Law School with less then 60 graded credits

[Nemfis]

Leverage your bachelor's degree and go for a master's degree with 30 graded credits for a total of "60" graded credits. If the price is an issue, get an MBA at Hellenic American University for $ 3,000 while studying for the LSAT. Do you have any opinions on improving the success of getting accepted to an ABA law school with a graduate degree?

Law schools only consider the FIRST bachelor degree for the 60 graded credits. So, getting another bachelor or master's doesn't help.

Yes, I found a reference to your statement here: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school...marization

Does the OP already hold a conferred bachelor's degree?

Yes, I do have conferred bachelor’s. I was also under impression that I need 60 graded credits total (not the first degree), so decided to get a second degree with additional 30 credits at UMPI a bit sooner. As soon as I realized my mistake, I created this post.

[HogwartsSchool]

Basically.  Here's the thought process I would go by, you want to apply to the T14 that you think you want to enroll in most, I would do the top 3 choices, example: Cornell, Northwestern, U of Penn, or whatever your top 3 is.  Then, you want to apply to a set of top 50, a set of top 100.  However, having said that, you want to do one thing before you apply to any of these set.  Send a personalized email to each institution asking them about three things:  Admissions without LSAC GPA, Alternatives or Options to strengthen your application, Recommendations for rectifying the issue.

Once you get a detailed response from each and every one of these, it could be all T14, all T50, and T100 institutions.  If X of them indicate they'll have a null or no GPA showing on LSAC, or your application would be delayed, skip them and not waste $ on application fees.  If they mention they'll still process the application without the LSAC GPA, apply to them by making sure your application is strong enough in all areas, not just the GPA.  You want to apply to a few institutions in and out of state as that is what people do, sticking with one institution is not my recommendation at all.

agree completely, some law schools within the T14 take more of a holistic approach to applications compared to others where they just focus on numbers, GPA, LSAT score, etc. The law schools that will likely accept your application and offer a spot will be more on the holistic approach side of things for potential candidates. They do exist within T14 group but not many. Then, more if you expand to T20, and even more with T50.

[Stonybeach]

Leverage your bachelor's degree and go for a master's degree with 30 graded credits for a total of "60" graded credits. If the price is an issue, get an MBA at Hellenic American University for $ 3,000 while studying for the LSAT. Do you have any opinions on improving the success of getting accepted to an ABA law school with a graduate degree?

Law schools only consider the FIRST bachelor degree for the 60 graded credits. So, getting another bachelor or master's doesn't help.

Yes, I found a reference to your statement here: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school...marization

Does the OP already hold a conferred bachelor's degree?

Yes, I do have conferred bachelor’s. I was also under impression that I need 60 graded credits total (not the first degree), so decided to get a second degree with additional 30 credits at UMPI a bit sooner. As soon as I realized my mistake, I created this post.

Since you already have a conferred degree, the post-conferral credits or even a second bachelor's degree don't appear to be of any value "All courses taken after the degree conferral date of the first bachelor’s degree, including graduate work and professional study. This also includes any undergraduate courses taken after the first bachelor’s degree was awarded. For more information, please review Graduate or Professional Study below."

I recommend talking with ABA law school admission counselors directly to see if this can be rectified. If a master's degree strengthens the application, that is the route I would choose coupled with high LSAT scores.

[HogwartsSchool]

When reviewing law schools, its important to evaluate which law schools align with your long term goals. That will make your application (personal statement) more in alignment with the school's values. Also, you need to consider, after you graduate, what next, biglaw, or small boutique practice or solo?

---

Something else to consider. Taking the bar. Some students may request accommodations for law school, however, they won't for taking the bar in x state. Its really tricky and sometimes unclear if the bar will accept the accommodations request or, they accept but don't grant the privilege to practice in the state even if you pass the bar exam.

[Stonybeach]

When reviewing law schools, its important to evaluate which law schools align with your long term goals. That will make your application (personal statement) more in alignment with the school's values. Also, you need to consider, after you graduate, what next, biglaw, or small boutique practice or solo?

---

Something else to consider. Taking the bar. Some students may request accommodations for law school, however, they won't for taking the bar in x state. Its really tricky and sometimes unclear if the bar will accept the accommodations request or, they accept but don't grant the privilege to practice in the state even if you pass the bar exam.

I find it interesting that Wisconsin has "Diploma Privilege."

https://law.wisc.edu/current/diploma_privilege/

[Nemfis]

Basically.  Here's the thought process I would go by, you want to apply to the T14 that you think you want to enroll in most, I would do the top 3 choices, example: Cornell, Northwestern, U of Penn, or whatever your top 3 is.  Then, you want to apply to a set of top 50, a set of top 100.  However, having said that, you want to do one thing before you apply to any of these set.  Send a personalized email to each institution asking them about three things:  Admissions without LSAC GPA, Alternatives or Options to strengthen your application, Recommendations for rectifying the issue.

