Program with The John Marshall Law School

View all Majors and Minors »
« Viewing all majors and minors

3 + 3 BA/JD Program

The John Marshall Law School permits a limited number of exceptionally well-qualified students to enter The John Marshall Law School after completing their junior year of undergraduate study at Lake Forest College.

Students participating in this accelerated admission program receive the bachelor’s degree from Lake Forest College following successful completion of the first year of law school and the law degree (J.D.) from The John Marshall Law School after successful completion of the required law school curriculum.  Accelerated admission to The John Marshall Law School permits completion of the requirements for both degrees in a shorter period of time than is usual.

Juniors at Lake Forest College applying for admission to this accelerated admission program must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The John Marshall Law School evaluates carefully the quality of the student’s academic record, faculty recommendations, and the applicant’s LSAT score.  Successful applicants for accelerated admission usually have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average and LSAT score at or above the median of college graduates accepted into the regular J.D. program.  Currently, those medians are a 3.25 GPA and a 154 LSAT.

When an applicant’s GPA/LSAT profile is at an acceptable level, other qualifications are considered, including extracurricular activities, involvement in cultural or civic affairs, and work experience. The John Marshall Law School welcomes applications to this accelerated admission program from qualified students belonging to groups under-represented in the legal profession.

Before entering The John Marshall Law School (in other words, by the end of the junior year), accelerated-admission students must complete all requirements of their academic major and earn at least 24 Lake Forest College course credits (96 John Marshall semester hours) toward the bachelor’s degree. Upon successful completion of two full semesters of law school, a maximum of 32 more John Marshall semester hours (8 more Lake Forest College credits) will be applied as elective credit toward the undergraduate degree, making 32 Lake Forest College credits, total, i.e., the number needed to complete the BA.

Students applying for accelerated admission should complete the application process by early January of their junior year. It is preferable for applicants to have taken the LSAT by October of their junior year.  Students should contact their pre-law advisor early in the fall semester of junior year to discuss the admissions process. At the time of application, students should have completed at least 16 course credits toward the bachelor’s degree.