University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law welcomes applications for its JD program from qualified applicants who are undocumented, including those who have DACA immigration status or who are DACA-eligible.

Information for Undocumented Applicants

  • Undocumented Students, according to the National Immigration Law Center, are defined as foreign nationals who entered the United States:
    • Without inspection or with fraudulent paperwork; or
    • Legally as nonimmigrants, but remained in the United States after violating the terms of their status.
  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program
    • Undocumented students may qualify for DACA if they:
      • Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
      • Arrived in the United States before reaching their 16th birthday;
      • Have lived continuously in the United States from June 15, 2007 to the present;
      • Were physically present in the United states on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making their request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
      • Had no lawful immigration status on June 15, 2012;
      • Are currently in high school, have graduated or earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or U.S. Armed Forces; and
      • Have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and are not otherwise considered a risk to national security or public safety.
    • For more information on DACA or the application process for DACA, please see the Resources listed below.
  • Ability to Practice Law
    • In California, DACA students are eligible to apply for and obtain a license to practice law. To practice law in California or any other state, a law school graduate must apply for and be admitted to the bar. The criteria for eligibility to sit for the bar examination and/or to qualify for bar admission are set by each state. Students should consult the requirements of the licensing authority in any state in which they contemplate practicing law to ascertain the qualifications for bar admission. Information concerning bar admission in California may be found at www.calbar.ca.gov. Information about other states may be found at www.ncbex.org.
  • Financial Aid
    • Undocumented students are currently not eligible to apply for any federal funding, including FAFSA and work study.
    • Undocumented students may be eligible for private scholarships, fellowships, grants, and/or loans. Some examples include:
      • All McGeorge applicants and students are eligible to be considered for institutional merit, need-based and endowed scholarships.
      • Other non-institutional scholarships are available to members of certain backgrounds, such as military families, members of religious organizations or communities and particular groups of students. For example:
        • DREAMers RoadMap is an app launched in September 2016 that helps undocumented students (DREAMers) find scholarships for college: https://www.dreamersroadmap.com/.
        • Golden Door Scholars invests in education and career access for high-performing DACA students: https://www.goldendoorscholars.org/future-scholars.
      • Undocumented students are eligible to apply for Alternative/Private loans. In order to do so, they must have a co-signer that is a credit worthy U.S. citizen.
      • Immigrants Rising — Pre-Law Fund
      • Admissions or Financial Aid Questions
        • Please contact the Sr. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Diversity Initiatives, Dean Valerie D. James at vjames@pacific.edu or 916.739.7198.

Resources for Undocumented Students

The information provided above is not intended to provide legal advice. It is provided for informational purposes only.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (45 CFR 86), and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, does not discriminate in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions, scholarships, loans, or other activities or programs on the basis of race, gender (identity and/or performance), sexual orientation or preference, national or ethnic origin, color, disability, marital status, age, or religious belief.

Inquiries regarding compliance with these statutes and regulations may be directed to the Office of the Dean, 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, California 95817, 916.739.7151, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, in San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Student records: Inquiries about the School's compliance with student access and privacy rights regarding educational records, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, may be directed to the Office of the Dean or to the Student and Family Educational Rights and Privacy office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.