Howard University

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Application requirements

Deadline

Mar 01, 2026

Application fee

$60.00

Recommendations

2 to 3

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

General instructions

Thank you for your interest in the Howard University School of Law (HUSL). Please read all instructions carefully before submitting your application. The Admissions Committee will not review your application until all materials have been received. If you have any questions regarding the application or any of the requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions before you submit your application by phone at 202.806.8008 or by email at husladmit@law.howard.edu.

Applicants to HUSL are required to use Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) electronic application service www.LSAC.org. Once you pay for and transmit your law school application via LSAC, HUSL will notify you via email of your status.

The information below will assist you in completing your HUSL application.

Application Check List

A completed electronic application will include the following:

The online application for admission

Application fee of $60

Personal statement

Résumé

Answers to ALL questions in the Character and Fitness section.

Character and Fitness attachment explaining any "Yes" responses to questions in the Character and Fitness section.

In addition to the completed electronic application, the following items must be submitted via LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS):

Official LSAT Score

Official transcript(s)

Two letters of recommendation (LOR) (We will accept up to three)

LSAT Argumentative Writing Assessment

Official TOEFL report (if applicable)

Personal Statement

A personal statement is essentially an interview on paper. It provides you an opportunity to describe the uniqueness of your character, abilities, and experience. Your personal statement assists the Admissions Committee in getting to know and understand you as a person and helps us in our efforts to build a diverse class of students. It is also used to assess your writing proficiency. You should discuss those aspects of your background, experience, talents, achievements, and interests that you believe are important for us to know. Your personal statement should also detail your interest in HUSL and explain how attending HUSL will allow you to realize your dreams and aspirations.

Your personal statement should be typed in a 12-point font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins, and no longer than three (3) pages. Your personal statement must be attached to the attachments section of the online application.

Résumé

Your résumé allows you to provide details about your employment history, extra-curricular activities, community service, and hobbies. You should provide comprehensive details about your experiences and include any awards and honors. Your résumé should not include high school information or activities and should explain any periods of time (after high school) that are not accounted for by your educational and employment history.

Your résumé can be more than one page and must be attached to the attachments section of the online application.

Character and Fitness

You are applying to HUSL with the likely goal of becoming licensed to practice law in some state upon graduation. Earning a law degree does not guarantee you the right to practice law. Becoming licensed to practice, in part, requires you to meet the character and fitness qualifications for admission to the bar of the state in which you intend to practice. As a graduate, when you apply to take a bar examination in any state, the bar examiners of that state will ask HUSL to provide an evaluation of your character and fitness to practice law. Additionally, when assessing your character and fitness to practice, state bar examiners will typically compare your answers to character and fitness questions on your law school application to the information you provide on your bar application. Accordingly, it is very important that you disclose ALL information that may in any way reflect on your character and fitness to practice law. This includes, but is not limited to, criminal charges and convictions, academic discipline, military discipline, professional/business/trade discipline, and any other disciplinary proceedings.

In your application, you must answer all questions in the "Character and Fitness" section. For each "Yes" response, you must fully disclose each instance and attach an addendum to provide supporting details and documentation (except expunged or sealed records). A "No" response that proves inconsistent with other information you provide in your application materials or through communication with the HUSL Office of Admissions raises issues of misconduct and irregularities in the admission process and may be referred to the LSAC in accordance with its policies. Such inconsistencies may also result in a denial of your application for admission. If you have any question as to whether you should disclose a given incident, you should opt for full disclosure. If you are uncertain, please contact our office with your questions BEFORE you submit your application. Any "YES" answers to either of the criminal questions, requires additional information: the date(s) of the incident, a complete copy of the original charge or citation, a detailed explanation of the relevant facts/circumstances and specific nature of the incident, how the matter was resolved (including any reduced charges or lesser included offenses); pending matters will require additional information and/or resolution, and any supporting documentation.

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.

Addenda

Addenda are short pieces (typically one to three paragraphs) that provide objective explanations of anomalies. The purpose of an addendum is twofold: to acknowledge an irregularity or perceived "deficiency" in your application and to account for the context in which the situation arose. In other words, this is your chance to proactively address any potential red flags and succinctly explain why an issue in your application should not adversely affect your candidacy. Without excusing or justifying, state the topic and convey clarifying information as concisely as possible.

LSAT and LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Registrations

You must register with LSAC for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Your file is not complete and will not be reviewed until HUSL has received your CAS report -- including an LSAT score, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts from every school attended.

LSAT

All applicants for admission are required to take the LSAT. HUSL does not consider scores from any other graduate admissions test (e.g. GRE, GMAT) when assessing applications for admission. LSAT scores must be no more than five years old at the time of enrollment. Your application is not complete until we receive a valid LSAT score. Please note, if you have an LSAT score on file, but you mark that you are registered for or will take a future test, HUSL will automatically hold your file for review. It is your responsibility to contact our office, via email, if you choose not to take that future test. If you take a future LSAT, did not mark this on your application and want that score to be considered, you must email our office. Also note, HUSL does not accept LSAT scores from the June/July administration immediately preceding the fall semester for which you are seeking admission as a first-time test score. For example, if you are seeking admission for Fall 2026, but are scheduled to take the LSAT for the first time in June or July of 2026, your application will not be accepted.

For more information about the LSAT, including test prep, registration instructions and test dates, please visit www.LSAC.org.

Transcripts

After you register for the CAS, you must have a separate transcript, from all undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended, sent to the LSAC. This includes:

Undergraduate and graduate schools

Law/medical/professional schools

Schools attended for summer or evening courses.

Schools attended even though a degree was never conferred.

Schools from which you took college-level courses while in high school even though they were for high school credit.

Schools that sponsored your exchange or study abroad program even if course credits are listed on your undergraduate transcript.

Transcripts must be sent directly from the attended institutions to the LSAC. Transcripts issued to you or sent by you will be returned unprocessed. Be mindful, that most schools charge a fee for forwarding transcripts. You can download the transcript request form at www.LSAC.org. Do not send transcripts directly to the HUSL Office of Admissions.

Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

Howard University School of Law requires two letters of recommendation (LORs) in addition to the College Certification but will allow up to three.

For applicants who are currently matriculating or who have recently graduated, we prefer that faculty members or teaching assistants write the letters of recommendation. If you are currently working and have been out of your undergraduate program for longer than 4-5 years, LORs from professional colleagues, employers, and/or supervisors are acceptable. If you are self-employed, please ensure you submit LORs from your clients and/or customers. The LORs should address your academic potential, work ethic, relevant skills and your character. We will only accept LORs that are submitted through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which serves all member schools.

Applicants must waive the right to view the letters of recommendation.

Applying as a JD/MBA Student

Applicants interested in obtaining the MBA with their JD must complete and submit separate applications to both the School of Law and the School of Business. The application process and acceptance decisions are separate for each school and admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

HUSL welcomes applications from citizens of other countries. International students, including those with DACA status, should follow the application procedures established for U.S. citizens.

Foreign Transcripts

HUSL requires that foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC CAS. For any post-secondary work outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada, an applicant must use this service for the evaluation of foreign transcripts (exception if the foreign work was completed through a study abroad or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is indicated as such on the home campus transcript). This service is included in the CAS registration fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into the CAS Report.

To use CAS, log in to your LSAC 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 to them, promptly. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Questions about CAS should be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001.

Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and earn a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 79/80 on the internet-based test. The test must have been taken within the last two years. Non-native English speakers who have been awarded a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a U.S. university are exempted from the TOEFL requirement.

You must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. You can contact ETS at ETS | Global education and talent solutions. The TOEFL code for LSAC's Credential Assembly Service is 0058. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your law school report.

Statement of Financial Resources

Any non-U.S. citizen seeking admission to HUSL should be aware of the financial resources required to attend. The current cost of attendance (including tuition and fees) for non-U.S. citizens can be found by visiting Financial Aid | Howard University School of Law. Should admission be offered, you must provide documentation sufficient funds exist to meet the cost of attendance. An international applicant who has undertaken previous legal education in another country may apply to the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program for non-U.S. citizens. Information about the LL.M. program may be found at Howard University School of Law's webpage and search for LL.M. program.

Policy and Procedure on Equal Opportunity in Employment and Education Programs and Activities

Howard University School of Law is committed to a policy against discrimination in admissions and educational programs based on age, color, disability, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, matriculation, national origin, personal appearance, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, military status, veteran's status, or any factor prohibited by law.

