JD Application and Information

Applying to the Law School

Applicants are required to submit an application online. You may apply on-line at Click Here to Apply to Howard University School of Law as a JD

ABA Standard 502
A law school shall require for admission to its J.D. degree program a bachelor’s degree that has been awarded by an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Upon receipt of your application, your initial status will show as INCOMPLETE. Once your file is processed, your online status checker will reference what items are missing, whether your file is being held for a future LSAT, etc. Otherwise, the progression of your status will show as READY FOR REVIEW, REVIEW IN PROGRESS, etc. Please send any application updates to husladmit@law.howard.edu. Please do not send any documents or inquiries to the admissions team. Please be sure to upload any documents not submitted with your application via the LSAC online status checker. This is the only way the document(s) will be included in your application file.

Please note that this link is for JD applicants only. If you want to apply as a JD/MBA, Visitor, Transfer or LLM applicant, please select the appropriate link under the “Prospective Student” section of the website.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

Required Documents

Application

Applications must be started by 11:59 p.m. on March 15, 2025 if the applicant is applying for the 2025 entering class.

An application must be COMPLETED by MARCH 15th. The Admissions Committee no longer uses a rolling admissions system. Completed application files are considered beginning in November, and candidates are notified in either December or March. Accordingly, as an applicant, you are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for your interest in the Howard University School of Law (HUSL). Please read all instructions carefully before submitting your application. The Admissions Committee will not review your application until all materials have been received. If you have any questions regarding the application or any of the requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions before you submit your application by email at husladmit@law.howard.edu.
Applicants to HUSL are required to use Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) electronic application service www.LSAC.org. Once you pay for and transmit your law school application via LSAC, HUSL will notify you via email of your status.
The information below will assist you in completing your HUSL application.

Application Check List
A completed electronic application will include the following:
•    The online application for admission
•    Application fee of $60
•    Personal statement
•    Résumé
•    Answers to ALL questions in the Character and Fitness section.
•    Character and Fitness attachment explaining any "Yes" responses to 
      questions in the Character and Fitness section.

In addition to the completed electronic application, the following items must be submitted via LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS):
•    Official LSAT Score
•    Official transcript(s)
•    Two letters of recommendation (LOR) (We will accept up to three.)
•    LSAT Argumentative Writing Assessment 
•    Official TOEFL report (if applicable)

Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

Howard University requires a score from Law School Admission Counsel's (LSAC) Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for every applicant. The latest test you should take to apply for an active admissions cycle is the last test date before the deadline. Howard Law does not accept the GRE as a substitute for the LSAT.

Ideally candidates will take the February LSAT as the LSAT administration for the fall entering class.  Please note that you if you take the April LSAT, the number of seats and the availability of scholarships may be drastically diminished by the time your updated CAS report is received.

Personal Statement

The Howard University School of Law (HUSL) was founded just months after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Throughout its history, HUSL has been at the forefront of the fight for racial and social justice, and against invidious racial discrimination.

HUSL is dedicated to producing graduates from historically underrepresented populations from a multitude of backgrounds, who are committed to leadership and service, equipped to confront injustice, and passionate about promoting equality in the legal profession and society. Our mission focuses on training social engineers who advocate for the marginalized, challenge injustice, and work toward a more just and equitable society.

Please discuss how Howard University School of Law's mission resonates with your own personal experiences, achievements, values, interests, and career aspirations. For example, how has the ongoing struggle for racial or social justice affected your own life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise? How do you envision using your legal education to promote justice, equality, and positive change in your community or in the broader society? Additionally, please reflect on how you plan to contribute to the legacy of leadership and service that Howard Law embodies.

Why Howard Essays 

Please do not submit a "Why HUSL" essay.  Applicant should discuss HUSL's mission in their personal statement.

Diversity Statements

Please be very thoughtful about a decision to submit a Diversity Statement to HUSL.  Review the mission of HUSL and HU and make a thoughtful and strategic decision about this specific statement.  Additionally, please be sure to not confuse adversity with diversity.

Addenda/Optional Essays/Explanations

Please note - not every applicant needs to submit an addendum.    If your cumulative LSAT score and/or highest  LSAT score fall below the median of the previous entering class, you should submit a brief, factual statement.

Additionally, if you have taken the LSAT more than once and there is a change of score (increase or decrease) of more than 2-3 points, you should a brief statement outlining what led to the change in score.

This document should not exceed 2-3 paragraphs.

Letters of Continued Interest (LOCI)

This type of letter should only be submitted if you have been waitlisted at HUSL.  Each law school has different rules, parameters, etc.

(Please visit the waitlist section below.)

Hint hint - the majority of HUSL applicants should not submit a Diversity Statement.

Two Letters of Recommendation Required; Three will be accepted

Howard University requires two letters of recommendation.
Please note that you should be strategic in terms of who you select to write your letters of recommendation.  

For applicants who are currently matriculating or who have recently graduated, we prefer that faculty members or teaching assistants submit both letters. If you are currently working on a full-time basis, letters from professional colleagues, employers, and/or supervisors are acceptable. If you are self-employed, please ensure you submit letters from your clients and/or customers.  The letters should address your academic potential, work ethic, relevant skills and your character. We will only accept letters that are submitted through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which serves all member schools. This service is included in your CAS registration subscription.

Resume

Your résumé allows you to provide details about your employment history, extra-curricular activities, community service, and hobbies. You should provide comprehensive details about your experiences and include any awards and honors. Your résumé should not include high school information or activities and should explain any periods of time (after high school) that are not accounted for by your educational and employment history.

Your résumé can be more than one page and must be attached to the attachments section of the online application.

Please do not forget to add the hours worked per week for work experience, leadership experience, volunteer/community service/work, etc.
Please do not include references.
Please do not add objective.

Transcripts

We require a copy of your Transcripts from the CAS report that is submitted via the LSAC.org website.

Required Material from Foreign Educated Students

Howard University School of Law requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service ("CAS"). If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your CAS report. If we determine that you need to submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC’s TOEFL code for the JD Credential Assembly Service is 0058. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your CAS law school report.

To use the JD CAS, log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.

Questions about the JD Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001, or LSACINFO@LSAC.org.

Qualifications beyond Completion of Law School to Practice Law in the United States

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.
 

Scholarship Reconsideration or Negotiation

HUSL does not reconsider or negotiate scholarships.
We lead with our best offer based on the scholarship budget and statistical goals for the cycle. 

All decisions are final

There is no appeal process.  All decisions rendered are final.

Admitted Students

Congratulations to our new Bisons!
You will receive your formal admissions information soon.  
This includes but is not limited to:  seat deposit amounts, seat deposit deadlines, merit scholarship (if eligible), information on admitted student only events, University log in information/portal information, etc.

Waitlisted

Letters of Continued Interest (LOCI)

HUSL will accept one LOCI from waitlisted candidates.

Thank you! To respond to the waitlist offer, please use the link below to complete the waitlist continued interest form. ADDITION-Please be sure to use your legal name when completing the form.

The best time to submit this statement is after the first seat deposit deadline which is May 1. 

To respond to the waitlist offer, please use the link below to complete the waitlist continued interest form.

Waitlist Confirmation Form

You will not be confirmed for the waitlist until we receive your confirmation form. 
 

Once completed and submitted, you will receive an email with a copy of the completed form.  Upload the form to the documents section of the applicant status online checker.  Should you decide to submit a letter of continued interest, upload it along with the form to the same section of the applicant status checker.

If you have increased your you cumulative GPA and/or LSAT score, please notify us to ensure we look for an updated CAS report from LSAC.  If you have an additional letter of recommendation but have not submitted the maximum of three letters of recommendation, ensure the letter is sent to LSAC and is added to your CAS report.  Do not have your recommender send the letter directly to HUSL. Lastly, if you have been promoted, given increased responsibilities, obtained a new job, etc., you can submit an updated resume.  Please ensure it is labeled properly - your name, LSAC number and the title of the document.

The waitlist is not ranked.

The number of applicants that may be admitted from the waitlist varies year to year.
 

Denied

If you are denied, you must wait until the next admissions cycle to reapply.
We cannot provide applicants with insight or information about how their application can be improved until after the class is seated.

Ideally, we will host a reapplicant workshop in early September each year.