Application Components

California Western accepts reportable scores from the LSAT, the GRE General Test, and the JD-Next course with exam. The American Bar Association permits law schools to accept all three tests for admission decisions. Applicants are encouraged to take the test that will best display their aptitude for law school. The results of each test are reviewed by the Admissions Office as part of the application evaluation process. If more than one test is taken, we will consider the highest reported score. However, the Admissions Committee will see all scores reported. The results of each test are reviewed by the Admissions Office as part of the application process. 

Applicants should take the LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next no later than by June in order to meet the final deadline of July 31st for fall admission.  

For JD-Next course and exam information, visit the JD Next | Aspen Publishing website.

For GRE test dates, deadlines and preparation tools visit the Educational Testing Service (ETS) webpage. 

Check the Law School Admission Council website for LSAT test dates and deadlines. LSAC partnered with Khan Academy to offer online test preparation resources.

All applicants are required to provide a two to three-page personal statement. The personal statement is your chance for the Admissions Committee to get to know you. We encourage you to highlight unique or valuable experiences gained outside the classroom. Whether you are a working professional who is looking to return to school to join the legal field or you completed a valuable internship that inspired your pursuit of a law degree, or you have a specific goal of using your law degree to help underserved communities, a well-written personal statement can play an important factor in the admissions process.   

PLEASE NOTE: The Admissions Committee does not conduct personal interviews.

An applicant who believes that their background or life experience may have adversely affected them and their past educational performance, should provide detailed information about their background or life experience in this separate adversity statement. You may describe any challenges, disadvantages, traumatic events, forms of social exclusion, or any other kinds of adversity that you have experienced, and how these life experiences may have adversely affected you and your past educational performance. If so, please discuss how you overcame these adverse experiences and/or how they have shaped the person you are.

If you have perceived weakness in your application, you can submit a separate statement explaining that perceived weakness to the Admissions Committee. This could include, but is not limited to, unique situations that affected your LSAT score or an illness in college that impacted your grades. It is important to note this written statement should not be used as a means for making excuses for substandard academic performance or test scores but as a means of explaining perceived weaknesses or inconsistency.

Applicants must submit transcripts to LSAC for processing from all colleges or universities they have attended. To enroll, you should send an official final transcript, documenting undergraduate degree completion and date received, directly to LSAC. If you are still completing classes to finish your undergraduate degree, we must have your final transcripts no later than by October 15.  

If your official final transcript is not on file with California Western by your applicable deadline, you will be administratively withdrawn from all classes.

Resumes should include a summary of your volunteer and/or work history, and activities where a leadership role is held.

Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation. We do not require recommendations from a specific source; however, we encourage you to select someone who can speak to your work either in the classroom, at a job or internship, or in a mentorship capacity.