Two-Year J.D. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers
For overseas students who already hold a foreign law degree, the Two-Year J.D. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers is distinctly marketable to employers. An attorney with full credentials in the United States and one or more additional jurisdictions is in high demand in the global economy.
While on campus, students will benefit from classes taught by distinguished faculty members; enjoy life in Lawrence, one of the best college towns in America; and meet other highly motivated colleagues from around the country and the world.
From KU Law’s perspective, students with foreign law degrees bring valuable diversity and professionalism to the classroom, and expand the school’s excellent global professional network of students and graduates.
How to Apply
Foreign-trained lawyers applying for admission to the Two-Year J.D. Program should submit the following items after registering with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) at www.lsac.org:
☐ Completed online application by May 1, 2012 deadline
☐ To apply for the Two-Year J.D. program, please fill out the KU Law J.D. application at www.lsac.org. Be sure to check the "Two-Year J.D." box on your application.
☐ Include official transcripts from all undergraduate and law school programs attended.
☐ Include at least two letters of recommendation attesting to your ability to pursue advanced graduate work.
☐ LSAT score(s)
The LSAT is administered in many cities around the world. A foreign-trained lawyer or current law student should plan ahead and take the LSAT as part of the application process to KU Law. Although the LSAT is required for admission, there is no minimum LSAT score required for entry into the Two-Year J.D. program.
☐ Proof of English proficiency
Proficiency should be at a level adequate to start and complete the program. Foreign students who speak English as a first language or who obtained a law degree at an institution with instruction in English need no further proof of proficiency. For all other students, proof consists of a satisfactory score on the TOEFL. Students should score at least 600 on the paper-based TOEFL, with at least 60 in each subscore, or 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, with at least 25 in each subscore. LSAC's TOEFL code for the CAS is 0058.
Completing the Program
Your route to completing the Two-Year J.D. depends on whether you obtained a foreign law degree in a common law jurisdiction*. Common law students do not need to follow the first-year curriculum, and will spend both of their years in the Two-Year J.D. Program taking upper-level courses.
Students who did not obtain a degree in a common law jurisdiction will begin the program with the standard first-year curriculum. During the second year of study, these students are eligible for any second- or third-year course available to all other J.D. students.
Students in the Two-Year J.D. Program are subject to the same grading system that applies to other J.D. candidates. All other law school and university rules apply, as appropriate, to students in the Two-Year J.D. Program. These include rules governing credits from outside the law school and cross-listing of courses.
The Two-Year J.D. Program is not limited to foreign citizens. American citizens who have foreign law degrees are also eligible, whether they were born or raised overseas, or elected to complete their education abroad after high school.
* Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, New Zealand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka will typically qualify as common law jurisdictions. Hong Kong and Macau also currently qualify. The dean or a designated faculty member makes the decision about whether or not certain other countries qualify.