Please submit a personal statement with your application. The personal statement is your opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee more about your interests, as well as the important experiences and aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent from your résumé and academic record. Your personal statement demonstrates to the Admissions Committee not only your writing skills but also how you think and how you have reflected upon and derived meaning from your life experiences. Although there is no specific topic or question for the personal statement, your narrative should at some point address your decision to pursue a legal education.

Please double-space all submissions. Suggested essay length is two (2) pages. Submissions over the suggested page limit may not be considered.

This section is optional.

We recognize that some applicants have faced and overcome challenges and that there may be factors that have been significant in their lives, identity, and/or development. For this optional essay, we invite you to share any information that you would like us to consider about your experiences. This may include socio-economic challenges; educational challenges; societal challenges; discrimination; prejudice; health issues; disability; immigration status; surviving abuse; or complex family circumstances like an incarcerated parent, homelessness, living in foster care, or others. This is not an inclusive list, but simply an opportunity, if you wish, to share any additional aspects of your background that may give us a deeper sense of your strengths and who you are.

Please double-space all submissions. Suggested essay length is two (2) pages. Submissions over the suggested page limit may not be considered.

This section is optional.

Applicants may attach an addendum to your application, detailing but not limited to further explanations of application materials, breaks in education or employment, significant differences in standardized test scores or academic history, etc.

Please double-space all submissions.

You must attach a current resume. Resumes should detail educational and career history but can also include (but not limited to):

• work history may consist of jobs, internships, fellowships, and study abroad experiences,
• significant extracurricular or community service activities including those indicating leadership positions, including university or community organizations, athletics, and groups,
• prep programs or specific experiences you have utilized to help prepare for the law school admissions and education experience, excluding test preparation programs,
• balance of work experience and educational experience (i.e. working while attending undergraduate),
• care for family and/or friends, and/or
• significant publications or projects.

Suggested resume length is a maximum of three (3) pages. Submissions over the suggested page limit may not be considered.

Character & Fitness Question 1

Have you ever been subject to any disciplinary action, placed on academic probation, or dismissed from any school, college, university, or graduate/professional school, or is any such action pending or expected to be brought against you?

If yes, please state the precise facts and disposition of such action in a supplementary statement at the end of this application form.

Please note: Although a disciplinary action may have been expunged or dismissed, it nevertheless should be disclosed in answer to this question.

Justice Impacted Review Policy

St. John's completes a holistic file review of all applicants, including those who are justice-impacted. This includes individuals who have been incarcerated or detained in a prison, immigration detention center, local jail, juvenile detention center, or any other carceral setting, those who have been convicted but not incarcerated, those who have been charged but not convicted, and those who have been arrested. It is important to examine barriers specific to justice-impacted individuals throughout the application experience to ensure that policies and practices do not unintentionally serve as mechanisms of exclusion that disproportionally impact some applicants.

Character & Fitness Question 2

Are you a defendant in a pending criminal matter, or have you, at any age, unless specifically excluded below, been charged with, indicted for, tried for, convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law? In your response to this question, disclose any matter in which you were adjudicated a youthful offender or received an equivalent adjudication in another jurisdiction.

Do NOT report:

• any matter in which you were adjudicated a juvenile delinquent in Family Court or other noncriminal proceeding;
• any citation, ticket or arrest that did not result in criminal charges or an indictment, trial, conviction or guilty plea;
• vehicle and traffic matters that occurred more than 10 years before the filing of this application, EXCEPT alcohol or drug-related traffic violations, which must be reported in all cases, irrespective of when they occurred; or
• parking violations.*

*The preceding question mirrors New York State Character and Fitness Question 26 in Part I of the Multi-department Admission Packet.

If yes, please explain in a supplementary statement or electronic attachment the charge or charges and relevant facts, including the nature of the offense, the dates and courts involved, and the penalty imposed, if any.

Please note: Although a conviction may have been expunged or sealed by an order of a court, it nevertheless should be disclosed in answer to this question.

Character & Fitness Continuing Disclosure Acknowledgement

You are under a continuing obligation to notify the Admissions Office of any changes in your answers to these questions up until the time of your enrollment. Once enrolled, you are under a continuing obligation to notify the Office of Student Services of any changes in your answers to these questions.

Character & Fitness requirements vary by jurisdiction. Applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness and other qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners at www.ncbex.org. Admission to law school does not guarantee that you will meet the good moral character requirement necessary to sit for a state bar examination or to be admitted to practice. If you are concerned about any facts that may affect your ability to be admitted to practice law, you should discuss the matter with the Board of Law Examiners or the appropriate Committee on Character and Fitness in the jurisdiction in which you intend to practice.

This section is optional.

