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Stanford
Feb 17, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$85.00
2 to 4
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Stanford essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Law School. The personal statement must be submitted electronically with your electronic application. Your statement should be approximately two pages in length.
This section is optional.
At Stanford Law School, we value the ability to communicate constructively across differences - even when the stakes are high or the differences significant. Please discuss a time when you encountered a viewpoint that contrasted with your own and explain how you responded. Would you do anything different if the same thing happened today? Your essay should be approximately one-to-two pages in length.
This section is optional.
If you think these optional short essays could help us get a better sense of who you are, we encourage you to consider submitting your responses to no more than two of the following questions. Note that there is a 100- to 250-word limit for each question.
- If you could sit and chat with anyone, living or from any time in history, who would you chat with? What's one question you'd ask? Why?
- You're given the opportunity to teach a one-day class to your fellow students at Stanford Law School. Based on your particular skills and talents, what would you teach?
- The library in the town where you grew up has been destroyed. Choose three books to contribute to rebuilding the library's collection.
- Music has a way of setting tone and mood for any occasion. With this in mind, pick three songs or musical works to be playing in the background as the Admissions Committee reviews your materials.
This section is optional.
If you wish to provide additional and relevant information that is not explained in the required application materials, please attach a brief statement.
Please attach a résumé describing your academic, extracurricular, and professional activities. The résumé must be submitted electronically with your electronic application. Please do not include a photo.
*If your answer to any of these questions below is "Yes," please attach an explanatory statement with your electronic application. Prior to matriculation, you will be required to submit documentation from each school attended attesting to your good standing.
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Have you ever at any college or university been in other than good standing because of academic deficiencies, been sanctioned for misconduct, or been the subject of disciplinary proceedings?
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Have you ever been convicted of, or is any charge now pending against you for any crime other than a traffic violation?
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Have you ever been subject to discipline by a professional organization?
Please review the application procedures and requirements on the Stanford Law School website before completing this form.
Below you will find detailed instructions specific to the Stanford Law School application.
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BIOGRAPHICAL: Complete the Biographical section.
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BIOGRAPHICAL (Continued): Complete the Biographical (Continued) section.
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CONTACT INFORMATION: Complete the Contact Information section.
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DEMOGRAPHICS: Complete the Demographics section. Stanford is required by federal guidelines to report certain information about race and ethnicity. We acknowledge that the categories listed below may not allow you to fully describe your ethnic/racial background. Responding to these questions is optional. Your response to these questions will not be displayed to the Admissions Committee.
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DEMOGRAPHICS (Continued): Complete the Demographics (Continued) section if you wish to do so.
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MILITARY SERVICE: Complete the Military Service section if you wish to do so.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Complete the Background Information section if you wish to do so.
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PREVIOUS APPLICATION: Indicate if you have previously applied to Stanford Law School within the past three application cycles, and select the entry year(s) for which you applied.
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EDUCATION: List all high schools, colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and any study abroad program(s) you have attended. An affirmative answer to Question 2 also requires a letter of good standing from your law school to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions (admissions@law.stanford.edu). List academic honors, awards, or other recognitions you have received in the order in which you received them.
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EMPLOYMENT: Question 1: List employment while in college, summer employment while in college, and full- or part-time work since graduating from college. Question 3: Please list any significant extracurricular, community, or other activities.
Please utilize the required résumé to provide detailed information regarding your employment history and extracurricular activities.
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STANDARDIZED TESTING: List in chronological order all the dates which you have taken, or intend to take, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and/or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Note that scores for tests taken prior to June 2020 will not be considered valid. Applicants for Fall 2026 admissions must take the LSAT by the January 2026 test administration and the GRE by February 1, 2026.
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OTHER STANFORD PROGRAMS: Indicate if you are applying for a joint degree program and/or the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. For details regarding each joint degree program, please visit our website. Note that the programs with Johns Hopkins and Princeton are external to Stanford and are therefore considered cooperative rather than traditional joint degree programs. For details regarding the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, please visit their website.
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CHARACTER & FITNESS: Complete the Character & Fitness section. If any questions are answered in the affirmative, you must attach an explanatory statement to your application.
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NOTICES & CERTIFICATION: Review the Notices & Certification section. Answer whether you wish to opt in or out of our outreach efforts, and confirm you understand and agree that acceptance is conditional upon meeting all requirements, terms, and conditions of the application process, including any further requirements, terms, or conditions expressed at the time of acceptance.
Stanford
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1
Yale
Feb 15, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$85.00
2 to 3
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Yale essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Please submit a personal statement that helps us learn about the personal, professional, and/or academic qualities you would bring to the Law School community and the legal profession. Applicants often submit the personal statement they have prepared for other law school applications. Your personal statement should focus on your relevant personal, professional, and/or academic experiences and not on specific reasons why you wish to attend Yale Law School.
Personal statements should be approximately two double-spaced pages, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "Personal Statement" in the header.
We encourage you to write an optional essay in response to one of the four questions below, each related to a value that is central to the Law School community. This essay is an opportunity to provide readers with relevant information that may not be found elsewhere in your application. If you choose to answer one of these questions, your essay should focus on your relevant personal, professional, and/or academic experiences and not on specific reasons why you wish to attend Yale Law School.
The optional essay should be approximately one double-spaced page, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "Optional Essay X" in the header (X should be the number of the question selected, e.g., Optional Essay 3).
Option 1: The Law School has a strong tradition of public service and encourages its students to contribute to the community in a wide variety of ways. Describe a community that has been particularly meaningful to you. Discuss what you have gained from being a part of this community and what you have contributed to this community.
Option 2: The Law School encourages its students and alumni to be leaders, innovators, and change makers across many different sectors. Describe one of your most important accomplishments and explain why it is important to you. Discuss how you demonstrated leadership, helped innovate, and/or drove change as part of that accomplishment.
Option 3: The Law School values determination and resilience and recognizes that these traits are critical to success at the Law School and in the legal profession. Describe a significant challenge, disappointment, or setback that you have faced. Discuss how you approached this experience and what you learned from it.
Option 4: In order to succeed at the Law School and in the legal profession, you must be able to have discussions across difference and be open to changing your mind. Describe a time when you changed your mind on an important topic after discussing it with a person with whom you disagreed or learning additional information. Discuss what you learned from this experience.
The Law School is a vibrant intellectual community where students are expected to engage academically with faculty and fellow students. In no more than 250 words, write about an idea or issue from your academic, extracurricular, or professional work that is of particular interest to you. The idea or issue you choose does not have to be law-related; this is an opportunity for readers to learn more about how you would engage intellectually in the Law School community.
The 250-word essay should be double-spaced, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "250-Word Essay" in the header.
Please answer a, b, and c separately from the included résumé. While you may choose to do this in a variety of formats, we ask that you do so in a structured manner such as a list or chart. Please note that we anticipate significant duplication between this section and your résumé; the purpose of this section is to present your activities in a manner and order that is helpful to our review of your application. Please include a complete list of your college activities. Your descriptions should be brief, and, in general, applicants should be able to provide this information in no more than 1-2 pages.
(a) It is helpful for us to understand what you did during those terms when you were not in school during your undergraduate education (including summers and any other term(s) when you were not in school). This should include, for example, all paid and/or unpaid employment, internships, and study abroad. If you were taking classes or studying abroad over the summer, you should include that as well. Please list these activities in order of relative importance to you. For each activity, please:
- provide a brief description;
- state the approximate start and end date;
- estimate the hours per week you committed; and
- note whether it was paid or unpaid.
(b) Please list all activities you participated in during the terms while you were also taking classes as part of your undergraduate education. This should include, for example, extracurricular activities and paid or unpaid employment or internships. Please list these in order of relative importance to you. For each activity, please:
- provide a brief description;
- state the approximate start and end date;
- estimate the hours per week you committed; and
- note whether it was paid or unpaid.
(c) Please list and very briefly describe any other activities during your undergraduate education (in or out of school) that you consider relevant if not otherwise described above. This may include, for example, a significant thesis or capstone project; or significant personal or familial responsibilities.
If it has been more than three months since you attended college, describe what you have been doing during that time. You may respond in a narrative format if you have only one or two activities. If you have more than a few activities, we ask that you format your response in a structured manner such as a list or chart. You should include all graduate and professional education, paid and unpaid employment, and any other activities that you consider relevant. Please answer this question separately from any information provided in your résumé. We anticipate significant duplication between this section and your résumé; the purpose of this section is to present a complete list of your post-college activities in a manner and order that is helpful to our review of your application. The descriptions in this section should be brief, and, in general, applicants should be able to provide this information in no more than one page, unless they have extensive post-graduate or professional experience.
For each activity (aside from additional education), please:
- provide a brief description;
- state the approximate start and end date;
- estimate your time commitment; and
- note whether it was paid or unpaid.
You may use this attachment slot to submit addenda to your application if any are necessary for a full representation of your candidacy. These addenda may include, for example, explanations related to transcripts or test scores, including a history of under-performance on standardized tests. It is not necessary to include any addenda, and many applicants do not include any.
Please submit a résumé. You must answer the College and Post-college Activities questions separately from this included résumé. Generally, résumés should be 1-2 pages in length.
If you answered yes to Character and Fitness question 13.1, please include an attachment describing the circumstances and, if you wish, provide information that will help us understand the context of your behavior and the outcome of this experience for you and others. The Admissions Office understands that excellent applicants may have made mistakes, and answering "yes" does not disqualify you from consideration for admission to the Law School. Please note that the information included in your Character and Fitness attachment as well as answers to the Character and Fitness questions may become part of the character and fitness review of the bar in the state(s) in which you intend to practice. Admission to the practice of law depends in part on satisfaction of the requirements of the particular jurisdiction as to proof of good character. These requirements differ from state to state, and applicants should inform themselves of the requirements of the jurisdictions in which they are interested.
If you answered yes to Character and Fitness question 13.2, please include an attachment describing the circumstances and, if you wish, provide information that will help us understand the context of your behavior and the outcome of this experience for you and others. The Admissions Office understands that excellent applicants may have made mistakes, and answering "yes" does not disqualify you from consideration for admission to the Law School.
Please note that the information included in your Character and Fitness attachment as well as answers to the Character and Fitness questions may become part of the character and fitness review of the bar in the state(s) in which you intend to practice. Admission to the practice of law depends in part on satisfaction of the requirements of the particular jurisdiction as to proof of good character. These requirements differ from state to state, and applicants should inform themselves of the requirements of the jurisdictions in which they are interested.
INTRODUCTION
Yale Law School is a place where students immerse themselves in important ideas and have many opportunities to put those ideas into practice. Our distinctive approach to legal education is rooted in a commitment to academic excellence, a focus on innovation, and a passion for service. With hundreds of courses taught by world-renowned faculty, dozens of legal clinics and academic centers, and an innovative leadership curriculum, the Law School provides its students with many opportunities to gain the skills necessary to make a positive impact in the world and follow any career path they choose.
The Law School is committed to finding talented individuals wherever they are and providing them with the necessary financial support to ensure that a legal education is accessible to students from all backgrounds. For this reason, all of our financial support is need-based and includes full-tuition scholarships for students with the highest need, as well as a comprehensive loan repayment program for those who choose lower paying careers. Our consistent goal is to lower the barriers that limit access to law school and the legal profession.
Every year, we select approximately 200 remarkable new students to join more than 13,000 alumni and build upon this exceptional legacy. Our admissions process is selective, and we conduct a holistic review of every application we receive. There is no cut-off for grade point averages or test scores, and no single part of an application is determinative. We seek students with a record of academic excellence, professional distinction, and exceptional accomplishments who are eager to immerse themselves in our community. We look for people who will contribute meaningfully to the Law School, both inside and outside the classroom. Successful applicants should be open-minded and able to have conversations with people with whom they disagree; collegial, professional, and respectful in all of their interactions; highly ethical and aware of their responsibilities as future members of the legal profession; resilient and determined in the face of obstacles; and passionate about contributing to the communities around them.
We encourage all applicants to learn more about our application process and the components of our application. You can also connect with the Admissions team to learn more.
HOW TO APPLY
In order to apply to Yale Law School, you must subscribe to the Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS). You can register for CAS with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Yale Law School requires applicants to submit their applications through the LSAC electronic application service included as part of a CAS subscription.
WHEN TO APPLY
Yale Law School will open its application for the Class of 2029 on September 1, 2025, and applications can be submitted beginning on October 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted by no later than February 15, 2026. It is your responsibility to make certain that all items arrive at Yale in a timely fashion. Please note that it may take several weeks for LSAC to process your materials.
Under our review process there is no advantage, in terms of the likelihood of admission, to applying earlier in the application cycle. In other words, your chances of admission remain constant regardless of when you submit your application.
APPLICATION FEE & NEED-BASED FEE WAIVERS
Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable $85 application fee, which will not be credited to tuition in the event of admission. The application fee is waived automatically for those applicants who have received an LSAC fee waiver.
If you do not have an LSAC fee waiver and would like to request a need-based fee waiver of your Yale Law School application fee, please request one using our online form before submitting your application. We cannot refund application fees after they have been paid under any circumstances. Need-based fee waivers are generously granted, and parental information is not requested as part of the fee waiver application. If your request is approved, you will be given a fee waiver code to enter during the submission process for your Yale Law School application.
Please note that neither the request for, nor the granting of, a need-based fee waiver has any bearing on admissions decisions. Yale Law School employs a need-blind admissions process and encourages applicants from all socio-economic backgrounds to apply.
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES & ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS
You must receive, or expect to receive, by the summer of 2026 a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) from an approved undergraduate institution in order to be eligible to apply. All offers of admission are contingent upon graduation.
You must submit to LSAC transcripts from each college or university you attended, including study abroad and all schools you attended for graduate or professional study. Even if one school includes summary data regarding courses from another school on its transcript, an official transcript from each institution must be submitted. Yale Law School strongly encourages applicants to submit transcripts, through LSAC, reflecting all coursework completed through the time of application and further encourages applicants to submit updated transcripts as additional coursework is completed. We suggest that you allow at least six weeks for a transcript to be processed by LSAC. For detailed instructions, please visit the LSAC transcript webpage.
In light of the circumstances posed by COVID-19, Yale Law School recognizes that transcripts may reflect mandatory or optional pass/fail or credit/no credit grades. These grades will not be viewed negatively by the Admissions Office and the Law School will maintain a holistic review process for all applications.
STANDARDIZED TESTS
Yale Law School accepts results from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test. We do not have a preference between these standardized tests. However, you may submit score(s) from one standardized test only. If you have a reportable LSAT score, you must submit your LSAT score, and you may not submit a GRE score for consideration.
If you choose to apply with the LSAT, you must take the LSAT no later than January 2026. LSAC automatically reports all LSAT scores from the past five years. The oldest LSAT score we will accept is June 2020.
LSAC requires an LSAT writing sample, taken via LSAT Writing or LSAT Argumentative Writing, in order to generate your CAS report. Applicants who take the LSAT more than once do not need to submit multiple writing samples. It may take up to three weeks for LSAC to process and report your LSAT Writing. Therefore, you should complete your LSAT Writing no later than January 25, 2026, to ensure we receive it by the application deadline.
If you choose to apply using the GRE General Test, we must receive your GRE scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) by our application deadline, February 15, 2026. Because it may take up to 15 calendar days for ETS to transmit your scores once you complete the exam, you should take the GRE no later than February 1, 2026. Applicants who have taken the GRE can log into their ETS accounts and select Yale Law School as a recipient of GRE results using the school code 4542. Additionally, please ensure that the GRE score report submitted with your application is requested on or after the date you submit your Yale Law School application. Do not submit your GRE scores in advance of your application. A failure to comply with these policies may prevent the review of your application or result in the withdrawal of an offer of admission.
To maintain parity between our evaluation of LSAT and GRE results, applicants who apply using the GRE must submit all GRE scores from the past five years. When reporting your GRE scores to Yale Law School, please select the option to report your entire testing history. Selecting this option will report all of your GRE scores for the past five years.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Yale Law School requires two letters of recommendation. You can submit a maximum of three letters of recommendation. We strongly prefer letters from at least two professors with whom you have studied who can speak to your academic performance and who have had a chance to personally evaluate significant aspects of your academic work. Letters from college deans, coaches, chaplains, and others may be helpful, but are not preferred. If possible, they should not replace letters from two faculty recommenders.
Letters of recommendation from employers can be useful in the following two circumstances: (1) in addition to two academic letters, if you have significant work experience or your employer supervised your work in a full-time, post-graduation position, especially if the position is related to your law school interests, or (2) if you are unable to obtain two academic letters, most commonly because you have been out of school for a substantial period of time. In both cases, an employer recommendation is most helpful when it addresses the qualities that academic recommendations typically address (e.g., research and writing skills, critical thinking and analytic ability, and overall suitability for the study and practice of law).
All letters of recommendation must be transmitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, which is included as part of your CAS subscription.
We will begin review of your application as soon as we have received two letters of recommendation. We will not hold your application in order to wait for an additional letter. To ensure that all of your recommendations are available for consideration, please verify that they are on file with LSAC prior to applying to the Law School.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
The required personal statement should help us learn about the personal, professional, and/or academic qualities you would bring to the Law School community and the legal profession. Applicants often submit the personal statement they have prepared for other law school applications. Your personal statement should focus on your relevant personal, professional, and/or academic experiences and not on specific reasons why you wish to attend Yale Law School.
The personal statement should be approximately two double-spaced pages, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "Personal Statement" in the header.
250-WORD ESSAY
The Law School is a vibrant intellectual community where students are expected to engage academically with faculty and fellow students. For the required 250-word essay, you should focus on an idea or issue from your academic, extracurricular, or professional work that is of particular interest to you. The idea or issue you choose does not have to be law-related; this is an opportunity for readers to learn more about how you would engage intellectually in the Law School community.
The 250-word essay should be double-spaced, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "250-Word Essay" in the header.
OPTIONAL ESSAY
We encourage you to write an optional essay, which will allow you to answer one of four questions, each related to a value that is central to the Law School community. This essay is an opportunity to provide readers with relevant information that may not be found elsewhere in your application. If you choose to answer one of these questions, your essay should focus on your relevant personal, professional, and/or academic experiences and not on specific reasons why you wish to attend Yale Law School.
The optional essay should be approximately one double-spaced page, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "Optional Essay X" in the header (X should be the number of the question selected; e.g., Optional Essay 3).
ADDENDA
You may submit addenda to your application if any are necessary for a full representation of your candidacy. These addenda may include, for example, explanations related to transcripts or test scores, including a history of under-performance on standardized tests. It is not necessary to include any addenda, and many applicants do not include any.
INTERVIEW
Yale Law School will select some applicants to interview as part of the evaluation process and an interview is necessary for admission. If you are selected for an interview, the Admissions Office will contact you with additional information.
DEAN'S CERTIFICATION
Yale Law School does not require submission of dean's certification form(s) as part of the initial application. In the event an offer of admission is extended to you and you choose to accept that offer, you will be required to submit a dean's certification form from each college or university degree program in which you are, or have been, enrolled, regardless of whether a degree was awarded. The dean's certification form and a complete set of instructions will be provided to admitted students.
All offers of admission are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the dean's certification requirement. Discrepancies between an applicant's answers to the questions in the Character and Fitness section of the admission application and the information provided in dean's certification forms will be considered sufficient grounds for revocation of an offer of admission.
REVIEW PROCESS & NOTIFICATION
The Admissions Office will notify you by e-mail when your application has been received and is ready to be processed. After processing your application, the Admissions Office will notify you by email of your application's completion status and provide you with log-in credentials for your applicant portal, where you can review your application's status and learn which, if any, application materials are needed to complete your application.
Applications are considered approximately in the order in which they are completed. Your application will be considered complete and ready for review once the Law School receives your application materials, a CAS report, LSAT or GRE score(s), and two letters of recommendation. We will not hold your application in order to wait for an additional letter of recommendation, later test scores, or any other additional materials.
Given our holistic review of each application and the significant involvement of multiple readers in the review process, our decision-making process can be lengthy. We appreciate your patience throughout the review process.
If admitted, Yale Law School may use information derived from your application, including your name, contact information, and basic biographical information, to connect you with members of the Law School's community. If you do not consent to the sharing of such information, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions.law@yale.edu.
