General Information
The admissions process at George Mason University School of Law is very competitive and highly selective due to the volume of applications and the limited number of seats in the entering class. Members of the Admissions Committee and Admissions Officers review and consider each application for admission in its entirety. Two of the primary factors considered in the admissions process are performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and undergraduate grade point average.
Other factors that are considered include difficulty of undergraduate major, undergraduate institution, possession of advanced degrees, writing ability (as indicated in the LSAT writing sample and in the personal statement), recommendations, extracurricular activities, employment experience, demonstrated commitment to public and community service, leadership skills and experience, history of overcoming personal or professional challenges, other academic, and personal and professional achievements.
The criteria for admission to the part-time, evening program are the same as for admission to the full-time, day program. Non-resident applicants receive the same consideration for admission as resident applicants.
Before applying for admission to law school, applicants are advised to investigate the requirements for admission to the practice of law in any jurisdiction in which they intend to practice. Some state bars may require registration at the time of entry into law school. If an applicant has been a party to any criminal proceedings; been arrested, summoned, or charged with, or convicted of a crime; been confined to a mental, penal, or correctional institution; or undergone mental treatment, the applicant's ability to be admitted to the practice of law, even after successful completion of legal studies and graduation from law school may be severely limited in one or more jurisdictions.
Rolling Admissions and Early Decision Program
First-year students are admitted only in the fall semester. First-year students are not admitted in the spring semester or summer term. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, except for those decisions made under the Early Decision Program. Early decisions will be made no later than January 15. Applicants who are not admitted through the Early Decision Program may be considered in the regular admission process. Other Early Decision applicants may be informed that their application for admission has been denied and will not be evaluated again.
Eligibility
To be eligible to matriculate, an applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association of the United States. If an applicant has completed post-secondary work outside the U.S., the applicant must use the Credential Assembly Service for evaluation of the international transcripts.
Application may be made during the final year of undergraduate study, and acceptance is contingent upon the applicant's being awarded a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.
All applicants must take the LSAT. In addition, applicants who have earned or who are in the final year of working towards their baccalaureate degrees at an institution accredited by one of the regional U.S. accrediting agencies must register with the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
Applicants who have previously applied to the law school must submit a new, complete application package and application fee and must maintain a current registration with CAS. We cannot reuse previous application materials, including the LSAT/CAS Report.
Character and Fitness
Prospective law students who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness, and other qualifications. Applicants, and admitted applicants, are encouraged to determine what those requirements are for every state(s) in which they intend to practice law by consulting the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners at www.ncbex.org before matriculating at George Mason University School of Law or any other law school.
International Student Information Form for Applicants Seeking F-1 or J-1 Student Visas
Students seeking F-1 immigration status must submit an International Student Certificate of Financial Responsibility for Applicants Seeking F-1 Student Visas. Immigration document I-20 required for international students studying full time in the United States will not be issued until the student has completed the form (front and back) and returned it along with a copy of the indentification page of the passport and supporting documents to: George Mason University School of Law, Office of Admissions, 3301 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201, USA.
Application Procedure for JD Applicants
Applicants for regular admission should submit their application as soon as possible after October 1. Applications are not evaluated until all required documents have been received. To be considered for admission to George Mason Law, applicants must provide the following five items on or before April 1:
1. Application
All applicants must apply electronically via LSAC. Please do not send us a paper copy of your electronically submitted application. George Mason Law has waived the application fee for first-year JD applicants.
The standard first-year application deadline is April 1. For guaranteed consideration, all application materials (items 1 through 4, and 5 if applicable) should be received by George Mason Law on or before April 1. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.
2. LSAT/CAS Report
Applicants must register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) so that George Mason Law will receive a current Law School Report furnished by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Most colleges, universities and law schools make LSAT/CAS information and registration booklets available for pickup. Applicants also may contact LSAC/CAS directly at 215-968-1001 or through www.lsac.org.
The George Mason University School of Law CAS Recipient Code is 5827.
The Law School Report must reflect (a) all work done at undergraduate institutions, signifying that a baccalaureate degree has been or will be awarded before the start of the academic year for which admission is being sought and (b) the results of at least one Law School Admission Test (LSAT) taken within the period June 2008 through February 2013.
The applicant has sole responsibility for meeting all of LSAC’s requirements. Failure to register properly, maintain registration throughout the admissions process, or provide transcripts and other related materials to LSAC can delay or prevent release of a report to a law school. George Mason Law is not responsible for incomplete or missing reports and will not contact applicants about incomplete or missing reports.
3. Personal Statement
The application requires submission of a personal statement not to exceed 500 words, double-spaced. The thoughts and words of the personal statement must be uniquely those of the applicant. With the exception of basic proofreading, no other(s) may assist in the creation of the personal statement.
You submit your personal statement as an electronic document attached to your electronic application. Please be sure to put your name on the personal statement.
Applicants for first-year admission who are also applying for the Levy Fellowship must, in addition to fulfilling all requirements for first-year applicants, provide a cover letter with the names of three references, a curriculum vitae, graduate school transcripts, and a copy of current research directly to the law school Admissions Office.
4. Two Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. George Mason Law strongly prefers that applicants use the CAS Letter of Recommendation Service, following CAS procedures. Any applicant who does not use the CAS Letter of Recommendation Service must (a) have their recommendations sent directly to George Mason Law and (b) use George Mason Law’s recommendation form.
Recommendations submitted directly to George Mason Law must be in a sealed envelope and bear the author’s signature across the sealed envelope flap.
5. Application for In-state Tuition (required only for applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition rates)
Applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition rates must complete and include the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates, which is found in the supplemental forms section of the application. This form must be printed and mailed separately; it does not transmit electronically. See Section 23-7.4, Code of Virginia, and registrar.gmu.edu/students/domicile/index.html regarding eligibility.
6. Monitoring First-Year Application Status
Approximately one week after submitting your application at about the time we receive a hard copy of your application from LSAC, you will receive an email from us providing you with information for monitoring your application status on line. The email will include a User ID and a Password. After receipt of that email, you will be able to check your application status at any time at:
https://aces2.lsac.org/YourStatus/membership/AppStatIdMe.aspx?guid=AFc7BEPp%2Fow%3D
Admission of Transfer Applicants
George Mason University School of Law accepts a limited number of students with advanced standing. Admission of transfer students is highly selective, with most successful applicants ranking in the top twenty percent of their class at an ABA-approved law school. Transfer students must complete two years of study at George Mason Law. Transfer students are not eligible for joint degree programs, and scholarship assistance is not available. The deadline for applying for transfer admission for Fall is July 1. Please read our Frequently-Asked Questions for Transfer Applicants, as well, for helpful information about the process.
Eligibility and Transfer Credit
Only students who have completed one year at an ABA-accredited law
school will be eligible to apply for transfer admission. Students may
apply for transfer in the fall semester only.
In general,
transfer credits awarded may not exceed 28 units. Grades do not
transfer. Transfer credit is given only for work that will be no more
than five years old at the time of graduation. Courses in which a grade
of less than C was earned are not considered for transfer credit.
Transfer applicants who are offered admission will receive written
notification of transfer credits awarded from the Records Office. The
Records Office also advises accepted transfer students of the courses
they will have to take at George Mason Law to complete their degrees.
Visiting Law Students
Students interested in visiting status at the law school should review our Visiting Student Application Form available through LSAC.org.
The deadlines for completing applications for visiting status are:
Spring -- December 1/Summer -- May 1/Fall -- July 1
Accepted Applicants
Applicants who have been accepted into the School of Law will receive a letter setting forth the conditions that must be met in order to reserve a seat in the entering class. Such conditions will include making nonrefundable seat deposits, providing an Intent Form and Honor Code Certification, and ensuring that, prior to matriculation, the School of Law receives official transcripts from each institution at which any coursework was taken. If an accepted applicant fails to provide the seat deposits and transcripts by the established deadlines, or to provide the Intent Form and Honor Code Certification, the applicant forfeits his seat in the entering class. Once forfeited, the seat will be offered to another applicant. This process continues until all available seats have been filled.
Admissions Inquiries
Applicants who have questions or who would like to visit the law school for a tour should contact the Admissions Office staff at (703) 993-8010 or email us at lawadmit@gmu.edu. For current office hours and information on tours, click here.