M.S.L. Admission

To apply for the Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) program, applicants must have a doctoral degree or be a doctoral candidate in a field other than law, unless the applicant is a working journalist, for which a bachelor's degree is required.

Applicants must have a strong record of academic and professional accomplishment. Admission to this program is generally available for candidates looking to support an enhanced understanding of the rule of law for the purposes of journalistic reporting or teaching careers and scholarship in a second discipline.

Schedule

Applications are accepted for the 2026–2027 academic year from August 15 to January 10, at 11:59 p.m., U.S. Eastern Time. The January 10 deadline should be understood as the date by which all applications to the M.S.L. program should be submitted online through the Electronic Application Service of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). To expedite processing, all required supporting documents, such as transcripts, should be received by LSAC by this deadline. Please note that it may take LSAC some weeks to process your documents and send them to Yale Law School. Nevertheless, your application will be considered "on time," as long as all required documents have been received by LSAC by January 10.

Application Process

1. Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) 

All applications must be submitted through the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) by January 10.

Applicants should register and pay for CAS at least four to six weeks before your first law school application deadline. It takes approximately two weeks for LSAC to process a U.S. transcript or letter of recommendation from the time that it is received; transcripts from non-U.S. institutions may take longer to process. LSAC will not send your Law School Report to us until all official transcripts—and your TOEFL score, if required, are received. It is your responsibility to ensure that LSAC receives all of your materials in a timely manner.

Questions about the CAS should be directed to LSAC at (215) 968-1001.

2. Arrange for letters of recommendation

We require three confidential letters of recommendation from persons having knowledge of the applicant's academic ability and professional promise; however, we will accept up to five letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be sent through LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service;

3. Arrange for delivery of transcripts to LSAC

Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work must be sent to LSAC for evaluation. Final official transcripts may be certified electronic transcripts or traditional paper transcripts. If you have records from education completed outside of the United States, all of your attested documents from the issuing institution or government agency must be submitted in the original language. If the transcripts or other required documents are not in English, a certified translation must be included.

International applicants must register for LSAC's Document Assembly Service. We also require LSAC's International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service;

4. Take the TOEFL

An official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report is required unless the applicant's native language is English, or their undergraduate education was completed at an institution where the language of instruction is English. (Please be sure to specify the LSAC institution code, 8395. We require a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-based test).

To request a waiver from submitting a TOEFL score, please complete the questionnaire and submit any additional documentation to support your request as directed. An LSAC account number is required to submit the form. Please submit your TOEFL request before January 1 to be considered by the January 10 application deadline.

5. Complete the application form

We require all applicants to the M.S.L. program to submit their applications online through the LSAC’s Electronic Application Service. Submit your application no later than January 10.

6. Include an essay and curriculum vitae

Candidates must attach a typed statement of no more than three pages (double-spaced in 12-point font) explaining why the study of law is important to your professional growth and development.

Submit three to five examples of professional work (journalists only).

7. Pay the application fee of $75 (USD)

The application fee is $75 (USD), payable through LSAC by credit card. The application fee is separate and in addition to any fees charged by LSAC for its application, credential assembly, and authentication services. This fee is non-refundable and will not be credited to tuition in the event of admission.

8. Receive confirmation of your application

You will receive notification from us when we receive your application and, again, when your application is complete. You may check the status of your application on the LSAC portal. If you have not received notification by January 15, 2026, please contact us.

Additional Information for applicants

Previous applicants who were not admitted to the M.S.L. program and who wish to reapply must submit a completely new application and pay the application fee. Applicants who have been denied admission three times may not file further applications.

Financial aid is not applied for or determined until after admission. At that time, we will provide admitted applicants with information on how to apply for financial aid. Financial aid is available to all admitted applicants and is based on need. Learn more about financial aid at Yale Law School.

We typically make admissions decisions in mid-March.

If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Programs Office.