How to Apply

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the University of Minnesota Law School S.J.D. program, an applicant must have completed a first degree in law and have completed (or be in the process of completing) an LL.M. degree.

The ideal S.J.D. candidate will have completed their first degree in law at a university outside of the United States and have completed (or be in the process of completing) an LL.M. degree at the University of Minnesota Law School or another American Bar Association-approved law school.

Applicants whose native language is not English must also demonstrate proficiency in English. Minimum TOEFL score is 80, with strong preference given to candidates who score 100 or higher. IELTS scores are also accepted, with a minimum score of 6.5 required.

2025-26 Tuition and Fees (estimated)

If offered admission to the program, applicants must provide evidence of adequate financial support for their educational and personal expenses (including tuition and fees, mandatory health insurance, textbook costs, and living expenses for one year). Limited funding is available from the University of Minnesota Law School for scholarships. Every admitted student is automatically considered for a scholarship; no additional scholarship application is required.

All costs are estimates and subject to change. Final tuition and fee rates are set by the central University at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Application Process

Candidates for admission should submit their applications online via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) application portal. If you have extenuating circumstances, you may request to apply by printing the application and sending the completed hard copies by post or express to the address on the application forms. We are unable to consider application forms or documents sent in any other form, such as email attachments.

Complete applications received by Minnesota Law on or before March 1 will be reviewed by the S.J.D. admissions committee and notified of their decision within 4-6 weeks of the application deadline. LSAC transcript processing times vary, so applicants are encouraged to submit all their materials well in advance of the deadline to ensure their application is complete before March 1.

A completed application includes:

• application form and application fee
• résumé or CV
• personal statement
• official academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• two letters of recommendation
• proof of English proficiency
• a detailed dissertation proposal demonstrating that the dissertation will constitute an original and substantial contribution, of publishable quality, to legal scholarship
• an extensive, high quality writing sample written in English to demonstrate the ability to engage in advanced research and writing

To apply for the 2026-27 S.J.D. cohort:

• Application available: October 1, 2025
• Application deadline: March 1, 2026

Qualified applicants may be interviewed by phone or in person, if practical. 

To apply online:

S.J.D applicants should use the LSAC online application which becomes available on October 1 each year. As you begin the online application process, please review the University of Minnesota’s requirements and application instructions by clicking on “Law School Instructions.” Please note that you will be required to use the complete LSAC Credential Assembly Service and to pay the application fee with a credit card. 

To apply via postal mail (by special request only):

Applicants with extenuating circumstances may request to apply via postal mail instead of online. Instructions for applying are included on the S.J.D. Application PDF or S.J.D. Application Word Doc. If you download the paper application forms, you may pay the application fee either with a check in U.S. dollars, which must be enclosed with your application, or separately via credit card online.