2016-2017 School of Law Catalog 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2016-2017 School of Law Catalog archived

Admission, Expenses and Financial Aid


Information regarding admission requirements, scholarship grants and loans may be found on the Law School’s website at law.wlu.edu/admissions/.

Students who have completed two semesters of work in other approved law schools with excellent academic records may be admitted with up to 33 hours of credit for such work.  At the discretion of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a transfer student may be exempted from a total of two required first- and second-year courses, not including Professional Responsibility.

Tuition for 2016-17 is $23,120.00 per semester for J.D. and LL.M. students. Student fees, including a technology fee of $160, total approximately $593.50 per semester. Living accommodations are available off-campus. Dining is available on-campus at several locations. The Campus Connection Flex Plan is designed to provide students with a convenient means of purchasing meals at all locations on campus. The plan starts with a $200 buy in.  (Students may add more in $25 increments.)

If a student withdraws before the first day of classes of a semester, the full amount of the Comprehensive Tuition Fee then paid by or for the account of the student from private resources (as opposed to payments from federal or state or University financial aid programs, including the Guaranteed Student Loan program), will be refunded, less the advance deposit required of each new applicant or academic transfer ($1,000).

If a student withdraws during the first week of classes of a semester and gives written notice of withdrawal, the student’s account will be credited with 100% of the Comprehensive Tuition Fee.

If a student withdraws during the second week of classes of a semester and gives written notice of withdrawal, the student’s account will be credited with 80% of the Comprehensive Tuition Fee.

If a student withdraws during the third week of classes of a semester and gives written notice of withdrawal, the student’s account will be credited with 60% of the Comprehensive Tuition Fee.

If a student withdraws during the fourth week of classes of a semester and gives written notice of withdrawal, the student’s account will be credited with 40% of the Comprehensive Tuition Fee.

If a student withdraws during the fifth week of classes of a semester and gives written notice of withdrawal, the student’s account will be credited with 20% of the Comprehensive Tuition Fee.

If no financial aid is involved, (including Direct Federal Student Loans), the amount of the credit will be refunded, taking into account amounts then paid. If federal or state financial aid is involved, preference will be given to the regulations of the funding agency. Contact the Business Office in such cases to determine the amount, if any, of refund.

If a student leaves the University after five weeks of classes in a semester, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the Comprehensive Tuition Fee is not refundable.

The Technology, Health Services and Traveller’s Fees are treated in the same manner as the Comprehensive Tuition Fee in the case of withdrawal or approved leaves of absence.

The Student Activities Fee is refundable only if the student leaves the University before the first day of classes in a semester.

All refunds of the Comprehensive Tuition Fee will be subject to federal regulations regarding institutional refund policies.

The School of Law reserves the right to change any fees at any time.

Students are notified through their W&L email that billing statements are available on the Generals Payment System (“GPS”).  GPS is an electronic system that allows students and parents/guardians to view bills and make payments online.  The initial billing for the first 12-week term is released around July 15.  Billing for the second 12-week term is released around November 15.  It is the responsibility of the student to review the GPS the 15th of every month for any miscellaneous charges from the previous month that might have been posted and should be paid.  It is the responsibility of the student to enable parents or guardians to receive the email notification.  Students must establish parents or guardians as “authorized payers” on GPS.  Authorized payers can logon to GPS to view bills and make payments.  The University does not mail paper billing statements.  Additional information is availabale at go.wlu.edu/GPS.

Statements must be paid promptly.  Each bill contains a due date, generally the 10th of the following month.  Payment can be made with an electronic check or a credit card on GPS.  Payers are advised that payments by credit card are subject to a 2.75% convenience fee, subject to change with no prior notice.  No convenience fees are charged for electronic checks.  Payers may also print a copy of the billing statement and mail it with a check payable to “Washington and Lee University.”

The University may withhold transcripts, withhold the issuance of a diploma to graduating students or drop a student from the official rolls. In addition, late-pay charges may be levied on past-due amounts and registration or matriculation denied for an upcoming academic term or year. Returning students with unpaid financial obligations will not be allowed to matriculate until all financial obligations are satisfied. If a returning student has unpaid financial obligations from a previous academic year, federal loans may not be processed until that unpaid financial obligation is satisfied.  Students with records of late payments may be denied permission to enroll for subsequent terms or semesters, and may have their class schedules withheld, until they pay in full in advance for subsequent terms or semesters. Requests for transcripts from former students will not be honored until all amounts owed the University are paid.

After a student has graduated or withdrawn, any of his or her accounts that have an unpaid balance may be turned over to a collection agency.  The student will be responsible for all attorneys’ fees and other reasonable costs of collection of any unpaid balances in accordance with applicable law.