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Overview

Whittier Law School reviews all factors relevant to an applicant’s potential ability to meet the demanding academic standards of the Juris Doctor program.

The traditional criteria of undergraduate academic performance and Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) scores are employed in admission evaluations. However, there are no “magic numbers”. The Faculty Admissions Committee also considers an applicant’s resumé, personal statement, letters of recommendation, evaluation, and other addendum submitted by the applicant.

Admissions Calendar 2013

  • February 1: Deadline to apply to receive priority in scholarship and admissions decisions
  • March 15: Deadline to apply to receive priority in admission decisions
  • April 1: Commitment deposit due from admitted students. Failure to submit the deposit will result in cancellation of acceptance, forfeiture of the seat, and revocation of any scholarship offer. Deposits are credited to the matriculating semester’s tuition.
  • May 1: Deadline to submit financial aid documents
  • August 19-21: Orientation
  • August 26: First day of classes
  • Sept. 1: Admission revoked if official transcript has not been received

LSAT Test Dates

  • June 12, 2012
  • October 6 & 10, 2012
  • December 1&3, 2012
  • February 9 & 11, 2013
  • June 2013

Application Procedures

Applicants should submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

  • An online application completed through LSAC
  • a $60 application fee
  • a personal statement
  • LSAT score
  • two (2) letters of recommendation
  • transcripts of all academic work (LSDAS subscription required)

Applications submitted to LSAC for transmission to Whittier Law School will be considered received on the day they are electronically submitted.

Whittier Law School requires the submission of two letters of recommendation. We prefer that these letters be from college professors who can attest to your ability to enter a competitive graduate program. If you have been out of school for some time, employment letters of recommendation are acceptable. Although you are not restricted to two letters, your file will be considered complete when two letters have been received.

Whittier Law School requires that your letters be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service that serves all member schools. This service is included in your LSDAS subscription. Your letters will be copied and sent to us along with your LSDAS Report, or as received with any update. Be sure to fill out and give each reference a letter of recommendation form, found on the LSAC website at http://www.lsac.org.

Information and application forms for the LSAT and LSDAS subscription may be obtained by writing: Law School Admission Council, P.O. Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940, or by calling (215) 968-1001.

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution must register for the LSDAS subscription and submit all official transcripts to LSAC.

Foreign educated applicants must also take the TOEFL exam and submit the scores to LSAC. Exceptions are allowed if the applicant is a resident of an English speaking country or was educated at an institution where English is the primary language.

Applicants for admission must have earned (by the date of intended matriculation) a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution of higher learning. The Office of Admissions requires receipt of confirmation of the official transcript confirming the bachelor’s degree prior to registration and the beginning of classes.

Applicants interested in applying to the Center for Children’s Rights, Center for Intellectual Property Law, and Center for International and Comparative Law Fellowship must complete the application process for admission to the Juris Doctor Program and the separate application for the Centers. Only applicants who have completed both applications will be considered for admission to the Centers.

Admission Evaluation

The Admissions Committee evaluates applicants primarily on academic merit. The Committee considers a student’s year-to-year progress in college, completed courses, demonstrated ability within the major, amount of time spent in college, and graduate work. Other factors impacting a student’s study habits and time such as employment, student organizations’ memberships, etc. are taken into account.

The Committee also recognizes an applicant’s maturity, capacity for self-discipline, work record, and other attributes relevant in determining potential success in law school. For these reasons, applicants are encouraged to submit information that would be helpful in considering their academic potential. Letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and prior graduate school experience, if any, will be carefully considered.

The Law School is committed to providing a quality legal education to a diverse student body. Therefore, the Admissions Committee also considers ethnicity and cultural background, age, and unusual personal circumstances.

Admission Decisions

The Admissions Committee begins the evaluation process in October for the fall semester. The Law School does not adhere to a formal application deadline. However, priority in admission decisions will be given to applicants who apply by March 15 for the fall semester. For those applicants interested in receiving scholarship consideration, priority will be given to applications completed by February 1 for the fall semester.

Applicants seeking admission within two months of the scheduled registration date may find that the entering class is enrolled to capacity. In this case, applicants will compete with others for the occasional vacancy created by the withdrawal of an applicant previously admitted. Thus, it is not advisable for applicants to wait for LSAT results before applying, as this will delay the admission decision.

Commitment Deposits

Upon notice of acceptance, applicants are required to pay a $400 non-refundable commitment deposit to Whittier Law School by April 1. Applicants admitted after April 1 must pay the $400 deposit within two weeks of acceptance. Failure to submit the deposit will result in cancellation of acceptance, forfeiture of the seat, and revocation of any scholarship offer. Deposits are credited to the matriculating semester’s tuition.

Interviews

Interviews are not part of the admission process. The Office of Admissions will counsel applicants for general information only. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to include all supporting documentation with the application.