Please note: We cannot provide decision information over the phone. If you have a deposit or scholarship deadline at another school, please send to us an e-mail with your name, LSAC account number, telephone number, name of the school, type of deadline, and deadline date.
ADMISSION OFFERS & SCHOLARSHIPS FROM OTHER LAW SCHOOLS
If you receive an offer of admission and/or a scholarship offer from another law school before hearing from Yale Law School, please be aware that LSAC's Statement of Good Admission and Financial Aid Practices provides member law schools with best practices for law school admission and financial aid programs.
First, law schools should allow applicants sufficient opportunity to consider other offers before requesting a commitment of any kind. Second, each school should allow applicants to freely accept a new offer from another law school even though a scholarship has been accepted, a deposit has been paid, or a commitment has been made to their school. Thus, law schools should never ask you to withdraw your application to Yale Law School before a decision has been made on your application.
In addition, please note that Yale Law School will consider applications from individuals who have accepted admission through deferred admissions programs for college sophomores and juniors.
FINANCIAL AID
All financial aid packages at Yale Law School are calculated on need-based criteria.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to Yale Law School. Yale Law School's Title IV code is 001426. In the event that an offer of admission is extended to you, you will be given access to Yale Law School's Financial Aid Application and Scholarship Tool (FAAST). You will need to submit your information to FAAST before your financial aid package can be generated. If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you will only need to submit your information to FAAST.
Visit Yale Law School Financial Aid for additional information about our need-based aid system and to learn about other ways the Law School financially supports its students and graduates.
CERTIFICATION & VERIFICATION OF INFORMATION
By agreeing below to the instructions, you certify that the information you have provided on your application form, in any related materials submitted to Yale Law School, and in any communications with Yale Law School, is accurate to the best of your knowledge, and that all written work is your original work. You understand that Yale Law School or its agent has the right to verify information included in, but not limited to, your application. You further hereby authorize all persons or entities to provide any information that will serve to verify the information you have presented in your application, in any related materials provided to Yale Law School, and in any communications with Yale Law School; you expressly waive any required notice to you. You agree to notify Yale Law School of any changes in the provided information or of any further information that might affect your eligibility for consideration as a prospective student. You understand that all offers of admission are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the dean's certification requirement. You understand that a failure to satisfy any of the obligations set forth in this paragraph; or any discrepancies between the information you provided as part of your application and any other information you provide to Yale Law School, information Yale Law School receives from dean's certification forms, letters of recommendation, or through any action Yale Law School takes to verify information in or related to your application will be considered sufficient grounds for the revocation of your offer of admission to Yale Law School.
CITIZENSHIP STATUS
Yale Law School is committed to equal opportunity and accessibility to all candidates who show great academic and personal promise irrespective of citizenship status. Yale Law School evaluates applications without regard to a student's citizenship or immigration status, and all students are eligible for the Law School's need-based financial aid.
WEIL LEGAL INNOVATORS (WLI) PROGRAM
Yale Law School is a partner law school in the Weil Legal Innovators (WLI) Program. Participants in WLI defer their first year of law school to work at a nonprofit organization. Participants receive a salary and health benefits for the year, a $10,000 law school scholarship, ongoing professional development training from instructors in the academic, private, and public sectors, mentorship by a Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP partner, and more. If interested, you may apply between December 2025 and March 2026. You can learn more at the WLI website.
NONDISCRIMINATION, TITLE IX & CLERY ACT STATEMENTS
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran. Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA); W.L. Harkness Hall, 3rd Floor, Room 303, 100 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06511; 203.432.0849; equity@yale.edu.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the University's Title IX Coordinator, Elizabeth Conklin, at 203.432.6854 or at titleix@yale.edu, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, Five Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-3921. Telephone: 617.289.0111, Fax: 617.289.0150, TDD: 800.877.8339, or E-mail: ocr.boston@ed.gov.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the University publishes an annual campus security and fire safety report. This report contains three years? worth of campus crime statistics concerning crimes committed within the geographical limits of the University as defined by the Clery Act; security policy statements; fire safety information; and a description of where students, faculty and staff should go to report crimes. The fire safety section of the annual report contains information on current fire safety procedures and fires that occurred within an on-campus student housing facility, if any. You may request a copy from Yale Public Safety by mail at P.O. Box 208235, New Haven, CT 06520-8235, or by phone at at 203.432.4400. A copy is also available online.
Yale
GRE
GRE
Fee
$85.00
Recs
2 to 3
Requirements
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3
UChicago
Mar 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$90.00
2 to 4
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UChicago essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Please use the personal statement to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to help the Committee get to know you on a personal level. It should demonstrate your potential contribution to the Law School community beyond simply academics and should demonstrate your ability to communicate your thoughts effectively. The Admissions Committee generally finds that a statement that focuses on a unique personal attribute or experience is usually the most informative (as opposed to a restatement of your qualifications or résumé).
While there is no page or word limit on the personal statement, please note that the Admissions Committee values an applicant's ability to communicate thoughts in a clear and concise manner. The Admissions Committee typically finds that 2-4 pages is a sufficient length for most personal statements.
You may submit optional supplementary addenda to highlight topics you wish to bring to our attention that were not included in your personal statement or other application materials. The Admissions Committee typically finds one page or less is a sufficient length for most addenda. Applicants are not required to submit optional addenda. Examples of supplementary addenda include:
- UChicago Law aims to train well-rounded, critical, and socially conscious thinkers and doers. UChicago Law does not seek to impose a single viewpoint or style of thought on its students. Instead, our faculty exposes students to contrasting views, confident in students' abilities to choose their own paths. Describe why you would be a good fit at UChicago Law. Potential topics include professional and/or personal goals; experiences that would allow you to succeed at UChicago Law; or topics you have become passionate about studying in law school. Please strive for your response to be more personal than a recitation of information from our website.
- Share why you applied to UChicago Law.
- If you do not think your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why.
- If there is something the Admissions Committee cannot learn about you from your application materials that would be helpful in the review of your file, please share in a brief addendum.
If you answered "yes" to the Doctoroff Program question: "If you are admitted to the Law School, do you want to be considered for the Doctoroff Business Leadership Program", please attach a statement of interest describing in 250 words or less why you want to participate in the Doctoroff Program and how earning the Doctoroff Program Certificate will help you achieve your career goals.
JD/PhD Essay
If you have obtained a PhD, are completing a PhD, or if you are concurrently applying to a PhD program, we invite you to submit a one-page optional essay explaining your research and academic interests, your professional goals, and how completing a JD would help you improve your research and achieve your professional goals.
If you choose to submit this essay, please attach it to the JD/PhD Essay in the attachments section.
Please submit a résumé describing your educational history, extracurricular and community activities, academic honors and experiences, and any full- or part-time work experience. Indicate the number of hours per week spent on each activity or job and please include approximate dates for each activity. Make sure your résumé is current at the time of submitting your application. If your education or work has been interrupted for more than a normal vacation period, please describe your activities during that time in your résumé or in a separate addendum.
If you answered "yes" to Character and Fitness Question 1: "In connection with your enrollment at any college, university, or other institution of higher education, have you ever been placed on academic probation or found to be guilty or responsible or accountable for any misconduct, including but not limited to any matter for which you were suspended, dismissed, expelled, banned, restricted, placed on probation, or subject to any other probation, sanction, or penalty? If so, please provide all material facts and an explanation of the circumstances. NOTE: Misconduct includes but is not limited to academic and non-academic matters. You must also disclose disciplinary matters that are pending at the time of your application.", please attach a complete and detailed description of the circumstances.
If you answered "yes" to Character and Fitness Question 2: "Have you ever been charged with or convicted of any crime or offense other than a minor traffic violation? This includes any charges, complaints, or citations that were filed against you as a juvenile or as an adult, formal or informal, pending or closed, dismissed, expunged, sealed or subject to a diversionary program, and includes any charges, complaints, or citations that you reasonably expect to be brought against you.", please attach a complete and detailed description of the circumstances.
If you answered "yes" to Character and Fitness Question 3: "Have you been discharged or dismissed from the armed forces, other than by honorable discharge, or sentenced in a court-martial proceeding?", please attach a complete and detailed description of the circumstances.
If you answered "yes" to Character and Fitness Question 4: "Are there any matters or circumstances you have not disclosed in response to the first three prompts that you reasonably believe you may need to disclose when seeking admission to the bar?", please attach a complete and detailed description of the circumstances.
1. Register for and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) (if applicable).
Applicants must submit a LSAT, GRE, or GMAT score earned within the last five (5) years. For more information on what constitutes a score earned within the last five (5) years, please see the instructions on the websites of LSAC (for the LSAT), Educational Testing Service (for the GRE), and Graduate Management Admissions Council (for the GMAT). For submitting a GMAT score, please see the prerequisites below.
- LSAT: Submit LSAT scores to the Law School through LSAC. The Law School will consider all LSAT scores, but we will rely primarily on the highest score and we do not average your scores. *Early Decision applicants and applicants to the Chicago Law Scholars Program must take the LSAT no later than the November administration.
- GRE: Submit GRE scores to the Law School by designating the University of Chicago Law School as a recipient using Educational Testing Service (ETS) code 2577. If you have taken the GRE more than one time, you must submit all scores within the last five years.
- GMAT: Students seeking the JD degree in combination with a degree in a different discipline at the University of Chicago may submit a GMAT score (including GMAT Online Exam scores) in lieu of the LSAT or GRE. Submit GMAT scores to the Law School by designating the applicable program: (1) The Law School - JD/MBA Booth School of Business Joint Degree (code H9X-2D-54), (2) The Law School - JD/MPP Harris School of Public Policy (code H9X-2D-58), or (3) The Law School - Joint Degree Programs (code H9X-2D-32). If you have taken the GMAT more than one time, you must submit all scores earned within the last five years.
NOTE: If you take the LSAT in addition to the GRE or GMAT, we will evaluate all scores and report the highest LSAT score to the American Bar Association. If you are admitted to the Law School based on your GRE or GMAT score and, after admission take the LSAT, the Admissions Committee will evaluate your new score and re-evaluate your offer of admission.
2. Register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
Applicants must register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) to submit undergraduate and graduate school transcripts and letters of recommendation. You must submit all undergraduate and graduate school transcripts and all letters of recommendation through the CAS. Do not send these materials directly to the Law School. The CAS will not release a report to the Law School until you have paid all necessary fees, submitted the Flexible Application, and submitted all required materials. Please note, there may be a delay in processing once you submit your transcripts to CAS, so please attempt to submit your transcripts as soon as possible. Additionally, if you submit a GRE or GMAT score, the Admissions Office will need to manually waive the LSAT requirement in order for a CAS report to generate. This is completed several times a week. There may be a slight delay in this waiver process, but it will not impact the review of your file.
Please direct questions about the CAS to LSAC at 215.968.1001 or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.
3. Complete all sections of the Flexible Application and upload all required materials.
Required Materials
- Application. Please complete each section of questions in the Flexible Application. If you are applying Regular Decision, you do not need to complete the Early Decision section.
- Résumé. Describe your educational history, academic honors and experiences, extracurricular and community activities, and any full or part-time work experience. Please indicate the number of hours per week spent on each activity or job, and include approximate dates for each activity. Make sure your résumé is current when you submit your application. If your work has been interrupted for more than a normal vacation period, describe your activities during that time either in your résumé or in a separate addendum. Your résumé may be more than one page.
- Personal Statement. Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and help the Admissions Committee get to know you on a personal level. The personal statement should demonstrate your potential contribution to the Law School community beyond academics and should demonstrate your ability to communicate your thoughts effectively. The Admissions Committee generally finds a statement focusing on a unique personal attribute or experience is the most informative (as opposed to a restatement of your qualifications or résumé). While there is no page or word limit on the personal statement, the Admissions Committee values clear and concise written communication skills. The Admissions Committee typically finds that 2-4 pages is a sufficient length for most personal statements.
- Character and Fitness Statements. If you answer "yes" to any of the Character and Fitness questions, you must upload an addendum describing the circumstances in the Attachments section. An affirmative response to any portion of the Character and Fitness questions will not automatically disqualify a candidate from admission. You have a continuing obligation to make us aware of affirmative answers to the Character and Fitness statements after you submit your application and throughout your time in law school, if you are admitted. The Character & Fitness questions mirror the questions you will be asked on the state bar examinations (additional information available below). When in doubt with Character and Fitness, err on the side of disclosure. If you need to update us on a Character and Fitness statement after you submit your application, please email admissions@law.uchicago.edu with your update.
- Doctoroff Business Leadership Program Statement. If you answer "yes" to the Doctoroff Program question, you must upload an addendum describing why you want to participate in the Doctoroff Program and how earning the Doctoroff Program Certificate will help you achieve your career goals. Successful statements will move beyond restating the requirements of the program and instead focus on specifics like legal practice areas you are interested in exploring during law school and career goals in law and business. Please keep your statement of interest to 250 words or less.
- Letters of Recommendation. We require two letters of recommendation to complete your file. The maximum number you may submit is four. We prefer at least one letter of recommendation from an academic recommender (e.g., professor, teacher's assistant, etc.). Submit letters of recommendation through the LSAC CAS. If you plan to submit more than two letters of recommendation and would like the Admissions Committee to hold your application until we have received all your letters, you must e-mail admissions@law.uchicago.edu with your request.
- Transcripts. Provide all undergraduate and graduate school transcripts reflecting a complete history of your undergraduate and graduate performance. You must submit a transcript for any university you were enrolled at, even if you withdrew and no credit was earned. Send transcripts through LSAC's CAS.
- English Language Proficiency Requirement. The University of Chicago requires all applicants to meet certain English language proficiency requirements. Applicants who do not meet the criteria must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test (iBT) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic as proof of English language proficiency. Please review the English language proficiency requirements on our website. If you need to submit a TOEFL score, contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the CAS is 8395. If you need to submit an IELTS score, contact the test center where you took the IELTS and request that your test scores be sent electronically to LSAC through the IELTS system.
Optional Materials
Addenda
You may submit optional supplementary addenda to highlight topics you wish to bring to our attention that were not included in your personal statement or other application materials. The Admissions Committee typically finds one page or less is a sufficient length for most addenda. Applicants are not required to submit optional addenda. Examples of supplementary addenda include:
- UChicago Law aims to train well-rounded, critical, and socially conscious thinkers and doers. UChicago Law does not seek to impose a single viewpoint or style of thought on its students. Instead, our faculty exposes students to contrasting views, confident in students' abilities to choose their own paths. Describe why you would be a good fit at UChicago Law. Potential topics include professional and/or personal goals; experiences that would allow you to succeed at UChicago Law; or topics you have become passionate about studying in law school. Please strive for your response to be more personal than a recitation of information from our website.
- Share why you applied to UChicago Law.
- If you do not think your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why.
- If there is something the Admissions Committee cannot learn about you from your application materials that would be helpful in the review of your file, please share in a brief addendum.
JD/PhD Essay
If you have obtained a PhD, are completing a PhD, or if you are concurrently applying to a PhD program, we invite you to submit a one-page optional essay explaining your research and academic interests, your professional goals, and how completing a JD would help you improve your research and achieve your professional goals.
If you choose to submit this essay, please attach it to the JD/PhD Essay in the attachments section.
Completing Your File
Your file must be complete before the Law School will review your application and materials. To be considered complete, you must submit the application with all required application materials. You may submit your application before you receive your test score or take a standardized test, but your file will not be considered complete until we receive your standardized test score, application, and all required materials. We will send an email notification to you when the application is received and when it is complete. It is your responsibility to monitor the status of your application and ensure we have received all required materials.
After your application is complete, we do not typically accept updates unless (1) the Admissions Committee requests additional materials, (2) your update pertains to the Character and Fitness sections of the application, or (3) your update substantially alters the truthfulness and completeness of your application. Please use the online status checker and check your e-mail regularly (including your spam folders). Please consult www.law.uchicago.edu/checkappstatus for further information.
Interviews
Interviews are conducted only at the invitation of the Admissions Committee. Applicants may not request an interview. Interview invitations will be sent via email. Check your email, including your spam folder, on a regular basis, as applicants who do not accept the invitation to interview within the time frame specified in the interview invitation will have their application evaluated without an interview. Interviews are conducted virtually. For more information, please visit www.law.uchicago.edu/interviews.
4. Determine if you will be applying to the Early Decision, Chicago Law Scholars, or Regular Decision Program.
Program Options
There are three different application programs: Early Decision, Regular Decision, and Chicago Law Scholars (for University of Chicago College students and alumni only). All applicants complete the same application. You will indicate the program for which you are applying on the application. Please pay close attention to the deadline for each program. Early Decision and Chicago Law Scholars applicants will also be required to complete the Early Decision Agreement. Regular Decision applicants should leave the Early Decision Agreement blank.
Application deadlines:
- Chicago Law Scholars: December 1
- Early Decision: December 1
- Regular Decision: March 1
Below is a description of each program:
Early Decision
The Early Decision program is appropriate for applicants who are certain the University of Chicago Law School is their first choice, regardless of financial considerations. Early Decision applicants must submit the application and all supporting materials by December 1 (note: the November test date is the latest LSAT score the Admissions Committee will consider for Early Decision). The Admissions Committee will not begin evaluating an application until we have received all required materials from LSAC and the application has been marked complete. Early Decision applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee's decision by the end of December. Applicants admitted through the Early Decision program must commit to attending the Law School and must immediately withdraw all applications at other law schools. Early Decision applicants who are not admitted during the Early Decision cycle may have their applications denied or they may be placed on the waitlist for further review (at which point, admission, if offered, will no longer be binding on the applicant). Please review the Law School's ED website to learn more about the Early Decision program, including additional considerations like financial aid implications.
Regular Decision
Regular Decision applicants must submit the application and all required materials by March 1. The Admissions Committee will not begin evaluating an application until we have received all required materials from LSAC and the application has been marked complete.
We encourage Regular Decision applicants to submit their applications early in the admissions cycle. We read applications on a rolling basis in the order they are completed and will begin extending offers of admission well before the deadline. The Admissions Office will issue decisions on a rolling basis until all applications have received an initial decision. Waiting until later in the cycle to submit your application could put you at a disadvantage in the admissions process.
Please note we will accept applications after the March 1 deadline, but applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis only and we strongly encourage you to apply well before the deadline. Applicants taking the LSAT in June or July may still apply, but space will be very limited. On some occasions, we have accepted outstanding applicants into the summer, but it is a small number.
Chicago Law Scholars
The Chicago Law Scholars Program provides an opportunity for current students and alumni of the University of Chicago undergraduate College to complete the application early and receive an expedited admissions decision by the end of December. Successful applicants will receive a scholarship of $150,000 as part of their financial aid package. Applicants to the Chicago Law Scholars Program must submit a completed application and all supporting materials by December 1 (note: the November test date is the latest LSAT score the Admissions Committee will consider for Chicago Law Scholars). Admission under the Chicago Law Scholars Program is binding. Applicants admitted through the Chicago Law Scholars Program must commit to attending the Law School and must immediately withdraw all applications from other law schools. Chicago Law Scholars applicants must complete the Early Decision Agreement with the application and will be bound by the same terms that govern Early Decision admission. Current College students and alumni may apply to the Early Decision program open to all applicants; however, their admission will not be tied to a substantial scholarship. You can learn more about this program at www.law.uchicago.edu/chicago-law-scholars-program.
5. Pay the non-refundable application fee.
All applicants (except as otherwise noted below) must pay the $90 application fee (U.S. funds only) through LSAC.
If your application fee has been waived because you are (a) a Teach for America participant or alumnus who completed service within the last five years, (b) a current University of Chicago undergraduate student, (c) a Peace Corps participant or alumnus who completed service within the last five years and who provides documentation confirming completion of the 27 month commitment, (d) an AmeriCorps participant or alumnus who completed service within the last five years and who provides a letter from your supervisor confirming at least a 10-month commitment, or (e) serving active duty in the U.S. military, a U.S. military veteran, or a member of the U.S. Reserves or National Guard, please do not pay the application fee through LSAC (we will not be able to issue a refund if you pay the fee).
