Juris Doctor (J.D.) Program Admissions
Albany Law School welcomes applicants with a strong record of academic success, life experiences that show a capacity to successfully handle challenges, and a high level of motivation to study law.
Because a large part of the Albany Law educational experience comes through interaction among students, each year we enroll a class of qualified individuals from a wide range of backgrounds to add to our diverse campus community.
Standards for Admission
- Applicants for admission as candidates for the Juris Doctor degree must hold, or have completed the requirements for, a baccalaureate or higher degree granted by a regionally accredited institution, containing at least 45 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences.
- Applicants without a baccalaureate degree are admitted only with exceptional academic credentials. In such a case, the applicant must have successfully completed three-fourths of the coursework toward a bachelor's degree at a regionally accredited institution.
- International students are required to maintain legal immigration status throughout their stay in the United States.
- Merely meeting the minimum requirements does not, however, guarantee admission. Because Albany Law receives many more applications from persons adequately equipped for the study of law than can be accepted, the Albany Law School Admissions Committee selects those it determines can most benefit from and contribute to the academic program.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Albany Law School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity or expression, race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, genetic predisposition
status, criminal conviction, or age in its programs and activities.
The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding Albany Law School’s non-discrimination policies:
Title IX Coordinator: (518) 445-3346 - TitleIXCoordinator@albanylaw.edu
Director of Human Resources: (518) 445-2396 - hr@albanylaw.edu
Mailing Address: Albany Law School - 80 New Scotland Avenue - Albany, NY 12208
Many Options
Other J.D. Offerings from Albany Law School
We understand that not every student is in the same situation. Albany Law School has a number of options when it comes to earning a J.D beyond the traditional three-year track.