Foreign Attorneys

As an institution that prides itself on the diversity of its student body, St. Thomas Law is proud to offer an accelerated law program for foreign attorneys. Foreign attorneys may complete their legal studies in an abridged program and receive a Juris Doctor degree after roughly two years (or 60 credits) of consecutive study at St. Thomas Law.

St. Thomas Law may accept up to 30 credits as “advanced standing credits” from any student who engaged in legal studies at an academic institution in another country and obtained the terminal academic degree required for the student to practice law in said country. These credits are applied toward St. Thomas Law’s 90 credit hour graduation requirement, thus shortening the Juris Doctor Program for Advanced Standing Students to approximately two years.

Transfer Credit Policy: Foreign Degree

To be considered for transfer credits, the student must have received a grade of “C” (or its equivalent) or above in the course (courses graded on a Pass/Fail system are not considered) and the content of the courses considered for transfer must be such that it is appropriate to grant transfer credits. Grades associated with the credits accepted for transfer are not used in computing the student’s grade point average at St. Thomas Law.

Transfer Credit Policy: Admission after Completing St. Thomas University College of Law’s LL.M. Programs

Foreign attorneys who successfully completed the LL.M. in Intercultural Human Rights Program at St. Thomas University College of Law may receive transfer credits for credits earned in the LL.M. program. The College of Law may not accept more than 30 credits from students who successfully completed the LL.M. Program and have a foreign law degree. Grades associated with the credits accepted for transfer do transfer and are used in computing the student’s grade point average. However, the credits and grades associated with the LL.M. program are not transferred until the last semester in which the student is otherwise completing the J.D. program. No credits will be transferred unless the student successfully completed the LL.M. program and obtained the LL.M. degree.

If you are a foreign attorney and would like to be considered for admission to our Advanced Standing Degree Program, please submit the following:

  • St. Thomas Law Online Application
  • $40 processing fee
  • Personal Statement
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • LSAT
  • Translated Academic Transcripts
  • TOEFL score

Applicants with foreign credentials must have LSAC provide credential evaluation and translation. For more information regarding International Student Services please see the St. Thomas University International Student Page.

Advanced Standing Applicants, and applicants who obtained an undergraduate degree outside the United States AND whose first language is not English, must present the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Submit a copy of your most recent TOEFL report with your application material. Foreign applicants with graduate degrees in the United States are eligible for TOEFL waivers. The TOEFL may be waived if a student achieves a 150 on the LSAT exam.

Minimum TOEFL Requirements:
Internet-based (iBT): 100 or higher.

Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL)
PO Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA