Banner

JD Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Main Content

Preparing for Law School

Applying to Duke Law School

Standardized Testing (LSAT and GRE)

Preparing for Law School

Where should I start?

One good starting point is the ABA's Statement on Pre-Law Education. The Law School Admission Council has plenty of advice. Your college or university likely has a pre-law advisor who should be a good source of information. (Don't worry if you've already graduated - they usually work with alumni as well, and if you don't know who the advisor for your school is, you can find out through your LSAC online account.)

What should I major in?

There is no one major that is appropriate or favored as preparation for law school. It's not surprising that many people who are interested in attending law school are also attracted to majors such as political science, history, and economics, and we do see (and admit) many people who have studied these fields. However, the intellectual atmosphere at the Law School is enhanced by the presence of students from a wide range of majors from humanities to the sciences. We look favorably on applicants who have taken a wide-ranging, challenging curriculum and developed skills in writing, close textual analysis, and critical thinking. Rather than select a major because it is "good preparation for law school," you should make your choice because the discipline seems interesting and engaging to you. You will be most engaged in these classes, and do your best work there - which will probably turn out to be the best preparation for law school.

What other activities should I pursue?

As with the choice of major, there is no specific activity, involvement, or employment that we specifically favor. We hope to enroll a class made up of people with a wide range of experiences. As a small, close-knit law school community, we look for students who will be fully engaged in the life of the law school, take on leadership roles in student organizations and journals, and live out the principles of the Duke Law Blueprint. For some, this may mean active involvement in an array of activities; for others, a more intense concentration on a few of particular importance to them. They may be law-related, but certainly need not be. It's not surprising that many prospective law students would participate in mock trial and pre-law organizations, work or intern for a law firm or judge, and so on. Indeed, for many this is a very helpful step in determining whether a career in law is a good choice for them. However, many successful applicants have built impressive records in other fields and have no in-depth exposure to legal practice prior to law school.

Should I take time off after college?

This is largely a personal decision. Thirty to forty percent of a typical incoming class at Duke Law is made up of people who have just graduated from college, so it should be clear that we do not require or expect post-college work experience. That said, it's worth considering the possibility of taking time to do something else before starting law school, particularly if you have a reasonably attractive option. Many people return to school with a better perspective on their goals and a higher degree of maturity and focus. In addition, knowledge of a specific industry (and the working world in general) is a welcome element in our student body. As with other activities, though, post-college work need not be law-related to be of interest to the admissions committee. However, if you are a college senior who is excited about the idea of law school and legal practice, there is absolutely no reason to feel that you "should" take time off before applying to law school.

Where should I go to college?/Should I transfer to another college?/Will my college affect my chances of admission?

We are looking for good students and interesting people regardless of the institutions they have attended. A typical Duke Law class has around 200 students from more than 100 colleges and universities of all sorts. We are most concerned with your individual performance. You should choose a college (or decide whether to transfer) based on what seems like the best fit for your needs rather than on the role it might play in your law school application.

We do pay attention to general characteristics of the colleges that our applicants have attended. LSAC provides helpful information about the average GPA and LSAT score of law school applicants from each college that helps us assess the overall strength of the student body, and account for grade inflation (or lack thereof).

Applying to Duke Law School

When should I submit my application?

We begin accepting applications in September for the following year's entering class. The deadline for submitting applications is February 15. Review the Early Decision deadline dates. We recommend that you apply relatively early in the cycle. Although early applicants may have some advantage due to the timing of their application, very late applicants face a significant disadvantage due to the number of offers of admission that have already been made as our deadline approaches.

May I submit an application after the February 15 deadline?

You may, bearing in mind that most offers of admission have been made at that point, and that you may not receive a decision by the end of April.

How should I submit my application?

Applications must be submitted via the Law School Admission Council's e-app service. If you are unable to do so, please contact the admissions office (admissions@law.duke.edu) to discuss alternate arrangements.

Do you offer an Early Decision option?

We do! » More information

Do you waive the application fee?

We do! » More information

Do you require a Dean's Certification form?