Once you get a detailed response from each and every one of these, it could be all T14, all T50, and T100 institutions.  If X of them indicate they'll have a null or no GPA showing on LSAC, or your application would be delayed, skip them and not waste $ on application fees.  If they mention they'll still process the application without the LSAC GPA, apply to them by making sure your application is strong enough in all areas, not just the GPA.  You want to apply to a few institutions in and out of state as that is what people do, sticking with one institution is not my recommendation at all.

agree completely, some law schools within the T14 take more of a holistic approach to applications compared to others where they just focus on numbers, GPA, LSAT score, etc. The law schools that will likely accept your application and offer a spot will be more on the holistic approach side of things for potential candidates. They do exist within T14 group but not many. Then, more if you expand to T20, and even more with T50.

Thanks for your insight! Any ideas on which schools may be among those in T50?

[HogwartsSchool]

Basically.  Here's the thought process I would go by, you want to apply to the T14 that you think you want to enroll in most, I would do the top 3 choices, example: Cornell, Northwestern, U of Penn, or whatever your top 3 is.  Then, you want to apply to a set of top 50, a set of top 100.  However, having said that, you want to do one thing before you apply to any of these set.  Send a personalized email to each institution asking them about three things:  Admissions without LSAC GPA, Alternatives or Options to strengthen your application, Recommendations for rectifying the issue.

Once you get a detailed response from each and every one of these, it could be all T14, all T50, and T100 institutions.  If X of them indicate they'll have a null or no GPA showing on LSAC, or your application would be delayed, skip them and not waste $ on application fees.  If they mention they'll still process the application without the LSAC GPA, apply to them by making sure your application is strong enough in all areas, not just the GPA.  You want to apply to a few institutions in and out of state as that is what people do, sticking with one institution is not my recommendation at all.

agree completely, some law schools within the T14 take more of a holistic approach to applications compared to others where they just focus on numbers, GPA, LSAT score, etc. The law schools that will likely accept your application and offer a spot will be more on the holistic approach side of things for potential candidates. They do exist within T14 group but not many. Then, more if you expand to T20, and even more with T50.

Thanks for your insight! Any ideas on which schools may be among those in T50?

No because never searched into the T50. Never went past T20 for research. And, I was doing research based on my aspirations/goals and which schools would align with them. I would recommend making a list of each T50 school of their values, mission statement and other areas of specialty within law. Its going to be time consuming to develop the list, you can try to see if AI knows how to research that or not. When I did it, no AI, all done manually. The key, contacting the schools, asking to speak with current and past students, director of certain program and sometimes even professors. Get to know the schools and they need to get to know you. That's the holistic approach I was talking about earlier.

[Nemfis]

Basically.  Here's the thought process I would go by, you want to apply to the T14 that you think you want to enroll in most, I would do the top 3 choices, example: Cornell, Northwestern, U of Penn, or whatever your top 3 is.  Then, you want to apply to a set of top 50, a set of top 100.  However, having said that, you want to do one thing before you apply to any of these set.  Send a personalized email to each institution asking them about three things:  Admissions without LSAC GPA, Alternatives or Options to strengthen your application, Recommendations for rectifying the issue.

Once you get a detailed response from each and every one of these, it could be all T14, all T50, and T100 institutions.  If X of them indicate they'll have a null or no GPA showing on LSAC, or your application would be delayed, skip them and not waste $ on application fees.  If they mention they'll still process the application without the LSAC GPA, apply to them by making sure your application is strong enough in all areas, not just the GPA.  You want to apply to a few institutions in and out of state as that is what people do, sticking with one institution is not my recommendation at all.

agree completely, some law schools within the T14 take more of a holistic approach to applications compared to others where they just focus on numbers, GPA, LSAT score, etc. The law schools that will likely accept your application and offer a spot will be more on the holistic approach side of things for potential candidates. They do exist within T14 group but not many. Then, more if you expand to T20, and even more with T50.

Thanks for your insight! Any ideas on which schools may be among those in T50?

No because never searched into the T50. Never went past T20 for research. And, I was doing research based on my aspirations/goals and which schools would align with them. I would recommend making a list of each T50 school of their values, mission statement and other areas of specialty within law. Its going to be time consuming to develop the list, you can try to see if AI knows how to research that or not. When I did it, no AI, all done manually. The key, contacting the schools, asking to speak with current and past students, director of certain program and sometimes even professors. Get to know the schools and they need to get to know you. That's the holistic approach I was talking about earlier.

Thank you!

Already looking towards that.

[newdegree]

I know CUNY School of Law allows non-law school graduate credits to transfer in. That is a semester's worth of classes, and the tuition is pretty cheap.
https://www.law.cuny.edu/academics/regis...r-credits/

Transfer of Credit from Non-Law School Courses
CUNY School of Law School will accept up to 12 credits of non-law school graduate level credits from an accredited University or College. Students must be in good standing and must receive advance permission from the Academic Dean.

[lincolnlawyer]

Just speaking from my own experience, you might also want to consider a GDL in the UK + an LLM at a T20 - T50 in the US.
Personally I found it more manageable financially than going to a school like NWCU Law.

Most people advise against LLM programs, but that's advice for foreign lawyers.
Many LLM programs also allow you to transfer into JD programs, which might help you circumvent your issue with undergraduate credits.