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Accelerated January Degree Program
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s Accelerated Program allows students to begin law school in January (spring term) and graduate within two and a half years, instead of the traditional three year full-time curriculum.
The Accelerated Program allows full-time and part-time, day students to enroll in Law School in January and complete their degree faster. The structure and content of the January Accelerated Program mirrors the traditional fall start program. Students “accelerate” by completing the second semester of their 1L year over the first summer and then commencing their 2L year that fall. Students who begin in the traditional fall semester may also accelerate by utilizing summer sessions.
Apply to the January Program Learn more about the JD program
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When is the deadline for applying, and when can I expect to hear an answer?
While there is no final deadline as we work on rolling admissions, the priority application deadline for spring entry is December 1. Decisions typically take 2-3 weeks after completion of your application.
If I enter in the spring semester, how will my law school experience differ from that of my peers who are enrolled in the traditional full-time three-year program?
Students entering in the spring accelerated program will be fully integrated into law school life and have access to all the same services and activities available to first-year fall start students, including financial aid, career services, student groups and law review. Spring accelerated students will take 1L classes together during the spring and summer sessions, and then starting their 2L year will take classes together with their peers in the traditional three-year program. For spring accelerated students interested in law review, there will be a separate write-on competition after the final exam of the summer session.
What are the median numbers for the LSAT and GPA?
Admission into the spring 2 1/2 Year Accelerated Program is just as competitive as fall admissions. For the 2024 admit pool, the median LSAT was a 154 and the median UGPA was 3.4.
What is the latest LSAT score that will be considered?
Applicants should take the LSAT exam by November for spring admission. Pace operates on a rolling admission program, meaning students may still apply and be accepted for enrollment following the December 1st suggested deadline. Decisions typically take 2-3 weeks after completion of your application. Applicants interested in fall admission should take the LSAT by the June exam.
When does this program start in spring?
Classes begin the second week of January.
Do you offer the Flex JD scheduling option to students starting in January?
No, the Flex JD scheduling option is only available to students who start in the fall term.
For any other questions regarding our 2 1/2 Year Accelerated Program, please contact the Office of Admissions at (914) 422-4210 or Email admissions@law.pace.edu.
Meet Our Students
Stella Capparelli: From Grit to Greatness: The Pursuit for Legal Empowerment
Growing up in a first-generation Italian household, 3L Stella Capparelli learned perseverance and grit from her parents, who immigrated from Italy. From an early age, she understood that not everyone has the opportunity to attend college or law school, and she was determined to make the most of the opportunities she had. With the educational systems in Italy and the United States being so different, Stella couldn’t rely on her parents to guide her through the college process. Instead, she took charge and forged her own path in higher education, a proactive spirit that would later inspire her to pursue a career in law. Aware of how many people are unfamiliar with their rights, Stella set out to become a source of support for those facing complex legal challenges.
Madison Lane '25: A Natural Advocate
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Haub Law student Madison Lane has always been confident that she would like to pursue a career as a lawyer. She embarked on her law school journey two weeks following her undergraduate graduation and started as a January admit student at Haub Law in 2023. “I continued full steam ahead and took courses over the summer to become a 2L in the fall. So far, I have loved the close-knit environment that Haub Law fosters. I have had the opportunity to become close with professors and other faculty members. There are endless opportunities and resources to take advantage of both on and off campus.”