Apply Now: First Year Students

Eligibility For JD Application

An applicant seeking admission as a JD student will be eligible to apply to Marquette Law School if they:

  1. Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university before enrolling in the Law School, unless seeking to enroll under the early entry provisions of one of the Law School's "3+3" or "pre-law scholar" programs with a partner undergraduate institution.
  2. Have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE), or the JD-Next 8-week course and law school admissions test. (Scores from entrance examinations taken within the last five years are considered valid) 
  3. Subscribe to the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The CAS report provides the Law School with copies of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts, LSAT score or scores and a copy of the LSAT writing sample (if applicable), letter(s) of recommendation, and an undergraduate academic transcript summary and analysis.

Application Timing

Candidates, both full-time and part-time, may begin submitting applications September 1.

Rolling Admission

  • Candidates, both full-time and part-time, are strongly encouraged to take no later than February the LSAT, the GRE, or the JD-Next 8-week course and law school admissions test, and to complete an application no later than April 1.
  • However, the Law School will continue to accept and evaluate applications after April 1. 

Again, early application is encouraged. The Admissions Committee reviews files in the order in which they are completed. Applicants will be advised when their application files are complete (including our receipt of the LSAC CAS report and other test score report, if applicable). Typically, applicants receive notification from the Admissions Committee within eight weeks after their applications become complete. Applicants are notified on a rolling basis of any action taken on their applications by the Admissions Committee. Admitted applicants will be required to submit tuition deposits.

If a candidate will apply for a joint degree program, they must submit two distinct applications, one to the Law School and one to the other school/program, and must fulfill all of the application requirements (entrance examinations, fees, deadlines, etc.) for each program.

In the interest of equity, no evaluative interviews are conducted as part of the application review process. Applicants are welcome, however, to submit in writing any information they believe is relevant to their applications.

Entrance Examinations | The LSAT, the GRE, or JD-Next

Each applicant must submit at least one of the following test scores: (a) Law School Admission Test (LSAT), (b) Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or (c) JD-Next law school admissions test. The Law School will accept entrance examination scores taken within the past five years.

a. An applicant taking the LSAT can expect that the score will be reported automatically to Marquette University Law School as part of the LSAC CAS report.

b. An applicant taking the GRE should have their GRE score reported by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) directly to Marquette University Law School (GRE institution code number 6222).

c. An applicant submitting a JD-Next law school admissions test score to Marquette University Law School should:

  1. Log in to the Aspen Publishing website (www.aspenpublishing.com). After logging in, search for JD-Next Score Report and navigate to the buy page for the score report.
  2. On the buy page, select JDN Score Report Fee and add to cart (an error message will appear if there is no eligible score report).
  3. A Score Report Form Submission will pop up. Confirm personal identifying information.
  4. Select the school(s) to which to send the score report and consent to data sharing.
  5. Add the score report(s) to the cart. The first 3 score reports are included. (There is a charge of $30.00 per score report for additional schools.) An order confirmation will be sent upon completing the score report purchase.

All applicants, including those applicants who submit GRE or JD-Next scores in addition to or in lieu of LSAT scores, must register with CAS through LSAC and submit transcripts to CAS for all undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate academic work.

Importantly, "pre-law scholar" or "3+3" applicants seeking to enroll under the early entry provisions available with one of Marquette Law School's partner undergraduate institutions may not utilize GRE or JD-Next scores but must take the LSAT.

Recommendations

One letter of recommendation is required. A letter of recommendation should provide a candid evaluation of your intellectual abilities, moral character, and special talents. We encourage, but do not require, that the letter of recommendation be written by a professor (or instructor) that taught you in a class. A letter of recommendation from an employer may be submitted. The Admissions Committee strongly prefers that your recommendation(s) be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service that serves all member schools. This service is included in your Credential Assembly Service registration. Your letter(s) will be scanned and sent to us along with your LSAC CAS report. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined at LSAC.org. Letters of recommendation may not be electronically inserted ("cut and pasted") into or appended to a candidate's electronic application.
 

