International Applicants
DePaul offers competitive JD programs to international applicants with a law degree and without a law degree. For international applicants with a law degree, DePaul is one of a small number of law schools to offer a two-year JD program that does not require the LSAT. For international applicants without a law degree, please refer to the general JD program below for more information.
Two-Year JD for International Lawyers & Law School Graduates
Foreign-trained lawyers, and other graduates of foreign, non-U.S. law schools, may earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from DePaul University College of Law in only two years. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required for admission. DePaul is one of a small number of law schools to offer a two-year JD program that does not require the LSAT. Graduates of the Two-Year JD Program for International Lawyers are eligible to take the bar exam and become licensed in any state in the United States.
Students admitted to the program receive one year of credit (28 credit hours) for their foreign law degree. The remaining 58 credit hours required to earn the JD can be completed in two years.
How to Apply
Applicants to the program must complete the special Two-Year JD for International Lawyers PDF application form. No LSAC/CAS registration is required. Applicants are encouraged to scan their completed and signed application form, personal statement, one letter of recommendation, resume and send them by email to lawinfo@depaul.edu. In addition, we require an official copy of TOEFL, IELTS or DET score and an official copy of evaluated course-by-course evaluation sent directly to our office at lawinfo@depaul.edu .
In addition to submitting the application form, applicants must submit the following:
- A personal statement
- One letter of recommendation
- Resume
- TOEFL, IELTS or DET score
- Evaluated transcripts (course-by-course detailed evaluation)
Download Two-Year JD Application
Detailed(course-by-course) evaluation reports will be accepted from Educational Credential Evaluators, World Educational Services or from any other member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
The suggested application deadline is April 1. There is no application fee.
NOTE: Although not required for admission, applicants who have already taken the LSAT, or who plan to take the LSAT, may apply through LSAC using the online application. If applying online, please select the Transfer Student application. Applicants using the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) may still be required to obtain an official detailed (course-by-course) transcript evaluation prior to matriculation.
International Applicants without a Law Degree
DePaul University College of Law welcomes applications from students who have earned degrees or received diplomas from international institutions.
International applicants who have earned their degree in any area other than law are required to take the LSAT and register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service.
How to Apply
In addition to submitting the application form, applicants must submit the following:
- Electronic application
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Resume (optional)
- LSAT or GRE score
- Current CAS report from LSAC
Applicants who have completed coursework or earned degrees from international institutions should submit their international transcripts through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. This service is included in the standard Credential Assembly Service fee. International transcripts received will be sent to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) where the transcript will be authenticated and analyzed. The data will be assembled into an International Credential Evaluation document that contains AACRAO's summary, copies of the transcripts (and translations, as necessary) and a TOEFL, IELTS or DET (Duolingo English Test) score, if applicable.
Applicants educated in international countries, at institutions where English is not the primary language, must also register for the TOEFL, IELTS or DET. Applicants who register for the TOEFL must advise Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send their TOEFL score to DePaul University College of Law (institution code 1165).
Please send documents via email to lawinfo@depaul.edu.
LSAC will incorporate the applicant's International Credential Evaluation, TOEFL or IELTS score and associated documents into the CAS report. While the College of Law strongly encourages international applicants to submit international transcripts to CAS, evaluation reports will also be accepted from Educational Credential Evaluators, World Educational Services or from any other member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
For additional information, including a copy of the Financial Affidavit of Support form for International Students, please visit DePaul's International Admission website.