American > Requirements

Application requirements

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Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

Please read this carefully; your application will not be reviewed if left unanswered. Reporting responsibility to state bars mandates that you fully and completely answer the following questions. If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, please attach electronically a detailed explanation. The obligation to provide truthful, accurate, and complete information is a continuing one, which requires you to notify the law school of any changes in your answers to any part of this application that occur after the date of the application submission. Any ambiguity in the questions below should be addressed by contacting the Office of Admissions.

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.

Have you ever been subject to any disciplinary action, misconduct and/or irregularity charges or allegations, placed on academic warning/probation, and/or dismissed from any school, college, university, and/or graduate/professional school or any organization or association, including LSAC, and/or is any such action pending or expected to be brought against you?
Do you have any current criminal charges pending against you in any jurisdiction as well as any instance when you have been convicted or found guilty of a criminal charge(s)? In answering these questions, please disclose any relevant pending charges, convictions, or plea agreements for any felonies, misdemeanors, or other criminal offenses, including any charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You do not need to disclose traffic violations unless they resulted in incarceration, or in actual criminal charges, convictions, or plea agreements. You also do not need to disclose any charge or conviction that has been expunged or sealed by order of a court, provided you have a copy of the order in your possession which you can provide to Washington College of Law upon request.
Have you ever been dismissed for cause from any employment and/or discharged under conditions other than honorable from the armed forces?

Deadlines for First-Year Juris Doctor (JD) Applicants

Early Decision Option Application (Binding) - December 12 (Round 1) or February 10 (Round 2)

PIPS Scholarship Application - January 31

Please refer to https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/publicinterest/pipsscholarship/ for requirements and details.

Priority Application - March 1

Financial Aid Priority Filing - March 1

JD applications received by the fee waiver deadline listed on our website will have the $70 application fee automatically waived.

Please read the admission and financial aid information on our website before completing application materials (https://www.american.edu/wcl/school/admissions/jd-admissions/). All materials submitted by the applicant become the property of the law school/university and cannot be returned or forwarded to a third party.

Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.american.edu/wcl/school/admissions/jd/apply/first-year/faq.cfm
All application materials must be submitted electronically via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) or Educational Testing Service (ETS; for GRE scores only). All unsolicited materials will not be reviewed by the Committee on Admissions.
- For applicants submitting GRE scores, please ensure you send them to American University Washington College of Law. Our school code is 4203.
An email confirming receipt of your application will be sent within two weeks of submission.
First-year JD students are only eligible to enroll for the fall semester.
All applicants must select either the full-time or part-time program on the application. Regular decision applicants cannot apply for both programs. Early Decision applicants may choose to be considered for both programs on the Early Decision certification form (the program selected on your application is considered your first choice).
Dual Degree Applicants: If you wish to be considered for one of our dual degree programs with American University, (JDMA in International Affairs, JDMBA, JDMPP, JDMPA, or JDMS in Justice, Law & Criminology), on the law school application form under Program Selection, click the Full-Time (Dual Degree Option) to see the list of dual degree programs and select one. All dual degree applicants will need to also submit the corresponding graduate school's application linked on the graduate school's website.
For details: https://www.american.edu/wcl/academics/degrees/dual-degree/index.cfm
Early Decision Option (EDO) Applicants: please review the information regarding binding EDO posted on our website (https://www.american.edu/wcl/school/admissions/jd/apply/first-year/early-decision.cfm).
All applicants must respond to all Character and Fitness questions and must submit a detailed electronic attachment for each "yes" response.
Public Interest/Public Service (PIPS) Scholarship applicants must complete the PIPS scholarship application in addition to the general application for admission by January 31 (https://www.american.edu/wcl/impact/initiatives-programs/publicinterest/pipsscholarship/application-and-selection-process.cfm).
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the AUWCL Need-Based Aid Application must be filed by March 1 for priority consideration of available funds.

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