UAA Law School Partnerships
UAA proudly partners with three universities to offer accelerated programs for qualifed students interested pursuing a baccalaureate degree and law degree.
For more information or program questions, contact Associate Professor Dr. Ryan Fortson.
Mitchell Hamline Blended Learning direct 4+3 law school admission program
This advantageous partnership between UAA and Mitchell Hamline School of Law (MHSL) enables well qualified UAA students guaranteed admission to a program that offers students the opportunity to attend law school primarily remotely from Alaska with limited campus visits to St. Paul, Minnesota. This creates a viable option for Alaskans who want to get a law degree but cannot or do not want to leave Alaska to do so.
The 4+3 Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at UAA and UAA alumni to gain admission to MHSL if they meet certain academic thresholds. If a student meets those criteria, that student will be guaranteed admission, including to the Blended Learning model at Mitchell Hamline. The Blended Learning model combines distance learning with in- person education. Students enrolled in this model can attend law school anywhere in Alaska (or the world), spending just a few weeks per year on campus.
Acceptance to the MHSL Direct Admission Program includes a scholarship for 50% of tuition, renewable for all three years if the student remains in good academic standing at MHSL.
Program eligibility requirements:
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Complete all requirements for a UAA Bachelor’s degree before matriculating at MHSL, or are on track to meet the 4+3 admission requirements;
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Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in courses taken at UAA and no lower than a 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses;
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Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at MHSL;
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Apply to MHSL for admission into the full-time, part-time, or Blended Learning J.D. program between October 1 and May 1 in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study and
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Meet MHSL’s character and fitness requirements and comply with MHSL’s general admissions policies and requirements.
Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admissions Program: An exemplary student who
(A) wishes to participate in the guaranteed admission program, (B) did not qualify
to apply for admission because of their LSAT or GPA, but (C) who meets all other eligibility
requirements, may contact ann.buesgens@mitchellhamline.edu to discuss alternative eligibility.
Willamette University direct law school admission program 4+3
This inspiring partnership between UAA and Willamette University College of Law, located in Salem, Oregon, offers successful UAA students the security of knowing that if they meet pre-defined admissions requirements, they will be granted admission to law school. This encourages students interested in attending law school to attain these high academic standards. "4+3" refers to four years of undergraduate credits plus three years of law school.
The 4+3 Direct Admission Program allows undergraduate students studying at UAA and UAA alumni to gain admission to Willamette Law based on certain academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to Willamette Law will be assured. UAA students and alumni who are admitted under the Direct Admission Program are guaranteed a Direct Admission scholarship of $10,000, renewable each year the student is enrolled at Willamette Law and remains in good standing.
Program eligibility requirements:
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Complete all requirements for a UAA bachelor’s degree before matriculating at Willamette Law;
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Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in courses taken at UAA and no lower than a 3.0 GPA on all transferred courses;
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Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the College of Law, or earn a minimum GRE score of 155 (verbal), 145 (quantitative), and 4.5 (writing);
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Apply to Willamette Law for admission into the full-time or part-time J.D. program between Sept. 1 and June 15 in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study; and
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Meet Willamette Law’s character and fitness requirements and comply with Willamette Law's general admissions policies.
An exemplary student who (A) wishes to participate in the Direct Admissions Program, (B) did not qualify to apply for the Direct Admissions Program because of his or her LSAT or GRE score, or GPA, but (C) who meets all other eligibility requirements, may contact Willamette's Dean of Graduate Admissions, Leah Straley, to discuss alternative eligibility.
Case Western Reserve University guaranteed law school scholarship program
This generous partnership between UAA and the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Law ensures that high-achieving UAA students who are admitted to the CWRU School of Law and who meet certain academic criteria will receive substantial financial support toward their law school tuition. With the high costs of law school, this program provides financial security to make law school affordable for those students who might be deterred from attending for economic reasons.
Qualified UAA students who are admitted to Case Western Reserve University School of law through their standard admissions process will be provided a scholarship by virtue of being UAA students, contingent upon enrolling at the law school. Admission to the law school is not guaranteed for students who meet the eligibility criteria set forth below, but students who meet the eligibility criteria and are admitted to CWRU School of Law will be assured of receiving at a minimum the financial assistance package also outlined below. This financial assistance will be renewed for each of the three years the student is enrolled in law school, provided the student remains in good standing.
Program eligibility requirements:
In order to be eligible to receive the financial assistance contemplated by this program,
UAA students applying to the CWRU School of Law must meet the following criteria:
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The student must graduate from UAA prior to enrollment in law school with a GPA in the top 50% of the graduating class and at least a 150/180 score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). For applicants taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in lieu of the LSAT, the applicant’s GRE score will be evaluated in a manner that ensures a holistic assessment of the applicant’s entire record.
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The applicant must also meet all other CWRU School of Law admission criteria. Additional admissions criteria require a showing of outstanding personal development, including, but not limited to: involvement and leadership in undergraduate activities and community programs, scholarly pursuits and research, artistic or athletic activities, or other experiences that further add to an applicant’s personal growth. In addition, the applicant must have maintained personal and academic integrity, including with respect to online materials of the applicant. All applicants will be subject to character and fitness review by the CWRU Law Admissions Committee, which may vote to deny or withdraw the offer of admission based on character and/or fitness concerns.
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UAA students applying to the CWRU School of Law will receive a waiver of the LSAC Credential Assembly Service fee for their application.
Scholarships, stipends, and additional benefits:
UAA students who apply and are admitted to and who enroll in the CWRU School of Law will receive the following financial assistance and other benefits:
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A scholarship that covers at least 50% of CWRU School of Law tuition rate in effect for the forthcoming school year, contingent on payment of the applicant’s share of the tuition rate.
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All scholarships awarded are for three consecutive academic years, provided the student remains in good academic standing.
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An accepted applicant can enroll tuition-free in the CWRU Law School Criminal Law course held just before the commencement of their first academic law school year.
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An accepted applicant accepting a first-choice seat at CWRU Law School will be provided their required textbooks for their first semester at no cost to the graduate.
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The student will be assigned a mentor.
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Upon completion of the Fall semester at CWRU Law School with a minimum GPA of 3.0, the student will be guaranteed a summer law clerk placement or a minimum $2,000 CWRU Law School-provided stipend for an unpaid summer position with a nonprofit or government agency in the event no other funding is available.
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In the third year at CWRU School of Law, the student will receive $1,000 to help cover the costs of a commercial bar prep course under the then-applicable terms of the CWRU School of Law bar-stipend program.