Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Juris Doctor Application Deadlines

Regent University School of Law operates on a rolling application basis with periodic reviews. Applying early is highly encouraged to maximize your chances of admission and access to scholarships. Most applicants are notified within three weeks of the date that the application and all supporting documents are received by the Office of Law Admissions & Financial Aid. Application for entry into Regent Law is available through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website until July 31.

Below are the key application deadlines to keep in mind:

November 15, 2024 – Priority Decision Application Deadline 1
January 15, 2025 – Priority Decision Application Deadline 2
February 20, 2025 – Priority Decision Application Deadline 3
March 20, 2025 – Application Deadline
May 15, 2025 – Application Deadline
June 30, 2025 – Application Deadline
July 31, 2025 – Final Application Deadline

LSAT Deadline: Access upcoming test dates and registration deadlines on LSAC.org.

Early Commitment Program: The priority decision application deadlines fall within the timeframe for admitted students to enroll in the Early Commitment Program (ECP). Regent Law’s ECP is a binding decision program with exclusive benefits for those who commit to enroll at Regent Law by March 1, if admitted. Accepted students choosing to enroll under the ECP are eligible to receive enhanced scholarship opportunities, priority consideration for Faculty Scholar Fellowships and a $1,000 tuition scholarship for the first year of law school. Once admitted to this program, the applicant must withdraw all other law school applications and may not initiate applications to any other law schools.

International Applicants: Encouraged to apply by January 15.

For seating availability information, please contact the Office of Law Admissions & Financial Aid at 757.352.4584 or lawschool@regent.edu.

Juris Doctor Admissions Criteria & Prerequisites

Please carefully note the following information as you begin your law school application process.

Admissions Criteria for J.D. Degree

The Regent Law admissions committee seeks to do more than simply enroll those with the greatest academic potential. We admit men and women who demonstrate academic ability, as well as a commitment to the university’s mission as a Christ-centered institution.

The admissions committee, comprised of faculty members, associate deans, and the director of admissions, evaluates applicants according to the following criteria:

• Academic achievement (GPA, course rigor, and institution(s) attended)
• LSAT scores*
• Mission fit
• Responses to the questions in the application for admission
• Career accomplishments
• Skills relevant to the practice of law

* Regent Law considers applicants who meet the criteria for admission under Interpretation of ABA Interpretation 503-3 as long as they apply through LSAC.org and indicate the criteria that they meet. For more information, contact lawschool@regent.edu or 757.352.4584.

Prerequisites for the J.D. Program

All J.D. applicants should possess a bachelor's degree from an approved college or university prior to beginning their legal studies. The Admissions Committee does not recommend any single major or undergraduate field of study, but welcomes majors ranging from political science to engineering, and from biblical studies to psychology.

Once you have fulfilled the admission requirements listed in the application process below, you may be contacted for an admissions interview, which is by invitation only.

Medians

• LSAT Score: 158
• GPA: 3.64

Juris Doctor Application Process

1. Application: Apply online via Law School Admission Council (LSAC). For technical issues, contact LSAC Help Desk at 215.968.1393.
2. Application Fee: Pay a $65 nonrefundable fee by check or money order to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.
3. Transcripts: Send official transcripts from all attended institutions to LSAC. If admitted before completing your bachelor’s degree, submit an official final transcript to Regent Law School before matriculating.
4. LSAT Scores: Take the LSAT and enroll in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Visit the LSAC website for test dates. Regent University hosts an LSAT Prep Course twice a year and offers information on prep resources. The admissions committee considers the highest LSAT score but reviews all scores and application materials when rendering a decision.
5. Letters of Recommendation: Submit at least one Academic Recommendation, or a General Recommendation if out of school for five years or more. A Spiritual Recommendation is encouraged. Limit recommendations to four, sent via LSAC's LOR Service. Note: Recommenders, not the applicants, must upload the letters through LSAC’s LOR Service.
6. Personal Statement: Provide a 500-1,000 word essay outlining your motivation for studying law at Regent and any relevant skills or experiences.
7. International Applicants: Follow the International Admissions Checklist, including a TOEFL score of at least 100 or a Duolingo score of 125. For queries, contact lawschool@regent.edu or the International Students Office.

Submit all admissions materials through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Note: Submitted materials are not returnable.

Graduating with a J.D. from Regent University School of Law makes students eligible to sit for the bar exam in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

*Rates are subject to change at any time.
**To be fully vested and eligible to receive the bar preparation review course upon graduation for no additional cost other than postage, a $250 refundable materials deposit, and state sales tax. J.D. students must pay the $430 fee for six semesters.

Regent Law’s Honors Program provides exclusive academic and professional experiences to select entering students and those who have performed near the top of their first-year law school class. Participants take select classes with other high-performing students and enjoy a higher level of in-class engagement. Honors Program classes are smaller than those at most law schools, which affords faculty members more opportunities to engage students. Law Honors Program students also enjoy greater curricular flexibility by having fewer required courses during the second and third year.

As a student in the J.D. Honors Program, you can:

• Participate in an honors-only section of the Foundations of Law course.
• Enjoy a special honors section of at least one of the other first-year common law doctrinal courses, such as Torts, Contracts, Property, and Civil Procedure.
• Take select upper-level courses in small, honors-only sections.
• Meet with prominent speakers such as:
  • Elena Kagan, Supreme Court Associate Justice
  • John Ashcroft, Distinguished Professor of Law & Government and former U.S. Attorney General
  • Vern Clark, Distinguished Professor of Government & Leadership and retired U.S. Admiral
  • Leslie H. Southwick, Federal Judge, U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

Along with all Regent Law students, you also may:

• Compete on award-winning Moot Court, Negotiation and Trial Advocacy teams.
• Gain experience through many externship and practical opportunities including internships with the Center for Global Justice®.
• Develop practical lawyering skills through clinical practice within The Center for Advocacy and a partnership with the American Center for Law and Justice (the nation’s foremost public interest law firm defending religious liberties).

How do I get into the Honors Program?

Admission to the honors program is primarily based on an applicant’s LSAT score(s), cumulative undergraduate GPA, and overall academic record. Admitted students with a 160 LSAT and a 3.7 cumulative GPA are automatically admitted to the honors program. Other admitted students with a LSAT score of 157 or higher and other strong academic indicators will also receive consideration. Space is limited, so we encourage you to apply early.

Rising second-year students can enter the Honors Program by finishing in the top 25 percent of their class at the end of the first year of law school. All students must maintain a law school GPA of 3.2 to continue in the Honors Program.

Success Story

“The Regent Law Honors Program helped me thrive academically and expand in my comprehension of the law. I have excelled at my federal clerkships because my coursework always challenged me to go deeper in my understanding of the legal matters at issue.“

— Ariel Bryant, J.D., Class of 2019, Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Roanoke, VA

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The School of Law offers students the opportunity to pursue a joint degree in the Juris Doctor (JD) and other graduate programs at Regent University. In accordance with ABA regulations, the School of Law application must be used as the primary application for the student’s joint degree. Applicants must then apply to the additional program utilizing the general admissions application for the other school. Under the joint-degree agreement, students complete 83 (instead of 90) credit hours in the JD. Joint degree students subsequently earn a separate degree from each school and must complete both degree programs before being approved for graduation.