More information on how to request an application fee waiver, including need-based fee waivers, is available on our website: https://www.law.uchicago.edu/feewaivers. Application fee waivers must be requested before you submit your application.
Questions? Call us at 773.702.9484 or e-mail us at admissions@law.uchicago.edu.
UChicago
GRE
GRE
Fee
$90.00
Recs
2 to 4
Requirements
Log in
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to star schools
4
UVA
Mar 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$85.00
2 to 4
Log in
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to take notes
UVA essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Please tell us how your background, perspective, or life experience(s) have led you to pursue law school and/or how they have influenced what you hope to achieve through your legal education. (suggested page limit: two pages double-spaced in 12pt font)
- Law school and the practice of law are both rewarding and challenging. Among the qualities it takes to succeed in both are resilience, integrity, empathy, diligence, maturity, and the ability to engage across differences. Please describe how you have developed, cultivated, and/or exhibited one or more of these qualities in your life. required(maximum characters 3000)
- We understand that professional resumes do not necessarily reflect every major responsibility or position a candidate has ever held. We invite you to further expand upon your work history, familial obligations, or other significant contributions to your household (including part-time jobs or roles assumed while attending high school and/or college). Please note this question is optional. (maximum characters 1500)
- Please describe your interests and hobbies.required (maximum characters 200)
- Some applicants know where they want to begin their legal practice. If you have such specific geographic preferences, please identify them. (maximum characters 200)
Why UVA Law (optional)
If you have specific reasons for wanting to attend UVA Law that are not discussed elsewhere in your application, you are welcome to address those here. Please note this question is optional. (suggested page limit: two pages double-spaced in 12pt font)
Should you wish to address other topics, please upload them here. If multiple topics are addressed, please upload them as separate, descriptively labeled documents.
You will not be penalized if you do not submit optional addenda. Please use your best judgment as to whether optional addenda are relevant to your situation. You should not submit published written work, research projects, theses, or other documents unrelated to the application. They will not be considered.
Attach a current and professional resume.
If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," you must attach an addendum explaining the circumstances. After submitting this application, you have an ongoing obligation to immediately notify the Office of Admissions of new or additional information pertaining to these questions. Note that the existence of a criminal history will not, by itself, disqualify an applicant for admission.
ABA STANDARD 504 STATEMENT: In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every US jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
As you provide responses to the questions set forth in this section, please do so carefully and be mindful that in the future, when you seek admission to one or more state bars, you will be required to respond to similar conduct questions. For this reason, please pay careful attention to provide detailed, complete and accurate responses both on this application, as well as in response to similar questions that are posed to you in the future. Failure to provide complete, accurate and consistent responses, or to omit information that is requested, can cause serious problems for you when you are seeking bar admission.
1. Have you ever been subject to verbal or written discipline (informal or formal, and of any type, such as but not limited to warning, reprimand, suspension, dismissal, and/or detrimental impact to any benefit/privilege) for scholastic or other reasons in any of the colleges, universities, graduate or professional schools you have attended (including organizations you have participated in at these institutions), or by any employer?
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Have you ever been cited for, charged with, taken into custody for, arrested for, indicted for, tried for, pled guilty to, or convicted of, the violation of any law, excluding minor traffic or parking violations? Note: incidents involving alcohol or drug possession, driving while intoxicated or impaired, damage to property, injury to person(s), driving without insurance, leaving the scene of an accident, driving on a suspended license, and/or reckless driving are NOT considered minor offenses for the purposes of this section and should be disclosed here. This question does NOT require you to disclose information concerning any arrest or criminal charge that has been expunged at the time you submit this application. This question does NOT require you to disclose incidents that were the subject of a juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding.
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Have you ever been party to a civil lawsuit?
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Are you aware of any charges, discipline and/or accusations pending or expected to be brought against you of any kind that would satisfy any of the foregoing character & fitness-related questions?
JD PROGRAM (First-Year Entry) Application Instructions
We begin accepting applications for the JD program on Monday, September 1, 2025. Applying on or before our March 1, 2026 priority deadline guarantees that we will issue an admissions decision no later than April 10, 2026. If you wish to apply under our Binding Expedited Decision option, we must receive all components of your application by 5:00 p.m. ET on March 1, 2026. Any Binding Expedited Decision applications completed after 5:00 p.m. ET on March 1 will be treated as Regular Decision applications. We will review all Regular Decision applications received after March 1, but we do not guarantee an admissions decision by April 10. All components of the application should be written in your own words, without the use of artificial intelligence tools.
University of Virginia School of Law Admissions Process
The admissions process at the University of Virginia School of Law is designed to build an extraordinary community of students who will thrive in a collegial and academically rigorous environment and go on to become responsible leaders, public servants, and successful members of the legal profession. To that end, we seek an entering class of forward-thinking students who exemplify the qualities of resilience, integrity, empathy, diligence, maturity, and the ability to engage across differences.
At the most basic level, our goal is to understand each applicant as a person, and to evaluate the unique path that led them to apply to UVA. Our evaluation criteria are holistic and necessarily assess all components of the application. We consider intellectual aptitude and academic achievement, as well as individual life experiences, obstacles overcome, contributions through service and leadership, a unique worldview, demonstrations of strength of character, the nature and quality of any work experience, military service, and an applicant's potential to contribute to and succeed at UVA Law.
Understanding each story will enable us to offer admission to students who will thrive at UVA Law and who will contribute to the experience of those around them. We are committed to welcoming, in the words of our University mission statement, "talented students from all walks of life," and will continue to do our best to be a welcoming and inclusive community--one that values the unique gifts of our students and, above all, cares for them as individuals.
We do not consider an applicant's race, financial need, or family history with UVA as part of the admissions decision.
How Applications Are Reviewed
We assess each applicant as an individual in accordance with the University of Virginia School of Law admissions process and LSAC's Statement of Good Admissions Practices. This assessment considers not only standardized test scores and undergraduate grades, but also the strength of an applicant's undergraduate or graduate curriculum, trends in grades, the maturing effect of experiences since college, the nature and quality of any work experience, significant achievement in extracurricular activities in college, service in the military, contributions to campus or community through service and leadership, and personal qualities displayed. An applicant's experiences surmounting economic, social, or educational difficulties with grace and courage, demonstrating the capacity to grow in response to challenge, and showing compassion for the welfare of others can all play a role in the admissions decision.
Race is not a factor in the admissions decision. Neither is an applicant's family history with UVA. Information related to an applicant's race or ethnicity is collected for state and federal reporting requirements. Application readers do not have access to reports or individual or collective class data that includes race, ethnicity, or family ties to UVA.
Financial need is not a factor in the admissions decision. If you wish to be considered for loans or scholarships, including Unsubsidized Student Loans, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), designating the University of Virginia as a recipient of your need analysis report. See www.law.virginia.edu/financialaid for more information.
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. After confirmation of application completion and processing, each file undergoes multiple phases of holistic review. Select applicants will be invited to interview with a member of our admissions committee and notified of their decision shortly thereafter. All interviews are initiated by the Office of Admissions; applicants may not request an interview. Please note that our team manually processes each application and may experience delays during high-volume times. We make every effort to notify applicants of their admissions decision within a reasonable timeframe. The release of decisions is subject to many factors, and delays in decisions do not necessarily reflect negatively on the applicant. We appreciate your patience in this process.
BINDING EXPEDITED DECISION OPTION
If you wish to apply under the Binding Expedited Decision option, you must follow the requirements of the Regular Decision option (below) AND go to the "Binding Decision Option" tab in the e-application and click the box acknowledging agreement with the terms of the Binding Expedited Decision option. Binding Expedited Decision applicants will be notified of their decision within 21 business days of the date we receive all necessary components of the application (including the residency determination for those applicants claiming in-state educational privileges). Applicants admitted through the Binding Expedited Decision option are eligible for both loans and scholarships just like applicants admitted through the Regular Decision option. Please note that most applicants admitted to UVA Law will receive their admissions decision well before they receive any financial aid information. As a result, the Binding Expedited Decision option is best suited only to individuals who are sure that UVA Law is their top choice and who are also prepared to begin law school at UVA in August 2026, regardless of what their financial aid awards may be.
If you wish to apply under the Binding Expedited Decision option, we must receive all components of your application by 5:00 p.m. ET on March 1, 2026. All applications submitted or completed after the March 1 priority deadline will be reviewed as Regular Decision applications.
REGULAR DECISION OPTION
Applicants should ensure that we have received a completed application by March 1, 2026. In addition to the completed, signed application form, you must submit the following items before your application will be deemed complete and forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review:
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Transcript of prior academic record, submitted through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS);
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A valid Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test score;
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At least two, but no more than four, letters of recommendation;
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A personal statement and a résumé. Other optional addenda may be submitted as described below;
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$85 application fee; and
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Application for Virginia In-State Educational Privileges, if seeking classification as a resident student.
Please note that it can take several days for an application submitted through the LSAC electronic application service to reach us.
Transcript of Prior Academic Record
You must register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). LSAC will receive your undergraduate and any graduate transcripts, copy them, and forward the transcripts to the law schools to which you apply. Do not send your academic transcripts directly to the UVA Law Admissions Office. For more information about the CAS, go to the LSAC website at www.LSAC.org.
Standardized Test Scores
You must submit a score from one of the following approved standardized tests:
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The LSAT;
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The GMAT; or
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The GRE General Test.
The standardized test score or scores that you submit must have been earned on or after June 1, 2020 and must meet any other validity or timing requirements set out by the organization that administers that particular test. See www.lsac.org, www.mba.com, and/or www.ets.org/gre for more information about the three accepted standardized tests and the organizations' score reporting policies.
Because LSAC provides the Credential Assembly Service, any and all LSAT scores you may have earned within the past five years will be reported on the CAS report. If you choose to submit GRE General Test and/or GMAT scores in lieu of or in addition to an LSAT score, we require you to submit all scores that you have earned on that test within the past five years. As an example, Applicant A has taken the LSAT once and the GMAT twice within the past five years. Applicant A's LSAT score will automatically appear on her CAS report; if she chooses to report her GMAT scores as well, Applicant A must direct both GMAT scores to UVA Law. As another example, Applicant B has taken the GRE General Test three times in the past five years but has not taken the LSAT. Applicant B must direct all three GRE scores to UVA Law.
Applicants who submit GRE or GMAT scores must: (1) request that all scores be sent directly to UVA Law; and (2) attach copies of all score reports to their applications. The attached score reports should show both the raw scores attained and the percentile rank of those scores. While the GRE and/or GMAT score reports you attach to your application are a helpful aid to our Admissions Committee members, they are not a substitute for the official score reports sent directly to UVA Law by ETS and/or GMAC. If you are applying with only GRE and/or GMAT scores, we will not consider your application to be complete until we receive your official score reports from ETS and/or GMAC.
UVA Law's school code for GRE score reports is 4266. Please note that this code differs from ETS's code for the University of Virginia. Be sure to use UVA Law's school code - 4266 - when sending your GRE score to UVA Law. Applicants who wish to direct GMAT scores to the law school can search for UVA Law by name.
Letters of Recommendation
You must provide at least two letters of recommendation. We accept no more than four recommendation letters. Recommenders should evaluate your potential as a law student, so letters from members of your college or graduate school faculty who can discuss your academic performance are particularly helpful. If you have been out of school for several years and have difficulty securing an academic reference, you may substitute letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you. In any event, letters should address the skills necessary for rigorous, advanced academic work: the ability to read complex textual material closely, to analyze it carefully, and to present reasoned conclusions in writing and orally; maturity; self-discipline; commitment; and professionalism.
UVA Law requires applicants to submit letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation service. This service is included with your CAS registration. Letters submitted through the LSAC service are copied and sent to us along with your CAS Law School Report and can be read online immediately. Updated reports are sent immediately if letters are received after your initial CAS Law School Report has been sent. To use this service, follow the instructions on the LSAC website.
Personal Statement (suggested page limit: two pages double-spaced in 12pt font)
Please tell us how your background, perspective, or life experience(s) have led you to pursue law school and/or how they have influenced what you hope to achieve through your legal education.
Why UVA Law (optional) (suggested page limit: two pages double-spaced in 12pt font)
If you have specific reasons for wanting to attend UVA Law that are not discussed elsewhere in your application, you are welcome to address those here. Please note this question is optional.
Optional Addenda
Should you wish to address other topics, the "Optional Addenda" section can be used to address as many topics as you wish. If multiple topics will be addressed, we prefer that you separate topics and upload each as separately (and descriptively) labeled.
Please do not upload academic projects, publications, or other examples of previous work.
Application Fee
Unless the application fee has been waived, all applicants are required to pay the $85 application fee using a credit card through the LSAC secure server. Follow the instructions on the LSAC website. If you received a waiver for the LSAT or LSDAS fees from the Law School Admission Council, you automatically qualify for an application fee waiver from UVA Law. When you apply electronically through LSAC, the waiver will apply automatically.
Applicants serving in an established public service commitment such as Teach for America, the Peace Corps, Americorps/VISTA, CityYear, or in a Truman Public Service Fellowship, will have the application fee waived. E-mail us at admissions@law.virginia.edu for a fee waiver.
We are happy to waive the application fee for any applicant for whom payment of the fee will prevent them from applying or would pose a hardship. E-mail us at admissions@law.virginia.edu for a fee waiver.
We cannot under any circumstances refund a fee already paid via LSAC.
Application for Virginia In-State Educational Privileges
If you are claiming entitlement to in-state educational privileges, you must submit the appropriate residency application with your application for admission. Failure to submit the application, or to supply any supplemental information that may be requested by the Office of Virginia Status, may delay consideration of your application or result in your classification as a nonresident candidate.
For further information concerning Virginia residency status, see Virginia Residency.
Application Information for International or Foreign-Educated Students
Transcripts of postsecondary work completed at a college or university outside the United States or Canada must be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The one exception to this requirement is for work completed outside the United States or Canada through a study abroad, consortium or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, where the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and incorporated into your CAS report.
We do not require TOEFL scores from JD applicants. However, applicants should be aware that competency in English is critical to success in the study of law at the University of Virginia, and that demonstrated fluency in English is an important consideration in evaluating applications. Should you choose to submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the CAS is 0058. Your score will be included in the International Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your CAS Law School Report.
Questions about the Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at (215) 968-1001, or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.
Importance of Full Disclosure and Continued Good Conduct
Lawyers are held to high ethical standards. Failure to disclose an act or event is often more significant, and can lead to more serious consequences, than the act or event itself. Once the application has been submitted, you have a continuing duty to maintain high standards of academic, professional, and personal conduct, in addition to a continuing duty to inform the Admissions Office of any changes to the information in the application, or of any new information without which the application as previously submitted would be inaccurate or incomplete. Your duty to inform the Admissions Office of any changes continues until the time you receive a final admissions decision and, if admitted, until the time you matriculate as a student at the University of Virginia School of Law.
False, misleading, or incomplete answers or statements made in this application, or in any materials submitted to the Admissions Office, the Financial Aid Office, or any administrative unit of the University of Virginia could constitute a basis for denial of admission, rescission of an offer of admission, or denial of admission to the practice of law. Such actions also may be reported to the Law School Admission Council for investigation of misconduct in the admissions process.
The Admissions Committee, through the Office of Admissions, reserves the right to impose any reasonable sanctions on applicants who are found to have violated continued standards of good conduct--including, but not limited to, denial of admission or rescission of an offer of admission.
ABA Standard 504 Statement
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every US jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Students with Disabilities
Disability status is not a factor in the admissions decision. Prospective students who have questions concerning accommodations for physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, or other disabling conditions should contact the Office of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@law.virginia.edu or (434) 924-3737. All information will be confidential except to the extent necessary to make accommodations.
Contact Us:
admissions@law.virginia.edu
www.law.virginia.edu/admissions
Phone: (434) 924-7351
FAX: (434) 982-2128
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903-1738
This section is optional.
If you would like UVA Law to consider GRE General Test scores, GMAT scores, or both, please attach copies of all such score reports here. These score reports should show the test scores attained as well as the corresponding percentile rank of those scores. While PDFs of your score reports are helpful aids to our Admissions Committee members, they are not a substitute for the official score reports sent directly to UVA Law by ETS and/or GMAC. You must also direct ETS and/or GMAC to send official score reports directly to UVA Law.
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UPenn
Mar 01, 2026
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UPenn essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
The Admissions Committee requires that every applicant submit an original example of written expression. The purpose of this personal statement is to provide you with as flexible an opportunity as possible to submit information that you deem important to your candidacy. You may wish to describe your experiences and interests - intellectual, personal, or professional - and how you will contribute to the Penn Carey Law community and/or the legal profession. Please limit your statement to two pages, double-spaced, and label it as "Personal Statement" with your name and LSAC account number on each page.
This section is optional.
If you wish, you may write an additional essay on any of the following topics. These optional essays allow you an opportunity to provide the admissions committee with additional relevant information that you were not able to include in your personal statement. Please include the essay(s) with your application by electronically attaching them to your application before submission through LSAC. You are welcome to submit as many or as few optional essays as you choose. Include your name and LSAC account number on each page. Please limit any optional essay to one page, double-spaced, and title it appropriately. Any optional essay(s) you choose to submit should respond to one or more of the following prompts:
- These are the core strengths that make Penn Carey Law the best place to receive a rigorous, collaborative, and engaging legal education: genuine integration with associated disciplines; transformative, forward-looking faculty scholarship; highly-regarded experiential learning through clinics and our pro bono pledge; innovative, hands-on global engagement; and a manifest commitment to professional development and collegiality. These qualities define Penn Carey Law. What defines you? How do your goals and values match Penn Carey Law's core strengths?
- Penn Carey Law is committed to achieving an expansive and welcoming law school community that brings a broad range of ideas, experiences, and perspectives to our classrooms. Tell us about how you will contribute to our Penn Carey Law community.
- Describe a significant challenge you have faced. What have you learned from this challenge?
- What is your motivation for pursuing a JD degree?
- What strength or quality do you have that most people might not recognize?
- If you do not think that your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why.
This section is optional.
Please upload any additional explanations needed for the Application Questions.
Please submit a résumé or CV as an electronic attachment with your application. In addition to your professional experiences, please include any academic and/or non-academic honors you have received as well as any extracurricular and/or community activities in college and since graduation. Please account for all time periods.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you must provide an explanatory statement. If you do not, the processing and review of your application will be delayed. We caution you to err on the side of full disclosure. If you need additional space for your explanation, you may upload it in the Character and Fitness section in Attachments.
1. While attending an academic program, has your academic experience ever been interrupted, either non-voluntarily or voluntarily, for one or more full terms for any reason? (This does not include the time period between high school and college or between college and law school or any other degree program, etc.)
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Explanation: (maximum characters 500)
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Have you ever been issued academic or disciplinary warnings, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, suspended, dropped, expelled, or been required to withdraw from any post-secondary institution you have attended, or are any such proceedings now pending against you? (This should include matters that have been expunged or dismissed.)
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Explanation: (maximum characters 500)
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Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been arrested, charged, cited, or convicted of a crime (including misdemeanors), or cited for an infraction (including moving violations), or is any charge now pending against you? (This should include matters that have been expunged, dismissed, or subject to a diversionary program.)
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Explanation: (maximum characters 500)
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Have you ever been, or are you currently enrolled in another U.S. law school? This question refers to enrollment in any degree program at a U.S. law school (e.g., JD, ML, LLM, etc.). This does not refer to stand-alone certificate programs.
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Explanation: (maximum characters 500)
This section is optional.
If you are interested in applying for Early Decision, please select the Early Decision option (Round 1 or Round 2) under Type of Application in the Program Information section of the Application Questions. Also, you must print and sign the Early Decision Agreement in Forms. You can then upload the signed Early Decision Agreement here in Attachments before transmission through LSAC. The Early Decision Agreement must be physically signed.
**Application Instructions:
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School**Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
3501 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204
215.898.7400 (phone)
http://www.law.upenn.edu/; contactadmissions@law.upenn.edu; finaid@law.upenn.edu
FIRST YEAR JD ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
We welcome your interest in the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (Penn Carey Law) and provide this information to guide you through the admissions and financial aid processes.
