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.

Please attach any miscellaneous documentation here.

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

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)?

Instructions: St. Thomas University College of Law

The 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.

This application is for anyone applying for the incoming Fall J.D. program.

Application Requirements

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

1. A completed application submitted through LSAC's electronic applications.
2. 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.
3. A current score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
4. A current registration with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
5. A recent (within the past 2 years) letter of recommendation (submitted through LSAC and included in the Credential Assembly Service 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 nonrefundable application fee of $40 USD.

Upon acceptance and commitment, applicants will be required to submit a nonrefundable $500 seat deposit to secure their place in the incoming Fall class.

Additional Requirements

J.D./3+3 Applicants

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

In addition to the application requirements, a letter from the applicant's undergraduate institution indicating the student is eligible to proceed to the law school portion of the program, and that the applicant's law school credits will transfer for completion of the undergraduate program are required.

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.
2. A Letter of Current Standing directly from your previous law school emailed to St. Thomas University College of Law admissions at admitme@stu.edu. (Note this does not need to be a letter of good standing).

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

Letters of Recommendation

St. Thomas University College of Law requires one (1) letter of recommendation for each applicant from someone who can attest to your academic and personal accolades. Additional letters may be submitted. 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.

The letter of recommendation must be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation 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. Your letter(s) will be sent to the law school along with your law school report. To submit letters, follow the directions on LSAC.org. Be sure to complete and give each recommender a form from LSAC's website.

Applicants with International Credentials

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

International Applicants

International applicants - students who attended a college outside of the United States - are required to present additional application documents:

1. International Credentials Evaluation: An official international credentials evaluation must be performed by an evaluation company accredited by NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluator) on all foreign transcripts. Student-athletes are required to have their evaluations performed by InCred.
2. English Proficiency Test: All international applicants from countries where the primary language is not English who have not attended a U.S., UK., or Canadian school must demonstrate proof of English proficiency by providing one of the following official test scores:

• Duolingo: 85
• TOEFL iBT: 60
• TOEFL Essentials: 6.0
• Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
• IELTS: 6.0
• PTE: 43
• SAT: 960
• ACT: 18
• GRE: 158 (Verbal) and 4.5 (Writing)

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.

Certification of Eligibility (Form I-20 for F-1 Visa)

To receive an F-1 visa, students must submit the required documents for a St. Thomas University DSO to issue a Form I-20. The I-20 can only be issued after the student pays their enrollment deposit.

1. Statement of Financial Sponsorship Form: This form must be completed and signed by the student, sponsor, government representative, or sponsoring agency. The Financial Guarantee Form is available at stu.edu/sponsorship.
2. Passport Photo Page.
3. Bank Affidavit: A bank affidavit is a signed and stamped letter from your bank representative attesting to the funds you have in your account, dated within 1 year. The amount reflected needs to be at least your annual cost of attendance and in liquid form (not investments/retirement accounts).
4. SEVIS Transfer Form: International applicants that are transferring from a U.S. high school or college must also provide a SEVIS Transfer Eligibility Form that has been completed by the new student and a DSO from the transferring institution.

Disclosure and Accuracy

Applicants are advised to provide thorough and accurate responses to all questions on the application. Discrepancies and omissions may be viewed as misconduct or an irregularity in the admissions process and reported, as required, to the Law School Admission Council for investigation.

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.

Candidates who intend to apply for admission to the Florida Bar upon graduation from law school should be aware that once an application or a student registration has been filed with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, the Board may at any time request a copy of your law school application(s). Any discrepancies that appear in your responses to questions on the application(s) will have to be explained to the Board and to the law school. Bar examiners in other jurisdictions have similar standards and requirements.

Non-Discrimination Policy

St. Thomas University provides equality of opportunity in education for all persons, including applicants for admission and enrolled students (with respect to admission, retention, and the like), except that the University (1) will maintain its Catholic values in the operation of the University, and (2) may exercise a preference for Catholic faculty in recruitment and hiring. St. Thomas University also provides its students and graduates with equal opportunity to obtain employment, including the requirement that every employer to whom it furnishes assistance and facilities for interviewing and other placement services must observe the principles of equal opportunity. Except for the maintenance of Catholic values in the operation of the University and a preference for Catholic faculty in recruitment and hiring, discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or military status, marital or familial status, or any other category that is or becomes protected by law, is strictly prohibited. The Director of Law School Student Services, located in the College of Law Administrative Offices on the first floor of the main law school building, at (305) 623-2358, has been designated as the person to handle inquiries regarding this policy.

Decision Process

The Office of Admissions reviews all applications and, in some cases, applications are also reviewed by the Faculty Admissions Committee. Each candidate's potential for the study of law is evaluated considering all relevant factors. Among the more important factors are the LSAT score (highest score) undergraduate grades, and course of study. Work experience, the recommendation letter(s), the personal statement, honors and awards, activities, and community service are also reviewed in the evaluation process.

Review of completed applications begins in the late Fall and continues through the Summer for Fall admissions. The College of Law receives over 1500 applications for seats in the first-year class. All applicants are welcome to visit the law school and sit in on a class, meet current students, and take a tour. Interviews are offered at the request of the Office of Admissions. To schedule a visit, check on the status of your application, or to learn more about our law school, call 305.623.2310, or send an e-mail to admitme@stu.edu. For more information, visit our website at www.stu.edu/law. To check on the status of your application, you can reach out to the admissions office at the contact information above or go to your ASO page.

St. Thomas University College of Law

Office of Admissions

16401 NW 37th Avenue

Miami, FL 33054

Phone: 305.623.2310 Fax: 305.623.2357