St. John's Law awards scholarships to outstanding applicants for academic achievement and for merit based on the factors aligned with our mission, which are considered during holistic review. Applicants who would like to be considered for merit aid beyond academic achievement should submit a statement detailing how they might benefit from an additional scholarship based on the law school's mission, and can include one or more of the following factors:

• Applicant was the first in their immediate family to receive or will be receiving a 4-year college degree.
• Applicant faced adverse economic, physical, or social situations and has an interest in equality, civil rights, or social justice.
• Applicant's background and/or interest in law school would honor the legacy of Theodore Jones L'72, who grew up in Brooklyn, NY, attended Hampton University, began his legal career working for the Community Defender division of Legal Aid, and was appointed to the New York State Court of Appeals.

This is not an exhaustive list, and the statement should be aligned with St. John's University School of Law's mission. Please double-space all submissions. Suggested statement length is one (1) page. Submissions over the suggested page limit may not be considered.

This section is optional.

If you answered "Yes" to leaving law school in less than good standing, you must provide an explanation of the circumstances and submit your law school transcript to LSAC. In the explanation of circumstances, please explore and explain why you feel you would be successful if you returned to law school.

St. John's University School of Law welcomes your application and seeks to make every effort to ensure that the application process is as straightforward and clear as possible. Please contact us at lawinfo@stjohns.edu or 718-990-6474 if you have any questions or if you need additional information.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants seeking to begin their legal studies in Fall 2026 should submit application materials by March 15 to receive priority consideration. Applications will be considered complete when all application requirements are met. Applications received after the March 15 priority date will be considered on a space-available basis through July 15.

Please note there are different deadlines for early decision and special programs. In addition, applicants interested in receiving housing priority should apply as early as possible because the housing priority deposit deadline is April 1.

Application Priority Date: March 15

Binding Honors Early Decision (HED) Program Deadlines: November 1, December 1 or January 1

Red Storm Scholars Special Admission Program: March 1

Final Date Complete Applications Accepted: July 15

Applications submitted to LSAC for transmission to St. John's University School of Law will be considered received on the day they are electronically submitted, in the eastern time zone. 11:59 pm ET is the final deadline for all dates listed above. Information about LSAC's electronic application is available at LSAC.org.

All application materials including the application form, personal statement, resume, and any supplementary statements indicated above must be submitted via LSAC.

Application Requirements

First-year law students applying to the JD Program are required to submit:

A completed St. John's University School of Law Application Form including:

• Electronic Application Form - This electronic application form fully completed.
• Resume - In reverse chronological order, please include all employment, volunteer, and extracurricular activities along with all educational institutions attended. Include an explanation for any gap of time (three months or more) not explained on your resume.
• Personal Statement - Please submit a personal statement or short essay with your application. Include your LSAC account number on it. You may write about any topic you wish. Suggested topics: your decision to pursue a career in law; your reaction to a recent current affairs event; your feelings about a particular community service or extracurricular activity with which you have been involved. The suggested length is two typed pages, double-spaced.
• Supplementary Statement (Optional) - We recognize that some applicants have faced and overcome challenges and that there may be factors that have been significant in their lives, identity, and/or development. For this optional essay, we invite you to share any information that you would like us to consider about your experiences. This may include socio-economic challenges; educational challenges; societal challenges; discrimination; prejudice; health issues; disability; immigration status; surviving abuse; or complex family circumstances like an incarcerated parent, homelessness, living in foster care, or others. This is not an inclusive list, but simply an opportunity, if you wish, to share any additional aspects of your background that may give us a deeper sense of your strengths and who you are.
• Additional Merit Aid Statement (Optional) - St. John's Law awards scholarships to outstanding applicants for academic achievement and for merit based on the factors aligned with our mission that are considered during holistic review. Applicants who would like to be considered for merit aid beyond academic achievement should submit a statement detailing how they might benefit from an additional scholarship based on the law school mission and can include one or more of the factors detailed in the statement instructions.
• General Addendum (Optional) - If you would like to further explain portions of your application including, but not limited to, gaps in education, gaps in employment, undergraduate performance, or LSAT performance, you may submit an addendum in explanation.
• Video Interview (Optional) - If you would like to submit an optional video interview, you may do so using the information we provide after your application is submitted. This is a unique opportunity to provide additional information about yourself and demonstrate those personal attributes we consider important, but may not already be apparent in your application. A video interview link will be sent one business day after application submission and must be completed within seven (7) calendar days. Please note, the optional video interview is given priority for those who apply by the March 15 priority deadline and may not be available after that time.
• Character & Fitness Addendums - If you answered yes to either character and fitness question please submit an additional statement.
• Prior Law School Matriculation Explanation - If you previously attended any law school's JD program, you must submit an addendum explaining your withdrawal. If you left the prior law school in good standing, you must submit a letter of good standing and an official transcript from the law school. If you were academically dismissed from law school, you must submit an explanation of the circumstances, why you feel you are ready to return to law school, and an official transcript from the law school.

