Please prepare a two-page essay explaining why you want to become a lawyer. You may discuss your personal experiences, values, or individuals who have influenced your decision. If applicable, address any circumstances that may have affected your academic performance and explain whether those circumstances are likely to impact your success in law school. The Office of Admissions will use your essay to evaluate your candidacy for admission.

Attach your résumé here.

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.

Applicants must provide full disclosure as requested below and must disclose an incident under this section even if the charges were dropped, dismissed, referred to a pretrial intervention program, deferred prosecution, and/or for which the records have been sealed or expunged. St. Thomas University College of Law may revoke an acceptance if the applicant fails to make full disclosure.

Criminal Charges

1. In your entire life, have you ever been arrested, detained, restrained, taken into custody, or accused formally or informally of a felony (whether or not the charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor or other lesser charge)? If you answer yes, you must upload an attachment for each instance with the following information: (a) provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances, including the date(s), the charge, the arresting agency, city and state of the arrest, and the subsequent action taken by the authorities; (b) explain whether there are any pending charges against you, and whether you are currently serving or subject to any kind of probation, deferred prosecution program, or reporting for community service obligations associated with any criminal matter; and (c) attach a copy of the arresting or charging document, police investigation reports, and the disposition order.

2. In your entire life, have you ever been arrested, detained, restrained, taken into custody, or accused of driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving with an unlawful blood alcohol level, or charged with vehicular manslaughter or vehicular homicide? If you answer yes, you must upload an attachment for each instance with the following information: (a) provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances, including the date(s), the nature of the charge, case number and court name, and the disposition of the case, including the sentence; (b) explain whether there are any pending charges against you, and whether you are currently serving or subject to any kind of probation, deferred prosecution program, or reporting for community service obligations associated with any criminal matter; and (c) attach a copy of the arresting or charging document, police investigation reports, and the disposition order.

3. Other than those incidents disclosed and explained in questions 1 and 2 above, since the date of your 16th birthday, have you ever been arrested, detained, restrained, given a notice to appear, or taken into custody for the violation of a law or ordinance or for committing a delinquent act? If you answer yes, you must upload an attachment for each instance with the following information: (a) a detailed explanation of the circumstances, including the date, the nature of the charge, case number and court name, and the disposition of the case, including the sentence; (b) explain whether there are any pending charges against you, and whether you are currently serving or subject to any kind of probation, deferred prosecution program, or reporting for community service obligations associated with any criminal matter; and (c) attach a copy of the arresting or charging document and the disposition order.

4. Have you ever been or are you presently a plaintiff, a defendant, a petitioner, or a respondent in a civil lawsuit? This includes but is not limited to dissolution of marriage, tax, and bankruptcy proceedings. If you answer yes, you must upload an attachment for each instance with the following information: (a) list each such action; (b) provide an explanation including the name of the case, the type of case, your role in the case, and the facts relating to your involvement in the case; (c) provide a copy of the docket sheet, complaint or other initial pleading; and (d) the final judgement, order of dismissal, or other document disposing of or concluding each such action. If the action was dismissed after settlement, include an explanation of the details of the settlement.

5. Did you answer yes to questions 1, 2, 3, or 4 listed above? If so, upload your explanation(s) in the Attachments section of this application labeled Criminal Charges.

Academic Disciplinary

6. Have you ever been accused of a violation of an honor code or student conduct code, warned, placed on academic, scholastic, or disciplinary probation, suspended, requested or advised to discontinue your studies, dropped, expelled, or requested to resign or otherwise subjected to discipline by any college, law school, or other post-secondary institution? If you answer yes, provide a complete statement of the circumstances surrounding each such occurrence, including the name and address of the institution, the date of the occurrence, the course or event, the sanction, and all relevant information related thereto.

7. Regardless of whether the record has been expunged, canceled, or annulled, or whether no record was made, have you ever been accused of cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty at any school you attended?  If you answer yes, provide a complete statement of the circumstances surrounding each such occurrence, the name and address of the institution, the date(s) of the occurrence, the course or event, the sanction, disposition or result, and all relevant information related thereto.

8. Did you answer yes to questions 6 or 7 listed above? If so, upload your explanation(s) in the Attachments section of this application labeled Academic Disciplinary.

Professional Disciplinary

9. Are you now or have you ever been investigated or subject to discipline by any professional licensing board or body? If you answer yes, provide a full explanation of the circumstances and disposition relating to the investigation or discipline in the Attachments section of this application labeled Professional License.

