Access Restricted to Northwestern Law CommunityAdmissions Information
Deadlines
On-campus interview deadline is December 15, 2009
Off-campus interview request deadline: December 1, 2009
Application completion deadline is January 15, 2010
Decisions mailed by February 1, 2010
Enrollment deposit deadline is March 15, 2010
Required Application Items
- Application Form
Download and complete the Accelerated JD application form (pdf) or Apply online - Updated Resume
- Interview
Accelerated JD applicants are required to interview as part of their application. Accelerated JD candidates may interview off-campus with an alumni interviewer. To schedule an off-campus interview, candidates should use our Off-Campus Interview Request site, and the deadline to submit an off-campus interview request is December 1st. On-campus interviews should be scheduled through the On-Campus Interview Request site and the interview must be completed by December 15th. AJD applicants who are unable to schedule an on-campus interview or off-campus interview should contact the Admissions Office at 312-503-8465 or admissions@law.northwestern.edu, and we will discuss alternatives with you. - Standardized Test
Applicants may take either the LSAT or the GMAT, as an experiment aimed at providing the Admissions Committee with additional information regarding applicants' quantitative and writing abilities; both tests will receive equal weight. While not recommended or required, we will consider both tests in the case of an applicant who has taken both. In cases where multiple scores exist for either the LSAT or the GMAT, we will use your highest score when evaluating your file.The LSAT is offered four times per year: February, June, September/October, and December. Applicants may register for the LSAT through the Law School Admission Council web site.
The GMAT is a computer-adaptive exam and is offered on an ongoing basis, generally six days a week, at various testing centers. For a list of testing centers and to schedule your exam, please consult the Graduate Management Admission Council web site.
Should a student decide to withdraw from the Accelerated JD Program prior to completion and apply to other law schools, they should consult with those institutions concerning their admissions policies and standardized test requirements. In most cases, candidates will be required to provide other law schools with LSAT results.
- Career Progress Evaluation Form
In lieu of a general letter of recommendation, the Career Progress Evaluation (CPE) form serves as a recommendation letter for the Accelerated JD Program. One completed CPE form is required for admission and should be completed by someone who can evaluate your professional, work-related performance (current or former supervisor, client, or co-worker). This form will become available at the same time as the online application. - Transcript
Applicants are required to submit an official transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended. If you take the LSAT exam, submit your transcripts directly to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). If you take the GMAT, submit transcripts directly to the Law School admissions office: Northwestern University School of Law, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, 375 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. - Essays
There are three required essays, each with a word limit of 500 words:- Leading practitioners throughout the world who participated in focus groups for Northwestern Law's “Plan 2008: Preparing Great Leaders for the Changing World” frequently highlighted the importance of strong project management skills for career success. Please describe the most significant project you have managed and any lessons you learned from that experience.
- You have been selected to become a member of the Northwestern Law admissions committee. Please provide a brief evaluative assessment of your candidacy.
- Describe a situation in which you had to advocate for yourself, others, and/or a strongly held belief or idea.
- The students at Northwestern Law come from many different backgrounds. Please describe an aspect of your background that you feel would allow you to contribute uniquely to the school and/or your classmates.
- Briefly discuss your interest in Northwestern Law.
