Frequently Asked Questions About Applying to Law School | Touro Law

Q: What are Touro Law's admission requirements?
A: The principal criteria used in the admissions process are the cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or GRE score(s). The selection process, however, is not strictly mathematical. Other important considerations include:

• College major and course selection.
• Trend of undergraduate grades.
• Writing ability (as demonstrated by the quality of the Personal Statement and LSAT/GRE Writing Sample/s).
• Personal qualities of integrity and commitment to public service.
• Successful graduate study, where applicable.
• Professional experience and achievement after college, where applicable.
•  Letters of recommendation from persons with direct knowledge of the individual's intellectual ability, natural aptitude, and strength of character.

Q: Do admission standards differ between the full-time and part-time programs?
A: No. An applicant’s chances of being offered admission are the same, regardless of the division to which they apply.

Q: What major is recommended for students wishing to go to law school?
A: The Admissions Committee does not require a specific major for entry into the program, but favors a curriculum that is rigorous in nature. Courses should be chosen which provide a broad base of knowledge and enhance logical and analytical reasoning skills. Competence in written expression is also weighed into the admission decision.

Q: What about graduate work?
A: Graduate work can be an important factor in the admissions process. In some cases, it may be viewed as a more significant predictor of success than undergraduate work, especially when the applicant has been out of undergraduate school for several years. Note, however, that the ABA requires law schools to report only students' undergraduate GPA; consequently, the undergraduate GPA is always considered as part of the review process.

Q: Does Touro Law accept the GRE?
A: Yes, we do. However, GRE may not be submitted in lieu of the LSAT if an applicant has already taken or plans to take the LSAT. GRE takers must designate Touro to receive all reportable scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Our GRE Designated Institution (DI) Code is 3223.

Regardless of the standardized test taken, all applicants must participate in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) provided by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC).

Q: What about the personal statement?
A: Next to the LSAT/GRE and/or GPA, the personal statement is weighed most heavily in the admissions process. It should be written with great care and should address candidly the strengths and weaknesses of an applicant's candidacy.

Q: What about letters of recommendation?
A: Letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged. Up to three letters may be submitted if the applicant chooses. Any letters received will be considered, although references alone cannot salvage an otherwise weak application. Letters should be sent through the Letter of Recommendation LSAC Service.  

Q: Does Touro Law conduct interviews as part of the application process?
A: No. However, students are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment to visit the Law Center; to meet with faculty, administrators, and students; to tour the facilities; and to sit in on class.

Q: Does the Law Center admit a mid-year (Spring) class?
A: Yes.  We do.  Regular First-year JD students may enter in the spring or in the fall semester.  JD transfer , General LLM, and visiting students enter in the fall, spring, or summer.

Q: What are the application deadlines?
A: Applications may be submitted anytime after September 1 during the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which you intend to begin law school.  The Law Center has rolling admissions; therefore, early application is encouraged.

Q: What is rolling admissions?
A: Rolling admissions simply means that applications will begin to be reviewed as the file becomes complete (complete generally means receipt of the CAS Report and supporting documentation).  For example, applications completed after May 1st for the fall semester will still be considered for admission, although they may be at a competitive disadvantage.

Q: Do I need to take the LSAT/GRE before I file my application for admission?
A: No. While we will need to receive a CAS report before your application is complete and ready for review, you may submit your application before you take the LSAT/GRE. You will want to designate in your Application for Admission when you plan to take the LSAT/GRE. 

Q: How does the Law Center treat multiple LSAT/GRE scores?
A: All test scores are considered in evaluating the student’s aptitude. Applicants whose first test score is not indicative of their potential should consider repeating the exam. However, they are strongly discouraged from taking the test more than twice.

Q: How do I register to take the standardized test?
A: You can register to take the LSAT at www.lsac.org and the GRE at https://www.ets.org/gre.

Q: What is the application filing fee? 
A: We are waiving the application fee of $60.00 for this academic year.

Q: What is the tuition?
A: For the most up-to-date information, click here.

