Law School 3 + 3 Partnerships

Students interested in the 3 + 3 Law School Partnerships may major in any program that does not require more credits than can be completed in three years alongside other university requirements, including general education. Majors in the College of Liberal Studies are most appropriate. Please see https://www.plu.edu/prelaw/3-plus-3-program/ for additional information about program requirements.

Students should consult with the Pre-Law Advising program directors no later than the fall of their sophomore year to establish a plan for early law school application. Please see https://www.plu.edu/prelaw/ for contact information.

The Partnerships

PLU has established formal partnerships with Gonzaga University School of Law and Seattle University School of Law to enable qualified students to apply early to law school and complete both a bachelor’s degree and a J.D. in six years instead of seven. Students apply credits earned during the first year of law school toward the completion of their final year of undergraduate study.

Criteria for Application

Gonzaga University School of Law

1.  Successful completion of at least 100 PLU semester hours, including the completion of all general education requirements;
2. Successful completion of at least 64 PLU credits, including the completion of all major requirements, in residency at PLU;
3. Declaration and successful completion of all required minimums for a PLU major—

including courses, grades, credits, and undergraduate grade point average (UGPA)—or written approval from the appropriate PLU unit chair that the first-year Gonzaga Law courses will fulfill any remaining electives to complete the major;

4. Written approval from the appropriate PLU official indicating that the applicant is on track to meet al PLU graduation requirements for early entry to Gonzaga Law prior to enrolling in law school; and
5. Acceptance to Gonzaga Law through its established admissions process.

Seattle University School of Law

1. Successful completion of at least 98 PLU semester credit hours, including the completion of all PLU general education requirements;
2. Declaration and successful completion of a PLU major or written approval from the appropriate PLU unit chair that the first-year Seattle Law courses will fulfill any remaining electives to complete the major;
   1. For the purposes of the foregoing, “successful completion of a PLU major” means fulfilling all academic requirements established by PLU for the student’s field of study, including courses, grades, credits, and UGPA, with the exception of the remaining electives to be fulfilled by the first year Seattle Law courses, resulting in conferral of the major on the student’s transcript.

3. A 3.5 GPA at the time of application and until matriculation at Seattle Law;
4. Written certification from the appropriate PLU official stating that the applicant is on track to meet all PLU graduation requirements for early entry to Seattle Law; and
5. Acceptance to Seattle Law through its established admissions process.

Law School Admittance

Gonzaga University School of Law Admittance

1. Interested students should apply for early admission to Gonzaga Law during their third year of undergraduate study. Application materials are due by March 15 of the calendar year in which a candidate hopes to begin their studies at Gonzaga Law.
2. The LSAT and UGPA requirements for priority consideration for admission to Gonzaga Law include the following:
   1. The applicant’s LSAT score must exceed or be equal to the median LSAT score of the preceding year’s entering law class at Gonzaga Law;
   2. The applicant’s UGPA at the time of application must exceed or be equal to the median UGPA of the preceding year’s entering law class at Gonzaga Law; and

The applicant will be subject to a holistic review process that includes consideration of the applicant’s character and fitness to eventually be licensed to practice law. Gonzaga Law reserves the right to deny admission to applicants who otherwise meet or exceed the LSAT and UGPA medians if, in its sole discretion, the applicant is not otherwise prepared or eligible for admission.

Failure to achieve the minimum LSAT score and UGPA requirement does not result in denial of admission but rather disqualifies the applicant for priority consideration for admittance to Gonzaga Law.

3. Students must have completed 100 credits from PLU at the end of three years (six semesters). Additionally, students must complete at least 64 credits in residency at PLU. Upon completion of 100 credits, the student should have met all undergraduate degree requirements outlined in the Criteria for Application above, except for the final 28 undergraduate credits typically required under PLU’s 128-credit undergraduate degree policy.

Seattle University School of Law Admittance

1. Interested students should apply for early admission to Seattle Law during their third year of undergraduate study. Application materials must be submitted no later than February 1 of the year in which a candidate hopes to begin their studies at Seattle Law.
2. Students meeting or exceeding the following LSAT and undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) requirements will be given priority consideration for admission to Seattle Law:
   1. The applicant’s LSAT score must exceed or be equal to the median LSAT score of the entering law class immediately preceding their matriculation year at Seattle Law; and
   2. The applicant’s UGPA at the time of application must exceed or be equal to the median UGPA of the entering law class immediately preceding their matriculation year at Seattle Law.

Failure to achieve the minimum LSAT score and UGPA requirement does not result in denial of admission but rather disqualifies the applicant for priority consideration for admittance to Seattle Law.

3. Subject to the holistic review process and consideration of the applicant’s character and fitness to eventually be licensed to practice law, Seattle Law reserves the right to deny admission to applicants who otherwise meet or exceed the GPA and LSAT medians if, in its sole discretion, the applicant is not otherwise prepared or eligible for admission.
4. Students must have completed 98 credits from PLU at the end of three years (six semesters). Upon completion of 98 credits, the student should have met all undergraduate degree requirements outlined in the Criteria for Application above, except for the final 30 (of 128 total) undergraduate credits typically required by PLU.
5. The final decision of whether a student is admitted into the 3 + 3 Program is within Seattle Law’s sole discretion.

Procedures

Upon admission to law school, a student must submit a copy of the letter of acceptance to PLU. When their PLU coursework is successfully completed, they must request written approval from the appropriate PLU officials and submit it to the law school as explained under the Criteria for Admission above.

Conferral of a bachelor’s degree requires completion of all PLU graduation requirements as agreed upon by the relevant academic department(s). A student accepted into law school through a 3 + 3 Program must complete all law school requirements to receive the J.D. degree. Upon successful completion of the law school’s required first-year credits, students must submit a law school transcript to PLU’s Office of Academic Records and apply for graduation at PLU. After graduation, the student is required to submit an official transcript from PLU to the law school stating that a bachelor’s degree was conferred.

Students who are not admitted into law school at the conclusion of their third undergraduate year through a 3 + 3 Program must complete additional undergraduate courses to meet the 128 credits required by PLU for their bachelor’s degree as well as all major requirements.