Professional License

10. Do you hold, or have you ever held, any professional, occupational, or business license (including Notary Public)?

This application is for anyone applying for the J.D. program starting in the Fall, as a First Time, Advanced Standing, 3+3, or Restart JD student. Carefully review all instructions and ensure you understand and follow the requirements that apply to you.

St. Thomas University College of Law welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and strongly encourages candidates to discuss features of their experience that they believe will contribute to their success in law school and in the legal profession.

J.D. Application Requirements

Applications for admission are considered by the Admissions Committee. To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must present the following:

1. A completed application submitted through LSAC's electronic applications.
2. A current registration with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
3. Official transcripts, showing the applicant earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or its international equivalent, prior to the date of law school matriculation. Submitted through LSAC Credential Assembly Service.
4. A current score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
5. A recent (within the past 2 years) letter of recommendation (submitted through LSAC and included in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration for US college or university graduates).
6. A double-spaced personal statement - 2 pages but no longer than 4 pages.
7. A professional resume.
8. A non-refundable application fee of $40 USD.

Letters of Recommendation

The required letter of recommendation must be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation CAS Service that provides all LSAC member-schools with copies of references made on your behalf. This service is included in your Credential Assembly Service registration. Be sure to complete and give each recommender a form from LSAC's website.

Additional letters may be submitted up to but no more than four (4) letters may be submitted. If you are currently enrolled in an academic program, or are a recent graduate, a faculty reference is preferred.

Other JD Requirements

Applies only to 3+3 applicants OR those who are applying to restart as a student at St. Thomas University College of Law

Restart/3+3 Applicants

Applicants who are part of a 3+3 program at St. Thomas University, Miami Dade College, Florida Atlantic University, or New England Institute of Technology may apply to St. Thomas University College of Law during the applicant's junior year.

In addition to the application requirements, 3+3 applicants must submit a letter from their undergraduate institution confirming that they are eligible to progress to the law school portion of the program and that any law school credits earned will be accepted toward completion of the undergraduate degree. This letter must be sent to St. Thomas Law admissions at admitme@stu.edu.

Restart Applicants

A restart applicant is someone who previously attended any law school (ABA accredited or non-ABA-accredited), at any point, and is restarting as a new incoming J.D. student.

A restart applicant must submit the following:

1. Official transcripts from your previous law school via LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
2. A Letter of Standing must be sent directly from your school's registrar's office or the Dean of Academics and emailed directly to St. Thomas Law admissions at admitme@stu.edu.

If you have been previously dismissed from another law school, you must also submit a statement via the Attachments section of this application explaining:

1. The factors that contributed to your disqualification from law school
2. The measures/actions taken since the dismissal to ensure success in law school
3. Why your disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to successfully complete law school and pass the bar

J.D. Applicants with International Credentials (Advanced Standing)

As an institution that prides itself on the diversity of its student body, St. Thomas Law is proud to offer an accelerated law program for foreign attorneys. Foreign attorneys may complete their legal studies in an abridged program and receive a Juris Doctor degree after roughly two years (or 60 credits) of consecutive study at St. Thomas Law.

Candidates who attended a college or university outside of North America must have their academic credentials translated and evaluated by the Credential Assembly Service provided through LSAC.

Advanced Standing (International and U.S.) Requirements

1. A completed online application submitted through St. Thomas Law/LSAC
2. A current registration with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
3. Official transcripts translated and evaluated through LSAC Credential Assembly Service as a part of the CAS Report
4. TOEFL.iBT score of 5 (The TOEFL may be waived if the applicant holds a bachelor's or graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States OR if the applicant achieves a 152 or greater on the LSAT).
5. The LSAT is NOT required BUT is highly recommended to be considered for scholarship opportunities.
6. One Letter of Recommendation
7. Personal Statement

F-1 Visa Requirements

Most foreign nationals will require an F-1 student visa to study in the United States. Some international students may already have an immigration status that allows them to pursue studies in the United States without having to fulfill any other special visa requirements. International applicants are solely responsible for obtaining the appropriate information concerning U.S. immigration requirements to pursue their studies in the United States. Applicants who need to obtain an F-1 visa should allow sufficient time to process their application for admission and acquire their visa.

Thank you for your interest in St. Thomas University College of Law

This section is optional.

Please attach any miscellaneous documentation here.

This section is optional.

If you have been previously dismissed from another law school (ABA accredited or non-ABA-accredited), you must also submit a statement via the Attachments section of this application explaining:

1. The factors that contributed to your disqualification from law school
2. The measures/actions taken since the dismissal to ensure success in law school
3. Why your disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to successfully complete law school and pass the bar