Q: Does Touro Law offer any scholarships?
A: Yes. All applicants are considered automatically for scholarships, and more than 90% of entering students receive awards. Submitting an application for admission as early as possible is strongly recommended for optimum scholarship award consideration. 

Q: What sort of financial aid is available?
A: The Law Center maintains a generous scholarship program, designed to recognize and reward exceptional academic achievement and potential. In addition, a variety of student loan programs are available to help students defray educational and living expenses.

Q: Are loans sufficient to cover the entire cost of attending law school?
A: Yes. Even if you are not awarded a scholarship, a combination of federal and private loans should be adequate to cover all the expenses (tuition, fees, room and board, books, etc.) of attending the Law Center.

Q: Which form is required to apply for financial aid?
A: The Law Center requires the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for all federal and institutional aid programs. The FAFSA form is a prerequisite for applying for the specific loan programs. This form should be filed between January 1 and June 1. Early filing alleviates problems related to financing your education.

Q: What is Touro Law Center's code for the FAFSA form?
A: Touro Law's FAFSA code is 010142

Q: Where is the Law Center located? How do I get there?
A: Touro Law is located in Central Islip on Long Island, approximately one hour by commuter train (Long Island Railroad or LIRR) from Manhattan.  There is a free shuttle service between LIRR Central Islip Station and the Touro Law campus when school is in session.  The Law Center also is easily accessible by car from Nassau and Suffolk counties, Queens, and Brooklyn. See Directions. Free parking is available in school-owned lots adjacent to the law school building for all students and visitors.

Q: Are there law classes at the Touro University campus in New York City?
A: Yes. Starting in the Fall of 2024, we will be offering our FlexTime JD Program at our Manhattan campus, located at 3 Times Square.

Q: May I visit the Law Center campus?
A: Yes! Please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@tourolaw.edu or call (631) 761-7010 to set up an appointment.  

Q: Does Touro Law Center recruit where I live?
A: Yes. For our schedule of recruiting events, click here.

Q: May I speak with a current student or alumni?
A: We would be happy to ask a member of the Touro Law community to contact you regarding their experience at Touro Law Center. Just e-mail us or call 631-761-7010.

Q: Is Touro Law accredited?
A: Yes. The Law Center is fully approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). Graduates of ABA-approved law schools are eligible to sit for the bar examination in any jurisdiction in the United States.

Q: What degrees does the Law Center offer?
A:

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• JD/MSW with the State University of New York at Stony Brook
• Master of Laws (LLM) for U.S. Law School Graduates    
• Two-Year JD Program for Foreign Law Graduates

Q:  What clinical and externship programs are available at Touro Law?
A:

• Advanced Bankruptcy Clinic
• Advanced In-House Clinic  
• Bankruptcy and Mortgage Foreclosure Clinic
• Child Support Mediation
• Community Law Services
• Criminal Defense Post-Conviction Clinic 
• Criminal Prosecution Clinic
• Education Justice Clinic
• Immigration Law Clinic
• Landlord/Tenant Mediation Clinic
• Senior Citizens Law Project
• Small Business and Not-For-Profit Clinic
• Veterans' and Servicemembers' Rights

Externships:

Touro Law’s Externship Program provides students with the opportunity to work in diverse areas of legal practice, develop essential lawyering skills, gain knowledge about particular fields of law, practice in specialized courts, and learn about how lawyers and law firms, government organizations, and the courts operate.

Every Touro Law student is guaranteed an externship experience for academic credit. 

Touro Law students may be placed in different types of settings, usually classified as civil, judicial (federal and state) or criminal (prosecution and defense).  The placements include private law offices, the courts, law offices of public interest organizations, as well as federal, state, and local government employers.  

Q: What areas of law does the Law Center offer?
A: While a Touro Law education prepares students for a career in virtually any field of law, the Law Center's curriculum is particularly rich in the following areas:

Business Law
Criminal Law
Family Law
Health Law
Aging & Longevity Law
Immigration
Intellectual Property Law
International Law
Land Use & Sustainable Development Law
Public Interest Law
Solo & Small Practice Law

Q: What is the Law Center's total enrollment?
A: Approximately 570 JD students are enrolled.

