Golden Gate University School of Law (GGU Law)

Admissions Overview

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible during the admissions cycle. A complete LLM/SJD Program application consists of the following:

LLM Application

Application Form

Application Fee (waived for current GGU Law students and alumni)

Personal Statement

Resume or C.V.

Two Letters of Recommendation

Law School Transcripts (translated if not in English)

Non-US applicants must submit additional documents

SJD Application

Application Form

Application Fee (waived for current GGU Law students and alumni)

Resume or C.V.

Research Statement

One Writing Sample, in the English language on a legal topic

Two Letters of Recommendation

Law School Transcripts (translated if not in English)

Non-US applicants must submit additional documents

All documents should be mailed to:

Graduate Law Admissions, Suite 3320

Golden Gate University School of Law

536 Mission Street

San Francisco, CA 94105-2968

USA

APPLICATION FEE & DEADLINES

Golden Gate University reviews applications on a rolling basis. Applicants should expect an admission decision within 2-3 weeks of submitting all required application documents. It is highly recommended that applicants apply prior to the priority deadline as scholarship decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Deadlines for filing an LLM application are:

April 1 is the priority deadline for starting the program in the fall (August) but later applications will be considered if space is available.

October 1 is the priority deadline for starting the program in the spring (January) but later applications will be considered if space is available.

April 1 is the priority deadline for starting the program in the summer (late May) but later applications will be considered if space is available. Admission to the summer term is limited to the Taxation and Estate Planning LLM Programs.

Deadlines for filing an SJD application are:

March 1 for starting the program in the fall (August) but later applications will be considered if space is available.

Fall semester classes are scheduled August to December, spring semester classes are scheduled January to May, and summer semester classes are scheduled May to July, with most classes held in the evening.

There is a $60 application fee. This fee is waived for current GGU students and alumni. For all other applicants, a fee of $60 must accompany the program application. You can pay your application fee online here.

THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Applications are considered complete once they contain all of the required materials as detailed above and below. Completed applications are then forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. A decision is typically rendered two to three weeks after an application has been forwarded to the Committee. Applicants will be informed of admissions decisions by email and through LSAC's Online Status Check (see below). All admissions decisions are final.

In order to enroll in a Graduate Law Program, admitted students must have completed their law degree (for the LLM programs a JD, LLB, or equivalent degree and for the SJD Program an LLM) before the first day of New Student Orientation.

GGU Graduate Law will withdraw offers of admission from admitted students who cannot show proof of a conferred degree.

Please note that the Admissions Office communicates with applicants primarily by phone and e-mail. It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the office of any changes in mailing address, email, or telephone number. Please email any changes in contact information to gradlaw@ggu.edu or call 415-442-7234.

APPLICATION FORM

Applicants may use the electronic application form available on the LSAC website or apply directly to the Graduate Law Department by submitting the LLM Application form or SJD Application form along with the remaining documents directly to gradlaw@ggu.edu. Applicants are advised to read the application form thoroughly and follow the instructions carefully.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

GGU Graduate Law requires each applicant to submit a written personal statement. The statement must be no more than two double-spaced, typed pages (8.5x11 inch (or A4)).

The statement is the applicant's opportunity to present credentials in non-statistical terms and may include the reasons for seeking the degree. Of interest to the admissions committee are the applicant's experiences as a student or practitioner in the subject area of the specific LLM program. The applicant is encouraged to describe the impact of these experiences on his or her decision to undertake graduate legal study. The statement should be in narrative rather than résumé form.

RESUME

Applicants must also include a current résumé or C.V. detailing educational and work history along with any current or past community service or volunteer experience.

SJD RESEARCH STATEMENT

GGU Graduate Law requires each SJD applicant to submit a written research statement. The statement must be no more than ten double-spaced, typed page (8.5x11 inch (or A4)).

The statement should provide a narrative description of your reasons for seeking an SJD in International Legal Studies and should set forth your intended fields of inquiry and research objectives in specific terms. You may also submit a bibliography in support of your application, but these are not acceptable substitutes for the narrative application statement. View the SJD procedural guidelines.

SJD WRITING SAMPLE

GGU Graduate Law requires that each SJD applicant submit one writing sample, in the English language on a legal topic (such as a published article or an LLM thesis)

LAW SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS

LLM candidates must hold a law degree from a law school or university. SJD candidates must hold an LLM or its equivalent. Official transcripts from all law schools attended must be submitted.

From US institutions, official, original transcripts must be sent directly by the institution.

From non-US institutions, applicants must provide an original or certified true copy of academic records for each year of study. These records must be in the original language issued. If not in English, a certified English translation must also be provided. Academic records should be sent directly by the institution. If included with the applicant's documents, academic records should be in an official, sealed envelope from the institution.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

GGU Graduate Law strongly encourages at least two, but no more than four, letters of recommendation. Applicants are advised to request letters from current or former professors or professional colleagues or supervisors who can attest to the applicant's intellectual and professional attributes. GGU Graduate Law discourages letters from friends or family members.

INTERVIEW

An interview is not required but may be scheduled upon request.

VISA DEADLINES

International law students seeking visas to enter the US should apply as early as possible to allow time for visa processing. The documents necessary to apply for a student visa are issued once an applicant has been admitted, submitted the necessary supporting documents, and paid a seat deposit. It is generally recommended that you allow at least two (2) months for visa processing. For more information please see our International Applicants page.

ONLINE STATUS CHECK

GGU Law provides Online Status Check through the LSAC website for applicants to check the progress of their application. Final admissions decisions will also be available for applicants via this service. Once an application is received by the Admissions Office, the applicant will receive a confirmation email, which will include a unique username and password for access to Online Status Check.

