Please attach your personal statement. The Admission Committee considers many applicants with strong credentials and makes difficult decisions regarding whom to admit to fill the limited number of seats at the Charleston School of Law. Please provide a candid evaluation of yourself detailing any information that you believe will assist the committee in considering your application. Provide evidence of your abilities and strengths, examples of your leadership abilities, your maturity, your organizational skills, and your motivation to study law. You also might provide information regarding any educational and financial obstacles you have overcome or disabilities that may have affected your academic performance. Your personal statement also serves as a writing sample; please pay careful attention to the details.

This section is optional. Please attach an explanation of any disparity with your LSAT score and/or your GPA.

This section is optional.

Please submit your explanation for why you have chosen to apply with only the JD Next results over the LSAT.

This section is optional.

Please submit your explanation for why you have chosen to apply with only a GRE score and take the GRE over the LSAT.

Please attach your résumé.

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, www.ncbex.org.

When responding to the character and fitness questions below, you must:

• include all disciplinary actions, charges, convictions, and traffic violations.
• exclude warnings and parking tickets.
• disclose all traffic violations to include those you consider to be minor.

In accordance with the application for admission to any Bar, you must provide a complete record of all instances in which you have been arrested or taken into custody or accused, formally or informally, of the violation of a law, including:

• instances that have been expunged by Order of the Court.
• juvenile offenses whether or not the records are sealed.
• charges that have been dismissed or you were acquitted.
• adjudication was withheld.
• a conviction was reversed, set aside, or vacated.
• the record was sealed or expunged.
• you participated in a pretrial intervention program.
• you were advised by a judge or attorney that you are not required to disclose.

If you answer "yes" to any of the following Character and Fitness questions, you must attach a detailed explanation for each of those questions providing dates, locations, charges, disposition, and any sanctions imposed. Including a copy of your driving record or criminal record without providing a detailed explanation is not sufficient. The explanation(s) must be submitted electronically as an attachment(s) under the "Attachments" section of your application.

Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, the failure to disclose an act or event such as the ones described below is often more significant and leads to more serious consequences than the act or event itself. If you have questions about whether an incident or charge should be disclosed, err on the side of full disclosure.

You have an ongoing duty to inform the Office of Admission of any changes in the information in this application and to the Character and Fitness questions to include any new information. That duty begins at the point of submission of the application and continues throughout the entirety of your law school career. Failure to provide truthful answers or failure to inform the Office of Admission of any changes or updates to your answers may result in revocation of admission, disciplinary action by the School of Law, recission of your law degree, and/or not being allowed to take the Bar Exam.

1. Have you ever been accused of a violation of an honor code or student conduct code by any educational institution since high school? You must answer ?yes? even if you were found not in violation.

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing the details, an explanation, and the outcome. The statement must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

2. Have you ever been placed on academic probation, academic warning, disciplinary probation, suspended, expelled, requested to withdraw, or otherwise subject to discipline by any educational institution since high school?

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing the details, an explanation, and the outcome. The statement must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

3. Are there any disciplinary charges pending or expected to be brought against you at any educational institution since high school?

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing the details, an explanation, and the outcome. The statement must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

4. Have you ever withdrawn from any educational institution since high school after being accused of an honor code or student conduct code violation?

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing the details, an explanation, and the outcome. The statement must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

5. Have you ever been discharged from the Armed Forces other than honorably?

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing details and an explanation. The detailed explanation must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

6. Have you ever been arrested or taken into custody?

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing the details, an explanation, and the outcome. The detailed explanation must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

7. Have you ever received a ticket, summons, citation, etc. for any traffic violation? Do not include warnings or parking violations. This includes all traffic tickets (e.g., speeding). You must answer ?yes? even if you were found not guilty, you were a juvenile, the case was dismissed, a conviction was expunged, the matter was sealed, or you have been advised by a judge or attorney that you are not required to disclose the incident.

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing details, an explanation, and the outcome. The detailed explanation must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

8. Have you ever been accused (formally or informally), charged, or convicted of a criminal offense? You must answer ?yes? even if you were found not guilty, you were a juvenile, the case was dismissed, a conviction was expunged, the matter was sealed, or you have been advised by a judge or attorney that you are not required to disclose the incident.

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing the details, an explanation, and the outcome. The detailed explanation must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

9. Are there any criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

​ If you answer "yes", you must submit a statement providing the details, an explanation, and the outcome. The detailed explanation must be submitted electronically as an attachment under the "Attachments" section of this application.

J.D. Application and Admission Information

The Charleston School of Law seeks students who demonstrate high potential for academic and professional success. Many factors including LSAT, GPA, graduate work, significant work experience, military experience, letters of recommendation, and the personal statement are each given very careful consideration. A commitment to public service and community involvement is also taken into consideration.

Deadlines and Requirements

The Charleston School of Law begins to review files in November with the earliest decisions being made in early December. The Fall priority application deadline is March 1. Applications to the Charleston School of Law require the following:

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
2. Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or results of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE)* or JD Next*
3. LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report
4. Fall application
5. Personal statement
6. Two letters of recommendation. You must use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service. At least one letter should be written in the past year.
7. Current résumé
8. Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
9. If you have previously enrolled in a J.D. program at a law school, you are also required to submit (a) a transcript from your prior law school to LSAC, (b) a letter of standing from your prior law school, and (c) a letter of recommendation from one of your law school professors to LSAC.