Law School Tours

Applicants are encouraged to tour the Law School during the regular academic year. The tour schedule for Spring 2013 is as follows:

Schedule of Classes for Tours – Spring 2013

MONDAY

Class: Civil Procedure 10:00 am – Prof. Pathak

Class: Torts 2:00 pm – Prof. Patton

  • Tours available before or after the class.

TUESDAY

Class: Criminal Law 9:00 am – Prof. Rose

Class: Torts 10:30 am – Prof. Leary

Class: Torts 10:30 am – Prof. Forman

  • Tours available before or after the class

WEDNESDAY

Class: Contracts 10:30 am – Prof. Cohen

  • Tours available before or after the class

THURSDAY

Class: Criminal Law 9:00am – Prof. Rose

Class: Torts 10:30 am – Prof. Leary

Class: Torts 2:30 pm – Prof. Forman

  • Tours available before or after the class

FRIDAY

Class: Contracts 10:30 am – Prof. Cohen

  • Tours available before or after the class

Tours are also available Monday thru Thursday between the hours of 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Friday between the hours of 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

The visit, coordinated by the Office of Admissions, will include a brief introduction to the admission process by an admissions counselor, along with a visit to a class. The tour must be scheduled by contacting the Office of Admissions. If one of the above dates does not fit your schedule, please contact the admissions office to set up an individual tour at (714) 444-4141, ext. 123, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Some tours are available by current students on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees must be paid in full at the beginning of each semester. Tuition is set annually by the Whittier College Board of Trustees.
The following tuition and fee payments apply to the 2012-13 academic year:

  • Day Division (annual) $40,260
  • Flexible Day Division (annual) $26,840
  • Application fee (non-refundable) $60
  • Student Bar Association fee (annual) $100
    .

Tuition Refund Policy

Tuition refunds are available only upon written notice of discontinuance. Application for a refund must be submitted to the Assistant Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs. The amount of the refund is determined by the date of receipt of the written notice and is not dependent upon the student’s attendance in class.

No refunds will be made after the end of the fourth week of the fall or spring semesters. If a student withdraws during the first two weeks of summer session, half of the tuition will be refunded.

Deferral Policy

Whittier Law School does not general grant deferrals.Exceptions have been made in cases such as military activation or life-threatening medical emergencies. Deferral decisions are made on an individual basis at the discretion of the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid.

Special Admissions

Each year the Admissions Committee considers applications for admission from individuals with atypical circumstances and backgrounds. Special admission applies to the following:

Applicants Who Do Not Have A Bachelor’s Degree

This category is reserved for exceptional cases. To qualify for this process, an applicant must be at least 35 years old, in the 70th percentile or higher on the LSAT and have completed 60 college units. Admission under this category is strictly limited to a few applicants each academic year.

Applicants who do not have the required college work (60 college units) may otherwise meet the pre-legal education requirement by taking and passing such examinations as directed by the Committee of Bar Examiners. In order to do so, Applicants are required to take and achieve minimum scores on examinations administered by the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). A score of at least 50 for the English Composition or English Composition with Essay examination administered by CLEP is required. In addition, applicants must have a score of at least 60 on each of two of the following tests administered by CLEP: Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and History. Applicants must register with CLEP to take the examinations with the request that the score reports be submitted to Whittier Law School and the Office of Admissions of The State Bar of California (Code Number 7165). Prospective students must have taken and passed all required examinations before applying through the special admission process.

CLEP informational brochures and registration forms are available at local colleges and universities, or by contacting:

College Level Examination Program
Gateway Place, Suite 480
San Jose, CA 95110
(408) 452-1400

Applicants Who Belong to an Ethnic or Cultural Minority, and Whose Life Circumstances Have Led to Diminished Opportunity

Applicants in this category should indicate in their personal statement the circumstances that warrant admission.

Applicants Who Have Attended Another ABA accredited Law School

Applicants who have previously attended another ABA law school are eligible to apply for admission to Whittier Law School. For applicants who are in good academic standing, unconditionally eligible for readmission at their original school, and the original school is an ABA accredited law school, applicants may apply as a transfer student. If the original law school is not an ABA accredited law school, or the applicant is not in good academic standing, then the applicants must apply as a first year law student.

For applicants who have been academically disqualified or dismissed from another ABA law school, applicants cannot apply as a first year law student until two years from the date of disqualification has passed, unless they obtain a standard 505 letter from the previously disqualified school.

Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans

Whittier Law School welcomes veterans into our community of students. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, you can receive payment to attend Whittier Law School. Tuition and fees are sent directly to the law school; the amount depends on your eligibility percentage. You may also have a monthly housing allowance and books stipend covered through the program, and sent directly to you. For more information, visit www.gibill.va.gov for information and eligibility.