Designed for professionals who engage with lawyers and legal issues regularly as part of their careers, the Juris Master Degree Program can be completed in just one year of full-time study and includes complete access to the Antonin Scalia Law School resources, as well as unparalleled networking and career opportunities.
Application Deadlines
- Fall 2024: August 2, 2024
- Classes Begin August 21st
- Spring 2025: December 15, 2024
- Classes Begin January 21st
- Summer 2024: May 24, 2024
- Classes Begin June 28th
Application Instructions
Admission to the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School Juris Master Degree Program is highly competitive. To be admitted, the following is required:
- All applicants must have a conferred bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency or international equivalent
- If an applicant has completed post-secondary work outside the U.S., the applicant must use either World Education Series (WES) or AACRAO International Services for evaluation of the international transcripts
- All applicants for admission must have demonstrated high academic standing, and professional achievements or positions indicating the applicant’s capacity for performing master’s-level work
Admission Requirements
455 Applications are not evaluated until all required supporting documents have been provided to the Graduate Admissions office. For guaranteed consideration, each applicant is responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by Scalia Law School at George Mason University prior to the appropriate deadline.
Items 1 through 8 are required from all JM applicants:
- Application and Application Fee
All applicants apply online. There is no application fee.
- Official Transcripts
Applicants must submit all transcripts from college or university-level work and degrees.
- 500-Word Statement
The applicant is required to submit a 500-word statement of educational and professional goals, double-spaced, that will serve as both a statement of purpose and a writing sample. The thoughts and words of the 500-word statement must be uniquely those of the applicant. Apart from basic proofreading, no other(s) may assist in the creation of this statement.
The personal statement is used to assess your plans for the degree as well as your writing in an academic context. We recommend you use this opportunity to tell us about your career goals.
While there is no word maximum for the personal statement, brevity and editing are prized qualities in JM applicants. We do not recommend going far above the 500-word suggestion.
- Résumé
Each applicant must submit a résumé detailing their educational and professional experience and achievements. There is no page limit for the résumé.
- Letters of Recommendation
Please submit at least one letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s academic and professional potential.
- Interview
All applicants must complete an informal interview with the Director of Juris Master (JM) Degree Program in person, by phone, or via Skype. The admissions office will contact candidates who are selected for interviews to schedule a convenient time to meet.
- Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates (Only for those who believe they qualify)
Applicants who have resided in Virginia for 12 months or more and believe they qualify for in-state tuition rates must also complete the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates and submit the form with their application.
- GRE, GMAT, MCAT or LSAT scores
Standardized test scores are not required, but should be submitted if taken by the applicant. If applicable, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) should directly send Scalia Law School the GRE, GMAT, MCAT or LSAT score. The ETS school code for Scalia Law School is 2737.
English Proficiency
For applicants whose first language is not English, current TOEFL or IELTS scores showing sufficient proficiency in the English language are required. Applicants must have taken the TOEFL or IELTS within two years of submitting their application.
- English Proficiency Requirements
- TOEFL: 90 iBT (no score lower than 20 in any individual section)
- IELTS: 6.5
- Deadlines:
- Fall: August 2, 2024 (Classes Begin August 21st)
- Spring: December 15, 2024 (Classes Begin January 21st)
- Summer: May 24, 2024 (Classes Begin June 28th)