Admission as an Early Decision applicant has several benefits. Early notification of acceptance will enable the applicant to avoid the anxiety typically associated with the traditional law school application process, as well as the expense and time involved with completing applications to other schools. In addition, a successful early outcome will allow candidates to resume their normal academic, professional and personal lives and start sooner in making specific plans for law school in the fall.

Early Decision candidates must complete their Brooklyn Law School admission application by December 1. Only complete applications are considered for admissions. An application is considered complete when all required documents, including the candidate’s Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) Report, Application Fee, a Dean’s Certification, and two Faculty Evaluations [and, for candidates applying online, an Application Certification], have been received by the School’s Office of Admissions. Candidates are advised to consider the several weeks it will take the Law School Data Assembly Service to process their LSDAS report, and incorporate this into their application timelines. Early Decision candidates must take the LSAT no later than the October test date to be considered for this option.

Early Decision candidates will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee using the same selection criteria as those for applicants who apply under the regular admissions program. Thus, applying early will not afford candidates a significant advantage in the review process; however, consideration will be given to the fact that they have chosen Brooklyn Law School as their first-choice institution.

Early Decision candidates will be notified in late December as to whether they have been accepted or denied, or wait-listed, in which case the Admissions Committee has chosen to postpone its final decision until a re-evaluation of applications during the regular springtime review period. Wait-listed status has no direct consequence or effect on any final decision to be reached during that later review. It is anticipated that some candidates wait-listed at the Early Decision stage may ultimately be offered admission through our regular review process.

Applicants must remember that an offer of admission through the Brooklyn Law School Early Decision Admission Option is binding. If granted admission, Early Decision applicants must agree to matriculate here, may not initiate any new law school applications, and must agree to withdraw any applications they may have pending at other law schools. Candidates who are wait-listed through the Early Decision Admission Option are released from this binding commitment.

Early Decision candidates who wish to be considered for financial aid may request an Early Decision Financial Aid Fact Sheet. This fact sheet helps candidates determine whether they will be eligible for Federal financial aid, and the maximum amounts available in federal aid to law school students. It also helps candidates understand the application process if they are interested in applying for a Brooklyn Law School Need-Grant. Because prospective students cannot file their 2008-09 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) until January 1, 2008, this fact sheet contains general information only. The Office of Financial Aid cannot guarantee student-specific financial aid until the office receives a Student Aid Report based on the prospective student’s 2007-08 FAFSA application.