Q: What is the size of a typical Law Center class?
A:

• 14-20 for tutorials and seminars
• 50 for required first-year classes
• 35 for required and elective upper-level classes.

Q: How diverse is the student body?
A: The 2023 entering class is comprised of 48% women. The average student age is 27.4.

Q: What is Touro Law's LSAT/UGPA profile?
A: For students matriculating in 2023, the 75th percentile LSAT score was 154 and the 25th percentile LSAT score was 149. The 75th percentile undergraduate GPA was 3.47 and the 25th percentile undergraduate GPA was 2.85.

Q: How many applications does Touro Law receive each year?,
A: We received over 1,200 J.D. applications for the 2023 entering classes.

Q: How many seats are available in the Fall entering class?

Q: How long does law school take?
A: Attending law school full-time (12-16 credits per semester), most students complete the JD program within 3 years, but may accelerate to 2½ years by attending summer sessions. Part-time students (9.5-11.5 credits per semester) usually take a little under 4 years to complete the JD program, but may accelerate to 3½ years by attending summer sessions. 

Q: What are the hours for full-time and part-time?
A: Full-time classes are offered anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Part-time program students attend classes two evenings during the week as well as Sundays during each the Fall and Spring semesters. FlexTime division students are required to attend classes on-campus on Sundays for the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as the Summer semester. Students must attend one summer semester. The remainder of classwork is completed asynchronously, allowing students to complete the work when and where it fits their individual schedules. Subsequently, all students are eligible to take up to 20 credits of entirely online courses during the third and final years.

Q: Does Touro Law offer summer courses?
A: Yes. Summer sessions are available and open to students who have completed the first-year requirements successfully. Students may take 8 credits in the summer program at the Law Center campus in Central Islip.  

Q: Does Touro Law accept transfer students from other law schools?
A: Yes. The Law Center admits students with advanced standing from other law schools. They may enter the program during the fall, spring, or summer semesters and choose full-time or part-time attendance.

Q: How many credits will the Law Center accept?
A: Students from ABA-accredited law schools may be awarded advanced standing for up to 43 credits. Only course grades of C+ or higher are transferable, and only the credits, not the grades, are transferred.

Q: What are the rules regarding class rank and honors eligibility?
A: For purposes of class rank, there is no distinction between transfer students and students who begin their studies at Touro Law. Depending upon their point of entry, transfer students are generally eligible for academic honors and may compete for membership on Touro Law Review and Moot Court Board.

Q: Can international students attend Touro Law's JD program?
A: Yes. They must hold a U.S. bachelor's degree or equivalent, and they must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Q: What type of visa is necessary to study at the Law Center?
A: An F-1 Student Visa. To be eligible, you must submit an Affidavit of Support to demonstrate that you will have adequate financial resources for tuition and living expenses for at least the first year of your program of study at the Law Center.

Q: Is it possible to work in the United States?
A: Yes. F-1 Visa holders are permitted to work on campus (up to 20 hours per week) when suitable employment is available. After one year or upon completion of the degree requirements, graduates are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training – for up to a total of 12 months – in an area related to their field of study.

Q: Can international students take out loans to help finance their education?
A: Yes. Subject to certain restrictions, international students may be eligible for loans. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Q: Does the Law Center require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)?
A: Candidates for the JD degree are not required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), since their success on the LSAT demonstrates language proficiency for graduate study. 

Q: What are the requirements for admission for the 2-Year JD for Foreign Law Graduates Program?
A: This program offers foreign law students the opportunity to earn a JD degree in two years. Admission to the program requires: successful completion of a degree from an accredited law school in a country other than the United States, submission of a Touro Law Center application for admission, and completion of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the GRE.

Q: Are 2-Year JD for Foreign Law Graduates Degree students eligible to sit for the New York Bar Exam?
A: Yes.