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How do I apply to Howard University's law school?
Executive summary
Howard University School of Law requires an online JD application through LSAC/CAS, an LSAT score (GRE accepted only as supplementary), transcripts via CAS, a personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation; completed files are reviewed beginning in November and decisions are issued in December or March (average LSAT ~155, UGPA ~3.5) [1] [2] [3]. Scholarship priority and some visiting/transfer deadlines differ (priority scholarship deadline Nov. 1; all files must be received by March 15 / completed application by March 1 for 2026 cycle details noted on the school page) [2] [1].
1. How you start: the required online application and CAS submission
Apply online as a JD applicant via Howard’s application portal and/or the LSAC JD CAS; Howard makes clear “Applicants are required to submit an application online” and requires transcripts submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for domestic and foreign records [1] [4]. The Law School Admission Council page reiterates that components such as personal statement, resume, LSAT, GPA, and recommendation letters all contribute to a holistic review [3].
2. Tests, scores, and how they’re weighed
Howard requires an LSAT score for every applicant; if you submit a GRE it may be considered but the final decision rests on the LSAT score [2]. The school’s published class-profile guidance lists an average/median LSAT near 155 and UGPA around 3.5 as helpful benchmarks for competitiveness [2].
3. Documents and application components you must provide
Beyond the online form and CAS transcripts, the admissions office expects a personal statement, resume, employment history since college, and letters of recommendation (typically two) — all items that the Admissions Office and LSAC materials list as part of the comprehensive application [4] [3]. Visiting and transfer applicants have additional requirements: transfer applications may need a letter from a legal writing professor and full law-school grades [5].
4. Deadlines and timeline — what to expect and when
Howard’s Committee begins reviewing completed files in November and issues decisions in December or March; the school no longer uses rolling admissions and emphasizes that “The Admissions Committee will not review your application until all materials have been received” [1] [2]. For scholarship consideration, the priority deadline is November 1, and FAQ pages state “ALL FILES MUST BE RECEIVED by March 15” [2]. The school’s site for the 2026 cycle specified that completed applications must be finished by March 1 and noted there are no application fee waivers for that cycle [1].
5. Fees, fee waivers, and cost signals
Multiple pages list an application fee (commonly reported as $60) and Howard states it does not offer application fee or CAS fee waivers for certain cycles; verify the current cycle on Howard’s admissions page because fee and waiver policies have changed between cycles [4] [6] [1].
6. Financial aid and scholarships — how to maximize consideration
Howard offers merit scholarships awarded based on LSAT, GPA, and overall application quality; to maximize scholarship consideration submit materials before the November 1 priority scholarship date [2]. The school’s admissions brochure and viewbook are the recommended places to study available scholarship types and tuition/COA figures [7] [8].
7. Special applicant tracks: transfers, visiting students, veterans, and internationals
Transfer applicants must be in good standing at an ABA-accredited school with at least a 3.0 law GPA, and Howard evaluates transfers on LSAT, cumulative GPA, first-year law GPA/class rank, transcripts, and a legal-writing letter [5]. Visiting students from ABA-approved schools may attend one semester or an academic year and must meet visiting-application deadlines [9]. International applicants should use LSAC’s processes (999 number accepted) and foreign transcripts must go through CAS [6] [4]. Howard provides veteran information and virtual/in-person ways to connect for prospective students [6] [10].
8. How the school communicates and where to get help
Howard’s Office of Admissions publishes virtual office hours, a contact email (husladmit@law.howard.edu), and a phone number (202-806-8009); they instruct applicants that the LSAC status checker will provide the most up-to-date file status and that contacting admissions will not speed processing [11] [6] [10].
Limitations and next steps: These summaries are based on Howard’s admissions pages and LSAC materials; details like specific cycle dates, fee-waiver availability, and exact COA numbers vary by year — check Howard’s JD application page and FAQs directly for the current admissions cycle and confirm deadlines for scholarship and general files before you submit [1] [2] [7].