Can I enter law school with my GPA? (foreign student)?

Question

Hi there!

I am a French corporate law student and I want to complete a JD in an American law school. But I am afraid my grades may get into the way. I study in a prestigious university in France (Sciences-Po for those of you who might know it).

In France teachers rarely give grades that are higher than 15/20. As a result my GPA is pretty low compared to an average American student (but it is pretty good for my university --> my average GPA is 12/20). I attended an American university and was able to score a 3.9 studying as much as I do in France. It is impossible to obtain that high of a GPA in my university.

Do you think I have a chance to enter a law school? Do you have any suggestions? I already study corporate law and I love it. I would really love to be able to practice law in the US.

Thank you!

Answer 1

The problem is you have no guarantee of being able to stay in the States once you graduate. US law would be pretty useless in France, so think this through. You will need a law firm or company to sponsor you, and unless you go to a top 10 law school you are unlikely to find one.

Answer 2

There are many many very difficult universities in the US.  You seem to think that because your university was difficult, and you did well at an American university, that their might be parity with Law school.  Not the case at all.  You could go to a second or third tier school and do just fine.  If you try to get into a top tier school, the fact you're around a 60% average will kill you.

You need to take the TOFFEL, the LSAT, and get your grades converted to the standard 4.0 US system.  Then you will be judged to the same standards as all other students.  In you application, you may want to give the equivalent French ranking of your school - if it's the equivalent of a top tier US undergrad institution, then that will be taken into consideration.

Answer 3

When you apply to school as an international student, you have to have your grades evaluated by a service to give an equivalent to an American GPA.  They look at a number of factors, and I couldn't possibly tell you what the equivalent of your GPA would be.  Only another French student could tell you that.

Having said that, it would be pretty unusual to get a JD here for an international student, since you couldn't really use it when you returned to France.  Are you sure you would want to spend three years and a lot of money just for the knowledge?

Answer 4

You would need to take the TOEFL exam (Test of English as Foreign Language) and depending on the school's requirements for international students from countries whose primary language is not english you may also have to take the LSAT exam. Once you have done that you will have to apply to the universities that are of interest to you and it is too late for 2008 / 2009 school year. The earliest you could enter is for the 2009 / 2010 school year. If you are accepted you will then have to apply for a student visa and in most cases you would have to pay for all of your schooling due to the fact you mostly likely would not qualify for aid. US Law schools are not a cheap as French, EU, or UK schools. Most likely Law School with expenses will cost you at least €75,000  - €80,000 /year. Once you graduate you would have to take the Bar exam and there will be no guarantee you would be allowed to stay which may mean you may be required to return to France.