Two-Year J.D. for Non-U.S. Lawyers

As an international lawyer, you can earn your J.D. at Toledo Law in two years instead of three. With our Two-Year J.D. Program, highly qualified lawyers are eligible for up to 29 hours of advanced standing credit for law studies completed outside the U.S. Unlike an LL.M., a J.D. degree from Toledo Law qualifies you to take the bar exam in every U.S. state. We've outlined the topics below to guide you through the application process.

Admission Application

Applicants living outside the U.S. must apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Toledo Law does not charge an application fee.

For application type, select "J.D. - 2 Year for Foreign-Trained Lawyers"
Attach an addendum to your application that states your intent to be admitted with advanced standing as a non-U.S. lawyer
Include the name of your law degree, the country in which it was earned, and the date it was or will be completed

TOEFL

If you have not earned or substantially completed a post-secondary degree from an institution whose primary instruction language is English, you may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an equivalent recognized test of English language proficiency and to demonstrate an acceptable proficiency level. The College of Law's school identification number is 003131-00.

You may also be asked to participate in an in-person or telephone interview with a member of our Admissions Committee and submit a personal essay or another writing sample.

LSAT / GRE

Two-year J.D. students are required to take either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) unless applying under a Memorandum of Understanding from a partner school.

Credential Assembly Service

You're required to register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) through LSAC. CAS provides document authentication and evaluation for internationally trained applicants. CAS simplifies the application process by forwarding required documents (LSAT scores, recommendation letters, and transcripts) to Toledo Law. For the GRE, you must also visit ETS to request a score report release.

Toledo Law will review your transcript through your CAS submission to determine which courses and credit hours, if any, that may be accepted. Review our academic rules (Article II: Section E) for more information.

Scholarships / Financial Aid

Non-U.S. citizens are not eligible for financial aid from the U.S. federal government. Some private lenders may provide loans if you have a U.S. sponsor who is willing to sign the loan for you.

All applicants, including international students, are eligible for merit-based scholarships from Toledo Law. You don't need to apply separately, as your file will be reviewed for both law school admission and scholarship awards. You'll be notified by mail if a scholarship is awarded. Scholarships cover instructional costs but do not cover living expenses, books, or miscellaneous expenses.

Financial Support

After admission, you're required to provide an ORIGINAL letter of financial support from your sponsor's bank or an ORIGINAL letter of financial support from your scholarship organization. This letter must be dated within six months of your law school enrollment.

If you have a Green Card, we do not need a sponsor letter.
If your spouse or child will stay with you in the U.S. while you complete your studies, your financial support evidence should indicate additional support for your spouse of $3,000.00 (yearly) and $2,000.00 (yearly) for each child.

Coursework

During your first year, you'll meet with our associate dean for academic affairs to discuss your second-year course schedule. In addition to completing the first-year curriculum, students admitted with advanced standing to the Two-Year J.D. Program should be prepared to take the following courses. Required courses are noted in bold.

Upper-Level Writing (two experiences)
Business Associations
Civil Procedure – Jurisdiction
Constitutional Law – Rights
Criminal Procedure – Investigations
Experiential Learning (6 credits)
Evidence
Legal Ethics
Secured Transactions
Trusts and Estates

Questions?
Toledo Law Admissions
419.530.4131
law.admissions@utoledo.edu