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Accelerated J.D. for Foreign Attorneys - Application Instructions

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are not a foreign-educated attorney applying to the J.D. program, please refer to the General New J.D. Student Application Instructions.

The Spring 2021 Application for the Accelerated J.D. for Foreign Attorneys is now available and closes on January 3, 2021.

The Fall 2021 Application for the Accelerated J.D. for Foreign Attorneys opens February 1, 2021, and closes July 15, 2021.

Overview

The College of Law admits domestic transfer students and foreign-educated attorneys applying as transfer students. Domestic transfer students are admitted for full- and part-time enrollment each fall, spring and summer. Foreign-educated attorneys applying as transfer students to the Accelerated JD for Foreign Attorneys may apply for spring or fall entry. In no event will anyone who has yet to meet the respective prerequisites outlined below for domestic transfer applicants or foreign attorney transfer applicants be permitted to enroll in the College of Law.

The Faculty Committee on Admissions and Entering Awards and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs reviewed completed transfer applications. Although applications are accepted until the deadline, we highly recommend that you submit your application early.

Visiting (transient) students should not complete this application but should contact the Registrar for the appropriate application.

Application Process

All domestic and foreign attorney transfer applicants are required to submit the College of Law transfer application through the Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) JD Credential Assembly Service (JD CAS) during the respective application period. After submitting your application, LSAC electronically sends an accompanying law school report to the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning that includes copies of your transcripts, LSAT or GRE (GRE must be sent from ETS directly to Stetson University College of Law), letter(s) of recommendation and, if applicable, your JD CAS Report from your previous law school application and any English proficiency test results. You must work directly with LSAC to ensure that all items are received and processed.

You may access the College of Law's transfer application through the College of Law's website by visiting the LSAC website, LSAC.org. LSAC can also be reached at [email protected] or 215-968-1001.

Application Fee

A $55 nonrefundable application fee must be paid online through LSAC when you submit your application.

Domestic Transfer Applicants

Transfer Applicants seeking to transfer from a domestic ABA- or state-approved law school must use the transfer application available November 5 for spring entry or February 1 for fall entry. Applicants must be in good standing at their current law school. For both our part-time and full-time programs, transfer applicants are required to have earned two semesters of credit at an ABA- or state-approved law school. Please review the Transfer Credit Policy found at https://www.stetson.edu/law/policies/home/. The following documents are required as part of the transfer application:

  1. A complete official transcript from the law school previously attended;
  2. LSAC JD CAS report (Stetson will request a copy from LSAC upon receipt of the transfer application); and
  3. Official documentation from the dean of the applicant's law school confirming the applicant's current standing and law school rank.

The transfer application deadline is July 15 for fall and January 3 for spring. Files must be completed by the deadline and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Transfer candidates applying for the summer term may use the fall transfer application. Please contact us to let us know if you wish for a summer entrance.

Transfer applications are evaluated based on the applicant's academic achievement at his or her current law school, the reason for requesting a transfer, the applicant's disciplinary record (if any), space available, undergraduate and law school grades, and LSAT scores.

Transfer students generally receive credit for all courses they have taken up to 38 credits. Full information concerning transfer credits may be found in Transfer Credit Policy. The decision on transfer credits is made by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Please see www.stetson.edu/transfer for more information.

Foreign Attorneys Applying as Transfer Applicants

Foreign-educated lawyers may apply as transfer students to our Accelerated J.D. for Foreign Attorney program for spring or fall entry. Note: spring entry may require an additional semester of study in order to fulfill all credit requirements. Foreign attorneys must meet the same rigorous standards as domestic applicants. The LSAT or GRE is required. Applicants must use the transfer application available each year starting on November 5 for spring entry or on February 1 for fall entry. The deadline to apply for spring is January 3 and for fall, the deadline is July 15. If accepted into the College of Law as a transfer candidate, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may grant up to 29 academic credits toward a Stetson JD degree. The credits may be used to satisfy elective credits. The Transfer Credit Policy can be found at https://www.stetson.edu/law/policies/home/. Detailed information on the program can be found at https://www.stetson.edu/law/international/home/accelerated-jd-program.php.

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL score of at least 100 on the Internet-based test. TOEFL scores are valid for three years. For TOEFL information, visit www.ets.org. Fluency in English may also be established by alternative assessment such as scoring at least a 7 in IELTS. For more information, visit www.ielts.org.

The application requirements for this program are subject to change. Therefore, please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning at [email protected] or 727.562.7802 for the most updated information. Detailed information on the Accelerated JD for Foreign Attorney program can be found at https://www.stetson.edu/law/international/home/accelerated-jd-program.php.

Recommendation Letters

All transfer applicants must assign a minimum of one letter of recommendation; a maximum of three letters will be accepted. Please use the Letter of Recommendation Service provided by LSAC. Academic references are encouraged; however, we recognize that many students have difficulty obtaining academic references and will not penalize candidates if one cannot be obtained. Transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain a letter from a member of the faculty at their home institution.

Personal Statement and Résumé

All transfer applicants must submit a Personal Statement that addresses their reason for wishing to transfer to Stetson Law. A concise, two- to three-page double-spaced format is preferred. Please put your name and identification number (LSAC account number) at the top of each page. Candidates may also submit an addendum to explain unusual circumstances, such as grade fluctuations.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a résumé along with their personal statement and application. Please Note: Applicants should list any and all employment (paid or unpaid) held since their 16th birthday or for the past 10 years, whichever is shorter. This will ensure consistency with the employment question on the Florida Bar application, the most common state in which Stetson graduates to practice.