If you answer "yes" to the school-related conduct question, you are required to have a dean, registrar, department supervisor, judicial officer, or academic officer with access to official records from your institution submit a letter that provides complete information about the incident. They may send an email or submit an institutional form; Duke does not provide a specific form for this purpose. Other applicants are not required to submit a Dean's Certification. For more information, review the application instructions.

Do you conduct interviews as part of the application?

In specific instances when the admissions committee determines that additional information would be helpful in making a final decision, applicants may be invited to visit campus for an interview. These interviews are optional, and offered by invitation at the discretion of the admissions committee. Candidates who do not receive an interview invitation are welcome to visit the law school for a tour, and may make an appointment for a non-evaluative informational meeting with an admissions officer.

Do you offer a part-time or evening program?

No, our JD program is a full-time day program.

Do you offer a paralegal program?

Duke's Certificate in Paralegal Studies is offered through Duke Continuing Studies, not through the Law School. » More information

What should I write my Personal Statement about?

Review the application instructions for detailed information regarding the resume, personal statement and essays.

How should I provide additional information to the admissions office?

When you submit your application through the LSAC e-app service, you may upload supplemental materials along with your resume, personal statement, and essays. If there is anything you want us to consider that will not be obvious from the rest of your application (an explanation of time off from school, your grade trends, etc.) you may also submit an addendum to include this information. After you have submitted your application, you may provide updates and additional material by e-mail (admissions@law.duke.edu) and we will add them to your file.

When will I receive a decision on my application?

If you apply by our February 15 deadline, you should receive a decision by the end of April. Beyond that, it's hard to give a specific estimate. We use a rolling admissions process, reviewing applications as they are received and sending decisions when we have made them (rather than waiting until one notification date as many colleges do). We encourage early applications, and some of these applicants may receive early decisions. However, it takes us some time to get a full sense of the applicant pool each year, and some early applications may be reviewed once and held for further consideration later in the cycle.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

Is a standardized test required for applicants?

Yes, all applicants must submit a score either from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). For more information about the LSAT, please consult the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). For more information about the GRE, please consult the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Do you prefer one test to the other?

No, either the LSAT or the GRE is acceptable and will be given equal consideration as part of a holistic application review.

What if I take both the LSAT and the GRE?

If you have one or more valid LSAT scores, they must be reported as part of your application. If you also take the GRE, you may submit all valid GRE scores, but you may also choose to submit only LSAT scores. The only circumstance where you may apply without submitting an LSAT score is if you have only taken the GRE.

How long are the test scores valid?

We will accept LSAT and GRE scores for up to five years after the test date.

How do you consider multiple test scores?

Our holistic review considers all the information in your application to get an overall sense of your academic ability. This includes undergraduate and graduate coursework, and letters of recommendation, as well as all standardized test scores. If you have both an LSAT and a GRE score (or more than one of either or both), all will be considered. If you feel that any information about your test scores would help us evaluate them appropriately, please feel free to submit a brief addendum as part of your application. This might be especially helpful if there is a significant discrepancy among your test scores, or between your test scores and your classroom performance.

How are LSAT scores reported to Duke?

If you take the LSAT, your score(s) will be reported as part of your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, along with your transcripts and letters of recommendation. If you re-take the test after submitting your application, we will automatically receive an updated CAS report.

Do I have to submit an LSAT writing sample?

Applications with an LSAT score must include at least one writing sample. (However, if you take the LSAT more than once, you do not need to re-do the writing sample.) LSAC will not send the CAS report without a writing sample. If you only take the GRE, you are not required to submit a writing sample.

How are GRE scores reported to Duke?

Visit https://www.ets.org/gre for GRE registration and information.  You will be required to request ETS to send an official copy of your scores to Duke University School of Law - institution code 4916.

May I submit my application before I take the LSAT/GRE, or if I plan to take another test later?

Yes. If you are taking the LSAT for the first time after you submit your application, your application will be incomplete until we receive the CAS report with that score (and other required material). If you have one or more reportable LSAT scores and plan to retake the test, you may indicate that on the application. We will place a hold on your application until the later test score is available .If you are taking the GRE, we will wait to complete your file until we receive a score from ETS. If you have one GRE score sent and would like for us to wait for an additional score to complete your application file, please email admissions@law.duke.edu with that request.

In this section