Admission Requirements
Juris Doctor (JD) | Transfer | Visiting | International Applicants | Advanced Standing | Reapplication | Non-JD
The University of Denver Sturm College of Law recruits and welcomes law students from all over the nation and the world, representing the widest range of ages, backgrounds, and beliefs.
Juris Doctor (JD)
To be admitted to the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, you must hold a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree from an accredited college or university. No undergraduate field of study is favored, based on evidence that a strong student in any major can develop the skills of writing, analysis, and persuasion necessary for success in law school.
First Year JD Application Requirements:
- Completed application form
- Valid Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) with a supporting Credential Assembly Service Report
- $65 non-refundable application fee
- Résumé
- Personal statement supplying information about your work experience, graduate study, personal strengths, or why you want to enter the legal profession
- Two letters of recommendation from professors or employers evaluating your analytical skills, writing ability, and/or personal integrity (Please note we require these letters be sent through the Credential Assembly Service )
Transfer Students
Law students who have satisfactorily completed one year of work at another American Bar Association-accredited school may apply for transfer to the University of Denver. Individuals admitted as transfer students will receive their degrees from the University of Denver, though as many as 30 hours of course credit from another law school may be applied to that degree. Conditional acceptance can be granted for those applicants who want to get a head start on their planning.
Transfer Application Requirements:
- Completed application form
- $65 non-refundable application fee
- Statement explaining your reasons for seeking transfer
- Official transcript from all postsecondary institutions attended, including law schools
- Letter of good standing from your current law school, which should include your first-year ranking
- Original Credential Assembly Service report, including LSAT scores, sent directly from LSAC
- Letter of recommendation from a professor from your current law school from whom you have taken a class
Visiting Students
Law students currently enrolled at another American Bar Association-accredited school may apply for admission as a visiting student at the University of Denver. Individuals admitted as visiting students will receive their degrees from their home law school. The visiting student option is particularly attractive for students whose spouses are transferred to Denver or for students from other law schools who wish to begin interviewing and networking in order to practice in Denver. Students enrolled at a university outside the United States also can visit at the University of Denver for a semester or a year.
Visiting Application Requirements:
- Completed application form
- $65 non-refundable application fee
- Statement explaining your reasons for seeking visiting status
- Official transcript of all prior law school courses
- Letter from your current law school granting you permission to attend as a visiting student and stating the conditions under which you will be given credit for grades received at the University of Denver
- Letter of good standing from your current law school
International Applicants
We require that foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your CAS report. If we determine that you need to submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC’s TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 0058. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your CAS law school report.
To use the CAS, log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.
Questions about the Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001, or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
If you have a law degree from another country, please contact the Office of Admissions at 303.871.6135 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discuss the application process for advanced standing.
Foreign applicants must also furnish:
- Completed application form
- Valid Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) with a supporting CAS Report
- $65 non-refundable application fee
- Résumé
- Personal statement supplying information about your work experience, graduate study, personal strengths, or why you want to enter the legal profession
- Two letters of recommendation from professors or employers evaluating your analytical skills, writing ability, and/or personal integrity. Please send them to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
- TOEFL or IELTS (required if you are not a US citizen or permanent resident and have not completed a degree from a U.S. college or university)
- The University of Denver requires the following minimum scores:
- TOEFL Paper-based test: 587
- TOEFL Internet-based test: 95
- IELTS: 7.0
- The University of Denver requires the following minimum scores:
Advanced Standing
Applicants that have completed a law degree from another country and want to apply for the JD program at the Sturm College of Law may apply to be considered for advanced standing.
It will be necessary for advanced standing students to take all of the required first year courses for the JD degree. However, applicants could be given up to 30 credits hours from their prior degrees. This will be determined by our Academic Dean and Registrar at the time of registration.
We require that foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your CAS report. If we determine that you need to submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC’s TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 0058. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your CAS law school report.
To use the CAS, log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.
Questions about the Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001, or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Additional Application Requirements:
- Complete application form
- Valid Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) with a supporting CAS Report
- $65 non-refundable application fee
- Résumé
- Personal statement supplying information about your work experience, graduate study, personal strengths, or why you want to enter the legal profession
- Two letters of recommendation from professors or employers evaluating your analytical skills, writing ability, and/or personal integrity. We require these letters be sent through the Credential Assembly Service .
- TOEFL or IELTS (required if you are not a US citizen or permanent resident and have not completed a degree from a U.S. college or university)
- The University of Denver requires the following minimum scores:
- TOEFL Paper-based test: 587
- TOEFL Internet-based test: 95
- IELTS: 7.0
- The University of Denver requires the following minimum scores:
Reapplication
The Office of Admissions retains application files for two years. However, students who reapply to the Sturm College of Law must complete a new application form and an updated personal statement along with the standard application fee. A new CAS report is also required. New material must be submitted to justify the reapplication.
Non-JD Applications
- Graduate Tax Program (GTP)
303.871.6239
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- LL.M. in Natural Resources and Environmental Law (NRELP)
303.871.6308
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Master of Science in Legal Administration (MSLA)
303.871.6308
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)