Degree Requirement

To be considered for admission, an applicant must have earned or be a candidate for a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrolling in the School of Law. Upon admission, a final, official transcript from the degree-granting school is required to be submitted directly to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If a transcript is not received in a timely manner after the start of classes, the student will be administratively withdrawn from classes and their offer of admission revoked. A timely manner is defined as within four weeks of the date classes begin.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

All applicants should take the LSAT for the purpose of assessing the applicant?s capability of satisfactorily completing the educational program. LSAT scores are valid for five years, and in the case of multiple scores, the Charleston School of Law will use the high score. We encourage all applicants to take the LSAT; while some merit scholarships will be available for GRE and JD Next applicants, the majority will be for those with an LSAT score.

*GRE and JD Next

In an effort to increase the accessibility of law school, the Charleston School of Law will accept the results of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and JD Next under the following conditions:

GRE

1. An applicant does not have a reportable LSAT score. A. If an applicant has a reportable LSAT score on file at any time during the admissions process, the GRE score will not be considered. B. If an applicant is admitted with a GRE score, receipt of a subsequent LSAT score will result in a reevaluation of the applicant?s file and admission decision by the Admission Committee.

2. Applicants must submit all GRE scores from the past five years. Both total and individual section scores are required. The Admission Committee will evaluate scores from all sections of the GRE.

3. Applicants who choose to apply with only a GRE must submit an explanation for why they have chosen to take the GRE over the LSAT. The explanation should be submitted as an addendum with the application.

JD Next

1. If an applicant is admitted with JD Next results, receipt of a subsequent LSAT score will result in a reevaluation of the applicant?s file and admission decision by the Admission Committee.

2. Applicants who choose to apply with only the JD Next results must submit an explanation for why they have chosen to take JD Next over the LSAT. The explanation should be submitted as an addendum with the application.

We encourage all applicants to take the LSAT; while some merit scholarships will be available for GRE and JD Next applicants, the majority will be for those with an LSAT score.

LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report

An active registration with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required for all applicants. The LSAC CAS Law School Report is requested upon receipt of your application and will be released to the Charleston School of Law when:

1. your LSAT score is released;
2. your LSAT writing is submitted;
3. the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) receives official transcripts from each college, university, or law school previously attended.

If you are applying using the GRE or JD Next instead of the LSAT, you must let us know so that we can request your CAS report from LSAC without a LSAT score. You may notify us by answering Question 8 on the application.

It is your responsibility as an applicant to verify that your Credential Assembly Service registration is paid and that your CAS Law School Report is complete and ready for distribution to the Charleston School of Law. The status of your CAS Law School Report may be checked at www.LSAC.org.

Application

Applications to the Charleston School of Law must be submitted online at www.LSAC.org. Submitting an online application certifies that you have provided complete and accurate information. The School of Law requires full disclosure on the application and failure to comply with this requirement could result in your application being denied and may even be cause for dismissal after admission, registration, or matriculation.

Personal Statement

A personal statement should include any information you consider important and relevant to assist the Admission Committee in evaluating your application and your motivations for pursuing a legal education. Information relating to overcoming adversity, your grit, or interest in public service may be included in your statement or as an addendum. These documents are submitted electronically as an attachment with your application.

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service. At least one letter should be written in the past year. Letters of recommendation provide reviewers with additional information in assessing your potential to succeed as a law student. Therefore, you are strongly advised that at least one letter of recommendation be written by a college professor or instructor who is familiar with your classroom performance, your writing level, and your analytical and critical thinking skills. If you have been out of school for an extended period of time, letters from employers and others who can effectively assess your skills, motivation, and sense of responsibility are also useful to the Admission Committee.

International Applicants

The School of Law requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). 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. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use CAS 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 registration fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your law school report. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report is required for each applicant whose native language is not English, or if English was not the language of instruction at the school where the applicant received his or her degree (baccalaureate equivalent). 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 International Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your law school report. To use the Credential Assembly Service, log in to your online account with LSAC and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Questions about the Credential Assembly Service should be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001 or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.

Application Status Updates

You will be notified by email when your application is received, when your file is complete, or if there are any documents missing from your application file. It is important that you provide an active email address and that you check your email account for updates from the Charleston School of Law on a regular basis. Please note that sometimes emails from info@charlestonlaw.edu are sent to a junk mail file, so you may want to routinely check your junk mail folder. Also, once your application is submitted, you may check your status online at www.charlestonlaw.edu/apply/.

Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete the US Department of Education Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is strongly recommended that applicants file a FAFSA as soon as possible and the form is available. For additional information, visit the Financial Aid webpage, www.charlestonlaw.edu/law-school-cost/ or contact the Office of Financial Aid by email, financialaid@charlestonlaw.edu, or by phone, 843.377.1102.

Accreditation

Charleston School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.