J.D. Program

J.D. Program

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J.D. Admission FAQs

For more information into our admissions process, watch our "Vanderbilt Law J.D. Application Masterclass" playlist on YouTube or email the law school's admissions team.

Early Decision

  • How do I apply Early Decision to Vanderbilt Law?

    To apply under Early Decision, you must submit your Vanderbilt application on or before November 1, including a signed and dated Binding Early Decision Agreement in the Attachments section. Early Decision candidates must subsequently activate their Vanderbilt Law application portal, have their application complete, and upload the required video statement as soon as possible but no later than November 8.

    For more information, visit our Binding Early Decision page.

  • What is the last LSAT date that will be accepted if I want to apply Early Decision?

    You must take the LSAT no later than the October administration.

  • Does applying Early Decision boost the likelihood of admission?

    While we consider the enthusiasm for Vanderbilt that they demonstrate by applying under Early Decision to be a particularly positive factor, Early Decision candidates do not have a significant advantage in the competitive selection process.

  • When will I receive a decision?

    The Law School will render decisions on Early Decision applications in December. Please review the application instructions before beginning the application; LSAC sends your application to Vanderbilt only after they have received and processed all required materials.

Application Process

  • When does Vanderbilt Law School begin accepting applications? When is the deadline to apply?

    The application opens September 1 each year. The Early Decision application deadline closes on November 1. The Regular Decision application deadline closes on April 1.

  • How do I request a fee waiver?

    Vanderbilt Law School offers multiple fee waiver options. 

    • CRS Fee Waivers - granted through the LSAC Candidate Referral Service (CRS) searches.
    • Need-Based Fee Waivers - granted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) results in Vanderbilt automatically approving an electronic application fee waiver.
    • Service-Based Fee Waivers - granted by LSAC for service participation after providing LSAC number to the Admissions Office at admissions@law.vanderbilt.edu.
    • Event-Based Fee Waiver - offered to prospective students who attend certain events during the admissions cycle.

    For more detailed information on requesting a fee waiver, visit our J.D. Admissions page. 

  • I am taking the LSAT in the future. Can you hold my application for the new score?

    You can request to hold your application for final review pending a future LSAT score by emailing our office at admissions@law.vanderbilt.edu.

  • Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

    We require two letters of recommendation, but applicants may submit up to three. We strongly recommend that at least one letter comes from a professor or other academic contact who can speak to your academic abilities. In addition, we value letters from employers, particularly for candidates who have graduated from college and have been working for a year or more.

  • I am re-applying to Vanderbilt Law. How is my application reviewed?

    While re-applicants’ previous applications are available to readers, admission decisions are based on a holistic review of each individual application in the context of the current applicant pool.

  • When can I expect a decision?

    While we make decisions on individual applications as quickly as possible, the time required varies from case to case. We evaluate each application thoroughly, reflecting our belief that the quality of the educational environment at Vanderbilt Law benefits from considering a range of information far broader than your GPA and LSAT score. Our "rolling" selection process allows for extending the time frame of consideration in appropriate cases, which ensures that each application receives the individual attention it deserves and allows us to make careful comparisons of applications completed at different times.

  • What is your admissions review process like?

    We conduct a holistic review of each application, and each application is read by two readers. In reviewing individual applications, we consider academic achievement, work, and volunteer experience, including in extracurricular activities, and supportive recommendations from those who know you well. We also value personal and other statements that provide a glimpse of who you are and the unique background and life experiences that have brought you to the point of applying to law school at Vanderbilt!

  • How can I check the status of my application?

    You can check your application status at any time on your application portal. You will be notified by email of any updates to your status, including a decision, as they are posted to your application for you to view.

Application Materials

  • I would like to submit a new personal statement/resume, can you delete/change the files in my application?

    We are unable to delete any files included in the application once submitted. You can upload any updated files (e.g., updated personal statement) directly in your application portal.

  • Will you accept the GRE?

