Can an international student apply for law school in USA?
Asked by: Fletcher Glover | Last update: January 21, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (60 votes)
Yes, international students can go to law school in the US. Many law schools in the US are willing to accept students from other countries and allow them to pursue legal education in their schools.
Can I go to law school with an international studies degree?
There is no pre-law curriculum in the United States; essentially law schools will take you regardless of your major if your grade point average and law board scores are high enough.
Can an international student take the LSAT?
The exam is offered multiple times a year worldwide. You can find international test dates, designated testing centers, and register at lsac.org.
Can a non US citizen study law?
Non-citizens who want to practice law in the United States have the option of earning a JD from an American law school. This option requires the applicant to have a bachelor's degree from their home country since that is the minimum academic requirement for admission to law school in the United States.
How do international students pay for law school?
International students must remember that all law school tuition and fees are required to be paid in U.S. dollars, by check or U.S. money order (payable to Southwestern Law School).
U.S. law school admissions for international students
Do US law schools accept international students?
Law schools in the United States will accept international students from across the world. If you are an international student, you may want to think carefully about whether or not a US Law degree will be useful for you in your future career plans.
Is it harder for international students to get into US law school?
Getting accepted to a US law school isn't easy. Top law schools have extremely low acceptance rates, often below 20% for all applicants. For law schools for international students, this number is often lower.
How can an international student become a lawyer in USA?
- Meet the minimum legal education requirements.
- Pass a character and fitness review.
- Pass the bar examination.
- Pass the legal ethics examination.
Does US law apply to non US citizens?
All people in the U.S. – including citizens, foreign tourists and non-citizen residents – are subject to federal, state and local government laws. Even if only traveling for a short time, a person who commits a crime while vacationing in the U.S. could be arrested, tried, convicted and imprisoned.
How many years is law school in the US?
As a law student, you can expect to spend at least three years in law school. Full-time students typically complete their studies within three years, while part-time students take up to five years. Graduating from law school is an impressive achievement for many aspiring lawyers.
Can international students get a JD?
International JD Applicants
JD Applicants whose undergraduate degree was earned outside the United States must use the Credential Assembly Service through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). All foreign transcripts should be sent directly to LSAC.
How expensive is the LSAT?
What fees are associated with the LSAT? It costs $222 to take the LSAT and receive one free score report. In addition, subscription to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required for application for most law schools. This subscription costs $200 and includes on score report for $45.
Does Harvard law accept international students?
Each year we receive many applications from international students. The Admissions Committee is experienced in international admissions and has specific knowledge regarding foreign universities.
What is the cheapest law school in the US?
The cheapest law schools in the US are the University of the District of Columbia law school and the University of North Dakota law school, which are cheapest only for in-state residents.
Which major is best for law school?
The best major for prospective law school students is Political Science. Political Science offers a deep understanding of government, legal systems, and political theory. It also hones your critical thinking, analytical skills, and communication— key to law school and being a successful lawyer.
Which states accept foreign law degrees?
Most states do require a J.D. degree for a US law school in order to sit for the bar exam. There are some states which do allow foreign law graduates to sit for the bar exam, including New York, California, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Virginia.
What is the 7 year rule for immigration?
During the seven-year period of potential eligibility, non-citizens are expected to work toward becoming U.S. citizens. If they do not, eligibility will stop after seven years.
How long does it take for a foreigner to become a U.S. citizen?
The processing time for naturalization (citizenship) averages 5.5 months (Boundless updates this information monthly based on our analysis of government data). During this time, as the government works to process the Application for Naturalization, applicants must complete several steps before becoming citizens.
Can you live permanently in the U.S. without being a citizen?
There is no requirement that an LPR apply for citizenship. LPRs are eligible to apply for nearly all jobs (i.e., jobs not legitimately restricted to U.S. citizens) and are permitted to remain in the country permanently, while still remaining subject to immigration laws.
What is the hardest bar exam in the US?
Which bar exam is hardest? California is considered by many to be the most difficult bar exam. It has a relatively low pass rate and a relatively high minimum passing score and covers a lot of state law.
Is it harder to get into law school as an international student?
Applying to law school can be difficult for anyone, but foreign applicants face extra challenges. Still, getting in can be within reach with the right outlook, advice and support.
What is the hardest law school to get into in the US?
1. Yale University. With an acceptance rate of just 6.9%, it's no wonder that Yale is the hardest law school to get into. Only around 1 in 15 of their highly qualified applicants makes it through.
How to study law in the USA for international students?
You must have a bachelor's degree and have passed the LSAT, the US's law school admissions test, to apply for law school in the US. After law school, you will need to pass the bar exam to become a practicing lawyer in the US. International students can also use their US law degree to practice law in another country.
What GPA do you need to get into Harvard Law School?
As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.