Credential Assembly Service report including:

• All academic transcripts from undergraduate, graduate, or non-degree programs.
• A reportable Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score (GRE scores submitted through ETS)
• LSAT Writing Sample (if submitting an LSAT score for consideration)
• Letters of recommendation - academic or professional (minimum of two, maximum three).

Information about registration with the Credential Assembly Service is available from:

Law School Admission Council
LSAC.org
215-968-1001
LSACinfo@LSAC.org

Mission and Holistic File Review

St. John's University School of Law Mission

Consistent with St. John's Vincentian Mission, and the metropolitan and global nature of the University, St. John's Law seeks to:

Provide access to an excellent legal education for all people, especially those lacking economic, physical, or social advantages

Maintain and strengthen our commitment to rigorous teaching, scholarly research, and innovative application of knowledge

Sustain and foster an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist community of diverse experiences and perspectives, emphasizing respect for the rights and dignity of every person

Inspire civic engagement, including inquiry into the causes of injustice and the search for adaptable, effective, and concrete solutions to these problems

Enhance student learning to empower graduates with the knowledge, skills, and values required for successful leadership in the local, national, and global legal profession

Holistic File Review

While LSAT or GRE scores and undergraduate GPAs are important factors, we don't rely on numbers alone in our admission process. We follow a holistic review process, which means we consider all aspects of your application. We want to get to know you beyond the numbers. Among other things, we consider:

Academic Readiness - test scores (LSAT/GRE), academic history (GPA, major, trends, coursework), self-disclosure of success on previous standardized tests, master's or doctorate programs, and certificate programs

Skills and Professional Readiness - professional work history, internships, fellowships, and feedback from recommenders

Commitment to Community - volunteer work, societal advancements, and ethical standards

Challenges Faced and Overcome - adversity, socio-economic impacts, justice impacted, disability, etc.

Commitment to the St. John's Law Mission - clear indications that the applicant is committed to joining a community and service orientated institution with a long history and commitment to fairness, equity, anti-discrimination, and anti-racism goals

Programs

Part-Time Flex Day Program

St. John's Law offers a flexible and customizable four-year, part-time day program. We will work with you to customize a schedule that meets your needs. Classes for part-time students are typically held three days per week during the first year and can be as few as two days per week in subsequent years.

All classes, activities, hands-on learning opportunities, and academic support available to full-time students are also available to part-time students. More information about the Part-Time Flex Day Program can be found at www.stjohns.edu/law.

Binding Honors Early Decision (HED) Program

The HED program is for applicants who know that St. John's Law is their top choice. Successful applicants through the HED program receive a non-forfeitable, merit scholarship (awards range from $25,000 to full-tuition) for the three years of a full-time program. Part-Time Flex applicants may also be considered for HED with scholarships adjusted for the four-year part-time program. Admission through the HED program is based on an applicant's demonstrated Academic Readiness, Skills and Professional Readiness, Commitment to Community, Challenges Faced and Overcome, and Commitment to the St. John's Law Mission. Successful HED applicants typically have strong academic profiles including grades and/or test scores at or above St. John Law's medians.

HED Program applicants need to adhere to and be notified of the dates below:

Application due: November 1, December 1 or January 1

Notified by: November 30, December 31 or January 31

Deposit Deadline: 2 weeks after decision

If admitted through the HED Program, the applicant must withdraw all applications pending at other law schools within five business days of admission and may not initiate applications to any other law schools.

Any applicant who is not admitted through the HED program will automatically be moved into the regular application pool with the binding condition removed.

Red Storm and 3+3 Programs

Red Storm Scholars Special Admission Program (St. John's University Undergraduate Students Only)

St. John's University undergraduate students may apply to St. John's Law without taking the LSAT provided they meet the following requirements:

Application Due: March 1

Must be a current St. John's University undergraduate student.

Must have a SAT or ACT score greater than or equal to the 85th percentile in one test administration. SAT percentiles are the User Percentile. Red Storm Scholar applicants must have already taken the SAT or ACT as part of their college application to use it to apply through this program. If a student was admitted to the undergraduate program without a standardized test, the student should take the LSAT or GRE. SAT and ACT scores do not expire for our purposes. Applicants must include an unofficial standardized test grade report with their application.

Must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA greater than or equal to 3.70 at the end of the 6th semester.

Must NOT take the LSAT at any time. Applicants entering through the Red Storm Scholars Special Admissions Program who ignore this requirement and take the LSAT will have their admission offer reconsidered with their LSAT score.