    At this time, we only accept LSAT and JD-Next scores for applications to the J.D. program. For Ph.D. in Law and Economics applications only, we will accept GRE scores if you have not taken the LSAT.

  • Does Vanderbilt accept JD-Next scores?

    Vanderbilt Law School will begin accepting the JD-Next in lieu of the LSAT in the 2024-2025 application cycle for the J.D. Class of 2028.

  • How should I format my written statements?

    Please format your written statements to be two pages, double-spaced.

  • How should I format my resume?

    We require a resume as part of the application. Please limit your resume to 1-2 pages in length.

  • I want to provide additional information that doesn’t fit into my written statements or resume. Can I submit additional material?

    You are welcome to provide any additional information relevant to your application through a brief addendum.

Alumni Interview Program

  • Who can participate in an admission interview?

    We encourage applicants to participate in an admission interview with a Vanderbilt Law School alum. An interview gives the Admissions Office more information about you when we review your application including communication and interpersonal skills and your goals and interests. Alumni interviews are also opportunities for you to meet with a lawyer to hear about their individual Vanderbilt Law School experience and legal career. If you have specific or admissions-related questions, we encourage you to contact our office at admissions@law.vanderbilt.edu.

  • How do I request an interview?

    Submit your completed application for admission by November 15, 11:59 PM, indicating your interview request in the admission interview section.

  • I have requested an interview by the deadline. When will I hear back?

    Any matched alum will reach out to the applicant directly via email to schedule an in-person or virtual interview.

  • What will my interviewer know about me before we meet?

    We ask you to send your resume to your interviewer in advance of your meeting to help form a basis for the conversation. The Admissions Office does not forward any of your application materials to your alumni interviewer. The Admissions Office will share admission decisions with alumni interviewers.

  • My application is complete. Will participating in an interview cause a delay in my admissions decision?

    No.

  • Am I guaranteed an alumni interview if I request one by the deadline?

    No. Due to the limited availability of our participating alumni interviewers, we are not able to grant all alumni interview requests. If you are not matched with an alum for an interview, we may offer an online video interview with an admissions officer at our discretion, subject to availability, and we encourage all applicants to complete the optional Video Essay available in your application portal.

  • What will my interviewer ask me?

    The questions will be about you: your experiences, your goals, and your interest in the legal profession. Many questions will be about experiences you have listed on your resume. You do not need any legal expertise or education to answer your interviewer's questions.

  • I want to request an alumni interview, but I won’t have all of my materials in by the November 15 deadline. Will I still be able to request an interview?

    Due to the limited timeframe, we are only able to consider applications completed by November 15 for the alumni interview program. We encourage anyone who missed the interview deadline to complete the optional Video Essay available in your application portal.

  • I applied after the November 15 deadline; can I still request an interview?

    No. We encourage anyone who missed the interview deadline to complete the optional Video Essay available in your application portal.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

  • How much is tuition, and do you offer scholarships?

    Tuition for the 2024–2025 academic year (2 semesters) is $73,148. At Vanderbilt, we are committed to controlling tuition costs, providing substantial scholarship assistance, and offering strategies and tools for students to manage their expenses, debt, and personal finances.

    With the exception of the Law Scholars Merit Awards, all admitted applicants are automatically considered for law school scholarships (gift funding applied to tuition charges) that are awarded in varying amounts based on an individual’s full application for admission in the context of the admitted pool. All Vanderbilt scholarships awarded in the admission process automatically renew each semester the recipient is enrolled in the Law School. Vanderbilt Law does not award conditional scholarships. Students must remain in good academic standing to retain their law school scholarships.

  • What are the Law Scholars Merit Awards and what are the qualifications?

    Each year, Vanderbilt provides a very limited number of merit awards valued at full tuition to admitted applicants through a competitive selection process. To be considered, admitted applicants must complete the Application for Law Scholars Merit Awards contained in the Vanderbilt Law School Application Portal. The deadline for submitting Law Scholars applications is January 10. Recipients are normally notified in late February/early March.

