Binding Early Decision Application Instructions
Important Deadlines
- Applications to the Binding Early Decision Program must be complete by December 1.
- Completed Binding Early Decision Program applications will be reviewed between December 1 and 15.
- Applicants to the Binding Early Decision Program will be notified of an admission decision by December 15.
- Applicants admitted through the Binding Early Decision Program must pay the $1,000 seat deposit by January 5.
- International Binding Early Decision Applicants are strongly encouraged to review our webpage for international prospective students before beginning the application process.
Application Instructions
To Apply for Admission to the School of Law
1. Choose your application type. Starting 2023, the Binding Early Decision Program will have two application options. Please read through each option carefully and select the application option that best fits you.
W&L Law Dean's Scholar (Full Tuition Scholarship) - Binding Early Decision Program applicants admitted as W&L Law Dean's Scholars are guaranteed a full-tuition scholarship for six semesters of study at the law school, subject to customary conditions of maintaining good academic standing and progress towards their degree. W&L Law does not award "conditional scholarships" as defined by ABA Standard 509(d). Applicants with exemplary credentials and potential are encouraged to apply through this option. Competitive applicants for this option will often have an LSAT/GRE score and/or undergraduate GPA that would place the student in the top 25% of the most recent entering JD class.
W&L Law First Choice (No Minimum Scholarship Guarantee) - Binding Early Decision Program applicants admitted through the W&L Law First Choice option will receive consideration for merit-based aid, but their decision to enroll should NOT be contingent on receipt of a scholarship. Applicants should only apply through the W&L Law First Choice option if scholarship aid is not a consideration in their decision.
2. Submit an application with required attachments. You must apply electronically through LSAC. A screen reader compatible version of our application is available via our Application webpage. No application fee is required. You must comply with the electronic certification instructions when submitting your application. For technical assistance with the online application form available via LSAC, contact the Law School Admission Council at 215.968.1393. For all other inquiries, please contact the Office of Admissions at 540.458.8503 or lawadm@wlu.edu for assistance.
3. Register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Have a reportable LSAT score on record with LSAC or GRE score on record with ETS, and arrange to have transcripts sent to LSAC from every college or university you have attended. Direct LSAC to send a CAS report to Washington and Lee. If you are applying based on GRE test scores, direct ETS to sends a score report to W&L using ETS institution code 2937. You must submit all GRE scores from the past five (5) years.
If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must submit transcripts from foreign institutions for evaluation by LSAC's CAS. This service is included in the CAS registration fee; the Transcript Request Form is available online from LSAC. (The only possible exception to this requirement is for work completed as part of a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution. This exception applies only if the work is clearly indicated as having been part of such a program on the transcript provided by a US or Canadian institution.) A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your Credential Assembly Service (LSDAS) report.
4. Obtain at least one letter of recommendation. Because we seek to evaluate your potential as a law student, faculty recommendations that discuss your academic performance are particularly helpful. We strongly encourage you to use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. This service is included in your Credential Assembly Service registration. Letters submitted through the LSAC Service are included in your law school report. We will accept additional letters of recommendation, but will consider your file complete when one has been received.
5. Once your application has been submitted, you must inform the admissions office of any changes in the information provided, or any new event or information that would have been required to be disclosed had it occurred or been known on the date the application was submitted. For details, please refer to Section VI of the Application and the certification above your signature.