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Written by Stacey Scorza
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Friday, 01 February 2008 12:03 |
Unsurprisingly, International students in the United States have more red tape to go through than residents in order to apply to law school. To help you navigate the landscape, I have compiled a list of commonly asked questions to help you understand the process.
Are international applicants required to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)?
Just like any other applicant, foreign applicants are required to take the LSAT, the standard admissions test for law school. The LSAT is the one test that is intended to place all applicants on a level playing field, no matter where you received your undergraduate degree, no matter what your undergraduate grade point average was, and no matter what extra-curricular activities you have on your resume.
The layout of my undergraduate transcript is very different from U.S. college transcripts, what do I do?
Most, if not all, law schools in the United States require that undergraduate degrees from foreign institutions be submitted through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) Jurist Doctorate Credential Assembly Service (J.D. CAS). The service is included in the LSAC subscription fee, and can be accessed using your LSAC online account by following the instructions to register for the J.D. CAS. Only graduates of international universities or law schools are allowed to use this service.
You simply print out a Transcript Request Form from your LSAC account and send it to each foreign institution. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will then be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) report. For a fee of $185, the AACRAP collects, authenticates, and processes all transcripts, TOEFL scores, and other documentation that may be required by the law schools to which you are applying.
The law school application process is separate from this credential–processing service so you will still have to apply to each law school separately. LSAC will forward the original transcripts and other required documentation directly to the schools to which you are applying.
My first language is not English, are there English proficiency requirements?
Most American law schools require foreign applicants whose first language is not English to provide an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report sent directly by the English Testing Service (ETS) to LSAC. An official score report of 600 or higher on the TOEFL is generally a passing score, although you should check with the individual law school(s) of your choice for their own requirements.
The TOEFL Paper-Based Test (TOEFL PBT) measures how well you read, listen and write in English. Writing skills are measured using the Test of Written English (TWE) test, which is a required part of the TOEFL PBT.
The exam is administered six times a year and currently costs $140. Scores are mailed out about five weeks after your test date and can be accessed via telephone before receiving your copy through the mail. The TOEFL is comprised of three sections plus the 30 minute TWE, giving a total three and a half hour exam.
Do I need an immigration visa to study?
If you are a foreign national in the U.S. for the sole purpose of completing your law degree, then you will need a student visa. Often, the law school will require non-U.S. citizens to include a copy of immigration documents with their application. Common temporary visas for students are the F-1 and the J-1 visas.
In order to apply for an F-1 U.S. Student Visa, you must enter the U.S. to pursue an academic program in an institution recognized by the U.S. government. Also, you must be a full-time student; it is not possible to be a part-time student on an F-1 visa. You are only able to stay in the U.S. provided that you are enrolled in school. The visa is normally issued at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the student’s home country. Foreign students can enter the U.S. multiple times if they hold a valid F-1 Student Visa and may also travel freely within the U.S. You can work on an F-1 Student Visa as well so long as it is while you are enrolled in school, i.e. it is either a work-study program or internship in conjunction with your studies.
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa is typically granted to individuals who partake in exchange visitor programs sponsored by their school. You meet the criteria for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa if you are coming to the U.S. as a student who is participating in a program of studies which is recognized by the U.S. Department of State through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is more difficult to be granted a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for a law student. They are typically granted to post-graduate students since they require financial support by an agency or government.
From experience with both friends and my fiancé who have studied in the U.S. on either F-1 Student Visas or J-1 Exchange Visitor Visas, my one piece of advice is to make sure you keep an eye on deadlines and expiration dates to prevent any unnecessary disruption in your stay. If in doubt discuss any visa matters with your institute’s international students/scholars office. Law school is stressful enough without having to worry about your immigration status!
How do I qualify as a lawyer in the US when I am already qualified abroad?
Unfortunately, a foreign qualified lawyer cannot simply sit for a bar exam and practice law in the U.S. Depending on which country you come from, there are often large differences in the type of law and practices which requires all U.S. law schools to determine what is required of you on a case by case basis. Some schools allow applicants with a foreign law degree to petition for credit toward their J.D.
I began my law school studies with several international students who were already qualified in their native countries. I was surprised to learn that despite their current law licenses and years of experience, they were still required to take the core law school classes before sitting for a bar exam. I always thought they could take a separate test just for lawyers qualified abroad, but that simply is not the case.
For more detailed information, check your LSAC account as well as the law schools to which you are applying.
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