The College of Law seeks to admit and enroll students who, together, bring to the law school a varied set of backgrounds, interests, personal and professional experiences and perspectives, who also have a record of academic success and a competitive LSAT score. Other factors considered include exceptional personal talents, interesting or demanding work experience, rigorousness of undergraduate course study, leadership potential, graduate study, maturity and the ability to communicate effectively. An applicant's responses to the character and fitness questions in the application is also a significant factor in the decision-making process. Although a holistic approach is taken when reviewing applications, most admission decisions are based on the combination of LSAT/GRE score and undergraduate performance.
Eligibility Notice
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, will have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or hold the international equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree prior to the commencement of fall classes in order to be eligible for consideration.
Applicants applying through one of our formal 3+3 programs must have at minimum 90 credit hours and have met all other requirements set forth within the 3+3 program in order to be eligible for consideration.
Applicants that have previously attended law school are not eligible to apply as an entering 1L and must apply as a transfer. Please see the transfer application for details if you have previously attended law school. Individuals who have previously been academically dismissed from a law school are not eligible to apply to Florida State Law.
Application Process
Florida State University encourages applications for admission from qualified students regardless of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran or marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected group status in accordance with all pertinent federal, state, and local laws on non-discrimination and equal opportunity.
The College of Law begins accepting applications for fall 2025 entry on September 1, 2024. Applications are evaluated from October through August by the admissions committee. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and priority consideration is given to the strongest applications submitted by the priority deadline of March 15, 2025. Applications completed after March 15, 2025 but by the final deadline of July 31, 2025 may not receive a timely decision.
Florida State University College of Law is a full-time, three-year program. First-year students start in the fall semester.
Application Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you've completed every step of the J.D. application process:
Addendums to the application due to changes in information after the application is submitted, such as updated employment, academic or law violation documents, etc., must be submitted electronically to admissions@law.fsu.edu. Updated transcripts and letters of recommendation must be submitted through LSAC.
Please note, documents submitted to the College of Law with no application on file will be discarded after 60 days.
Character and Fitness
Each jurisdiction establishes bar registration and admission standards for individuals who wish to practice within the jurisdiction. One important aspect of admission to practice is an evaluation of an applicant's character and fitness to practice law. Applicants should take care to respond fully and accurately to each question on the law school application. Applicants should be aware that, in conducting character and fitness investigations, bar examiners frequently request copies of candidates' applications for admission to law school to determine whether they have supplied erroneous, misleading, or incomplete information in the admission process. If discrepancies are found, bar examiners may conclude that such discrepancies demonstrate a lack of honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability so as to call into question the applicant's fitness for admission to the bar.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Social Security Number
The Social Security Number provided on your application MUST be your actual Social Security Number AND match the Social Security Number provided on your FAFSA. Your application cannot be completed without your actual Social Security Number on record. If your SSN on your application does not match the SSN in the university system or on your FAFSA, you will be required to provide a copy of your social security card to the Office of Admissions to verify your true SSN. Financial Aid cannot be packaged if there is a discrepancy with your SSN.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA as close to the release date of October 1 as possible for priority consideration. Make sure you list Florida State University (school code #001489) on your FAFSA.
International Students
International students and others who have completed undergraduate education outside of the United States should submit their transcripts to LSAC through CAS for evaluation. A minimum educational equivalency of a bachelor's degree must be met for eligibility. Students are required to file the law school application and the Florida State University International Certificate of Financial Responsibility. International students whose native language is not English, and who did not receive a bachelor's degree from an undergraduate institution within the United States, are required to take either the TOEFL or the IELTS and have official scores submitted through LSAC as part of the application.
TOEFL Requirement
Minimum scores of 100 on the Internet-based, 250 on the computer-based, and 600 on the paper-based TOEFL test are required. Information on the TOEFL can be obtained by writing to TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, or by visiting toefl.com.
IELTS Requirement
Minimum score of 7.5 on the IELTS test is required. Information on the IELTS can be obtained by visiting ielts.org.
Application Status Notification
You will receive an e-mail notifying you when we receive your application, which will include a username and password to the online status checker. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all required documentation is received by the College of Law in order to complete the application for review. Applicants will NOT be notified of missing documents other than through the online status checker.
Admissions Decisions
Applications are evaluated from October through August by the admissions committee. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and priority consideration is given to the strongest applications submitted by the priority deadline of March 15, 2025. Applications completed after March 15, 2025 but by the final deadline of July 31, 2025 may not receive a timely decision.
To determine whether or not your application is complete, you should regularly check your online status checker. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is complete by the posted deadline.
Petitioning for Reconsideration
Applicants who have been denied admission can request reconsideration only in situations where the applicant has new, significant information that was not available at the time of the original application or during the timeframe in which your application was under review by the Admissions Committee. Examples of significant information include: an improved LSAT score or GRE score, a significant increase in grade point average. Reconsiderations will not be granted based on existing application information; applicants must submit new information.
A written request must include an explanation of the new information as well as valid reasons warranting reconsideration. The request must be e-mailed within 30 days of the date of denial to admissions@law.fsu.edu with “Request for Reconsideration” in the subject line.
The Admissions Committee's decision on a petition for reconsideration is final. Further petitions will not be accepted.
