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 grade point average (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 theNational Conference of Bar Examiners.
The application for the Fall 2027 Part-Time/Hybrid Program will be available through the LSAC's website at the beginning of September 2026.
Only complete files (meaning all parts of the applicant file have been received) for the part-time/hybrid program will be reviewed in batches after pre-determined priority consideration deadline dates.
The five priority consideration deadlines for the Fall 2027 Part-Time/Hybrid Program are listed below. Applicants who have a complete file by a priority consideration deadline will be considered in the corresponding review batch.
First priority consideration deadline: October 14, 2026
Second priority deadline: December 16, 2026
Third priority consideration deadline: March 17, 2027
Fourth priority consideration deadline: May 12, 2027
Final priority consideration deadline / application deadline: July 1, 2027
Late applications may be accepted at the Dean's discretion.
Steps to Applying for PT/H Admission
Application Site: 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.
Application Available Date: Applications for the Part-Time/Hybrid Program are available through LSAC beginning in early September each year.
School Name: Once you have an LSAC account, you can find our application ("Lincoln Memorial University - John J. Duncan, Jr. School of Law") under the "Applications" tab, then "Member Schools."
Application Fee: There is no fee to apply.
Program Type: 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 with outside commitments, such as work, who cannot attend school in Knoxville on a full-time basis. Per LSAC's policies, applicants can apply to only one program per admission cycle.
Application Completion: Only complete files (meaning all parts of the applicant file have been received) for the part-time/hybrid program will be reviewed in batches after pre-determined priority consideration deadline dates (listed above).
Program Seats: We 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 the program's institutional goals, the number of acceptances received to date, and the remaining seats available. For the 2027-2028 academic year, there will be up to 60 seats available in the Part-Time/Hybrid Program. The class of 60 will be divided into two sections of up to 30 each.
Application Review: Unlike our full-time program, which reviews files on a rolling basis, part-time/hybrid program applications are reviewed in batches after each respective priority consideration deadline.
Character & Fitness Explanations: 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 provided space, you can attach explanations to your application when it is submitted. If you need to update an answer or add supplemental information, you can send an addendum to law.admissions@LMUnet.edu.
Character & Fitness Disclosures: 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 the applicant revealed it 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.
Jurisdiction Requirements: 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.
Personal Statement and/or Other Addenda: As an applicant, you can attach a personal statement and/or any other addenda. While not required, these documents would assist the Committee with understanding you as an applicant. The document(s) could expand further on responses you provided in your application or they may provide additional information you want the Committee to consider.
Additional Documents: You can also attach your resume′ and other documents if you wish; however, they are not required.
LSAT Score Change: 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.
Character & Fitness Addenda: 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.
Credential Assembly Service: 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.
Official Transcript: 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 transcripts providers, such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scrip-Safe, or Credential Solutions.
Transcripts by Mail: If you are requesting that official transcripts be sent by mail, please use the following address:
LSAC Credential Assembly Service 662 Penn Street Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940
High School AP Credit: 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.
CAS Report: In addition to the Credential Assembly Service fee, the applicant must pay for a CAS Law School Report, commonly called the CAS Report, for each law school to which he/she applies. For more information on the latest admission cycle CAS Law School Report fees, visit the LSAC's website at: LSAT & CAS Fees | The Law School Admission Council
Required Transcripts: 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.
Final Transcripts: 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.
Number of LORs Required: LMU Law requires 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.
Reference Type: There are no specific requirements as to who should write letters of recommendation, such as a professor, employer, acquaintance, etc.; however, the reference should explain in detail how they know you and the traits they have observed that lead them to recommend you for law school.
Assigning to LORs to Schools: 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.
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.
LSAT Test Scheduling (Testing Center): 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.
LSAT Test Scheduling (Remote): 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.
LSAT Test Fees: For more information on the latest admission cycle LSAT test fees, visit the LSAC's website at: LSAT & CAS Fees | The Law School Admission Council. LSAT test fees include the LSAT Writing Exercise, which is completed on a separate day and time from the LSAT.
"Stale" LSAT Scores: LMU Law will not accept LSAT scores more than five years old. In keeping with LSAC reporting, scores earned prior to June 2023 will not be considered for admission to Fall 2029 programs.
GRE Alternative: 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.
GRE Scheduling: 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.
GRE Score Reporting: 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.
GRE Writing Component: Because GRE takers have a writing component as part of the GRE that is scored, GRE applicants to LMU Law will not have to complete the LSAT Writing Sample.
Additional GRE Information: Additional information about the GRE, its testing requirements, and fees, can be found through the Educational Testing Service's website: https://www.ets.org/gre.html
"Stale" GRE Scores: LMU Law will not accept GRE scores more than five years old. In keeping with LSAC reporting, scores earned prior to June 2023 will not be considered for admission to Fall 2029 programs.
Writing Requirement: The LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise is a required component of LMU Law's admission process unless you are applying with a GRE score.
Requirement Completion: To complete the LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise, you must go to your LSAC account, download the required software, and complete the 35-minute LSAT Writing Exercise.
Requirement Scheduling: You can take the Argumentative Writing Exercise no sooner than eight days before your scheduled LSAT and no later than one year after you have taken the test.
Required Technology: The computer on which you type the Argumentative Writing Exercise must have an active camera and microphone while you are writing your response. No outside assistance is permitted.
Prompt Completion: Do not delay in taking the LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise. Even if everything else (e.g. application, 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 Argumentative Writing Exercise.
Prior Completion: If you have already completed an LSAT Writing Sample or Argumentative Writing Exercise 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.
Processing Time: Generally, it takes between one-to-three weeks for your LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise to post to your account after you have completed it.
GRE Writing Component: Because GRE takers have a writing component as part of the GRE that is scored, GRE applicants to LMU Law will not have to complete the LSAT Argumentative Writing Sample.
Consideration of Academically Disqualified Students: 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.
Waiting Period: 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 another law school after your first semester, e.g. December 15, 2027, you cannot apply for admission to LMU Law until one year after the date you were disqualified officially (December 16, 2028).
Additional Required Documentation: In addition to the application, two letters of recommendation, Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report, and LSAT Writing or Argumentative 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 upload two (2) separate written statements to their application independently addressing the following:
a statement detailing the nature of the interim work, activity, or studies that occurred since the disqualification; and
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.
Documentation Submission Guidelines: 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 to determine whether the applicant addressed each query.
Official Transcripts: 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.
Contact Us
For questions about applying to the LMU Law Part-Time/Hybrid JD Program, contact us at:
