disqualified officially (December 16, 2023).

    In addition to the application, personal statement, two letters of recommendation, Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report, and LSAT Writing Exercise, in order to be considered for admission an applicant who has been disqualified academically either at LMU Law or another law school must attach responses to two (2) separate statements to their application through the "Attachments" tab:

    1. A statement detailing the nature of the interim work, activity, or studies that occurred since the disqualification; and

    2. A statement describing why the applicant believes he/she now has a stronger potential for the study of law and is likely to successfully complete the course of study at the Duncan School of Law.

     

    The responses can be uploaded as a single file as long as each statement is addressed separately. The responses cannot be combined into a single essay. The Committee will not read an essay in an attempt to decipher whether the applicant addressed/answered each query.

    Finally, the applicant must send an official transcript from the law school from which he or she was dismissed to the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service.

Joint- and Dual-Degree Programs

LMU Law offers a number of joint- and dual-degree program offerings. In most cases program participants can take their masters classes in the summers and online, while attending law school in the fall and spring semesters. For more information on any of there dual-degree programs, simply click on the offering to open a PDF.

JD-MBA (Juris Doctor - Master of Business Administration) Dual-Degree Program

JD-MPA (Juris Doctor - Master in Public Administration) Joint-Degree Program

JD-MSCJ (Juris Doctor - Master of Science in Criminal Justice) Joint-Degree Program

You must apply for the master's program through the University's main website. Also, any scholarship awarded for law school does not apply to masters-level program courses. The rate of tuition is less for master-level courses compared to tuition for law school classes.