CREDIT TRANSFERS

Units from a non-ABA-approved JD program or from any non-law school program cannot be transferred into an LLM program.

Up to twelve (12) units from an ABA-approved JD or LLM program may be applicable to an LLM program at GGU Law. The courses must have been taken in the last five years, the student must have earned grades of at least B- (2.50 GPA), the courses must be an equivalent of required programs or elective courses, and the LLM Program Director must determine that application of the units towards the LLM is in the best interest of the student. Application of units is at the discretion of the specific LLM Program Director.

MULTIPLE DEGREES

Students earning an LLM from GGU Law may apply to that program up to twelve (12) units of coursework in another GGU Law LLM program. The courses must have been taken in the last five years, the student must have earned grades of at least B- (2.50 GPA), the courses must be an equivalent of required programs or elective courses, and the LLM Program Director must determine that application of the units towards the LLM is in the best interest of the student. Application of units is at the discretion of the specific LLM Program Director.

LLM & SJD Program Scholarships

All applicants to the Graduate Law Programs (LLM & SJD programs) are automatically considered for merit scholarship awards on the basis of their application. Entering merit scholarships include partial-tuition scholarships.

SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS

• Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers
• East Bay Trusts & Estates Scholarship
• Women in Tax Equity Scholarship
• Young Tax Lawyers Scholarship
• International Welcome Scholarship
• Bita Daryabari Award (Fall 2019)

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIPS

• International Scholar
• Global Scholar
• Merit Scholar

To find out more, visit our Scholarship and Financial Aid page at http://law.ggu.edu/admissions/scholarships-and-financial-aid

JD Program

GGU Law administers a full range of programs including scholarships, federal work study, federal loans, and private loans to help students fund their legal education.

Financing Your Education

• All applicants to GGU Law are automatically considered for Merit Scholarship Awards. Entering merit scholarships include full-tuition Dean's Scholarships, full-tuition Presidential Scholarships, and partial-tuition Faculty Scholarships awarded in varying amounts.
• GGU Law proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
• The California Scholars Program awards special scholarships to select graduates of California's public university systems. All applicants from UC and CSU campuses are automatically considered for these awards.
• Our Public Interest Scholars Program and Environmental Law Scholars Program award special scholarships to qualified applicants pursuing careers in public interest or environmental law.
• Our Fellowship Program awards specialty scholarships in six different areas of interests, combined with a unique mentorship component. The program includes: Intellectual Property Law Fellowship, Environmental Law Fellowship, Breaking-In Fellowship (Workplace Re-entry), Social Justice Fellowship (Public Interest), LGBTQ Scholar-Activist Fellowship, and Leadership Through the Law Dean's Fellowship.
• Federal Financial Aid is available to eligible applicants.

Tuition & Fees

Please see http://law.ggu.edu/student-support/registrar/tuition-and-fees for the most up-to-date tuition and fees.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Application form, application fee, personal statement, and transcripts in accordance with our LLM or SJD application requirements
• Official TOEFL score report sent to GGU Law directly from the testing agency as detailed below or through LSAC
• Official Certification of Finances form with bank seal and accompanying documents

TRANSCRIPTS

GGU Law requires a complete and detailed report, including course breakdown, grade evaluation, and degree equivalency. A report of basic equivalency is insufficient information.

We recommend that LLM and SJD applicants from other nations bring with them an extra copy of their official transcripts of undergraduate and law studies as well as any official documents they have received from the courts or bar associations of their home country indicating that they have been admitted to practice law in that country. These documents are not required for admission to the LLM and SJD programs but may prove useful in obtaining employment or applying to sit for a bar exam in one of several U.S. states. Students planning to prepare for a bar examination may need a transcript evaluation by an independent agency. This evaluation can be completed after students arrive to begin the LLM or SJD programs.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

Applicants who received their degrees outside the United States must satisfy the Admissions Committee of the proficiency of their English language abilities. An official TOEFL score report sent directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) to the appropriate program at GGU Law satisfies this requirement. Visit the TOEFL Website.

The TOEFL Institution Code for Golden Gate University is 4329

The TOEFL Department Code for the School of Law is 03

Applicants must receive a minimum TOEFL score of 580 Paper-based test (PBT), or 92 Internet-based test (iBT) for the LLM (Master of Laws) Programs in U.S. Legal Studies, International Legal Studies, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Taxation, and the SJD (Doctorate) Program in International Legal Studies.

TOEFL Practice Online is a community for test takers preparing for the next generation TOEFL test, or anyone wishing to improve their academic English skills. This is the ONLY website that has official test material from the new TOEFL test that will assess these language skills: Listening, Writing, Reading, Speaking. By becoming a member you can access helpful information, discussion boards, sample responses from a speaking test, and purchase a practice test and practice questions. TOEFL Practice Online Website.

GGU Law accepts International English Language Testing (IELTS) scores. Students need about Level 6.5 to be admitted to the LLM (Master of Laws) Programs and the SJD (Doctorate) Program in International Legal Studies.

HOW TO APPLY

You may submit your application to the LLM or SJD program through LSAC, which is the preferred method, or you may complete the paper application (LLM Application | SJD Application) and send it (signed and dated) to the following U.S. mailing address:

Golden Gate University School of Law

Graduate Law Programs

536 Mission Street, Suite 3300

San Francisco, CA, USA 94105-2968

To have an LLM or SJD application form emailed to you, email gradlaw@ggu.edu.