St. John's undergraduates may apply during their senior year or during their junior year in combination with the 3+3 joint degree program. Students admitted under this program are awarded a partial scholarship. For additional information please contact the Admissions Office at lawinfo@stjohns.edu or 718-990-6474.

BA/BS/JD 3+3 Program (St. John's University, Niagara University, and Manhattan College)

Priority Deadline: March 1

Combined (B.A., B.S.) and St. John's Law degree programs are offered by three divisions at St. John's University - St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Professional Studies and the Peter J. Tobin College of Business - Niagara University and Manhattan College. The program allows students to complete an undergraduate and law degree in six years. To be accepted for a combined undergraduate and law degree, students must be approved by an undergraduate academic dean and need a minimum 3.5 grade-point average at the end of the 6th semester. Students also need a competitive score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and to demonstrate a commitment to the law and the maturity to complete an accelerated program. (Successful completion of the qualification above does not guarantee admission to the School of Law.) Interested students should contact their pre-law advisor for additional information.

Additional Application Information

Standardized Test Score(s)

St. John's Law accepts LSAT or GRE scores, as long as the score was received within five years of the expected date of entry into law school. If you have already taken the LSAT, you must apply with your LSAT score. Applicants who elect to take the GRE (instead of the LSAT) must instruct the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send all GRE test scores from the prior five (5) years. If you have also taken the GRE and would like to submit that score in addition to your LSAT score, we will accept and consider that score information along with all other application materials. St. John's Law GRE School Code is 2624.

Optional Video Interview

St. John's Law has always recognized that our students are more than the sum of their standardized test score and undergraduate GPA. The traditional admissions process does not always fully measure certain intangible qualities that often determine success in law school and legal practice. To address this deficiency we invite applicants to complete an optional video interview after the application is submitted. This is a unique opportunity to provide additional information about yourself and demonstrate those personal attributes we consider important, but may not already be apparent in your application. This video interview will complement the Law School's holistic approach to the application review process. Applicants will receive an invitation to complete the online interview one (1) business day after the application form is received and the interview must be completed within seven (7) calendar days of the invitation to complete.

Enrollment Requirements and Data Collection

Transcript Requirements

Incoming students must provide official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended, including a final transcript showing the conferral of an undergraduate degree. Official transcripts submitted to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service are sufficient for these purposes. Students must submit an official, degree-conferred transcript prior to enrolling in the J.D. program but may apply with an undergraduate degree in progress. All graduate and non-degree transcripts must also be submitted to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service.

Social Security Numbers

St. John's University School of Law requires your Social Security Number (SSN) or LSAC account number in order to access your Credential Assembly Service report. St. John's University collects students' SSNs in accordance with federal regulation relating to educational tax credits which requires all postsecondary institutions to report students' SSNs to the Internal Revenue Service. The SSN is also required for federal financial purposes and for enrollment verification and reporting for all Veterans Administration beneficiaries.

Bar Admission

Applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness, and other qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners at www.ncbex.org. Applicants to law school should contact the official bar admission agency in the jurisdiction where they plan to practice.

International Students

If you are accepted into the Law School and have entered the U.S. on a B-1, B-2, or F-2 visa, or in undocumented status*, St. John's Law cannot allow you to register for class until your visa status is changed to F-1 (international students with permission to enter the U.S. for academic purposes only). If you are not a permanent resident and plan to apply for F-1 student visa status (Form I-20), please select F-1 for Visa Type when completing your application. These applicants are eligible to receive merit scholarships but would need to arrange to pay other costs as they are not eligible to receive federal loans. In addition, applications are evaluated without regard to citizenship or immigration status. However, for any applicant not already legally in the U.S. to study an F-1 visa status is a requirement prior to registering for class.

*Note: We welcome undocumented or DACA applicants. These applicants are eligible to receive merit scholarships but would need to arrange to pay other costs as they are not eligible to receive federal loans.

Decision Notification

St. John's Law Admissions Office communicates application decisions with applicants through the primary email listed on the application form. Please make sure your email address remains current, active, and stjohns.edu is added to your safe domain list. If your contact information changes, you must notify the Admissions Office immediately at lawinfo@stjohns.edu.

Equality of Opportunity

St. John's University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender or sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or partnership status, alienage or citizenship status, disability, genetic predisposition, caregiver status, pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health decisions, status as a victim of domestic violence/sex offense/stalking, status in the uniformed services of the United States (including veteran status), arrest or conviction record, credit history, salary history, unemployment status or any other basis prohibited by law in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Amendments Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies.

St. John's University School of Law does not consider race or ethnicity as part of our holistic review process consistent with current Supreme Court opinions. However, the Supreme Court has stated that universities are not prohibited from considering an applicant's discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.