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree to be eligible to enroll in the first year Juris Doctor (JD) program. Applicants who are admitted to the JD program are admitted for the fall on a full-time basis only. We do not have spring admission or a part-time program. All applicants must take an approved standardized test (either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)) and must register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). (See Test Administration and LSAC Credential Assembly Service information below.)
Standards for Admission
The admissions process at Penn Carey Law is highly selective. Last year, we received over 8,000 applications for the approximately 260 places in the first-year class. Students who apply to Penn Carey Law come from every state in the nation, from many countries around the world, from more than 200 undergraduate institutions, and from a broad range of academic, ethnic, cultural, professional, and economic backgrounds.
There is no pre-law educational requirement or even a specific recommended course of study for admission to Penn Carey Law. Strength of character, breadth of knowledge, and intellectual maturity constitute the base upon which our legal education builds. As such, Penn Carey Law seeks to enroll individuals who have demonstrated outstanding academic success, who are intellectually curious, and who possess superior writing, oral communication, and analytical skills, and who will positively contribute to the Penn Carey Law community, and ultimately, to the legal profession.
The Admissions Committee considers numerous factors in the admissions process, including the student's academic record, course selection and grade trends, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, professional and life experiences, demonstrated growth in response to any challenges an applicant may have faced, and the applicant's examples of written expression (the standardized test writing sample, personal statement, and optional essays). Importantly, the Admissions Committee bases its decision on all material submitted on behalf of each candidate. Though an applicant's academic record and standardized test score are significant factors in the review process, they are not the sole factors. We do not have numerical "cut-offs" in the application process, nor do we employ the use of an admissions index.
The Admissions Committee does not grant evaluative interviews by request of the applicant as part of the review process. To learn more about the Law School, the University campus, and Philadelphia, please consider attending one or more of our various virtual or in-person recruiting events. These events are offered predominantly in the fall semester. For more information and to register, please visit our website: https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/jd/connect-with-us.
**Application Deadlines
Early Decision (Binding)**Round 1
Submit application by November 15*
Complete application by December 1
Receive decision by December 31
Round 2
Submit application by January 7*
Complete application by January 15
Receive decision by January 31
*Early Decision applications must be submitted through LSAC no later than November 15 for Round 1 or January 7 for Round 2. All supporting documents, including the LSAC Credential Assembly Service Report, must be received by December 1 for Round 1 or January 15 for Round 2 Early Decision consideration.
Please be advised that once an Early Decision application is deemed complete, the application could immediately go to the Admissions Committee for review, regardless of Round 1 or Round 2 submission. Therefore, a decision could be made at any point and will be considered binding once made.
Regular Decision
Submit application by March 1**
Complete application by March 15
Receive decision by May 1
**Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in November and decisions are made beginning in December. Therefore, it is advised that you submit your application earlier in the cycle rather than later.
Early Decision
Penn Carey Law's Early Decision option is designed for applicants who have thoroughly researched their law school options and determined that Penn Carey Law is clearly their first choice, regardless of financial considerations. Penn Carey Law's Early Decision program is binding. Applicants who wish to be considered for Early Decision must commit to matriculate at Penn Carey Law if admitted. If admitted, you must withdraw your applications from all other law schools and refrain from initiating new applications. Applicants who apply through the Early Decision program may apply to other law schools but may not have more than one binding Early Decision application pending simultaneously. If a binding Early Decision application has been submitted to another school, applicants may apply through Penn Carey Law's Early Decision program only if and when they are released from their binding terms at the other school.
If you are interested in applying for Early Decision, please select the Early Decision Admission, Round 1 or Round 2 option under Type of Application in the Application Data section of the Application Questions. Also, you must print and physically sign the Early Decision Agreement from Forms. You can then upload the signed Early Decision Agreement to Attachments before transmission of your application through LSAC. If you are not able to upload the signed Early Decision Agreement to Attachments, it can be emailed directly to the Office of Admissions. The Early Decision Agreement must be physically signed.
Penn Carey Law's Early Decision option allows applicants to receive a decision - admit, deny, or hold for further consideration - by the end of December for Round 1 and by the end of January for Round 2. For Round 1, Early Decision applicants must take an approved standardized test no later than November of the application year and submit the application by November 15. For Round 2, Early Decision applicants must take an approved standardized test no later than December of the application year and submit the application by January 7. Additionally, the Office of Admissions must receive all required supporting documents, including the LSAC Credential Assembly Service report and letters of recommendation, by December 1 for Round 1 and by January 15 for Round 2.
Applicants who choose to apply for Early Decision Round 1 but are unable to complete their application by December 1, may request their application be considered for Early Decision Round 2, keeping in mind that they may not have more than one binding Early Decision application pending simultaneously as stated above. A request to rollover from Early Decision Round 1 to Early Decision Round 2 must be submitted in writing by email to the Office of Admissions. Otherwise, Early Decision Round 1 applicants who are unable to complete their application by December 1 will be reviewed as regular admissions applicants. Early Decision Round 2 applicants who are unable to complete their application by January 15 will be reviewed as regular admissions applicants. An applicant's decision will no longer be binding if accepted through the regular admissions process.
Early Decision applicants who are held for further consideration, whether in Round 1 or Round 2, will be reevaluated during the regular admissions process. After being held for further consideration, an applicant's decision will no longer be binding if accepted through the regular admissions process.
Regular Decision
Applicants who submit applications for Regular Decision by March 1 and complete applications by March 15 will receive a decision - admit, deny, hold for further consideration, or waitlist - by May 1. We suggest Regular Decision applicants should take an approved standardized test no later than December of the application year due to our rolling admissions but we will accept approved standardized test scores for any tests administered by February 28, 2025.
How to Apply
We require you to submit an application using the LSAC electronic application (with electronic submission through LSAC), available at LSAC.org.**Application Requirements and Instructions
Application Form**Please provide complete information for each question on the application in the spaces provided. You may attach additional pages (as an upload in Attachments) to complete or elaborate on this information. Please answer all questions fully and accurately. All information submitted for an application file is confidential. A copy of your law school application will be retained for a minimum period of three years. For those students who matriculate, a copy of your application will be sent to the Committee on Character and Fitness when you apply to take a state bar examination or seek admission to the bar. Please be advised that there are character, fitness and other qualifications for admission to the bar and that as an applicant, prior to matriculation, you should determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which you intend to practice. More information is available at the National Conference of Bar Examiners: http://www.ncbex.org/.
https://aces2.lsac.org/Utilities/AppCycle/%20http:/www.ncbex.org/Please answer all required questions on the application form unless otherwise noted.
Application Fee
The application fee is $85 (nonrefundable). You must pay the application fee by debit or credit card when you submit your application through LSAC. When you pay the application fee through LSAC, you will also sign your application with the electronic signature option. Applicants may be eligible for one of the fee waiver programs described below. Please do not pay the application fee if you are requesting a fee waiver. We will not refund the application fee.
Penn Carey Law Fee Waiver Application
If submitting the application fee will cause undue financial hardship, you may request a need-based fee waiver directly from Penn Carey Law. You must submit the Penn Carey Law Fee Waiver Application directly to Penn Carey Law and be approved before you transmit the LSAC Electronic Application through LSAC. If you are granted a fee waiver for Penn Carey Law, please ignore that the application will still list the fee on the LSAC site. Your fee waiver will be applied on the payment page once you have submitted the application through LSAC. No fee waiver coupon code is needed.
The Penn Carey Law Fee Waiver Application (located on our website at https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/how-to-apply.php) and the fee waiver supporting documentation can be emailed to contactadmissions@law.upenn.edu. The fee waiver application is not live until right before the application goes live.
LSAC Fee Waivers
If LSAC has granted you an LSAC Fee Waiver for the LSAT and Credential Assembly Service, you do not need to submit the Penn Carey Law Fee Waiver Application or notify us in any other way. Since Penn Carey Law is a participating school, candidates who receive a fee waiver from LSAC will automatically receive an application fee waiver from Penn Carey Law. No fee waiver coupon code is needed. Please ignore that the application will still list the fee on the LSAC site. When you transmit your Penn Carey Law application, you will be prompted to electronically sign your application, but you will not be prompted for payment information.
Service Recognition Fee Waivers: AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Teach For America, and the United States Military
In recognition of your service, all past and present members of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Teach For America, and the United States Military are eligible for an application fee waiver. You must request this service recognition fee waiver from Penn Carey Law before you transmit the electronic application through LSAC as we will not refund the application fee. To apply, please complete the Service Recognition Fee Waiver Application.
Once your participation in the designated service organization has been verified, you will be sent a fee waiver approval email. Please ignore that the application will still list the fee on the LSAC site. Your fee waiver will be applied on the payment page once you have submitted the application through LSAC. No fee waiver coupon code is needed. Please make sure to note your service appointment on your résumé.
Merit Fee Waivers
Merit-based fee waivers are made available through queries to the LSAC Candidate Referral Service (CRS), ETS, and GMAC. These fee waivers are sent to highly qualified applicants who have registered for CRS, and will appear automatically in the application checkout at LSAC. For merit-based fee waiver consideration, please make sure you have opted-in for the CRS; registered with the Credential Assembly Service; have at least one approved standardized test score on file, and have a processed undergraduate degree-school transcript at LSAC. Our fee waiver emails are sent periodically throughout the application cycle, starting in early September and continuing through February.
If you are granted a fee waiver for Penn Carey Law, please ignore that the application will still list the fee on the LSAC site. Your fee waiver will be applied on the payment page once you have submitted the application through LSAC. No fee waiver coupon code is needed.
Test Administration and LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
Every applicant must take an approved standardized test, either the LSAT, GRE, or GMAT, and must register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) through LSAC. You may register for the LSAT and/or the Credential Assembly Service online at LSAC.org or by phone at 215.968.1001. For the GRE and GMAT, you must arrange for an official test score report to be released to Penn Carey Law; we will not accept test taker copies of score reports. You may register for the GRE here; Penn Carey Law's school code for GRE score reporting is 4122. You may register for the GMAT here; Penn Carey Law's school code for GMAT score reporting is G56-RV-81. Please make sure that you look for the Law School name and not just the University; they are two different recipients.
We will accept approved standardized test scores from any test administration taken within the last five years prior to the current application cycle, i.e., June 2020 or thereafter for the LSAT and within five years of your score posting for the GRE and/or GMAT. Please note that your GRE and/or GMAT standardized test score must be valid through the completion of your application file so therefore please take into consideration when your score will no longer be valid. We cannot control the timeframe in which your file will be completed. Standardized tests taken before June 2020 do not need to be reported. In view of our March 15 deadline to complete your file and the length of time needed for processing your application materials, we suggest approved standardized tests should be taken no later than December 2025, but we will accept approved standardized test scores for any tests administered by February 28, 2026. We will not accept any standardized tests taken after February 28, 2026 for the initial review of your application file.
All valid and reportable LSAT test scores, taken June 1, 2020 or thereafter, are considered as part of your application. Please report the highest LSAT score obtained on the application form in the Standardized Test section. We do not require that all GRE and/or GMAT test scores, taken within the last five years prior to your file being completed, be reported and submitted as part of your application. If an applicant has taken the LSAT and has a reportable LSAT score, an applicant may choose whether or not to share GRE and/or GMAT test results. If you would like your GRE and/or GMAT test scores to be considered in addition to your LSAT score(s) then please fill out the GRE/GMAT Standardized Test section of the application form. At its discretion, the Admissions Committee may evaluate your application based on the highest score. If there are circumstances that you believe affected your performance on a test, we encourage you to attach an additional statement with your application (see Optional Essays) explaining those circumstances. In addition, if you choose to retake an approved standardized test, up through February 28, 2026, after submitting your application, you must notify us in writing if you would like your application to be held from committee review until the new test score is received. We will not automatically hold your file from review for receipt of a future test score if you just list on the application that you are taking a future test.
Each applicant must also register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and arrange to have all transcripts sent to LSAC from each college or university attended. When we receive your application, we will automatically request your CAS report, and LSAC will transmit it electronically to us. The CAS report includes your LSAT score(s) and LSAT writing sample(s) if you have taken the LSAT, copies of your academic transcript(s), an undergraduate academic summary, letters of recommendation, and other information. Please note that your CAS report will NOT be released by LSAC until all required transcripts have been received and processed by LSAC. Once we receive your initial CAS report, we will automatically receive CAS update reports (e.g. new transcripts, new LSAT scores, new letters of recommendation etc.) from LSAC.
Penn Carey Law requires that any international transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service for applicants who completed any post-secondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada. You must use this service for the evaluation of your international transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the international work through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, the program was no longer than one year in length, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the Credential Assembly Service registration fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your CAS report.
To use the Credential Assembly Service, log in to your online LSAC account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive international transcripts.
Applicants are reminded to monitor their LSAC account to ensure that the account is current so that their CAS report will be released to us on a timely basis. CAS reports are released to Penn Carey Law when all transcripts, at least two letters of recommendation, and an LSAT score and LSAT writing sample (unless only applying with GRE and/or GMAT scores) are received. In addition, all applicable fees must be paid to LSAC in order for a CAS report to be released.
**Recommendation Forms and Letters
Penn Carey Law requires that you submit your letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.**Your CAS report will not be released to Penn Carey Law until at least two letters of recommendation are on file with LSAC and assigned to Penn Carey Law. This service is included with your Credential Assembly Service registration. You must use the letter of recommendation form available online through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service for each letter submitted to LSAC. Please do not send letters directly to Penn Carey Law, unless directed by the Admissions office.
Letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your intellectual capacity and analytical and written communication skills are extremely useful in a rigorous selection process. Therefore, we require two letters of recommendation from individuals who have served as recent academic instructors or advisors. However, if you have been out of school for several years and obtaining academic references will present a hardship, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you are sufficient. Note that we will accept up to four letters of recommendation; however, your application is deemed complete with two letters of recommendation. We do not hold applications from going out to review for letters of recommendation beyond the required two. Therefore, please make sure your recommenders get your letters of recommendation in to LSAC in a timely fashion.
Character and Fitness Verification
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
The Admissions Committee requires that every applicant answer questions pertaining to character and fitness. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you must provide an explanation in the space provided on the Application for Admission. We caution you to err on the side of full disclosure as any discrepancies will be investigated and may be reported to LSAC's Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process Subcommittee.
Personal Statement
The Admissions Committee requires that every applicant submit an original example of written expression. The purpose of this personal statement is to provide you with an opportunity to submit information that you deem important to your candidacy. You may wish to describe your experiences and interests - intellectual, personal and/or professional - and how you will contribute to the Penn Carey Law community and/or the legal profession. Please try to limit your statement to two pages, double-spaced, as a suggested length. In addition, mark as "Personal Statement" and include your name and LSAC account number on each page.
Optional Essays
If you wish, you may write an additional essay on any of the following topics. These optional essays allow you an opportunity to provide the admissions committee with additional relevant information that you were not able to include in your personal statement. Please include the essay with your application by electronically attaching it to your application before submission through LSAC. You are welcome to submit as many or as few optional essays as you choose. Include your name and LSAC account number on each page. Please limit any optional essay to one page, double-spaced and title it appropriately. Any optional essay(s) you choose to submit should respond to one or more of the following prompts:
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These are the core strengths that make Penn Carey Law the best place to receive a rigorous, collaborative, and engaging legal education: genuine integration with associated disciplines; transformative, forward-looking faculty scholarship; highly-regarded experiential learning through clinics and our pro bono pledge; innovative, hands-on global engagement; and a manifest commitment to professional development and collegiality. These qualities define Penn Carey Law. What defines you? How do your goals and values match Penn Carey Law's core strengths?
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Penn Carey Law is committed to achieving an expansive and welcoming law school community that brings a broad range of ideas, experiences, and perspectives to our classrooms. Tell us about how you will contribute to our Penn Carey Law community.
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Describe a significant challenge you have faced. What have you learned from this challenge?
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What is your motivation for pursuing a JD degree?
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What strength or quality do you have that most people might not recognize?
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If you do not think that your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why.
Applying for Joint-Degree Programs
Penn Carey Law leads in cross-disciplinary education of law students. Every year, a number of our applicants and students apply to more than 20 formal joint-degree programs, either contemporaneously with the Penn Carey Law application or in the first or second year of their law study. Additionally, on an ad hoc basis, students have successfully combined graduate study outside of these formal programs in other graduate and professional schools at the University of Pennsylvania. If you are interested in supplementing your legal education with study at other programs/schools at the University, we encourage you to discuss that interest with their Admissions Department. Note that you must apply individually to each program; admissions decisions are made by each program independently. You will find a list of most of our available formal joint-degree programs on the Application for Admission. Additionally, detailed information regarding each program may be found on our website at https://www.law.upenn.edu/crossdisciplinary/jointdegree/. If you are applying to another graduate program, or intend to, please provide the information requested in the Application Data section of the Application Questions.
Exception: If you are applying for the three year JD/MBA program, please do not apply through LSAC. Instead, you must apply exclusively through Wharton at http://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/. In the Wharton application, you will find a Law School application supplement in the Program Specific Information section. Please reference the Instructions and Guidelines for JD/MBA Applicants in the Program Information section of the Wharton application for further important information. You may only apply to one of these degree programs per application cycle: either the JD or the three year JD/MBA. Once you have submitted an application for either the JD or the JD/MBA degree program, you cannot switch to the other degree program. You can still apply Early Decision Round 1 or Round 2 for the JD program with the three year JD/MBA application through Wharton.
Application Status/Questions
The Penn Carey Law Office of Admissions is committed to serving our applicants as efficiently and effectively as we can during the application process. We will notify you of the date upon which we receive your application in an email acknowledgment. Please be advised that it may take approximately 2 to 8 weeks from the date that we receive an application, depending on when in the cycle the application is submitted, to process and evaluate the file for completeness. At that time, we will inform you of any missing required documents if we have received the LSAC CAS report. Please note that we will not evaluate the file for completeness until we receive the CAS report. We will also notify you of the date upon which your application is complete. Once your file is complete, it is put in the queue for the Admissions Committee and files are evaluated on a rolling basis. It is difficult to predict how long your file may be in the review process as your file will be evaluated by several members of the Admissions Committee.
Applicants will be able to check the status of their application at any time using the Application Status Checker, Penn Carey Law's online status checker. To access the online status checker, you can go to our website at https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/how-to-apply.php. Please be sure that you have allowed adequate time for your application to be processed, completed, and evaluated before contacting the Office of Admissions to check on the status of your decision. Again, you can always check on the status of your application by accessing the online status checker. Also, if you contact the Office of Admissions, please understand that due to the large volume of applications and supporting documents that we receive, we may not be able to immediately verify whether a specific item has been received and filed with your application. Please keep checking the Application Status Checker to verify receipt of required application documents.
**Email Notification
Please note that an email address is required.**We communicate via email with applicants regarding the status of their application; thus, it is imperative that you provide an email address on your application and it remains current throughout the admissions process. You will be notified by email when your application is received, again when your application file is completed, and possibly at other times to update you on the status of your application.
Please promptly notify us of any changes to your email address or any changes to your other contact information. Applicants should be aware of their email service provider's procedures for spam filtering that may affect delivery of any email communications sent from the Penn Carey Law Office of Admissions. Steps should be taken to ensure that messages can be delivered promptly.
Reapplication
Applicants who are denied admission may reapply to Penn Carey Law in a subsequent year. It should be noted, however, that candidates are unlikely to be admitted unless there is some significant change since their previous application. Previous applicants who wish to reapply must:
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Submit the current application, a new personal statement, and résumé
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Submit the $85 application fee
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Register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service if registration is no longer current, and pay for an additional report
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Send updated transcript(s) to LSAC for all academic work - undergraduate, graduate, and/or professional - completed since the last application
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While not required, we strongly suggest that you submit two new letters of recommendation to replace or supplement previously submitted letters
**TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
Tuition and Fees (2024-2025)**Tuition $74,688
Learning Support Fee $1,234
General Fee $3,954
Health Clinical Fee $716
**Sub-Total Tuition and Fees: $80,592
Living Expenses (2024-2025)**Room and Board $20,520
Books and Supplies $2,600
Health Insurance $4,412
Miscellaneous $1,784
Transportation $944
**Sub-Total Living Expenses: $30,260
Cost of Attendance $110,852**The General Fee is a partial contribution toward the support of the Student Health Service, graduate student activities, recreational facilities, the physical development of the University, and other services not directly associated with specific courses. The Trustees reserve the right at any time to amend the regulations concerning tuition, fees, and method of payment and to make such changes applicable to students currently enrolled in the University as well as to new students. Tuition and fees are adjusted annually. The living expenses estimate will vary according to personal lifestyles.