By submitting your application, you agree to abide by Howard University School of Law's non-discrimination policy, which is to provide equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment practices; to prohibit discrimination and harassment in education and employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, or sexual orientation, personal appearance, family responsibility, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, political affiliation, ethnicity, military status, veteran's status or any other factor prohibited by law; and to promote the realization of equality of opportunity in education and employment throughout the University.

Sex/gender discrimination and sexual harassment complaints should be directed to the Title IX office.

All remaining complaints of discrimination or questions should be directed to eeo@howard.edu.

Disclosure

By signing this application, the applicant acknowledges that it is their own responsibility to meet all admissions and disclosure requirements. Any advice received by an applicant shall have no impact on this requirement that it is applicant's responsibility to meet all admissions and disclosure requirements.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Below are several questions regarding your character and fitness to practice law. Please be aware that your application will not be prejudiced because you answer "YES" to the questions. HUSL will evaluate your answers within the context of your entire application. HUSL believes your ability to reflect on challenging life experiences and the impact of those experiences on your path to a legal career adds tremendous value to your law school application. Disclosing these experiences will not prejudice your application; however, it is imperative that you understand the ramifications for not disclosing or failing to provide an explanation and any required supporting documentation. If you fail to disclose fully all information in this application, the subsequent background check conducted by the state board of law examiners will reveal the discrepancy between your law school application and your actual record. Any discrepancy may cause further investigation from the state bar committee as they evaluate your character and fitness to practice law. Therefore, the failure to answer completely and candidly all the following questions may result in consequences including, but not limited to, the rejection of your application to law school, expulsion from law school, revocation of your law degree, or denial of admission to a state bar. In addition, earlier attempts to correct a discrepancy are viewed more favorably.

As an applicant to HUSL, you have a continuing duty to disclose and if necessary, to update any conduct under the Character and Fitness section of your application for admission to HUSL from the time you submit this application (including the summer before you matriculate) through graduation from the law school. Disclosures should happen as soon as possible. Post enrollment, you must timely disclose any matter that would have required a "YES" answer to one or more questions under the Character and Fitness section at the time you submitted this application. Disclosures after enrollment should be made to the Office of Student Affairs.

The disclosure requirement means you must disclose matters even when an arrest did not lead to a charge, a charge was reduced or dismissed, you were acquitted or found not guilty, adjudication was withheld, deferred, or diverted, or a conviction was reversed, set aside, or vacated. Disclose all convictions regardless of age at the time. Full disclosure means providing a written statement that is clear, detailed, and completely true as well as supplemental official organization reports (i.e., complete police or administrative documents related to the matter).

Also, it should include all official documentation from the state or administrative body involved in the matter (i.e., court records, arrest records, letters from academic institution officials). The submission of supplemental official organization reports in lieu of a written answer from the applicant is not acceptable. If there are multiple infractions that may impact criminal liability and academic sanctions, you are required to provide only one explanation per incident. You are required to disclose even if you have been advised otherwise by anyone else, including legal counsel. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY RECORDS EXPUNGED OR SEALED AS A RESULT OF OFFICIAL COURT ACTION. Please maintain proof of expungement.

Have you EVER (either as an adult or juvenile) been charged or convicted of the violation of a law for any offense? Include, without limitation, all felonies, misdemeanors, and major traffic offenses (e.g., DUI/DWI offenses, reckless driving, repeated speeding offenses [more than 5], etc.).
Are there any criminal charges currently pending against you?
Have you ever been sanctioned by an official of any trade school, college, university, graduate school, or professional school? Sanctions include any type of probation, disciplinary action, written warning, suspension, expulsion or dismissal.
Are there any academic or disciplinary charges pending against you by any educational institution?
Have you ever had a professional license suspended or revoked or been subject to disciplinary action by a professional organization, association, or licensing board?
Have you ever been the subject of a court martial hearing, dishonorably discharged from military service, or administratively separated from military service other than an honorable discharge?
Have you ever been involuntarily separated from a job as a result of an accusation that involved fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, or any other act of dishonesty?
Did you answer "YES" to one or more of the Character & Fitness questions?