    Law Scholar Merit Awards provide full-tuition scholarships making each currently valued at more than $219,000 over three years of law studies. In general, successful applicants for these awards have demonstrated strong academic records and have shown strong potential for professional and personal leadership.

  • Does Vanderbilt offer need-based financial assistance?

    Yes! To be considered for a need-based grant, you must submit a completed CSS profile with parental information and submit the Access2VLS form in your Vanderbilt Law School Application Portal. You can learn more about our Access2VLS program here.

  • When do admitted students receive their financial aid packages?

    Admitted applicants are given a law school scholarship decision shortly after being admitted. If applicable, need-based grant and federal loan eligibility will be posted to your application portal once determinations are made.

  • Are there scholarships for military members?

    We have an active military community, ranging from active-duty officers in funded legal education programs, to military veterans and reservists. While we do not have specific scholarships for military members beyond our normal awarding process, we do participate in Yellow Ribbon program and eligible Vanderbilt Law applicants may apply separately to the Vanderbilt University Bass Military Scholars Program.

J.D. Degree Requirements

  • J.D. Degree Requirements

    Each candidate for the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) must:

    • Pursue full-time (enrolled for a minimum of 10 credit hours each semester) resident study at Vanderbilt Law School for a period of six semesters (or, in the case of students requiring more than six semesters, the equivalent).
    • Complete, with a grade point average of 2.5 or above, 85 semester hours of credit:
      • No more than 5 credit hours may be earned by participating in credit-bearing extracurricular activities;
      • At least 64 credit hours must be earned in regular Law School classes. (Students must complete at least 66 graded hours to be eligible for Order of the Coif);
      • Earn a passing grade in all required courses, which includes all first-year courses, Constitutional Law I, Professional Responsibility, a professional skills requirement, and a substantive research paper;
      • It is the student's sole responsibility to plan a schedule that ensures the completion of 85 semester hours and all other requirements for the J.D. degree.
    • Pay all financial obligations due to Vanderbilt University.
    • Be of good moral character, according to the standards of personal and professional integrity traditionally associated with the profession of law.
      • The law faculty may remove a student from the J.D. program at any time for failure to meet the standard of good moral character required for the degree, or impose sanctions other than suspension or expulsion.
    • Receive the favorable recommendation of the faculty for the degree.
  • J.D. Research Requirement

    All Vanderbilt Law School students are required to complete a substantial research paper to obtain the J.D. degree. Most students will satisfy this requirement by enrolling in and completing a course designated as a three-credit seminar.

    If you have a special reason to pursue a topic outside the scope of the seminars offered during your tenure at Vanderbilt, you may also satisfy the requirement by completing a supervised research project.

    Whether you write your paper for a seminar or as the culmination of a supervised research project, it must meet the following requirements:

    • Present a fair, accurate description of the factual setting that gives rise to the issue you choose to address
    • Provide an adequate explanation of existing law and doctrine, and develop a normative thesis that analyzes current doctrine
    • Presents a reasoned view of how policy should respond to the presented issue
    • Be well-researched with all sources cited properly in Blue Book form or similar convention
    • Make appropriate use of relevant literature, including both primary sources and secondary literature.

    Rigid rules about the length of the papers are not warranted, but substantial research papers will normally be at least 30 to 40 pages in length.

    Ask the faculty member teaching your seminar or directing your significant research project about available competitions, awards and prizes. Students may enter their research papers in competitions at the law school as well as national competitions that offer recognition and/or a financial award for achievement. If your chosen area of research is a subject areas for which a prize is awarded, your planning for the year ahead should include entering the competition. The deadline for papers to be considered for awards and prizes is typically the last day of spring semester classes.

Have Questions?

Contact the Admissions Office at 615-322-6452 or admissions@law.vanderbilt.edu.

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