Juris Doctor and Master of Science in Computer Science

The primary goal of the joint degree JD plus MS program at DePaul University College of Law and Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) is to prepare students for successful legal and related careers in industry, government, and other institutions that develop innovations, engage in electronic commerce, employ information technologies, and manage and protect information and data. A critical need exists for attorneys in a wide range of fields involving software development, high-technology innovations, information processing, internet and telecommunications services, digital-content, and more. Lawyers are needed to provide advice, counseling, and litigation services regarding the acquisition of and licensing of intellectual property rights, the assertion and defense of such rights, regulations governing the use, protection and preservation of information, and contractual and business practices in the high-tech sector. Graduates who have a substantive understanding of legal and technological issues regarding e-commerce, information technologies, e-discovery, computational finance, network security, digital media, or related computer science fields will have a substantial advantage in obtaining and flourishing in such positions. Graduates with the joint degree will be better prepared to be drafters, negotiators, and litigators when seeking to obtain and protect inventions, trademarks, analog and digital creations, internet websites, and domain names, advisors concerning licensing, reverse engineering, or reusing computer software, expressive, or functional media, and managers when developing policies governing the acquisition, preservation and dissemination of information for their clients and within their own institutions.

DePaul offers competitive JD programs to international applicants with a law degree and without a law degree. For international applicants with a law degree, DePaul is one of a small number of law schools to offer a two-year JD program that does not require the LSAT.

Two-Year JD for International Lawyers & Law School Graduates

Foreign-trained lawyers, and other graduates of foreign, non-U.S. law schools, may earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from DePaul University College of Law in only two years. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required for admission. DePaul is one of a small number of law schools to offer a two-year JD program that does not require the LSAT. Graduates of the Two-Year JD Program for International Lawyers are eligible to take the bar exam and become licensed in any state in the United States.

Students admitted to the program receive one year of credit (28 credit hours) for their foreign law degree. The remaining 58 credit hours required to earn the JD can be completed in two years.

International Applicants without a Law Degree

DePaul University College of Law welcomes applications from students who have earned degrees or received diplomas from international institutions.

International applicants who have earned their degree in any area other than law are required to take the LSAT and register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service.

First-year applicants should ensure that their application and all necessary documents are on file in the Office of Admission prior to the suggested deadline of April 1. However, we continue to accept applications after this date.

TOEFL/IELTS/DET score: 90 on the iBT, 577 on the PBT, 6.5 on the IELTS or 115 on the DuoLingo English Test.