Categories of Admission

Juris Doctor Degree Program

Regular Students with a Bachelor’s Degree

Applicants previously awarded a bachelor’s degree from a qualified institution of higher learning are considered for regular admission.

Regular Students without a Bachelor’s Degree

Trinity offers law school candidates without a bachelor’s degree an exceptional opportunity to enter law school before completing their undergraduate study. Applicants may be admitted upon completion of an associate’s degree from a qualified institution or upon earning at least 60 transferable units of undergraduate study. Applicants may also be admitted as Special Students (students who have not completed the minimum two years of college work but have demonstrated intellectual achievement by achieving acceptable scores on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams prior to beginning the study of law) and must pass the First-Year Law Student's Examination (FYLSX) to advance to the second year of study.

Transfer Students

Applicants enrolled in legal study elsewhere may be considered for transfer status. The Admissions Committee evaluates transfer applicants on a case-by-case basis but usually requires transfer students to complete their last four semesters in residence at Trinity Law School. Applicants who have completed some law school credits at their original school may be eligible for advanced standing. Grades at or above the good standing level (good standing level is determined by the school where the classes were taken) may be accepted for transfer credit subject to the similarity to Trinity Law School course contents. Applicants who have been previously dismissed by another law school may be considered for admission. If the student was dismissed at the end of their first year, units would not transfer unless they take and pass the FYLSX. Admission of transfer students and transfer of units is determined by the Admissions Committee and in accordance with the rules of the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California. Trinity Law School does not award credit for prior experiential learning.

Agreements

• California Baptist University (CBU) - Trinity Law School admits students from California Baptist University who earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average after completing all California Baptist University residency and general education requirements and all requirements for the Political Science Major with a Pre-Law emphasis. Students must complete a minimum of 98 semester units of undergraduate study and receive a Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score of 143 or higher by the first semester of the junior year. Students must complete the Trinity Law School application process by the first semester of the junior year.

International Students

Trinity welcomes foreign-educated applicants. However, there are special admission requirements pertaining to the evaluation of foreign credentials. Foreign applicants must request a detailed report evaluating their transcripts from Credentials Evaluation Services (CES). Trinity Law School will assist students in applying for F1 visas for those who are not residents of the United States. There are no fees associated with the services offered by Trinity Law School.

All instruction at Trinity Law School is in English. Trinity Law School does not provide English language services.

For purposes of admission to Trinity Law School, international students are defined solely on their citizenship/residency status. If a student does not hold citizenship or permanent residency in the United States, the student is classified as an international student.

All students who have not completed one of the following are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):

• The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) with a verbal recentered score of 450 or higher.

• A 'C' or better in a regular (non-English as a Second Language (ESL)) college-level English composition course at an accredited United States college or university.  

• The completion of English Language Services (ELS) Language Centers' Level 112 of ELS’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program with a grade of at least 'B'.  

• A score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination.

The TOEFL requirement is:

550 Paper based examination

80 Internet based examination

If students do not meet Trinity Law School’s required level of English proficiency at the time of application, "conditional letters of admission” may be granted.

Master of Legal Studies Degree Program

Applicants previously awarded a bachelor’s degree from a qualified institution of higher learning are considered for admission.