Transcripts/Credential Evaluation

For domestic transfer applicants, official transcripts and a letter of good standing that also contains your class rank must be submitted by your current law school to either the College of Law or LSAC JD CAS. After receiving your application, the College of Law will retrieve your undergraduate and any other post-secondary transcripts from your JD CAS report that LSAC compiled during your previous law school application process.

For foreign attorneys applying as transfer students, the College of Law requires you to submit foreign transcripts through the JD CAS. Transcripts for all post-secondary education completed outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada must be evaluated through this service. Foreign coursework through study-abroad, consortium, or exchange programs sponsored by US or Canadian institutions is exempt from this requirement, provided that the work is clearly indicated on the home campus transcript. The JD CAS report is included in the JD CAS registration fee. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers will complete an international credential evaluation, which will be incorporated into your Credential Assembly Service report. If English is your second language, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (TOEFL) or IELTS to request that your scores be sent to LSAC. (LSAC's TOEFL code for the JD CAS is 8395.) Your score will be included in the international credential evaluation document that will be included in your LSAC JD CAS Law School Report.

To use the service, log on to your LSAC online account and follow the instructions for registration. Print out and promptly send a transcript request form to each foreign institution you attended, and allow ample time to receive and translate foreign transcripts. If you have questions about the JD CAS, please contact LSAC at 215.968.1001 or [email protected].

All admitted transfer students who choose to enroll at the College of Law must submit final, official law school transcripts showing any credits and grades that were not included at the time of application review.

Interviews and Campus Visits

The Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning does not routinely conduct personal interviews for the JD program. However, we may, on occasion, request that an applicant participates in a meeting with a member of the faculty or administration. Applicants may not request to interview but are encouraged to visit the College of Law for a campus tour, attend a class, and meet with an admissions counselor to learn more about Stetson University College of Law and the admissions process. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning for an appointment at 727.562.7802 or [email protected].

Deadline for a Completed Transfer Application
Spring (full- and part-time) - January 3
Fall (full- and part-time) - July 15

The application fee is $55. Applicants to the College of Law must indicate their preferred program, either full- or part-time.

Application for Admission

Any false or misleading statement, or inaccurate application, may be the basis for denial of admission, or if admitted, disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, dismissal from the College of Law, revocation of admission, revocation of credits or degree, or other appropriate sanctions, regardless of when discovered. By transmitting your application you certify that you have read and understood the application and that the information you have submitted is complete and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief.

Notification of Application Status and Decision

Applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their application. The Office will also inform applicants if there are missing items or if additional information is needed to process the application. When applications are complete and submitted for review, applicants will receive an email with a username and password that allows for applicants to check their application status online and confirm addresses and other contact information. Important: All decisions will be communicated via email. Decisions are not released by phone, except for US military personnel stationed abroad.

Seat Deposit

If admitted, a nonrefundable deposit of $500 is required to reserve a seat. Please note the seat deposit deadline and instructions for remitting payment on your letter of acceptance. This deposit will be credited to your tuition upon registration. Please make a check or money order payable to Stetson University College of Law. Credit cards are also accepted.

Qualifications for Admission to the Bar

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.

Additional Resources:

Applicants with Disabilities

Pursuant to applicable law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the College of Law provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Individuals seeking information about disability accommodation at the College of Law are encouraged to read more about Accessibility Resources for Students with Disabilities on the Stetson website. Questions can be directed to the ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

The College of Law invites applicants with disabilities to disclose any anticipated barriers concerning accessibility. Information you would like considered in the admissions process can be disclosed within the Personal Statement. Any accessibility information disclosed will remain confidential and will be considered only as directed by relevant law. Please note that this disclosure is voluntary and will not result in the adverse treatment.

Nondiscrimination Policy

It is the policy of Stetson University, consisting of its multiple campuses, wherever located (collectively the “University”) not to discriminate on the basis of sex, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, parenting status, race, age, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical characteristics or any category protected by federal, state or local law in its educational programs, activities or employment. The policy is enforced by Stetson, and where applicable, federal laws such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. The University is an equal-opportunity education institution.

Notice of Privacy Rights

Stetson University College of Law is covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which is designed to protect students' rights with regard to educational records maintained by the institution. Under this Act, students have the following rights: 1) the right to inspect and review educational records maintained by the institution that pertain to a such student; 2) the right to challenge the content of records on the ground that they are inaccurate, misleading or a violation of the student's privacy or other rights; and 3) the right to control disclosures from the student's records with certain exceptions.

The information in this publication applies to the Academic Year 2019–2020 and is accurate and current, to the extent possible, as of September 2018. The College of Law reserves the right to change programs of study, academic requirements, teaching staff, the calendar, and other matters described herein without prior notice, in accordance with established procedures.

Notice of Campus Security Act and Fire Safety Reports

Copies of the annual Campus Security (Clery) Act Report and Fire Safety Report and Plan are available at no charge from the Public Safety Department. To receive a copy, call 727-562-7801, or visit the College of Law's website at https://www.stetson.edu/law/offices/safety/.

To obtain further information about Stetson University College of Law, contact:

Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning
1401 61st Street South
Gulfport, FL 33707


Phone: 727-562-7802
Fax: 727.343.0136
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: https://www.stetson.edu/law/admissions/home/