International Law Students

Qualified students from around the world are invited to apply to Golden Gate University (GGU) School of Law in San Francisco, California.

GGU Graduate Law Brochure.pdf

Dean's Message Non-US Applicants must submit:

• Application form
• Personal statement
• Official school transcripts (translated, if not in English) sent directly by institutions attended
• Letters of Recommendation
• Application fee, payable to Golden Gate University
• Official TOEFL score report sent directly by the testing agency
• Official Certification of Finances form with accompanying documents
• Official LSAT score report sent directly by LSAC website (required for LLM US Legal Studies applicants who are US Citizens or permanent residents with a foreign legal education)

Transcripts and Other Information -- JD Students
Applicants to the JD program who completed their undergraduate degrees outside the US or Canada should not submit their transcripts to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Students with foreign undergraduate transcripts should register with LSAC only for the Law School Admissions Test. Visit the LSAC website.

All non-US students must register with a qualified agency for an independent evaluation of their school work. All foreign transcripts must be submitted directly to the School of Law after the foreign transcript evaluation is complete. Although we do not endorse any one particular service, the following organization has been used by our applicants:

International Education Research Foundation Inc.
Credentials Evaluation Service
P.O. Box 66940
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Phone: +1(310) 390-6276

In addition to an application form, application fee, personal statement, and transcripts non-US Applicants must submit:

• Official TOEFL score report sent directly by the testing agency
• Official Certification of Finances form with bank seal and accompanying documents
• Official LSAT score report sent directly by LSAC (required for LLM US Legal Studies applicants who are US citizens or permanent residents with a foreign legal education)

Transcripts -- LLM and SJD Programs
Golden Gate University School of Law requires a complete and detailed report, including course breakdown, grade evaluation, and degree equivalency. A report of basic equivalency is insufficient information.

We recommend that LLM and SJD applicants from other nations bring with them an extra copy of their official transcripts of undergraduate and law studies as well as any official documents they have received from the courts or bar associations of their home country indicating that they have been admitted to practice law in that country. These documents are not required for admission to the LLM and SJD programs but may prove useful in obtaining employment or applying to sit for a bar exam in one of several US states. Students planning to prepare for a bar examination may need a transcript evaluation by an independent agency. This evaluation can be completed after students arrive to begin the LLM or SJD programs.

English Proficiency -- LLM and SJD Programs
Applicants who received their degrees outside the United States must satisfy the admissions committee of the proficiency of their English language abilities. An official TOEFL score report sent directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) to the appropriate program at Golden Gate University School of Law satisfies this requirement. Visit the TOEFL website.

The TOEFL Institution Code for Golden Gate University is 4329. The TOEFL Department Code for the School of Law is 03.

Applicants must receive a minimum TOEFL score of 580 Paper-based test (PBT), or 92 Internet-based test (iBT) for the LLM (Master of Laws) Programs in US Legal Studies, International Legal Studies, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Taxation, and the SJD (Doctorate) Program in International Legal Studies.

TOEFL Practice Online is a community for test takers preparing for the next generation TOEFL test, or anyone wishing to improve their academic English skills. This is the ONLY website that has official test material from the new TOEFL test that will assess these language skills: Listening, Writing, Reading, Speaking. By becoming a member you can access helpful information, discussion boards, sample responses from a speaking test, and purchase a practice test and practice questions. TOEFL Practice Online website.

GGU School of Law accepts International English Language Testing (IELTS) scores. Students need about Level 6.5 to be admitted to the LLM (Master of Laws) Programs and the SJD (Doctorate) Program in International Legal Studies. International applicants must comply with US immigration laws and regulations. It is the applicant's responsibility to obtain any required visas. All new international students must meet with their assigned SEVIS Designated School Official (DSO) upon arrival to complete the requirements established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of State (DOS).

Click here for Visa and Immigration Information. You must submit the completed Certification of Finances with your application.

Find out more Non-US students on F-1 or J-1 visas are required to have health insurance. The fees are subject to change but recently were $417 for each semester and $180 during the summer session. For the current fees, contact:

Golden Gate University
School of Law, International Student Services(ISS)
536 Mission Street, Suite 3300
San Francisco, California, USA 94105-2968

Phone: +1(415) 442-6501
Fax: +1(415) 495-6756
E-mail: Jpluebell@ggu.edu

Students with health insurance coverage compatible to GGU's international health insurance plan may be eligible for a waiver.

Click here for more GGU international health insurance information.

GGU Graduate Law Brochure.pdf

The City of San Francisco

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Golden Gate University School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA)