Admission Policy
UDC Law seeks to enroll academically qualified students who have demonstrated a commitment to public service. Because of UDC Law’s mission to admit and educate under-represented communities within the legal field, the Admission Committee reviews each application holistically and admits those they believe are capable of successfully completing the J.D. program and being admitted to the bar. Some factors considered by the admission committee may include LSAT scores, academic performance, writing samples, work experience, and letters of recommendations that speak to the applicant’s judgement, integrity, character, skills, and leadership potential.
Admission Determinations
Once an application has been marked “Ready for Review”, the application is forwarded to the admission committee for review and decision. In some cases, an application will be held for ongoing consideration. Applicants can check the status of their application online at Sign In to your LSAC Account | Law School Admission Council.
Admitted Students
Once an applicant is admitted, a non-refundable seat deposit of $400 is required to reserve a seat in the incoming class. The deadline to submit the seat deposit will be noted in the acceptance letter.
Official Transcripts
Transcripts must be sent directly from the institutions you attended to LSAC through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), using the LSAC school code for UDC Law: 5245. UDC Law will not accept transcripts that are issued to you or sent by you; these will be returned unprocessed.
The final official transcript confirming the completion of your undergraduate degree from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized, accredited institution must be submitted to the Office of Admission immediately upon enrollment, and no later than October 15. If you have already submitted your final undergraduate transcript through your LSAC account, this requirement is considered fulfilled.
Students who enroll later than the regular start date, but within four weeks of the beginning of classes, must ensure that UDC Law receives the official final transcript by October 15. If the transcript is not received by that date, the student may continue in the current semester but will not be permitted to enroll in future semesters until the official transcript is on file.
Deferred Enrollment
Admitted students may submit a request to defer admission to the following entering year. UDC Law reviews deferral requests on a case-by-case basis. The deferral request must include a detailed explanation and be submitted to lawadmission@udc.edu no later than July 15th. Please note, deferral requests are not automatically approved. Admitted students will receive notification of the decision.
- Admitted students whose deferral request is approved, will only be permitted 1 deferral.
- Admitted students whose deferral request is denied and decline to attend after being admitted, must reapply for admission.
Character And Fitness
Practice of law is a profession that demands the highest levels of honesty, integrity, and responsibility. In assessing applicants, law schools must evaluate not only academic potential but also the character and fitness of those seeking admission to the bar.
As such, applicants are required to disclose information relevant to their background, including academic, professional, and personal matters that may reflect on their judgment, truthfulness, or ability to uphold the ethical and professional standards of the legal profession. Full transparency in responding to all inquiries is paramount.
Please be advised that the information you provide will be treated as confidential and will be used exclusively for the purpose of evaluating your character and fitness for admission to law school, and ultimately, to the practice of law. This information may also be subject to review by bar examiners in the jurisdiction(s) where you seek admission. Inconsistencies, omissions, or misrepresentations in your responses could result in serious consequences, including the denial of certification for bar admission, even if the underlying conduct would not, in isolation, preclude admission.
Failure to provide complete and accurate information, or to update your responses if your circumstances change, may lead to the withdrawal of an offer of admission, dismissal from law school, or complications in your bar admission process.
Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek bar admission. Since jurisdiction rules and policies change, the National Conference of Bar Examiners strongly advises consulting the jurisdiction’s bar admission agency directly for the most current information. Please visit https://www.ncbex.org/jurisdictions for all relevant bar admission agencies.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law prohibits discrimination or harassment against any person on the basis of the actual or perceived actual race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, sex, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, personal appearance, genetic information, familial status, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, place of residence or business, or status as a covered veteran, as provided for and to the extent required by District and Federal statutes and regulations. This policy covers all programs, services, policies, and procedures of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, including admission to educational programs and employment.
The University’s Title IX Policy and Procedures can be found here: https://www.udc.edu/title-ix/.
To report discrimination or harassment, please contact the University’s Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator, whose contact information can be found here: https://www.udc.edu/human-resources/equal-opportunity/.