Applying for Financial Aid
Admissions decisions at Penn Carey Law consider the full context of each applicant's life experiences, which may include socio-economic factors, to ensure a holistic evaluation. Moreover, an applicant's financial circumstance does not negatively influence our admissions decision-making. The need-based financial aid evaluation is conducted only after an admissions decision is rendered. It is the policy of Penn Carey Law, insofar as possible, to assist deserving students with their legal education by reducing the burden of financial pressures. Financial assistance is available to qualifying applicants in the form of need-based aid (grants), merit scholarships, public interest scholarships, the Toll Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program, and federal and private student loans.
If you are interested in applying for need-based aid, complete the requisite financial aid forms, described below. We recommend that you submit the above forms promptly after admission and before March 1. If admitted after March 1, please submit these forms as soon as possible after admission.
Need-Based Aid
To be considered for need-based financial assistance (grants) at Penn Carey Law, we use the financial information that you provide for yourself, your parent(s), and if applicable, your spouse. Applicants for need-based financial aid are required to submit two applications:
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the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Penn Carey Law's FAFSA school code is 003378.
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the CSS Profile Application at http://student.collegeboard.org/profile. There is a $25 fee. Need-eligible students who enroll at Penn Carey Law will receive a $25 tuition reimbursement for this fee at the time of matriculation. Note: We strongly encourage you to provide your social security number (SSN) on the CSS Profile Application and the application for admission form. Applications submitted without the SSN can experience significant processing delays. Penn Carey Law's CSS Profile school code is 2495.
These forms must be received by March 1, if admitted before that date. Due to limited University resources, we must consider each admitted student's entire financial situation. Accordingly, Penn Carey Law requires applicants applying for need-based grants and their families (except those students age 30 and over by December 31 of the year of enrollment) to complete the parental, student, and spousal (if applicable) sections of the CSS Profile application. FAFSA applicants applying to graduate school are considered independent under federal guidelines and are only required to complete the student sections of the FAFSA application.
If you have any questions regarding the financial aid applications or evaluation process, please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at 215.898.7743 or send an email to finaid@law.upenn.edu. Additional information about our need-based grant program can be found on our website at https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/financing/.
Merit Scholarship Programs
Penn Carey Law awards merit scholarships to a select number of students using a holistic approach that includes, but not limited to, academic achievements, leadership, service, and professional and life experiences. Most scholarships do not require a separate application, though if nominated, admitted students may be asked to interview and/or submit additional essays. Scholarship nominees and recipients are notified on a rolling basis between late January and late April.
Admitted students interested in the Toll Public Interest Scholarship are required to submit a separate application. Notice of this separate application will be emailed to admitted students throughout the spring.
Penn Carey Law offers a wide range of merit scholarship opportunities that provide generous funding and unique program benefits. You can read more about all of our scholarship programs on our website at https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/financing/.
Students must remain in good academic standing and be enrolled as a full-time student to retain their Law School scholarship. Good academic standing requirements can be found at https://www.law.upenn.edu/academics/jd-requirements.php.
Toll Loan Repayment Assistance Program (TolLRAP)
Penn Carey Law is committed to promoting the pursuit of public interest careers, and TolLRAP offers generous repayment assistance, on an annual basis, to Penn Carey Law graduates working in public sector careers. A full description of TolLRAP can be found on our website at https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/financing/.Loans
Various federal and private loans are available to help students fund their education at Penn (repayment terms and interest vary). Students can borrow through the Federal Direct, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS, and other student loan programs. Application and program details can be found at https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/loan-types.
Please note, if you are applying for loans only, you need only submit the FAFSA. The CSS Profile application is only required for students who are applying for need-based grants.
International Students
International students may apply for need-based aid (grants) and loans from private student loan lenders. Please note that student loans for international students require a U.S. cosigner. U.S. federal student loans are not available to international students. More information on private student loans can be found on Penn's website at https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/loan-types.
International students admitted to Penn will also be considered for the merit scholarships described above. International students are eligible to participate in our Toll Loan Repayment Assistance Program (TolLRAP).
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Duke
Feb 13, 2026
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Duke essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.
Personal Statement (required): The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and should include what you think have been your most significant personal experiences beyond what may be reflected in your academic transcripts and on your resume. You might choose to address your interest in legal studies and a career as a lawyer here or in the optional Duke Essay #1. Please use 2-3 pages, double-spaced, for your personal statement.
This section is optional.
All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.
Duke Essay #1: You may submit an essay providing additional information about why you have chosen to apply to law school in general and Duke in particular. We are interested in the factors that have prompted your interest in a legal career and the ways in which you think Duke can further that interest. If you have already addressed the reasons for your general interest in legal studies in your personal statement, it is not necessary to repeat that here; you may concentrate on the specific opportunities at Duke related to that interest. Please use 1-2 pages, double-spaced, for this optional essay.
This section is optional.
All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.
You may use this addendum to provide information about any element of your application that you think needs additional context or explanation. This might include, but is not limited to, a discrepancy in test scores, inconsistencies or trends in your grades, or a gap in your resume. Please be as brief as possible but use as much space as needed to provide a full explanation.
All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.
Short Answer Essay(s) (required): Our admissions process is guided by the view that a law school class that includes actively engaged students who possess a variety of skills, personal qualities, and life experiences helps to advance the Law School's mission, improves the learning process, and enriches the educational experience for all. Please write one or two short essays from the list below. Be sure to label the essay(s) you are answering and use only one attachment even if you submit two short answers. Please limit your answer(s) to 250-500 words per essay.
- What does the rule of law mean to you, and what special background or experience do you have that may help you contribute to its advancement or that underscores its importance to you personally?
- The promise of equal justice is fundamental to our legal system. Why is equal justice important to you personally, and what personal experiences or knowledge do you have that may help you become an effective advocate for equal justice under law?
- Exposure to a diversity of perspectives and experiences can enhance one's ability to deliver effective professional services. Please describe any opportunities you have had to serve clients or your community, either through work or on a volunteer basis, and how your own exposure to different perspectives and experiences helped you.
- Lawyers are members of a learned profession, and are often called to serve the public in a variety of ways. Please describe your interest in public service and any experience that you have had to prepare you for a life of service in the public interest.
- Please describe your interest in learning the law in an open, rigorous, and collaborative environment. Why is a commitment to the free expression of ideas so important in the learning process?
- What does ethical leadership mean to you? Please provide examples of how you have prepared yourself to become an ethical leader.
All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.
Resume (required): Your resume should include your significant work experience, educational history, college and community activities, honors and awards you have received, and dates for all items listed. Your resume does not need to be limited to one page.
Duke Law requires that you reveal knowledge of all disciplinary charges, arrests, criminal charges, or criminal convictions (except arrests, criminal charges or criminal convictions that have been expunged from your record). When in doubt, err on the side of full disclosure as subsequent discovery of a failure to fully, and accurately, answer these questions may have serious consequences. You have an ongoing obligation to report any conduct that would require you to answer "Yes" to any of the questions in this section during the pendency of your application. If you are admitted, the obligation to report conduct applicable to the questions in this section continues until your first day of class at Duke Law School.
1. Have you ever been placed on academic probation or received a warning at any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school for poor academic performance, underenrollment, or other reasons related to satisfactory academic progress? (This question does not pertain to sanctions for academic integrity or honor code issues such as cheating or plagiarism, or violations of a student code of conduct. Such issues should be disclosed in Question 2 and will require a letter from the school.)
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Have you ever been warned, dropped, suspended, placed on disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled, requested or advised to resign from any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school?
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Have you ever (i) been arrested, charged or cited for a crime or (ii) been convicted of any offense other than a minor traffic violation? You are not required to report any matter that has been expunged by a court of law.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
This section is optional.
All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.
Applying to the JD/LLM or JD/LLMLE dual degree program does not require a separate statement of purpose; however, we encourage you to address your interest in international and comparative law or law and entrepreneurship, in your personal statement or in this attachment. Please use 1-2 pages, double-spaced, for this statement.
Two recommendation letters are required and must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, which is included in your LSAC CAS registration. Unless you have been out of school for some time, at least one letter should come from an academic instructor who has personal knowledge of your performance and potential. A second letter should come from someone who can address your professional and work-related accomplishments, interpersonal skills, leadership, and involvement, such as a supervisor or advisor from a job, internship, or student organization. Additional letters from either source may also be submitted. If you have been out of school for long enough that an academic reference is not available, you may submit an employment letter in its place. LSAC will accept up to four generic or school-specific letters. Letters from friends, family friends, and relatives are discouraged.
2026 FIRST-YEAR JD APPLICATION
Use this application for first-year Early and Regular Decision cycles for the JD and dual degree programs.
DEGREE OPTIONS
In addition to the three-year JD program, you may also use this application to apply for the following dual degrees.
JD/LLM in International and Comparative Law - No additional requirements; however, we encourage you to address your interest in international and comparative law either in your personal statement or the JD/LLM or JD/LLMLE attachment.
JD/LLMLE in Law and Entrepreneurship - No additional requirements; however, we encourage you to address your interest in law and entrepreneurship either in your personal statement or the JD/LLM or JD/LLMLE attachment.
You are required to submit a separate application when applying to the dual degree programs listed below. Contact the Duke graduate or professional school for application and admissions requirements. The applications will be reviewed independently by each school and you will be notified of the decisions separately. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other. Do not select one of these programs on the application if you are not applying concurrently to both Duke schools or are not already enrolled in the other program.
JD/MBA - Requires separate application to Duke Fuqua School of Business
JD/MD - Requires separate application to Duke School of Medicine
JD/MEM - Requires separate application to Duke Nicholas School of the Environment
JD/MPP - Requires separate application to Duke Sanford School of Public Policy
JD/MTS - Requires separate application to Duke Divinity School
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
To be eligible for admission, you must receive a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution prior to enrollment at the Law School. A complete application consists of the following elements.
Submitted through the LSAC electronic application
- JD application
- $85 non-refundable application processing fee
- Resume
- Personal statement
- Short answer essays
- Optional essays
Submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report
We will request your CAS Report from LSAC shortly after we receive your application.
- Academic transcripts
- Two required recommendation letters (LSAC will not release the CAS report until a minimum of two letters are included)
Standardized test
- LSAT (included in the CAS report)
- or
- GRE (received from ETS)
Additional material that may be required
- Character and fitness information: If you answer "Yes" to any of the character and fitness questions, you must provide additional information. A letter from the school is also required if you have school-related conduct sanctions.
- Letter from previous law school, if you have previously been enrolled in a JD program.
- InitialView interview or TOEFL, if your native language is not English and your undergraduate degree was not taught in English.
You will be notified by email once your application has been received. The email will include instructions on how to monitor your file status online. Incomplete files will be reviewed later in the cycle and final decisions will be rendered based on the material received at that time.
If you wish to send additional material after submitting the application, you may forward it to the Office of Admissions by email. Include your full name and LSAC account number for identification purposes. If the material is lengthy (for instance, an academic paper), it would be more beneficial to submit a brief summary than the entire document.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Application Review
The application review process includes a thorough evaluation of a candidate's academic record, including the rigor and breadth of the curriculum, overall grade trends, any graduate level work, and test scores. Duke Law School seeks to identify applicants who demonstrate leadership and engagement. Most successful candidates show sustained and meaningful commitment to one or more fields of interest to them. Although many applicants have had some exposure to the legal profession, this is not in itself a requirement. The Law School benefits from a student body that represents a broad range of experiences and interests. It is often helpful to indicate reasons for interest in law school in general and Duke in particular, especially when they relate to an applicant's specific experiences.
Applications are submitted for review by the date of their completion; however, there is no strict timeline for when decisions will be made. We encourage you to apply as early as you can without compromising the overall strength of your application. Most offers of admission are typically made prior to March 1, and all decisions are completed by the end of April. All admission decisions will be sent by email.
Application Deadline
Please note that it can take several days/weeks to receive all of the required material in order to complete the file.
November 7, 2025 - Round I Early Decision complete deadline.
January 2, 2026 - Round II Early Decision complete deadline.
February 13, 2026 - Regular Decision submit deadline. We will continue to accept applications after the deadline if space is available.
Binding Early Decision Option
Highly interested candidates may choose to apply through one of two binding Early Decision (ED) rounds. The ED option is most appropriate if you have concluded that Duke is your first choice for law school and you do not anticipate the need to compare offers of financial aid in making a decision about where to matriculate. If you apply through the ED program, you may apply to other law schools through their regular decision process, but you may not have more than one binding ED application pending simultaneously. If you have already submitted an ED application to another law school, you may apply through Duke's ED program only if you are released from the binding commitment at the other school. If admitted to Duke Law School through the ED program, you will be required to immediately withdraw your applications at other law schools, refrain from submitting new applications, and submit a non-refundable $500 tuition deposit no later than ten days after the admission notification.
To be eligible for ED Round I, applications must be complete no later than November 7, 2025 and candidates will be notified about their status no later than December 31. To be eligible for ED Round II, applications must be complete no later than January 2, 2026 and candidates will be notified no later than January 31. Plan ahead if you intend to apply for the ED cycle. It can take several days or weeks to receive all of the required material to complete your file after you submit the application through LSAC. All material to be considered during the review process must be received no later than the deadline to complete the file.
Application Fee Waivers
Application fee waivers are offered one-time-only. Submit your request no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 13, 2026. We are unable to waive LSAC fees.
Based on LSAC fee waiver - Submit your request by email to the Office of Admissions. Include your full name, LSAC account number, and attach documentation that identifies you as the recipient of a valid LSAC fee waiver.
CRS-based: We extend fee waivers based on the results of periodic searches of LSAC's Candidate Referral Service (CRS). To be considered in the pool, be sure your CRS account is active, your intended enrollment year is set correctly, you have either a self-reported or LSAC-calculated GPA, and LSAT score.
Need-based: Submit the completed Fee Waiver form as an email attachment to the Office of Admissions. Include your full name and LSAC account number.
Service-based (military, Teach for America, Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps): Submit your request by email to the Office of Admissions. Include your full name, LSAC account number, and attach documentation that identifies your military, Teach for America, Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps affiliation.
Resume (required)
Your resume should include your significant work experience, educational history, college and community activities, honors and awards you have received, and dates for all items listed. Your resume does not need to be limited to one page.
Essays
All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.
The essays are an important way that we get to know you as an individual. While we are, of course, interested in the factors that have led you to pursue legal education and hope that you will address them as part of your application, we also value students with a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and interests that may not be directly related to their legal ambitions. We hope that the variety of opportunities for writing in our application will allow you to tell us about who you are in a broad sense. We encourage you to review all the required and optional essays as a whole, and consider how you can highlight different elements of yourself so that we get a full picture of who you are.
Personal Statement (required): The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and should include what you think have been your most significant personal experiences beyond what may be reflected in your academic transcripts and on your resume. You might choose to address your interest in legal studies and a career as a lawyer here, or you might do so in the optional Duke Essay #1. Please use 2-3 pages, double-spaced, for your personal statement.
Short Answer Essays (required): Our admissions process is guided by the view that a law school class that includes actively engaged students who possess a variety of skills, personal qualities, and life experiences helps to advance the Law School's mission, improves the learning process, and enriches the educational experience for all. Please write one or two short essays from the list below. Be sure to label the essay(s) you are answering and use only one attachment even if you submit two short answers. Please limit your answer(s) to 250-500 words per essay.
- What does the rule of law mean to you, and what special background or experience do you have that may help you contribute to its advancement or that underscores its importance to you personally?
- The promise of equal justice is fundamental to our legal system. Why is equal justice important to you personally, and what personal experiences or knowledge do you have that may help you become an effective advocate for equal justice under law?
- Exposure to a diversity of perspectives and experiences can enhance one's ability to deliver effective professional services. Please describe any opportunities you have had to serve clients or your community, either through work or on a volunteer basis, and how your own exposure to different perspectives and experiences helped you.
- Lawyers are members of a learned profession, and are often called to serve the public in a variety of ways. Please describe your interest in public service and any experience that you have had to prepare you for a life of service in the public interest.
- Please describe your interest in learning the law in an open, rigorous, and collaborative environment. Why is a commitment to the free expression of ideas so important in the learning process?
- What does ethical leadership mean to you? Please provide examples of how you have prepared yourself to become an ethical leader.
Duke Essay #1 (optional): You may submit an essay providing additional information about why you have chosen to apply to law school in general and Duke in particular. We are interested in the factors that have prompted your interest in a legal career and the ways in which you think Duke can further that interest. If you have already addressed the reasons for your general interest in legal studies in your personal statement, it is not necessary to repeat that here; you may concentrate on the specific opportunities at Duke related to that interest. Please use 1-2 pages, double-spaced, for this optional essay.
Duke Essay #2 (optional): Our application process is designed to learn about you from multiple perspectives to better understand the unique and distinctive qualities you would bring to our community. Ideally, we would conduct personal interviews with each candidate to probe these questions. Since we are unable to offer interviews due to the large application volume, you are invited to write a short essay that tells us what you would hope to share if you were meeting with us on campus that we have not already learned elsewhere in your application. Please use one page, double-spaced, for this optional essay.
Recommendation Letters
Two recommendation letters are required and must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, which is included in your LSAC CAS registration. Unless you have been out of school for some time, at least one letter should come from an academic instructor who has personal knowledge of your performance and potential. A second letter should come from someone who can address your professional and work-related accomplishments, interpersonal skills, leadership, and involvement, such as a supervisor or advisor from a job, internship, or student organization. Additional letters from either source may also be submitted. If you have been out of school for long enough that an academic reference is not available, you may submit an employment letter in its place. LSAC will accept up to four generic or school-specific letters. Letters from friends, family friends, and relatives are discouraged.
Standardized Testing
All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Duke Law School does not prefer one test over the other, and either will be given equal consideration as part of a holistic review of the application. The only circumstance where your file will be evaluated without the LSAT score is if you have only taken the GRE and do not plan to take the LSAT. If a decision is made based on a GRE score-only and an LSAT score is subsequently received, your file will be reevaluated, and we reserve the right to change the initial decision based on the additional information.
Select a test date that provides sufficient time for thorough preparation, preferably so the score will be available by the application deadline. Duke considers all test scores that are received in the context of the entire application (transcripts, personal statement, letters of recommendation, evidence of leadership and engagement, and other information). If you feel that one or more of your test scores does not accurately reflect your ability or potential, use the Miscellaneous Addendum attachment to explain this disparity. All valid scores must be reported. We are unable to accept self-reported scores.
LSAT - All valid LSAT scores will be included in the LSAC CAS report. You may submit the application prior to taking (or retaking) the LSAT. If you are planning to retake the LSAT, and you would like to have your file placed on hold to await the new score, select the test date in Section 8. If you decide to retake the LSAT after you submit the application, notify the Office of Admissions to place your file on hold for the new score. An automatic hold will not be placed on your file if you register with LSAC for a future test.
GRE - Contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for GRE registration and information. Request all valid scores be sent to Duke University School of Law - institution code 4916. We do not receive scores sent to other Duke University codes. The LSAT-requirement setting for the LSAC CAS report will change automatically if you indicate on the application in Section 8 that you will submit the GRE only.
Academic Transcripts
Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work must be submitted to LSAC CAS. Questions about transcripts can be directed to LSAC.
International Transcripts - Transcripts must be submitted through the LSAC CAS if you received your degree from an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, or if you completed the equivalent of more than one year of undergraduate study outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LSAC CAS report. Log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it to them promptly. Additional time may be required for LSAC to receive and process international transcripts.
Character and Fitness
Duke Law requires that you reveal knowledge of all disciplinary charges, arrests, criminal charges, or criminal convictions (except arrests, criminal charges or criminal convictions that have been expunged from your record). When in doubt, err on the side of full disclosure as subsequent discovery of a failure to fully, and accurately, answer these questions may have serious consequences. You have an ongoing obligation to report any conduct that would require you to answer "Yes" to any of the questions in this section during the pendency of your application. If you are admitted, the obligation to report conduct applicable to the questions in this section continues until your first day of class at Duke Law School.
