J.D. Admissions

Our 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

This mission statement draws on the University’s current strategic plan in the context of legal academic excellence, respect for the individual, fostering a vibrant intellectual community of diverse experiences and perspectives, and the pursuit of economic and social justice. It will serve as a constant aspirational reminder of what we strive for as an institution of legal education. 

J.D. Admissions Overview

In reviewing applications, we focus primarily on the demonstrated qualities and proven skills we deem essential for academic success and intellectual stimulation at St. John's Law.

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 

J.D. Admissions Requirements

To apply for admission to St. John's Law, you must have a baccalaureate degree granted by a fully accredited institution and a standardized test score (LSAT or GRE). To meet the March 15, 2025 priority application deadline, you should take the LSAT or the GRE no later than February 2025. 

The Law School participates in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which simplifies admission procedures. You must register for the CAS whether you choose to apply with an LSAT score or GRE score. To register for the LSAT and CAS, please contact the Law School Admissions Council. 

Applicants who have taken the GRE can log into their ETS account and request that St. John’s U Sch of Law receive your GRE results using the code: 2624.

Application Materials

First-year law students applying to the J.D. Program are required to submit a completed St. John's Law application form including:

• Electronic Application Form available through LSAC.org
   
• 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 socioeconomic 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 isn't 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 we consider during our holistic review. This includes awards for first generation college students, applicants who have faced adversity and are committed to their community, and those whose background and/or interest in law school align with the school’s mission and the legacy of our alumnus, Theodore Jones, L'72.   
   
• 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.
   
• 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.
   
• 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 J.D. 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: Submitted through LSAC.org, the Report includes your 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 and a minimum of two, maximum three).

Character and Fitness Qualifications

If you intend to practice law, you should be aware that admission to the bar involves character, fitness, and other qualifications. You can review the requirements for the state(s) in which you intend to practice by visiting the National Conference of Bar Examiners website.

Admission to law school doesn't 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're concerned about your ability to be admitted to practice law, you should contact the Board of Law Examiners or the appropriate Committee on Character and Fitness in the jurisdiction in which you intend to practice.

Binding Honors Early Decision Program

The highly competitive Honors Early Decision (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. 

Application Deadline

• November 1
• December 1
• January 1

The deadline is monthly and decisions will be released by the last day of the relative deadline month. 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. Admitted applicants are required to pay a full seat deposit two weeks after admission.  

If you aren't admitted to St. John's Law through our Honors Early Decision Program, we'll consider your application during the regular admission cycle. 

Part-Time Flex Day Program

St. John's Law offers a flexible and customizable four-year, Part-Time Day Flex 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.  

For more information, visit our Part-Time Flex Day Program webpage.

International Students

If you earned a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, in a foreign country, we may admit you to the J.D. program at St. John's Law on the following conditions:

• You comply with our regular admission requirements and procedures, including taking the LSAT or GRE
• You submit academic records to the LSAC J.D. Credential Assembly Service

If you're admitted to St. John's Law and entered the United States on a B-1, B-2, or F-2 visa or in undocumented status, you can't 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're 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.

International J.D. applicants can get additional information through St. John's International Student and Scholar Services Office.

Note: We welcome undocumented or DACA applicants. Those applicants are eligible to receive merit scholarships, but have to pay other costs of attendance because they aren't eligible to receive federal loans. In addition, the New York Court of Appeals has not issued a uniform ruling to admit attorneys who are undocumented to practice law.

Deferred Admission

We offer deferred admission to our J.D. program in a small number of cases, and only for good cause. Most applicants accepted in one year will have to reapply for admission in subsequent years. You must submit your request for deferred admission in writing to [email protected].

Contact Us

St. John's University School of Law
Admissions Office
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
718-990-6474
[email protected]