SJD Admissions Process

Admission is highly competitive and is granted only to those with a strong academic record, enthusiastic faculty support, and a dissertation topic that suggests a significant and original contribution to legal literature.

Three paths to admission are available:

Complete an LLM Degree at Michigan Law

The vast majority of admitted students have earned or are currently earning a Michigan Law LLM degree.

Apply as an LLM/SJD

Students with prior legal training in the Anglo-American tradition may apply for direct admission to the SJD program, though they will be required to successfully complete a modified LLM year before proceeding to the SJD

Apply Directly to the SJD Program

In the rarest of circumstances, exceptionally qualified candidates with excellent credentials relevant to their proposed dissertation may be admitted directly to the SJD program. These extraordinary students must demonstrate significant prior studies as well as produce a prospectus that clearly shows readiness to begin thesis research immediately. They must also have strong support from a tenured Michigan Law professor.

SJD Application Details

  • Application Materials

    Currently enrolled Michigan Law LLM students apply in February. Michigan Law LLM graduates must apply by January 15.

    Completed applications from current Michigan Law LLM students and Michigan Law LLM graduates contain all of the following:

    1. Curriculum vitae or resume
    2. Personal statement
    3. Dissertation research prospectus
    4. Name of proposed SJD dissertation chair (must be a tenured Michigan Law professor)
    5. One letter of recommendation from the proposed SJD dissertation chair
    6. One letter of recommendation from a law professor at the law school where your most recent degree was earned (prior to Michigan)
    7. Optional, but strongly recommended: one letter of recommendation from an additional Michigan Law professor

    All other prospective SJD students must apply by January 15. Completed applications for anyone who is not currently enrolled as a Michigan Law LLM student or who is not a Michigan Law LLM graduate contain all of the following:

    1. Michigan Law Graduate Study application form (submitted through LSAC’s website
    2. Curriculum vitae or resume
    3. Personal statement
    4. Essay about interest in Michigan Law’s SJD program
    5. Dissertation research prospectus
    6. Name of proposed SJD dissertation chair (must be a tenured Michigan Law professor)
    7. Two letters of recommendation (one letter should be from a professor at the law school where your most recent degree was earned)
    8. Official transcripts and degree confirmations
    9. English proficiency materials (unless an exemption applies)
    10. $75 application fee
  • Dissertation Research Prospectus

    A competitive prospectus describes the proposed research topic in sufficient detail to indicate its significance and originality, the questions to be explored, and the research methodology to be used. While there are no length requirements, 25 to 40 pages (double spaced) tend to be the average. The prospectus should demonstrate a readiness to begin research immediately and should be written in English by the applicant. Please do NOT submit a prospectus that has been translated or that has been edited by others.

  • Finding Your Dissertation Chair

    SJD dissertation chairs must be fully tenured Michigan Law professors and have expertise in your field of research. If you do not already have a personal relationship with a qualifying faculty member, please contact the Admissions Office at [email protected] for guidance. We ask that you do not contact professors directly unless you have previously worked with them or unless you have been referred to a professor by another professor or by the Admissions Office.

  • Letters of Recommendation

    Letters of recommendation should be from people who know you well and must address your capacity for advanced legal scholarship as well as your prospects for a successful career. It is helpful if the letters address how you compare to others in your law school or professional cohort. 

    Letters of recommendation should be written in English or in the recommender’s native language with a certified English translation. All letters of recommendation must appear on official stationery of the recommender. Either LSAC’s or Michigan Law’s recommender form must be completed by both the applicant and the recommender and be included with the letter.

  • Official Transcripts and Degree Confirmations 

    Official transcripts and degree confirmations are required from all tertiary and postgraduate programs attended (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, law schools, and professional law institutes).

    Transcripts must bear the registrar’s signature or the institution’s seal. They must be in English or be accompanied by a certified English translation.

    Transcripts must give results of all coursework, including yearly or comprehensive exams when applicable. Official certification of your rank in class (for example, 4th in a class of 123 students), your cumulative average grade, and receipt of honors should also be provided.

    It is helpful for us to receive a description of each institution’s grading system, including the normal length of the degree program and whether failing grades appear on the transcript.

  • English Proficiency Materials

    To be prepared for the rigor of the SJD program, students must have a high level of English proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Unless an exemption applies, all applicants must submit at least one mode of the English proficiency materials we accept.

