Applying through LSAC

These records must be sent directly to LSAC from the appropriate issuing institution, and applicants must use LSAC’s Transcript Request Form, which will be available at the completion of your LLM CAS registration. All official documents must be received by LSAC in a sealed institution envelope. Documents sent by the applicant or without the Transcript Request Form will not be accepted. Transcripts received by LSAC become their property and cannot be returned to the applicant or the issuing institution.

TOEFL minimum: 100

IELTS minimum: 7.0

LSAC

Berkeley Law requires that applicants submit their application online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website.

If you do not have an LSAC account, you may register at the link below. The free basic LSAC account allows you to search for law schools, view application requirements and save a list of schools and programs.

There are two basic components of the application process - the application form and the Credential Assembly Service.

www.lsac.org/llm

LLM CAS

Application Form

Credential Assembly Service

$80 Application Fee

LLM CAS consists of two parts: the Document Assembly Service and the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service.

By utilizing the LLM CAS, applicants only need to send one set of documents to LSAC, who will assemble and distribute reports to all the participating law schools to which you wish to apply. Your Credential Assembly Service account will be active for five years.

Your application form, c.v., and personal statement should be submitted online through LSAC. If you are applying for the thesis track, you must also submit a thesis proposal summary.

Please note that you can submit the application form and CAS documents independently, and you do not have to wait for one part to be complete to get started on another part.

DAS

ITAES

*required

*optional,

recommended

Document Assembly Service

International Transcript Authentication Evaluation Service

$135 fee

$85 fee + $30 report fee

This service is highly recommended for applicants educated outside the US, but not required. It includes authentication and evaluation of transcripts, degrees or diplomas, graduation certificates, and rank statements.

Thesis Proposal Summary

C.V.

Personal Statement

Electronic Application Form

LSAC will collect academic records, letters of recommendation, and English proficiency exam score(s) and distribute them to the law schools of your choice.

* thesis track only

The Curriculum Vitae should provide a synopsis of your educational and academic background and skills. This summary should include professional experience, research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations, and other relevant details.

Transcripts

The Personal Statement should describe your legal interests, the reasons you wish to study at Berkeley Law, and your professional plans or goals following completion of your degree.

Since the Advanced Degree Programs Committee does not grant interviews, you may also use the statement to describe aspects of yourself that are not apparent from your application. The Personal Statement should be written without assistance from others, and should be limited to three pages of double-spaced text.

Letters of Recommendation

English Language Requirement

$135 fee

The thesis proposal summary should summarize the specific research project you would like to work on while at Berkeley Law, and should be limited to one page of double-spaced text.

We recommend that you complete and submit your electronic application form even if your supporting documents are not ready; this enables Berkeley Law to see that you have begun the application process and will create a record for you in our system.

Your application is not fully submitted until you have paid the application fee. The application deadline for hybrid option is November 15th. The application deadline for the traditional, professional and thesis tracks is January 10th. After that date, you will no longer be able to submit the application.

TOEFL or IELTS score reports must be sent to LSAC electronically by the testing center, unless you qualify for a waiver.

Tip: Your c.v. does not need to be in any particular format, and there is no length requirement.

Applicants must submit official academic records showing graded course work, dates of enrollment and award of degree(s). A copy of the actual degree or state examination for all university and law school study is also required, if this information is not included on the transcript.

Berkeley Law requires two letters of recommendation, and will accept a third if you feel it will strengthen your application. At least one letter must come from your law professor. If you have been out of school for five or more years, one professional reference from a current or former employer is appropriate.

Enter your recommenders' names and contact information through LSAC's website, and they will receive an email with instructions. Or, you may print the required recommender forms if your recommenders prefer to submit their letters by paper.

Waiver Requirement

To apply for a waiver, find the English Language Requirement section on our online application, and check "yes" to indicate that you are requesting a waiver. Once we receive your application and the supporting academic records, we can approve your waiver request.

The English language requirement can be waived if you have studied for at least one year at a US university, obtained a degree from a non-US university where curriculum is taught solely in English, or if English is your native language.

Tip:

It's best to choose recommenders who know your work and abilities well, rather than someone with impressive credentials who may not know you as well.

Letters of recommendation do not need to be addressed to anyone in particular. Recommenders can provide a generic letter which you assign to multiple applications, or they may provide letters specified to one school. Be sure to assign the appropriate letters to each school using the letter ID number.

Letters processed by LSAC become their property and cannot be returned or copied.

TRANSLATION

If the institution offers to print transcripts in either the native language or in English, order both to be sent to LSAC. If the institution does not offer English translation, it is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure an English translation is sent to LSAC. The translation may be done by anyone as long as it is a literal translation, and need not be certified.

Applying through LSAC

We look forward to receiving your application!