Lincoln Memorial University—John J. Duncan, Jr. School of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
The JD Program
LMU Law offers two programs of legal study: 1) a full-time program, and 2) a part-time/hybrid program.
Both programs begin each August.
The full-time program is three years in length. Students achieving a 3.000 cumulative law school grade point average after their second semester can apply for our Accelerated JD Program. This will allow full-time students to graduate in as little as 2.5 years. Graduating early saves qualifying students six months of living expenses and helps them begin their journey toward legal practice six months earlier than their peers.
The part-time/hybrid program is four years (11 semesters) in length. The program is designed for working professionals or those people who have other commitments but want to attend law school on a limited basis. The full-time program operates during the day. About two-thirds of the part-time/hybrid program is completed online with weekly accomplishment requirements. After orientation, you will attend classes on-campus for no more than two long weekends a semester. The fourth year is entirely online. Our online sessions are designed to be completed in an asynchronous manner, meaning that you work at your own pace without the necessity of a rigid schedule requiring class participation at set times. We are proud of this innovative approach, one of the first of its kind. An accelerated option does not exist for the part-time/hybrid program at this time.
JD/MBA Dual-Degree Program
LMU offers a dual-degree Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program. There is no overlap in coursework, and students will be required to complete the entire curricula in both programs. Students enrolled in LMU’s J.D. program must successfully complete ninety (90) credit hours. The program of legal education includes sixty-seven (67) credit hours of required courses and twenty-three (23) hours of elective courses. Students enrolled in the LMU M.B.A. program must successfully complete thirty (30) credit hours, including twenty-four (24) required credit hours and six (6) elective credit hours.
The J.D. Program's 90 credit hours are completed by attending class in person, although the American Bar Association permits a limited number of courses to offered through distance education. Full-time students complete the program of legal education in three years by taking 15 credit hours each fall and spring semester. Students have the option of summer coursework to lighten their course load during the upper-level years. Classes are admitted for the J.D. program each fall (August).
The M.B.A. Program is completed fully online; however, if J.D./M.B.A. dual-degree program students take the first 12 credits in the summer prior to beginning the J.D. program, they have the option of receiving those credit hours through traditional in-class delivery. Up to 12 credit hours of M.B.A. studies can be completed in the summer semester.
Through J.D./M.B.A. Dual-Degree Program students have several options of when to begin. They can begin taking M.B.A. courses in the summer prior to their first year of law school (1L year) or after their 1L year. If they choose any of these optional start dates, they can complete the JD/MBA Program in as little as three academic years plus one summer semester. Alternatively, students may complete their M.B.A. studies during the period of time between when they take the bar examination (late July or late February) and when the exam results are released, a couple of months after the exam. Finally, dual-degree students may also, if they so choose, take a semester break from the J.D. Program to complete coursework toward their M.B.A. Notwithstanding the start date, the final two semesters of the J. D. Program and post-graduate bar preparation must be completed consecutively.
Dual-degree students enrolled in J.D. classes in a particular semester may also enroll in M.B.A. classes if they so choose. However, all J. D. students, including J.D./M.B.A. dual-degree students, must obtain the approval of the law school's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to enroll in 17 or 18 credit hours in a single semester, and no J.D. student may enroll in more than 18 total credit hours in any single semester.
You must apply to and qualify for each program separately. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other program.
Applications for LMU’s J.D. Program must completed through the Law School Admission Council’s website – https://www.lsac.org.
Applications for LMU’s M.B.A. Program must be completed through LMU’s website - https://www.lmunet.edu/target-x/index.html. There is no fee to apply.
JD/MPA Joint-Degree Program
LMU offers a joint-degree program through which students may obtain both the Juris Doctor (JD) degree and the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. Students enrolled in LMU Law School’s JD program must successfully complete ninety (90) credit hours. The program of legal education includes sixty-seven (67) credit hours of required courses and twenty-three (23) hours of elective courses. Students enrolled in the LMU MPA program must successfully complete thirty-six (36) credit hours, including eighteen (18) required credit hours and eighteen (18) elective credit hours. Students enrolled in the JD/MPA Dual-Degree Program may use up to twelve (12) credit hours of coursework in approved JD elective courses to fulfill MPA program elective credit hours.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in non-governmental organizations (NGO) and non-profits. Those with MPA degrees increasingly are being called to work in large national and multi-national organizations and in the healthcare industry. LMU’s MPA program focuses on the systematic investigation of executive organization and management. The main objective of the program is to help students in understanding and recognizing the development and principles of the field of public administration, including the making, management, implementation, and assessment of public policy in our society today.
You must apply to and qualify for each program separately. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other program.
Applications for LMU’s J.D. Program must completed through the Law School Admission Council’s website – https://www.lsac.org.
Applications for LMU’s M.P.A. Program must be completed through LMU’s website - https://www.lmunet.edu/target-x/index.html. There is no fee to apply.
JD/MSCJ Joint-Degree Program
LMU offers a joint-degree program through which students may obtain both the Juris Doctor (JD) degree and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree. Students enrolled in LMU Law School’s JD program must successfully complete ninety (90) credit hours. The program of legal education includes sixty-seven (67) credit hours of required courses and twenty-three (23) hours of elective courses. Students enrolled in the LMU MSCJ program must successfully complete thirty (30) credit hours, including eighteen (18) required credit hours and twelve (12) elective credit hours. Students enrolled in the JD/MSCJ Joint-Degree Program may use up to twelve (12) credit hours of coursework in approved JD elective courses to fulfill MSCJ program elective credit hours.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program at Lincoln Memorial University is an online graduate degree program that provides knowledge and skills that will prepare students either seeking leadership roles in criminal justice organizations or preparing for doctoral study. The LMU MSCJ program requires thirty (30) credit hours to graduate and provides tracks in Administration, Applied Professional, and Research. All students will demonstrate proficiency in theories of crime and justice, justice ethics, scientific research methodology, policy analysis, and leadership. The program offers a variety of elective courses that provide students with the opportunity to tailor coursework to meet their individual needs and interests.
Interested students must apply to and qualify for each program separately. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other program.
Applications for LMU’s JD Program must completed through the Law School Admission Council’s website – https://www.lsac.org. Other than the Credential Assembly Service/ Law School Report fee charge by the LSAC, there is no fee to apply.
Applications for LMU’s MSCJ Program must be completed through LMU’s website - https://www.lmunet.edu/target-x/index.html. There is no fee to apply.
Student Life
Over 25 Student Organizations
LMU Law believes that your law school experience is best enhanced through involvement in extracurricular activities. Currently, in addition to robust moot court, mock trial, and client counseling teams and competitions, LMU Law has over 25 student organizations covering a wide array of interests and specializations. Also, we add new student groups each year so if you do not see one or more that fits your interest, the Office of Student Affairs wants to help you get one started. More information about the current student groups can be gained through the Student Bar Association's website.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$42,600.00
|
| Fees |
$3,453.00
|
| Expected Cost of Attendance |
$72,013.00
|
Everyone loses when financial constraints prevent a promising student from enrolling in law school. LMU Law is pleased to provide substantial merit-based scholarships. Scholarships are reserved for students with superior academic backgrounds, outstanding leadership qualities, a track record of community service, need, and other qualities worthy of recognition. These financial awards recognize each recipient's potential for success in our program and will be credited toward their tuition.
We are committed to eliminating financial barriers that stand in the way of students with the potential to benefit from a legal education. Students offered admission should be able to attend and remain at LMU Law without regard to personal financial circumstances. To this end, we are strongly committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for admitted students lacking sufficient financial resources. Every applicant's file is considered for scholarship opportunities as it is considered for admission.
Admission and scholarship decisions are based on a thorough review of each applicant's file. While an applicant's score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) figure prominently in admission decisions, multiple factors are considered in making both admission and scholarship recommendations/decisions. Among the factors considered are the breadth and difficulty of academic background, diversity, military service, fulfillment of the University's mission, advanced academic degrees awarded, extracurricular and community activities, leadership roles assumed or earned, participation in collegiate athletics, participation in volunteer experiences, personal background, and any other pertinent information provided by the applicant.
Subject to eligibility, current students can apply for new and/or additional scholarship awards at the end of each academic year.
LMU Law Scholarship Guarantee
Beginning in 2016, any scholarship awarded to an entering law student will be renewed automatically as long as the student remains in good standing academically and graduates within the number of years of the program for which he or she was admitted. To remain in good academic standing, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
For the full-time program, LMU Law operates a rolling-admission process. Prospective students may begin the process as soon as applications are made available. The Admission and Scholarship Committee (Admissions Committee) reviews files as soon as they are complete. The Admissions Committee may designate to the Associate Dean for Enrollment Services the ability to review files where an applicant’s metrics are above or below a certain range. In the event there is a character and fitness issue, the Associate Dean from Enrollment Services may refer a file to the full Committee or Dean for review. There are a limited number of seats available in each program of study. The likelihood of garnering an offer of admission decreases as the cycle progresses. It is possible that worthy applicants, applying late in the admissions cycle, may not receive an offer of admission. The application deadline is July 1st, and the priority consideration deadline is March 15th.
For the part-time/hybrid program, admission decisions are made on a scheduled basis. Because the program has a limited number of seats (50 for fall 2024 and 60 for fall 2025), the Admission and Scholarship Committee will make offers on a limited basis. Although the application deadline is July 1st, the first priority consideration deadline is February 15th. The first set of offers will be made after the first priority consideration deadline. We hope to fill the program with applicants who applied by that time. The second priority consideration deadline is May 1st. Offers will be extended for the remaining seats available after the initial acceptance deadline of April 1st. The final round of offers will be extended after the July 1st application deadline.
LMU Law seeks to attract and retain students whose goals are consistent with the mission and purpose of the institution. The educational experience of all students is enhanced by admitting applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Strong consideration will be given to those applicants who possess a desire to serve the underrepresented and underserved populations throughout the Appalachian region and beyond.
Admission decisions are based on a thorough review of each applicant’s file. While the applicant’s score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) figure prominently, multiple factors are used to reach a decision. The Committee will consider the breadth and difficulty of academic background, extracurricular and community activities, advanced academic degrees awarded, exposure to the legal profession, participation in volunteer experiences, communication skills, personal background, and any other pertinent information provided by the applicant.
Applicants who demonstrate they possess the qualities and characteristics that will enable them to achieve success in the study and practice of law will be selected for admission. Admission decisions are communicated in writing. Admitted applicants are required to pay a seat deposit to secure a place in the entering class. The amount of the seat deposit, and the deadline for submission, will be set forth in the letter of admission. Seat deposits are non-refundable, but they will be credited toward tuition and/or fees upon matriculation.
Once all items are received by the Office of Admissions, unless requested otherwise, an applicant’s file will be deemed “complete” and will be forwarded to the Admission and Scholarship Committee (or its designee) and Dean for consideration.
Admitted Applicant Profile