If you answer "Yes" to any questions in the Character and Fitness section, you will be required to provide an explanation. Include details, the status of any disciplinary action or judicial sanctions, and the final resolution of the issues involved.
In addition, if you answer "Yes" to the school-related conduct question (Section 13, question 2), you will be required to have the dean, registrar, department supervisor, judicial officer, or academic officer with access to official records from your institution submit a letter directly to the Office of Admissions providing complete information about the incident. If your institution has no record of any disciplinary action, have them submit a letter indicating so.
International Applicants - InitialView Interview or TOEFL
If you are not a U.S. citizen, your native language is not English, and your undergraduate degree was not taught in English, you will be required to participate in an InitialView interview or have your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score submitted to LSAC by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). International applicants with graduate degrees in the U.S. must also satisfy this requirement. We strongly recommend international applicants participate in the interview.
InitialView: Contact InitialView to schedule your interview session. Since many international students come from educational systems that are different from that of the U.S., we find it valuable to be able to view an unscripted interview where applicants may discuss their unique backgrounds and goals. InitialView will conduct the interview and notify our office once the recording is available.
TOEFL: Request ETS to submit your TOEFL score to LSAC - institution code 8395. The score will be included in the LSAC CAS report.
International Students and Visa Applications
Admitted applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents will receive information, after submitting the enrollment material, about applying for a Duke-sponsored F-1 visa. International students will be required to submit copies of their passport, previous visa documents, and proof of financial support.
Previous Law School Matriculation
If you attended the JD program at another law school, you must include an addendum to explain why you did not complete the program. You are also required to have your previous law school submit a letter to the Office of Admissions indicating your dates of attendance, reason for withdrawal, and academic standing.
Reapplication
To reapply, you must submit a new application and update all supporting material. Include the year for which you last sought admission in Section 7. You will also be required to reassign letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Reviewers may not have access to your prior application materials, so please be sure that all information you would like considered is included in the current application. Essays and other supporting material from the previous application may be used again, but this is a good chance to assess whether you would like to change anything about the way you present your experiences and interests.
Bar Admission
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. For additional information, visit americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/bar_admissions.html.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Duke University is committed to encouraging and sustaining a learning and work community that is free from prohibited discrimination and harassment. Visit Duke University's Office of Institutional Equity to learn more and review the full policy.
How to Contact Us
Office of Admissions
Duke University School of Law
210 Science Drive
Duke Box 90393
Durham NC 27708-0393
Phone: 919-613-7020
E-mail: admissions@law.duke.eduWeb: law.duke.edu/apply/jd
Duke
GRE
GRE
Fee
$85.00
Recs
2 to 4
Requirements
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6
Harvard
Feb 15, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$90.00
2 to 3
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Harvard essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Every applicant must submit a Statement of Purpose responding to the following prompt:
What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?
The Statement of Purpose must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). Please place (a) the title “Statement of Purpose” in the document header, left-aligned, and (b) your full name in the document header, right-aligned.
Every applicant must submit a Statement of Perspective, responding to the following prompt:
The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.
The Statement of Perspective must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). Please place (a) the title “Statement of Perspective” in the document header, left-aligned, and (b) your full name in the document header, right-aligned.
This section is optional.
We encourage you to provide any relevant information that may be helpful to us in making an informed decision on your candidacy. If you need additional space beyond the application questions and required materials, you may attach a brief addendum below.
We require a resume as part of the application. Please limit your resume to one or two pages in length.
The following links are to sample resumes. You do not have to follow the formatting used in these resumes, but all three are examples of well-organized, easy-to-read drafts.
PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.
If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, you must provide details in the space provided.
If you are a reapplicant, please note that responses to Character and Fitness questions from your previous application(s) to Harvard Law School may be reviewed before a final decision is reached on your candidacy.
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At any educational institution, have you ever been found responsible for behavioral misconduct that resulted in anything more than a verbal reprimand or are any such charges pending?
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At any educational institution, have you ever been found responsible for academic misconduct or are any such charges pending?
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In a professional setting, have you been subject to disciplinary sanctions, or are any charges pending?
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Have you ever been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, any felony or misdemeanor, other than:
- an arrest or other detention that did not result in a conviction, or in which a conviction was vacated;
- a first conviction for any of the following misdemeanors: drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray or disturbance of the peace; or
- any misdemeanor conviction that occurred more than five years before your application for admission, unless you were also sentenced to imprisonment, or were convicted of any additional offense within the five year period.
Note that you are not required to answer “yes” to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed, annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential.
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Are you currently deferring enrollment at a law school that requires a commitment not to apply elsewhere?
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Have you ever attended a law school?
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If you answered yes to any of the above questions, please explain here. (maximum characters 500)
Harvard Law School Juris Doctor (J.D.) Program
We are pleased that you have chosen to apply for admission to Harvard Law School (HLS). We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about our school and the J.D. program.
This application is only for students who meet the eligibility criteria below. If you are a Junior Deferral Program or Transfer applicant, please do not use this application. Ineligible candidates who submit an application will not be considered for admission and will not receive an application fee refund.
J.D. Eligibility Requirements
- All applicants must hold or expect to hold a bachelor's degree by August of the year for which they apply to enter (except in cases where all requirements are met prior to September and degree conferral occurs after September).
- Applicants may apply for admission to Harvard Law School through the regular J.D. application no more than three times. Applications submitted via the Junior Deferral Program and the Transfer pathways do not count towards this cap.
Submitting Your Application
The J.D. Application opens on September 15, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. ET and closes on February 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. We encourage the submission of your application in advance of this deadline to ensure its timely review.
Applications must be completed and submitted through the LSAC website. You will receive an email confirmation with your status checker credentials when we receive your application from LSAC. Once the required materials have been successfully processed, you will receive a subsequent email notification that your application is complete and ready for review.
You will be able to submit updates through LSAC and your status checker while your application is under consideration. Note that we will not replace materials you have already submitted and cannot hold the review of your file for an upcoming standardized test score or other additional material. We do not accept any hard copy materials.
Admissions Decisions
During the application review process, we will select a number of applicants to interview for admission. If you are selected to interview, you will be notified via email. These interviews are by invitation only and are conducted throughout the admissions cycle, starting in November.
We will begin releasing admissions decisions in January. We aim to notify all applicants of their admission decisions by early April. For more information on this year's cycle timeline, please visit our website.
Decisions will be communicated via the status checker. We will not release any information on an application to anyone other than the applicant. We are obligated to protect confidentiality and privacy; these policies help to serve that purpose.
All decisions are final. We do not have a reconsideration process and will not reconsider or review any released decisions.
Application Components
Please review the instructions for the application components carefully before completing your application. You may also refer to the resources available on our Application Toolkit.
1. Application Form
We ask all applicants to complete the application questions fully. Required fields will be marked accordingly.
2. Application Fee or Fee Waiver
The application fee is $90 (non-refundable). You may pay the fee by credit or debit card when you submit your application.
If payment of the application fee would pose a financial hardship, we recommend applying for the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Fee Waiver Program. HLS will waive your application fee if you are the recipient of an LSAC fee waiver. If you are not able to obtain a fee waiver from LSAC, you may request a need-based fee waiver directly from HLS by completing the HLS Fee Waiver Request Form. The HLS Fee Waiver Request Form will close on February 10, 2026. We cannot accommodate any fee waiver requests made after this date.
3. Standardized Test Score
All applicants to the J.D. program must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE). Applicants must take either the LSAT or GRE by February 1 to ensure that scores are available by the application deadline (February 15).
LSAC will report all LSAT scores from the past five years. We will not consider a GRE score in the evaluation of your application if you have a valid LSAT score on file.
If you will not have a valid LSAT score on file this cycle and elect to apply with the GRE instead, you must report all valid test scores from the previous five-year period. To report GRE General Test scores to HLS, you should log into your ETS account and select Harvard Law School as a recipient of results using the school code 2135.
4. Transcripts
Applicants must have all undergraduate and graduate transcripts sent to LSAC after registering for LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If you completed any postsecondary coursework outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. If this is the case, please be certain that your home transcript lists the course title, credit level, and grade awarded. Visit the LSAC website for more information on requesting transcripts.
5. Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Two letters of recommendation are required. You may submit up to three. We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source.
6. Resume
We require a resume as part of the application. Please limit your resume to one or two pages. Please visit the HLS J.D. Admissions website for samples.
7. Written Statements
Every applicant must submit both a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective, responding to the prompts below. Each Statement must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). We expect every applicant to use at least one full page for each Statement. Please place (a) the name of your Written Statement (i.e., either Statement of Perspective or Statement of Purpose) in the document header, left-aligned, and (b) your full name in the document header, right-aligned.
Statement of Purpose: What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?
Statement of Perspective: The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.
8. Additional Information
We encourage you to provide any relevant information that may be helpful to us in making an informed decision on your candidacy. If you need additional space beyond the application questions and required materials, you may include a brief addendum.
9. College Certification Form
While not required as part of the application process, College Certification forms will be required from admitted students prior to matriculation and may, in some cases, be required prior to admission. The College Certification form will be completed by an official from your school to confirm your degree as well as to confirm the responses you provided on your application to your character and fitness questions.
Important Notices
Application Materials
Please be aware that your application materials become part of your official student record. For admitted and matriculating students, HLS J.D. Admissions may share information contained in your admission materials with other offices at the University.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Harvard Law School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and gender expression, as well as pregnancy), genetic information, ancestry, religion, caste, creed, veteran status, disability, military service, sexual orientation or political beliefs in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.
Please refer to Harvard Law School's Non-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Policies for more information.
Inquiries regarding the application of the Law School's nondiscrimination policy may be referred to:
- Kristi Jobson (J.D. Admissions) Assistant Dean for Admissions and Chief Admissions Officer: (617) 495-3179
- Sasha Tulgan (Office of Equal Opportunity) Assistant Dean for Equal Opportunity: (617) 496-0921
Inquiries concerning the application of nondiscrimination policies regarding race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability may also be referred to the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202, (800) 421-3481, or OCR@ed.gov.
Qualifications for Admission to the Bar
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report Availability
The University is required by federal law (The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, 20 U.S.C. 1092(f), known as the Clery Act) to publish an Annual Security Report and an Annual Fire Safety Report.
The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) publishes the Annual Security Report, which includes information about the HUPD, how to report a crime, HUPD?s crime prevention programs, substance abuse, sensitive crimes, emergency notifications, and other important information about security and HUPD services on campus. It also contains three years of statistics on reported campus or campus-related crimes. A hard copy may be obtained by contacting the Harvard University Police Department at 1033 Massachusetts Avenue, 6th floor, Cambridge, MA 02138, (617) 495-9225.
The Harvard University Environmental Health and Safety Department publishes the Annual Fire Safety Report, which includes fire safety polices, evacuation procedures, and fire statistics. A hard copy of the Annual Fire Safety Report may be obtained by contacting the Environmental Health and Safety Department at 46 Blackstone Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, (617) 496-7168.
The Annual Security Report is available at www.hupd.harvard.edu/annual-security-report.
The Annual Fire Safety Report is available at www.ehs.harvard.edu/programs/higher-education-opportunity-act-heoa.
Two letters of recommendation are required, but you may submit up to three. We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source. Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.
Our experience is that two thoughtfully selected recommenders are likely to be more effective than several chosen less carefully. We strongly recommend that at least one letter come from a professor, advisor, or other educational contact who can address your academic and scholarly abilities. However, applicants who have been out of school for several years and struggle to find an academic recommender may submit letters from employers or others who have worked closely with them.
Your application will be treated as complete with two letters of recommendation.
Harvard
GRE
GRE
Fee
$90.00
Recs
2 to 3
Requirements
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8
Michigan
Feb 28, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$75.00
1 to 4
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Michigan essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
As you prepare to write your personal statement, please keep the following in mind. First, we do not have a fixed checklist of particular attributes we seek in our students, and you will have the best insights into what is most important for us to know. Second, there is no set convention for communicating the information you choose to share. A successful essay might involve writing directly about expansive themes such as your goals or philosophy or background or identity, or very differently, might be a vignette that reveals something significant about you. Your personal statement gives us an opportunity to get a sense of your voice, perspective, and experiences, as well as your writing ability, and there is no particular formula to follow. Applicants have in the past elaborated on their significant life experiences; meaningful intellectual interests and extracurricular activities; factors inspiring them to obtain a legal education or to pursue particular career goals; significant obstacles met and overcome; special talents or skills; issues of identity, such as gender, sex, race, or ethnicity; particular political, philosophical, or religious beliefs; socioeconomic challenges; atypical backgrounds, educational paths, employment histories, or prior careers; or experiences and perspectives relating to discrimination, disadvantage, or disability. Any of these subjects, and many more, could be an appropriate basis for communicating authentic and genuine information about yourself that will aid us in reaching a thoughtful decision. In other words: Think broadly about what you might wish to convey and how you might best convey it.
While we do not impose a page or word limit for the personal statement, we value clear and concise writing; most personal statements are between two and four pages. For ease of reading, please use double-spacing and at least an 11-point font.
Supplemental Essays
Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials, as well as to further showcase your writing skills. Toward that end, we provide for different directed prompts on a variety of topics. If you think writing on any of the topics suggested would help us get a better sense of who you are, we encourage you to consider submitting your responses to one or two (but no more). Each essay should be between one and two pages, and should include the number of the prompt you are addressing at the top of the essay. For all but one of these prompts, our rule against using generative AI pertains; one prompt however, is specifically designed to be used with AI tools, and if you choose to answer it, you must use generative AI.
- Essay One: Say more about your interest in the University of Michigan Law School. Why might Michigan be a good fit for you culturally, academically, or professionally?
- Essay Two: One of the goals of our admissions process is to enroll students who will enrich the quality and breadth of the intellectual life of our law school community, as well as to expand and diversify the identities of people in the legal profession. How might your experiences and perspectives contribute to our admissions goals?
- Essay Three: How has the world you came from positively shaped who you are today?
- Essay Four: Describe a quality or skill you have and discuss how you expect it will help you in your legal career.
- Essay Five: Tell us about a time in the recent past when you changed your mind about something significant.
- Essay Six: What’s a character trait you’re glad you possess? Describe a recent experience where you exhibited that trait.
- Essay Seven: Describe a challenge, failure, or setback you have faced and overcome, whether long-term and systemic (e.g., socioeconomic, health, or complex family circumstances) or short-term and discrete (e.g., a workplace scenario or a particularly demanding course). How did you confront it? What, if anything, might you do differently?
- Essay Eight: Think of someone who knows you, but doesn’t know you well (i.e., not a family member or a close friend). How would they describe you? Would their description be accurate? Why or why not?
- Essay Nine: If you could have dinner with any prominent person, living or dead, who would it be and why? What would you discuss?
- Essay Ten - TO BE ANSWERED USING GENERATIVE AI: How much do you use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT right now? What’s your prediction for how much you will use them by the time you graduate from law school? Why?
This section is optional.
If there is any information in your application you wish to clarify (for example, particular grades; a history of standardized testing that under-predicts your academic performance; gaps in employment) you may submit that information here. You may submit as many addenda as you need.
Please provide a résumé showing: (A) full-time or significant part-time employment, paid or unpaid, beginning with your most recent, including the name and location of your employer, your job title, and the dates you held the position, along with any other contextual information (for example, the nature of your employer's work or your particular duties) you think will be useful; (B) significant extracurricular/non-work-related activities; (C) academic and non-academic honors and awards received, including fellowships, prizes, and memberships in honor societies; and (D) hobbies or special areas of interest or academic pursuits. If you are not presently enrolled in an educational institution, we would find it particularly helpful to know what you are doing now; whether you are working, volunteering, traveling, seeking employment, or anything else, please be sure to specify your current and planned activities prior to enrolling in law school.
While answering the two questions below, when in doubt, err on the side of full disclosure, as the failure to fully answer any question may result in exclusion from law school or denial of the opportunity to take a state bar examination. Note that an affirmative answer to either question does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission. Your answer will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to all aspects of your experience, academic achievement, and potential. (Please be aware: In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every US jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners at http://www.ncbex.org/jurisdictions.) You must submit a supplementary statement with any affirmative responses; provide complete details, including dates and resolution.
If, following your completion of this application but prior to matriculation, matters arise that would require you to answer yes to either question, supplement your application with complete details.
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Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action for academic or other reasons in any of the colleges, universities, graduate or professional schools you have attended, or are such charges pending or expected to be brought against you?
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Have you ever been convicted of a crime (following a jury or bench trial, a guilty plea, or a nolo contendere plea), or charged with a criminal offense that was later dismissed as a result of a plea bargain or alternative sentencing arrangement, or are such criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you? Include misdemeanors and criminal infractions, as well as any interaction with a law enforcement agency that resulted in payment of a fine or order of community service. Your answer should include matters that have been expunged. Do not include minor traffic violations or civil infractions or citations for which jail time was not a potential penalty.
University of Michigan Law School
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Jeffries Hall, Suite 2200
701 South State Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-3091
734.764.0537
law.jd.admissions@umich.edu
law.umich.edu
JD APPLICATION FOR 2025-2026 ADMISSIONS SEASON
The following instructions are for JD applicants for the 2026 first-year entering class. They pertain to both the regular- and early-decision processes, as well as to dual-degree programs with other University of Michigan schools. (Those applying as transfer or visitor students should use the application designed specifically for those processes.)
INTRODUCTION
We know that applying to law school can be daunting, and the University of Michigan Law School Admissions Office welcomes having the opportunity to demystify the application process whenever possible. Please reach out to us (by phone at 734.764.0537 or by email to law.jd.admissions@umich.edu) with any questions, at any point; our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5PM, Eastern time. We are also happy to meet with applicants, alone or in small groups, to answer general questions about the Law School and the application process. (We do not, however, perform evaluative interviews.) We offer student-led tours when classes are in session and maintain a list of classes that visitors are welcome to attend. We encourage applicants who plan to visit Ann Arbor to contact the Admissions Office for appointments (or register online at our website).
You will be able to keep track of your application via our applicant portal, but we will also inform you by email when (1) we have received your application (usually within 5 days of submission to LSAC); (2) we begin processing your application (usually within 5-7 days of our receiving your Credential Assembly Service, or CAS, report from LSAC); and (3) we have made an admission decision. Please be sure to add us to your safe-senders list in your email program so that our emails to you do not get filtered into your spam folder.
Most applicants will receive a decision within 10 weeks of their application becoming complete, and we typically finish our initial admissions decisions by mid-April.
For more information and FAQ about the application process, please refer to our website.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants can access and view our application for the 2025-2026 admissions season beginning in early August, and can submit applications beginning Monday, August 25, 2025. Our regular-decision deadline is February 28, 2026, and filing of the application form alone is sufficient to meet that deadline. (See below for a discussion of our early-decision timeline.) Because we use a rolling admissions process (that is, we review applications in the order in which they are completed), we encourage applicants to submit their application form and all supporting documentation in advance of the deadline, if possible. Applicants who submit supporting materials after the February 28 deadline may be at a disadvantage.
We consider an applicant's file complete once we have received the application for admission, the $75 application fee (or waiver), one letter of recommendation, a résumé, the personal statement, and a CAS report (also known as a Law School Report), including an LSAT writing sample. More information about each of these elements is available below. Once an application is complete, we will begin our holistic review, in accordance with our admissions policy. You are responsible for ensuring that all materials reach us; we will not review incomplete applications.
LSAT/CAS REGISTRATION
All applicants must register with the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service. We require all applicants to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), except for those already enrolled in a graduate program in another school at the University of Michigan; for those applicants, we will accept a GRE, GMAT, or MCAT score in lieu of an LSAT score. We recognize, further, that many University of Michigan graduate and professional programs do not require standardized test scores; while we consider standardized testing to be an informative aspect to the application process, we will waive this requirement for those applicants enrolled in another University of Michigan program who do not have a graduate or professional test score.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
The LSAT is scheduled to be offered eight times between August 2025 and June 2026. We recommend that applicants take the test by January of the calendar year in which admission is sought. In other words, applicants to Michigan's entering class of 2026 are best-served by taking the LSAT no later than January 2026. Applicants who submit scores from February 2026 or later may hinder their chances of admission because their applications will not be completed until after our deadline has passed. LSAT scores remain valid for five years, so during the 2025-2026 admissions season, applicants must submit a score from June 2020 or later.