Application Checklist

All materials relating to admission or the Law School application, once submitted, become property of Marquette University Law School and will not be returned. The following items must be submitted to the Office of Admissions:

  • Completed online application.
  • $50 application fee (payable by major credit or debit card only; cash/checks/money orders not accepted).
  • A personal statement written by the applicant.
  • Descriptive statement(s) regarding affirmative response(s) to character and fitness questions, if applicable.
  • A résumé or curriculum vitae (strongly encouraged).
  • Optional statement(s) are welcome.
  • If additional space is needed for any response, please use electronic attachments and reference your response.
  • If an applicant does not provide their Social Security Number as a part of their application, that omission may impede the processing of their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they are admitted to the Law School.
  • A complete LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report* including:
    • All academic transcripts, including all undergraduate transcripts and any graduate transcripts;
    • A valid LSAT score and writing sample (if applicable);
    • At least one (1) letter of recommendation.
      *Note: After receipt of your application, the Office of Admissions will request your law school report from the Credential Assembly Service.
  • If a candidate wishes to submit GRE or JD-Next scores in lieu of or in addition to an LSAT score, please see the "Entrance Examinations" section above for instructions regarding submitting GRE or JD-Next scores to the Law School. 
  • An applicant that has previously enrolled in, attended, or withdrawn at any point from any other law school must have that law school provide a letter of standing and an official transcript of all law school work. Those items must be sent directly by that law school to: Office of Admissions, Marquette University Law School, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881.
  • Reapplicants and international applicants should also refer to pertinent sections below.

Applicant Status Online System

Once your application for admission has been received and uploaded, you will receive an email providing you with information regarding our Applicant Status Online (ASO) system via the Law School Admission Council. We hope that candidates will utilize this system to keep track of their application as they proceed through the review process.

ASO will reflect for you the approximate timing for the review of your application.  Please know that decisions are not relayed via ASO.  

Marquette University Law School's ASO URL is: https://aso.lsac-unite.org/?guid=pDBzR7U8vOs%3D 

Qualifications for Admission to the Bar | Character and Fitness

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.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Information

Information regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and related financial aid information will be automatically sent to admitted applicants as soon as it becomes available for the school year that you will be applying for, probably in early February. Marquette's title code is 003863. All applicants offered admission are considered for scholarships as long as funds remain available; no separate application is required or used.

Reapplicants

Those reapplying for admission are required to submit a new application. Please see above application checklist.

  • While an applicant's personal statement and/or optional statement(s) from the prior application may be reused, the submission of an entirely new personal statement is strongly encouraged.
  •  An updated resume or curriculum vitae should be provided.
  • Applications made within the last four to five years should still be retained in the LSAC electronic archive, and will be pulled from the archive and matched to the applicant. A reapplicant is welcome to submit a new letter(s) of recommendation, although if the previously submitted recommendation(s) remains on file with LSAC, that is acceptable.
  • Updates to activities since the previous application should be made directly within the new application, in applicable questions such as education, employment, etc.
  • $50 application fee (payable by major credit or debit card only; cash/checks/money orders not accepted).
  • If necessary, Credential Assembly Service registration should be renewed and updated credentials should be submitted.

International Applicants

In addition to the application instructions above, international students must satisfy the English language requirement:

  • Earning a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree at a college or university where English was the language of instruction AND that college or university is located in a country where English is the primary language.
  • If one does not meet the above condition, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required. The TOEFL score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in the CAS law school report. The applicant must have TOEFL scores sent to CAS; the TOEFL code for CAS is 0058.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Information:

  • International students may find it helpful to know that the Law School does not offer specific grants or fellowships for international students. If admitted to the Law School, F-1 visa students are required to comply with I-20 certification requirements: they must submit a deposit for tuition in U.S. dollars in advance of enrolling and must have a financial sponsor for each of the three years they are enrolled.
  • All applicants, including international applicants, offered admission are considered for merit scholarships as long as funds remain available; no separate application is required or used.

Registration and Enrollment Conditions:

Registration and enrollment in the Marquette University Law School for non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents are conditional upon their maintaining appropriate U.S. legal status. When confirming eligibility and enrollment, international students should be sure to review the current forms and procedures that are necessary to remain in compliance during enrollment at Marquette. International applicants should confirm their legal eligibility with:

Marquette University Office of International Education
Holthusen Hall, 4th Floor
1324 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
U.S.A.
world@marquette.edu
(414) 288-7289 telephone
(414) 288-3701 facsimile