    We accept any of the following English proficiency materials:

    • TOEFL score
    • IELTS score
    • MET score
    • ECPE score
    • LSAT score
    • InitialView interview

    Although we review all complete applications, we look for an overall score of at least 100 on the TOEFL iBT, 7.0 on the IELTS Academic, or 64 on the MET 4-skill exam. Most admitted students have higher overall scores.

    We advise applicants with scores below 100 on the TOEFL iBT, 7.0 on the IELTS Academic, or 64 on the MET 4-skill exam to consider submitting an addendum that discusses their English language abilities.

    TOEFL and IELTS

    The TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are available widely throughout the world. Both the TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are administered at test centers, but we also accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Online scores.

    We do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores.

    If you choose to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, then you should request that these testing institutions send your score reports to LSAC. If you have taken multiple TOEFL or IELTS tests, then you should submit all your results to LSAC.

    TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years, and so we accept scores that are within two years of our application opening. During the 2024-25 admissions season, we will accept TOEFL or IELTS scores from September 1, 2022 or later.

    TOEFL Details

    IELTS Details

    Submit TOEFL or IELTS Scores to LSAC

    MET or ECPE Scores

    The Michigan English Test (MET) is administered online, and you can take the MET almost anywhere year-round. If you are considering the MET, then you should take the digital, 4-skill exam, which has a 155-minute duration.

    Prospective applicants to our LLM program can register to take the MET at a discounted rate.

    MET scores are valid for two years, and so we accept scores that are within two years of our application opening. During the 2024-25 admissions season, we will accept MET scores from September 1, 2022 or later.

    The Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) is a 4-skill, paper test that is administered in May and December. ECPE scores are valid for life, and so we can accept any valid ECPE score as a measure of English proficiency, regardless of the test administration date.

    If you choose to submit a MET or ECPE score, then you should share your result with the University of Michigan Law School SJD Program in the Michigan Language Assessment Portal.

    Learn More about MET

    Learn More about ECPE

    Submit Your MET or ECPE Test Scores

    LSAT Scores

    The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) consists of four 35-minute sections and is typically offered 8 to 9 times per year. You can take the LSAT at a test center or online.

    If you have taken the LSAT within the past five years (from June 2019 or later), then we can accept a valid LSAT score as a measure of English proficiency. If you indicate that you will be submitting an LSAT score in your application, then we will work with LSAC to receive your LSAT score information.

    Learn More about the LSAT

    InitialView Interview

    InitialView conducts live, unscripted interviews that provide you the chance to demonstrate your English communication skills and discuss your background and goals. The entire process takes about an hour, and you can complete an interview almost anywhere online.

    If you choose to do an online interview, then you should select a “Graduate/Professional School” interview. The interview is based on your résumé and is conducted by one of InitialView’s interviewers. The writing sample, which we strongly recommend (but do not require), is an open-ended question to which you will write a response. Neither the interview nor the writing sample is scored.

    Prospective applicants to our SJD program can register for an InitialView interview with a 30 percent off discount by entering the code: xwADZJe

    If you choose to participate in an InitialView interview, you should submit your interview to the University of Michigan Law School via the InitialView portal.

    Learn More About InitialView

    Register for an InitialView Interview

  • Exemptions From English Proficiency Materials

    The vast majority of candidates are required to submit at least one mode of our accepted English proficiency materials as an integral part of their application. However, an applicant who meets either of the following criteria is are exempt from submitting English language proficiency materials:

    • English is the applicant’s native language (i.e., one of the first languages an applicant learned from birth and a primary language that the applicant speaks at home)

    OR

    • The applicant has completed at least three years of full-time, post-secondary education at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction

    If you meet either of these criteria, you can indicate your eligibility for an exemption in the “Language” section of the application form. Please note that we will not send a separate communication to indicate our granting of an exemption.

  • Application Fee

    Michigan Law LLM alumni and current Michigan Law LLM students are not charged an application fee. For all other candidates, the application fee is $75 and is payable by credit card on LSAC’s website.

Submitting Your Application

If you are a currently enrolled Michigan Law LLM student or if you are a Michigan Law LLM alumnus, please submit your application materials directly to Stephanie Wiederhold at [email protected]

Applications from all other prospective SJD students should be submitted online through LSAC and can be made in combination with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. The Credential Assembly Service provides applicants an efficient way to apply to multiple law schools at the same time and provides evaluation and authentication of your previous education.