Please note that as a general matter, we are not able to delay our application review in order to wait for an additional LSAT score. If you want to ensure that we do not make a decision on your application until we have received your latest score, you should wait to submit your application until about a week before the relevant score is due to be released.
LSAT takers will be able to complete LSAT Writing, a proctored, on-demand writing exam, on their own computers, at a time and place of their choosing, either shortly prior to or after the completion of the rest of the LSAT exam. Those who already have a writing sample on file from a previous exam do not need to submit additional samples, although they may do so if they wish. We consider an application complete once we have one LSAT Writing sample.
Registration with Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
CAS registration directs LSAC to compile a number of LSAC Law School Reports to be sent, upon request, to the law schools to which you apply. Law School Reports include an undergraduate academic summary, all LSAT scores and writing samples, and copies of all transcripts submitted to CAS.
Transcripts
For every US and Canadian undergraduate institution you have attended, you must request that transcripts be sent directly to LSAC. CAS will summarize the transcripts and send a summary report, along with copies of all transcripts, to each law school to which you apply. (Please note: If you receive additional grades after applying, you should submit your updated transcript to LSAC, which will in turn send us an updated report.) If you attended an international undergraduate institution, you should arrange to have your transcript mailed to LSAC, Box 2000-M, 662 Penn Street, Newtown, PA 18940-0993; the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) will then complete a Foreign Credential Evaluation, which LSAC will incorporate into your Law School Report. If, however, you completed international work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the home campus transcript clearly indicates that work, you do not need to provide copies of the international transcript. (Please be aware that there can be significant delays in processing international transcript requests.)
Finally, if you have undertaken graduate work, you must request that your graduate institution(s) send official graduate school transcript(s) directly to LSAC.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants use the LSAC FlexApp to apply. Despite our efforts to be as transparent as possible in these instructions and in the form itself, we think it's inevitable that our questions on the FlexApp will occasionally create uncertainty for the applicant, so we provide an annotated version with all the tips and tricks we can think of. This version is available in the "Forms" section of our LSAC application, as well as on our website.
Also, please note: While providing your Social Security number on the application form is entirely optional, you must provide it to us in order to be processed for federal financial aid, including loans. Therefore, if you do not wish to include the number on your admissions application but do intend to submit the FAFSA, please contact our Financial Aid Office (734.764.5289 or lawfinaid@umich.edu) to discuss.
APPLICATION FEE
All applications for admission must be accompanied either by a $75 application fee or by a fee waiver. We prefer that you pay the application fee with a credit card via LSAC. If you cannot use a credit card though, you may instead mail us a check drawn on a US bank, made payable to the University of Michigan. We cannot accept cash.
We offer several types of application fee waivers. We waive the application fees of candidates who meet any of the following criteria:
- US military members and veterans
- Corps members and alumni of City Year, AmeriCorps, and Teach for America
- Applicants who demonstrate serious financial hardship (including, but not limited to, any candidate who receives an LSAC Fee Waiver)
To request a fee waiver based on any of these criteria, please visit this page on our website. If your request is granted, we will email you a fee waiver coupon number that can be entered on the payment page at the time you transmit your application through LSAC. Please be assured that requesting a fee waiver has no bearing on our admissions decisions; the application reviewers will not have that information available to them. We employ a need-blind admissions process and welcome and encourage applicants from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
We also give application fee waivers through LSAC's Candidate Referral Service, based on candidates' LSATs and UGPAs. We send letters and emails to recipients to make them aware they've been selected, and the waiver will appear automatically in LSAC's application checkout. To be considered for a CRS waiver, you must have an active CRS account indicating your intended enrollment year, as well as both an LSAT score and either a self-reported or an LSAC-calculated UGPA.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Although we require only one letter of recommendation, we encourage you to submit three. Typically, the most helpful recommendations are from undergraduate or graduate faculty, but letters from employers, particularly for candidates with significant work experience, can provide extremely informative input as well. Recommendations from coaches, volunteer supervisors, or others who know you well and have had the opportunity to assess your abilities and contributions may also be worthwhile additions. Personal recommendations, from family friends or others, are generally not helpful.
Letters of recommendation are most informative when they discuss the extent and nature of the recommender's acquaintance with the applicant and comment candidly on as many of the following subjects as possible: the applicant's intellectual and scholarship abilities, capacity for original thought, ability to analyze and critically assess information, quality of oral and written expression, growth potential, achievements, and personality, including interactions with peers and with the recommender.
We prefer to receive letters of recommendation via the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Each letter of recommendation should be accompanied by the LSAC form declaring the applicant's intent regarding access to the letter.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: PERSONAL STATEMENT, OPTIONAL ESSAYS, AND ADDENDA
The University of Michigan Law School has long understood that enrolling students with a broad range of perspectives and experiences generates a vibrant culture of comprehensive debate and discussion. Written submissions are an extremely helpful tool for evaluating potential contributions to our community. Please note that for all written submissions, we expect that the work is the applicant's own, meaning that the ideas and expressions originated with the applicant, and that the applicant wrote all drafts and the final product. In general, applicants ought not use ChatGPT or other generative artificial intelligence tools as part of their drafting process. (There is one exception to this rule, however, discussed below under "Supplemental Essays.") Applicants are nonetheless welcome to use electronic tools (like Grammarly or spellcheck), or may, similarly, ask pre-law advisors, mentors, friends, or others for basic proofreading assistance and general feedback and critiques. At the end of the day, you should feel comfortable saying "yes" if asked the question, "Is this essay your own work?"
For ease of reading, please use double-spacing and at least an 11-point font.
Personal Statement
We require a personal statement. For detailed guidance on how to approach this piece of writing, please refer to the Personal Statement page of the Attachments section. While we do not impose a page or word limit for the personal statement, we value clear and concise writing; most personal statements are between two and four pages.
Supplemental Essays
Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials, as well as to further showcase your writing skills. To that end, we provide ten different directed prompts on a variety of topics. If you think writing on any of the topics suggested would help us get a better sense of you, we encourage you to consider submitting your responses to one or two (but no more). Each essay should be between one and two pages, and should include the number of the prompt you are addressing at the top of the essay. For all but one of these prompts, our rule against using generative AI pertains; one prompt, however, is specifically designed to be used with AI tools, and if you choose to answer it, you must use generative AI.
Addenda
If there is any information in your application you wish to clarify (for example, particular grades; a history of standardized testing that under-predicts your academic performance; gaps in employment) you may submit that information in the Attachments section under Addendum. Please note that if you answer either of our conduct questions in the affirmative, you must submit a supplemental statement providing complete details. You may submit as many addenda as you need.
EARLY DECISION PROGRAM
We offer a binding Early Decision program for applicants who have considered and investigated their law school options carefully and are confident that the University of Michigan Law School is their clear first choice, regardless of financial considerations. In return for the Law School's commitment to give an Early Decision applicant a decision by December 15, applicants must restrict their law school choices and commit, at the time of application, to attend Michigan Law School if admitted. Applicants to our Early Decision program may apply to other law schools, but may not apply to any other binding early decision programs. If admitted under the Early Decision program, applicants must withdraw any existing applications to other law schools (regardless of the status of those applications), as well as not initiate any new applications. While we evaluate Early Decision candidates according to the same selection criteria that apply to all candidates, we take their clear enthusiasm for Michigan Law School into account as a positive factor in our evaluation.
Binding Early Decision programs are not appropriate for everyone, and we urge you to consider carefully before you apply. Students admitted under these programs restrict their law school choice in return for the certainty of learning an admission decision earlier than is typical. While under our Early Decision program, applicants are eligible for merit- and need-based financial grants on the same terms as every other admitted student, students for whom financial aid considerations are paramount are not well-suited for this program: Financial aid decisions are not made until later in the season, and those admitted under Early Decision will not have an opportunity to compare awards from other schools. Likewise, students who have not had an opportunity to research law schools thoroughly prior to applying may end up being dissatisfied at having restricted their choices.
Early Decision applications must be submitted by November 15. Early Decision applicants must take the LSAT no later than the October administration, and must register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service no later than October 10. The Admissions Office must receive all application components by the deadline, with the exception that the LSAC Law School Report and LSAT score may not be available until later if applicants sat for the October LSAT administration. We will automatically consider Early Decision applications that are incomplete by the deadline as part of the regular admissions process, and we will inform applicants accordingly. Early Decision applicants must indicate on the application form that they are applying for the binding program by checking the Early Decision box, as well as by signing the Early Decision certification.
Applicants admitted via Early Decision will be required to submit a $600 deposit by January 15.
REAPPLYING
If you have applied to the University of Michigan Law School in a previous admissions season and are interested in reapplying, we appreciate your continued interest and we would be pleased to receive your new application. Please be assured that your previous application does not place you at any disadvantage. You will be competing against our new pool of applicants on an equal footing. To reapply, you must submit a new application form and a $75 application fee, and must re-register or maintain your registration with CAS, even if you do not plan to retake the LSAT. If you completed further coursework since your previous application, you should have updated official transcripts sent from your college or university directly to CAS.
In addition, you must resubmit all supplemental materials (that is, essay(s), résumé, addenda) with your new application, even if the content of those documents has not changed. Thus, if you wish, you may resubmit your prior essays; we strongly suggest, however, that you consider submitting new or refreshed writing. Likewise, we encourage you to provide us with any new information you think would help us evaluate your qualifications. Finally, you are welcome to re-use your prior letters of recommendation or to submit new ones; we will review any letters that you have assigned through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service for the current admissions season.
APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES
Michigan Law does not discriminate against applicants with disabilities. Applicants who wish to should feel welcome to provide information about their disabilities (whether physical disabilities, learning disabilities, or other conditions) in the personal statement or an optional essay, or in a separate addendum. Any information an applicant chooses to provide will be used to help us understand the applicant's achievements and put them in context, as one of many factors we consider in evaluating the application. We reach out to every applicant who is admitted, regardless of whether they have disclosed a disability during the admissions process, to ensure that we provide appropriate accommodations for the Law School's academic programs as well as examinations.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY
The University of Michigan Law School, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. The University of Michigan Law School is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, military or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
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NYU essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
While the Committee on Admissions does not use interviews as part of the regular selection process, we would like to give you the opportunity to include more information about yourself than the application form conveys. Because people and their interests vary, we leave the content and length of your statement to your discretion. You may wish to bring to our attention additional information that provides an understanding of your qualifications, goals, and potential to contribute to the NYU Law community. Please clearly label your personal statement.
New York University School of Law seeks to enroll a student body from a broad spectrum of society. The Committee on Admissions encourages you to provide any information that may be helpful to us in reaching a thoughtful decision on your application. While the choice as to whether and what information to submit to the Committee is entirely yours, any information you provide will be used to give the Committee a more complete understanding of your academic, professional, and personal background; to help the Committee reach an informed decision on your application; and to aid the Committee in selecting a student body with a range of experiences.
This is an opportunity to share with the Committee information about how your background will enable you to contribute to the NYU Law community. Information that has been helpful in the past includes but is not limited to meaningful leadership experience; significant community involvement; personal/family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage or unusual circumstances which may have affected academic performance and how you exceled despite those circumstances; and skills you have developed to overcome adversity. This list is not all-inclusive, but we offer it for you to think about as you consider whether such information might be relevant in your case, and to assure you that it is quite appropriate.
As an applicant for the Tiffany and Jubin Niamehr Scholarship, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. You also must submit an additional essay (500-750 words) with the JD application. The essay should address your prior work in combatting antisemitism and your commitment to that work. At least one letter of recommendation must address your commitment to combatting antisemitism.
As an applicant for the Furman Academic Scholars Program, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1.
The Furman Academic Scholarship Committee also requires the following:
? An additional essay (up to approximately 1000 words) with the JD application that describes why you wish to pursue a career in legal academia and gives some sense of the field of legal scholarship you hope to pursue. Please include information about why NYU Law is the right place for you to pursue your legal studies.
? For this program in particular, we request that you ask individuals submitting recommendation letters on your behalf to include a few sentences about your suitability for the program.
Selections are based on the strength of a candidate's record and recommendations. At the conclusion of the selection process, some applicants will be asked to interview with faculty, students, and committee members.
For more information about the Furman Academic Scholars Program, please vis
As an applicant for the Furman Public Policy Scholarship, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. You are required to submit with the JD application an additional essay (no more than 500 words) that describes your interest in public policy, and what specific public policy areas you wish to pursue with your law school training. You are also required to submit a recommendation letter that speaks to your interest or experience in public policy.
For more information about the Furman Public Policy Scholarship, please visit: http://www.law.nyu.edu/financialaid/jdscholarships/furmanpublicpolicyscholarship
As an applicant for the Latinx Rights Scholars Program, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. You are also required to submit an additional essay (no more than 500 words) with the JD application that addresses your interest in serving the needs of Latinx communities.
For more information about the Latinx Rights Scholars Program, please visit:http://www.law.nyu.edu/financialaid/jdscholarships/latinx-rights-scholarship.
As an applicant for the Nordlicht Scholarship, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. Please indicate your specific interest in the Nordlicht Scholarship in your essay.
The Nordlicht Scholarship is administered by the Grunin Center for Law & Social Entrepreneurship ("Grunin Center"). For more information about the Grunin Center, please visit: http://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/grunin-social-entrepreneurship.
As an applicant for the Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1.
Applicants to the Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship automatically are considered for the Lindemann Family Public Service Scholarship; Jacobson Public Service Scholarship for Women, Children and Families; Filomen M. D'Agostino Scholarship for Women or Children's Rights; and Filomen M. D'Agostino Scholarship in Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and Criminal Justice. Applicants who wish to be considered for the Sinsheimer Service Scholarship must indicate their interest in the scholarship on their application.
All Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship applicants must submit a short public service essay not to exceed 500 words. Discuss your public service commitment and goals, and the factors that have most significantly influenced them, or any other aspects you consider relevant to your qualification for the scholarship(s). At least one letter of recommendation must address your public service commitment.
For more information about the Root-Tilden-Kern Program, please visit: http://www.law.nyu.edu/financialaid/jdscholarships/rootscholarship.
As an applicant for the Jacobson Leadership Program in Law and Business Scholarship, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. Please indicate your specific scholarship interest(s) in your essay. In addition, you must submit an additional essay (no more than 500 words) with the JD application addressing your interest in the area of law and business.
For more information about the Jacobson Leadership Program in Law and Business, please visit: http://www.law.nyu.edu/leadershipprogram.
As an applicant for the Cybersecurity Service Scholarship, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. You are required to submit, as an addendum to the JD application, a statement (no more than 500 words) that describes your interest in cybersecurity and in public service. You are also required to submit at least two references that may be contacted during the interview process.
As an applicant for the AnBryce Scholarship, you are strongly encouraged to submit your JD application and have a complete CAS report to be requested by our office by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. You also must submit an additional essay (500-750 words) with the JD application. The essay should address how you have embodied the attributes of an AnBryce Scholar in overcoming personal obstacles, how your legal education will enable you to promote the ideals underlying the program in your career, and the circumstances surrounding any challenges you have encountered in your life that qualify you to receive this scholarship.
For more information about the AnBryce Scholarship Program, please visit: http://www.law.nyu.edu/financialaid/jdscholarships/anbryce
JD ADMISSIONS INFORMATION AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS - NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Dear Applicant:
We are genuinely pleased that you have chosen to apply to the New York University School of Law. We know that applying to law school can be a challenge. We understand the limitations involved when describing oneself in writing and the effort the application process requires.
You can be confident that your efforts are worthwhile. In a highly selective admissions process such as ours, many factors can influence the eventual decision on each application. We encourage you to include whatever information you think we need to reach a thoughtful decision in your case.
We encourage you to consider participating in one of our many events designed to help you engage directly with members of our community and to learn more about the Law School. Applicants who participate in these events generally come to a better understanding of the Law School's atmosphere, intellectual climate, student-faculty interaction, and all of the other intangible elements that are so important in your decision as to which law school to attend.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Sincerely,
Cassandra T. Williams
Assistant Dean for Admissions
GENERAL INFORMATION AND STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION
NYU Law strives to ensure that the students in each incoming class bring with them a diversity of experiences. All individuals, regardless of background, are encouraged to apply.
All applicants must be at least eighteen years old and hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its international equivalent to be eligible to enroll in the Juris Doctor (JD) program. Students matriculate in the fall semester on a full-time basis only.
When to Apply--Admission 2026
Early Decision (Binding)
File and complete application by November 15
Notification by late December
If you wish to be considered for Early Decision admission, your application, Early Decision Contract, and all supporting materials, must be complete by November 15. Applicants who wish to be considered for Early Decision admission must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October 2025.
Applicants who apply for Early Decision but do not meet the Early Decision deadline will automatically have their applications considered for regular admission.
Admission during Early Decision is binding on applicants. You must indicate your intention to apply for Early Decision on your application, and you must submit the Early Decision Contract which is a separate form. You may not apply for another binding early decision program. If admitted, you must commit to enroll at NYU School of Law and immediately withdraw all applications at other law schools regardless of your status. Failure to honor these commitments will result in New York University School of Law revoking its offer of admission. As an Early Decision applicant, you will be informed by early January whether your application has been accepted, denied, or held for further review. If your application is held, it will be considered again in the Regular Decision cycle.
Regular Decision
File and complete application by February 15
Notification by the end of April
Applicants who complete applications by February 15 will receive decisions - admit, deny, or waitlist - by the end of April. Your LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report must be complete and ready to be requested by our office no later than February 15.
If your application is not complete by February 15, we cannot guarantee a decision by a particular date.
Applicants who wish to be considered for Early Decision admission must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October 2025. All other applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than January 2026. The oldest LSAT score we will accept is from the June 2020 LSAT administration.
Final decisions for some of those placed on the waitlist may not be made until late summer.
Applicants who wish to be considered for the AnBryce Scholarship, Cybersecurity Service Scholarship, Furman Academic Scholarship, Furman Public Policy Scholarship, Latinx Rights Scholarship, Leadership Program in Law & Business Scholarship, Nordlicht Family Scholarship in Law and Social Entrepreneurship, and/or the Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarship Program are strongly encouraged to submit their JD application by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to have a complete CAS report ready to be requested by the admissions office by December 1, and no later than January 1. Applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 2025.
Standards for Admission
The admission process is highly selective and seeks to enroll individuals of exceptional ability.
The majority of applicants present credentials that suggest they would succeed academically. The Committee on Admissions selects those candidates it considers to have the very strongest combination of qualifications and the very greatest potential to contribute to the NYU School of Law community and the legal profession. The Committee bases its decisions on factors including, but not limited to: intellectual potential, academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, character, community involvement, and work experience. In selecting the class, the Committee on Admissions considers a candidate's ability to contribute to the classroom such that a range of perspectives are represented.
An applicant's undergraduate record and standardized test score(s), though important criteria, are not the sole determinants for admission. There are no combinations of grades and scores that assure admission or denial.
The Committee on Admissions makes decisions after considering all the information in an application. It reviews the undergraduate transcript closely, with attention to such factors as trends in the applicant's grades, class rank, the ratio of pass/fail to graded courses, the diversity and depth of course work, and the length of time since graduation. Factors other than undergraduate grades and standardized test scores may be particularly significant for applicants who have experienced educational or socioeconomic disadvantage. The Committee evaluates work experience and extracurricular and community activity for evidence of advancement, leadership, and capacity for assuming responsibility. A recommendation letter is particularly valuable when the writer provides substantive information about the applicant's abilities, activities, and personal qualities. Since the Committee does not interview candidates as part of its initial review, the personal statement provides an opportunity for the applicant to supplement the information provided in the application.
