Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work

Lawyers and social workers both work to serve individuals and communities through different disciplines. The Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work dual degree offered through Saint Louis University School of Law and the College for Public Health and Social Justice allows students to combine those disciplines, equipping them not only with the training to practice law but with the in-depth knowledge of social conditions and the needs of individuals, groups and communities to promote well-being. SLU's M.S.W. program is ranked in the top 20% of social work programs nationally and gives students the chance to hone skills in therapy, crisis intervention, veterans services, nonprofit administration and global social work. An M.S.W. gives a lawyer specialized insight into mental health, aging, homelessness, poverty, child welfare and many more issues. This insight is advantageous in practicing law of any kind, especially public interest law, family law and indigent defense. A lawyer can provide much needed legal tools to those most in need that a social worker alone cannot, such as representation in court and mediation in housing and unemployment disputes. Students complete their first-year core curriculum courses in the School of Law and then begin an integrated curriculum at both the School of Law and School of Social Work. Full-time students can complete the J.D./M.S.W. program in four years.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis by the Admissions Committee as authorized by ABA Accreditation Standards Section 502(C). Registration for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service (LOR). No application is complete without test scores and transcript analysis from LSAC's CAS. We do accept Evaluation forms through the LSAC Evaluations Service but they are not required. We highly recommend that applicants take the LSAT in the summer or fall prior to the year they wish to enter law school. SLU LAW will only consider LSAT scores earned within the last three years. All undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be forwarded directly to the CAS. SLU LAW will request the LSAC CAS Report upon receipt of the application. The Admissions Committee considers several factors in determining a candidate's eligibility: academic achievement, strength of the undergraduate program, application information, LSAT results (the Admissions Committee looks only at the applicant's highest score), personal statement, work experience, graduate degrees earned, motivation, leadership and service. Two letters of recommendation Personal Statement Resume A TOEFL Score is required only if the applicant was educated in a foreign country IELTS - 6.5, TOEFL iBT - 80 and TOEFL PBT - 550