The Law School endeavors to foster an equitable and inclusive environment, and we are committed to bringing together students whose personal development align with the mission of our institution. We expect students, faculty, and staff to abide by community norms that embody this goal. Our holistic admissions review process allows us to select and enroll students who will positively enhance the vibrant community at NYU. We expect students to comply with all applicable rules, policies, and procedures of NYU, including but not limited to those set forth in the NYU Student Conduct Policy and Process as well as the community standards and general code of conduct found in Law School's Academic Policies Guide.
Timing of Decisions
A holistic approach to the review of applications requires an extraordinary amount of care, and thus a significant amount of time. There is no way to predict an exact date on which a candidate will receive a decision.
Candidates who apply under the binding Early Decision option (deadline November 15) will be notified (admit, deny, or hold) by early January.
Candidates who apply by our regular February 15 deadline will be notified by the end of April. Candidates may hear sooner than the end of April, but we cannot make such a guarantee.
The Committee on Admissions recognizes that some law schools have deposit deadlines as early as April 1 and will ask a candidate for a commitment before that candidate receives a decision from NYU School of Law. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to accelerate our process in these circumstances.
Rolling Notification, Not Rolling Admission
Applications are sent to the Committee on Admissions in the order in which they are completed, but decisions are not necessarily made in the order in which applications are first reviewed. Some applicants may receive a decision fairly quickly based on the overall and relative strength of the application.
In an applicant pool of over 10,500 applications, many candidates present strong qualifications. The Law School's admission process is both objective and comparative. The Committee follows an ongoing process of reviewing and rereviewing the vast majority of the applicant pool. Most candidates' applications require significant comparison with the applicant pool as a whole before a final decision can be reached. For many candidates, the Committee is not able to reach a decision until they have a clear picture of that year's entire applicant pool. As a result, many applicants will be placed on our Active Consideration List and will be reviewed again later in the spring. Applicants who are placed on Active Consideration will receive an email informing them of their application status.
As long as candidates take the LSAT or GRE by January and meet the February 15 deadline, they will be given full and complete consideration and will be at no competitive disadvantage in the admission process.
PARTS OF THE APPLICATION
Note: Please DO NOT send duplicate materials to NYU School of Law.
(1) Application Form
Please follow the directions carefully and include the requested information in the spaces provided. You may also upload various attachments to your application as outlined in the attachment section of the application. If any one of the attachments outlined does not apply to you, check the box within each section that states "this does not apply to me." Please do not submit attachments in lieu of completing the requested information in each section of the application. Label clearly all attachments at the top or header of the attachment.
Please note that the race and ethnicity data collected in questions 5-8 of the Additional Biographical section of the application form is not provided to admissions committee members for use in the application-selection process. This data is collected for alternative purposes including but not limited to government and accreditation reporting requirements.
(2) Standardized Test Score(s) and CAS Report
All applicants for admission to the JD program are required to take either the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the GRE. Scores for both exams are valid for five years. LSAC will send all valid LSAT scores to NYU regardless of whether an applicant submits a GRE score. Applicants who have both an LSAT and GRE score are not required to submit their GRE score.
All applicants are required to register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). After your application is received electronically, a request for your CAS report from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is automatically generated. The CAS report summarizes your undergraduate academic work and includes copies of your transcripts. If you have taken the LSAT, your LSAT score(s) and your LSAT writing sample(s) will be included in the CAS report. The LSAT writing sample is required for all applicants who submit a LSAT. GRE scores must be sent to NYU Law directly from ETS. The law school code for NYU School of Law for both LSAC and ETS is 2599.
(3) Recommendation Forms
Two recommendations are required to complete your application.
The Committee on Admissions requires the use of the LSAC Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service. Please DO NOT submit duplicate letters directly to NYU School of Law.
Note: The Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship; the Lindemann Family Public Service Scholarship; the Jacobson Public Service Scholarship for Women, Children, and Families; the Sinsheimer Service Scholarship; the Filomen M. D'Agostino Scholarship for Women and Children; and the Filomen M. D'Agostino Scholarship for Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and Criminal Justice applications require at least one recommendation that addresses the applicant's commitment to public service (see Scholarship section for details). The Tiffany and Jubin Niamehr Scholarship requires one letter of recommendation that addresses the applicant's commitment to combatting antisemitism.
(4) Application Fee or Waiver
When you transmit your application electronically, the fee, payable by credit card only, is $85. The application fee is not applied to tuition and is not refundable.
Applicants who have received an LSAC-approved LSAT or Credential Assembly Service fee waiver will have their NYU School of Law $85 application fee automatically waived.
Applicants who are alumni of Teach for America or the Peace Corps are eligible for an $85 application fee waiver. To qualify, applicants must have completed their 2-year commitment to Teach for America or the Peace Corps by the start of the fall semester. Further, Teach for America alumni must have completed TFA's pre-corps training institute and served as a teacher for two years in a low-income community through their Teach for America placement. Applicants who have completed less than 2 years by the start of law school or those who are just entering Teach for America or the Peace Corps are not eligible.
Applicants who were awarded the Truman Scholarship from the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation are eligible for a fee waiver for the NYU Law JD application.
The application fee will be waived for current NYU undergraduate students and individuals who have received an undergraduate degree from NYU.
The application fee also will be waived for those who have served or are serving in the United States military. (Participation in a foreign country's military does not qualify an applicant for a fee waiver from NYU School of Law.)
Teach for America, Peace Corps, Truman Scholarship, NYU undergraduate students/alumni, and US military participants should send their request for a fee waiver to law.moreinfo@nyu.edu. Applicants must have an account with the LSAC. To request an application fee waiver, please include your L number, a verification letter, and the basis for the waiver (Teach for America, Peace Corps, NYU undergraduate student/alumnus, or US military service).
(5) Personal Statement
While the Committee on Admissions does not use interviews as part of the regular selection process, we would like to give you the opportunity to include more information about yourself than the application form conveys. Because people and their interests vary, we leave the content and length of your statement to your discretion. You may wish to bring to our attention additional information that provides an understanding of your qualifications, goals, and potential to contribute to the NYU Law community.
(6) Resume
A resume is required to complete your application.
(7) Supplying Additional Information
New York University School of Law seeks to enroll a student body from a broad spectrum of society. The Committee on Admissions encourages you to provide any information that may be helpful to us in reaching a thoughtful decision on your application. While the choice as to whether and what information to submit to the Committee is entirely yours, any information you provide will be used to give the Committee a more complete understanding of your academic, professional, and personal background; to help the Committee reach an informed decision on your application; and to aid the Committee in selecting a student body with a range of experiences.
This is an opportunity to share with the Committee information about how your background will enable you to contribute to the NYU Law community. Information that has been helpful in the past includes, but is not limited to, meaningful leadership experience; significant community involvement; personal/family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage or unusual circumstances which may have affected academic performance and how you exceled despite those circumstances; and skills you have developed to overcome adversity. This list is not all-inclusive, but we offer it for you to think about as you consider whether such information might be relevant in your case, and to assure you that it is quite appropriate.
If you choose to provide additional information, please upload this information in the attachment section of the application and clearly identify your submission accordingly.
When you receive additional grades (such as first semester of senior year grades), you are required to submit an updated transcript to LSAC, which will, in turn, send us an updated CAS report.
Any information you submit, including material sent after your application is complete, will be considered by the Committee on Admissions if received before a final decision is reached on your application.
In completing this application, be sure that your statements are accurate, you answer all questions in the Character and Fitness section of the application, and you electronically certify the application by completing the Certification section of the application. Omission or misrepresentation may result in denial of admission, the rescinding of an offer of admission, dismissal from the Law School, or revoking any NYU School of Law degrees granted. Omission or misrepresentation also may result in notification of LSAC's Subcommittee on Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process. The Law School may seek to verify any information submitted by contacting recommenders, employers, or school officials.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Questions or Concerns
We will try to notify you if any of the material necessary to complete your application has not been received by the Office of Admissions, and we will try to keep you informed about the status of your application. Please understand that it takes some time for the Committee to give each application thorough consideration.
Please note that we have an online status check function available for all applicants accessible at http://www.law.nyu.edu/jdadmissions.
Please keep a copy of your application and your personal statement. We will not return or give you copies of any part of your application or supporting material, nor will we forward any part of your application or supporting material to a third party.
The Office of Admissions does not release any information about an applicant's status to anyone except the applicant. This policy helps to protect the confidentiality of every applicant.
If an applicant is admitted to the Law School, the applicant's contact information, including email and phone number, will be shared with NYU community members such as Law School faculty, alumni, administrators, students, and student organizations, to facilitate the exchange of information about NYU Law. Applicants who do not wish their contact information to be shared with members of the NYU Law community should contact the Office of JD Admissions at law.moreinfo@nyu.edu.
Application materials and all supporting documents submitted in connection with an application for admitted students who enroll at New York University School of Law become part of the student's record and are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
For applicants in the European Union please see the Data Privacy Notice for Prospective Students in the E.U.
REAPPLICATION TO THE JD PROGRAM
To reapply you must:
- Complete the fall 2026 application (including a personal statement and two letters of recommendation).
- Pay the $85 application fee or submit a valid fee waiver.
- Register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) provides its service to applicants for five years requiring a $45 per report fee to have the CAS report sent to NYU School of Law. For more information, contact LSAC.org.
- Send updated transcripts to LSAC for all academic work - undergraduate, graduate, and/or professional - undertaken since your last application.
- All reapplicants to the JD program are required to take either the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the GRE. LSAC will send all valid LSAT scores to NYU regardless of whether an applicant submits a GRE score. Applicants who have both an LSAT and GRE score are not required to submit their GRE score. GRE scores must be sent directly to NYU from ETS. The school code for NYU School of Law is 2599.
INTERNATIONALLY-EDUCATED APPLICANTS
International transcripts must be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for the evaluation of international transcripts if:
- All post-secondary work was completed outside of the US (including its territories) or Canada, OR
- An applicant was directly enrolled at an institution located outside of the US (including its territories) or Canada and the total amount of work completed at all such institutions combined is the equivalent of more than one year of post-secondary study in the US (including its territories) or Canada. Please note that if an applicant has completed one year or less of post-secondary study at an institution located outside of the US (including its territories) or Canada, and the work was not completed through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution where the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript, then the applicant may have an official copy of that transcript sent directly to NYU School of Law, Office of JD Admissions, at law.moreinfo@nyu.edu or at 139 MacDougal Street, New York, New York 10012.
Please visit LSAC.org for details.
ADVANCED STANDING APPLICANTS
If you wish to apply for admission with advanced standing after having completed at least one year in another ABA accredited law school, you may apply online for transfer or third-year visiting/nonmatriculated admission. DO NOT complete this application.
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
Admission decisions are made without regard to an applicant's financial resources, and financial aid applications are reviewed only for students who have been admitted.
Similarly, applicants are reviewed for all scholarship programs only after being admitted. Applicants should follow the application procedures described below in order to be considered for scholarships. Admitted students must complete the NYU Law Financial Aid Application in order to be considered for any Law School scholarship including merit-based and need-based scholarships and/or to apply for some loan programs.
All applicants for financial aid should file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as early in the year as possible. The Title IV (FAFSA) code number for NYU is 002785.
DEAN'S SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, in addition to the scholarship programs listed in the scholarship section of the application, Dean's Scholarship Awards, which are grants in amounts up to full tuition, are awarded to students on the basis of outstanding academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, prior community engagement, and/or financial need. The majority of our scholarships are Dean's awards.
All students admitted to NYU School of Law are considered for Dean's Scholarships through the financial aid process. Admitted students must complete the NYU Law Financial Aid Application in order to be considered for Dean's Scholarships.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
NYU offers a variety of scholarships in amounts up to full tuition. Offering more than financial support, they provide fully integrated academic and professional programs. If you wish to apply for the AnBryce Scholarship, the Cybersecurity Service Scholarship, the Furman Academic Scholars Program, the Furman Public Policy Scholarship, the Latinx Rights Scholarship, the Leadership Program in Law and Business, the Nordlicht Family Scholarship in Law and Social Entrepreneurship, or the Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarship Program, you are required to complete the scholarship section of the application.
Applicants who wish to be considered for any of the programmatic scholarships are strongly encouraged to submit their JD application by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. Applicants for the programmatic scholarships are strongly encouraged to have a complete CAS report ready to be requested by the admissions office by December 1, and no later than January 1.
Please note that each of these scholarship programs requires that you submit additional information including, for example, an additional essay or letter of recommendation. All applicants to scholarship programs must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 2025. For detailed information on the application requirements for each of the scholarship programs listed, please visit http://www.law.nyu.edu/financialaid/jdscholarships.
NONDISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY
New York University is committed to maintaining an environment that encourages and fosters appropriate conduct among all persons and respect for individual values. Accordingly, the University is committed to enforcing its Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedures at all levels in order to create an environment free from discrimination, harassment, retaliation and/or sexual assault. Discrimination or harassment based on race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or on any other legally prohibited basis is unlawful and undermines the character and purpose of the University. Such discrimination or harassment violates University policy and will not be tolerated.
The information, policies, and academic and scholarship programs described in this publication may be subject to change.
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Columbia
Feb 15, 2026
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Columbia essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Candidates to Columbia Law School are required to submit a personal statement supplementing required application materials. We are curious about your interests, goals, and aspirations and how the J.D. program at Columbia can help you achieve these. You are encouraged to think about the contributions you hope to make to both the Columbia community and the legal profession while considering your personal, intellectual, and professional background and any relevant information that you may not have conveyed through your other application materials. Please note that the personal statement should be double-spaced and approximately two pages in length.
Optional Supplementary Statements. Please note that these questions are completely optional and if an applicant chooses not to submit a response to any of these questions, it will not have an impact on their admissions decision. Applicants should choose no more than one supplemental statement, which should be no longer than 500 words double-spaced. Kindly note that supplemental statement may be shorter than 500 words.
- A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s collaborative community.
- Describe a time when you engaged with someone whose beliefs or experiences differed from your own. What did you learn, and how did it shape your perspective?
- We recognize that many applicants have faced adversity in myriad ways and to varying extents throughout their lives. Tell us about an example of adversity or a challenging circumstance in your own life and describe how you overcame it and how that experience has shaped your life and your own perspective.
- Columbia Law School aims to prepare its students to be advocates as well as effective leaders. Tell us about an example of leadership in your own life whether in an educational, professional, or personal setting and how those leadership skills and qualities would contribute to your legal education and the profession.
- Columbia Law School’s mandatory pro bono program requires that every student devote at least 40 hours to public interest law service during their time in law school. Tell us about your own commitment to public service and describe how volunteer work, advocacy, community service, pro bono work, and/or extra-curricular activities have shaped who you are today and how you want to continue serving the public good during law school.
- Tell us why you are applying to Columbia Law School and how the Law School’s programs, faculty, curricular and extra-curricular offerings, location, and/or community would be a good fit for your legal education given your own academic, professional, or personal goals.
Candidates may add additional brief statements they believe will enable the Admissions Committee to make a fully informed decision on the application. Should you have multiple addenda, please combine (on separate pages, if necessary) these into one document and upload in the attachments section.
Optional:
- In the space below, feel free to share any “fun facts” about yourself (hobbies, interests, special talents, and accomplishments, etc.) that the Admissions Committee may not be able to glean otherwise from your application. Please note that whether you choose to answer the question or not, there will be no impact on your admission decision.
- In the space below, please list any languages with which you are familiar and the corresponding level of fluency (intermediate, professional, fluent, native, etc.).
- Please select your two top areas of interest. The information in this section will not be used for the purpose of determining admission to the Law School. To the extent possible, the information will be used to connect admitted students with members of the community who share similar interest; however, the question is optional.
Applicants must submit a résumé, detailing significant full- or part-time
employment positions they have held. This may include internships,
summer employment, and community service. In addition, the résumé
should include a summary of written scholarship, presentations,
principal extracurricular activities, and any honors or awards received.
It must be electronically submitted at the time of the initial application.
Applicants may submit résumés longer than one page in length but
should exercise discretion when determining résumé length.
If you answer “Yes” to questions 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, or 9.6 in the “Character and Fitness” section, you must attach a detailed, complete, and truthful written explanation in the “Attachments” section of the application. Please answer honestly, irrespective of any advice you may have received to the contrary. Should you have questions about whether or not to report an infraction, you are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions for clarification. If you answer “Yes” to question 9.1 and/or 9.2, please have the dean or administrative officer in charge of student records forward a detailed explanation of the incident to the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions at deanscerts@law.columbia.edu. Please read the application instructions for additional information.
Have you ever been on academic probation or subjected to disciplinary action for scholastic or other reasons by any college, university, graduate school, or professional school you have attended? This should include matters that have been expunged. In addition to attaching a written explanation in the “Attachments” section of the application, kindly have the Dean or administrative officer in charge of student records forward a detailed explanation of the incident.
Are there any disciplinary charges pending or expected to be brought against you? In addition to attaching a written explanation in the “Attachments” section of the application, kindly have the Dean or administrative officer in charge of student records forward a detailed explanation of the incident.
Have you ever been cited, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except minor parking violations? Please note that you should have available and be prepared to submit or exhibit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question. You may answer “no” if your record has been expunged or sealed; if your conviction was vacated; if you were the subject of a juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding; or if you have received a pardon. If you answered “yes,” you must attach a detailed, complete, and truthful explanation, including a statement of the charge(s), the disposition thereof and the underlying facts. Please answer honestly, irrespective of any advice you may have received to the contrary.
Are there any criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you?
Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action by a professional organization, e.g., an employer, certifying agency, or accreditation board?
Will you be enrolled in an undergraduate program on or after August 1, 2026?
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
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Feb 15, 2026
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Northwestern essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and distinguish yourself from other applicants.You may discuss, among other topics, your personal or professional goals, or personal, academic, or career history. Please do not send revisions to your personal statement after you have submitted your application. Please type your name and LSAC account number on the top of each page. The statement should be electronically attached.
Optional Supplemental Essays
Responding to the following questions is entirely optional and should not be viewed as required. You may include responses to as many of the four optional essays as you wish or none at all. These are intended to give you an opportunity to provide additional information that you were unable to include in other portions of the application. Please limit your response to each essay that you complete to 1-2 pages, double-spaced, and at least an 11-point font.
- Describe your interest in attending Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
- Describe any experiences in your life or unique qualities you think would benefit Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and/or your classmates. (Relevant information may include but is not limited to financial hardship, educational adversity, special talents, work or community service experience, first generation or immigrant experience, an unusual rural or urban upbringing, foreign residence, military background, or unique family and/or personal circumstance.)
- What does public service mean to you and how do you see yourself engaging in public service or pro-bono work to meet the needs of the underserved?
- Did you face any particular challenges we should know about when considering your academic history or test scores?
If you have any additional information you would like to share with the Admissions Committee, you can electronically attach your addendum here.
Please submit a copy of your current résumé. The résumé should be electronically attached.
- Have you ever been suspended, expelled, placed on probation, or otherwise disciplined by any college or university for academic or other reasons?
(If yes, explain on a separate sheet or electronic attachment.)
- Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except minor parking or traffic violations, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding? (If yes, explain on a separate sheet or electronic attachment.)
Please note that although a matter may have been expunged from the records by an order of a court, it nevertheless should be disclosed in the answer to this question. Also, you should have available and be prepared to submit or exhibit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Information about the requirements for admission to the bars of various states is available from the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610, website www.abanet.org.
If you answered "yes" to any of the character and fitness questions, please attach your documentation/explanation(s).
All applicants have the option of including an evaluative interview with their application. All interviews are conducted online. Interviews provide the Admissions Committee with additional information about your interpersonal skills, maturity, and motivation. Interviews also provide you with the opportunity to learn more about the Law School.
To request an online interview, you must first submit your application for admission and indicate your desire to complete an online interview. Within 5-7 business days of submitting your application, you will receive an acknowledgement of your interview request and a link to the online video portal where you will register and complete your online interview. Online interviews can be conducted at any time of the day and can be completed in approximately thirty minutes.
One letter of recommendation is required. The letter should be completed by someone who may evaluate your professional performance (e.g., current or former supervisor, client, or co-worker) or your academic performance (e.g., college professor).
Please note that because only one recommendation is required, your file will become complete once we have received the first letter. The Office of Admissions will not hold your file for pending recommendations. You Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report will not be transmitted to Northwestern Law until at least one letter of recommendation has been received and processed by LSAC.
Northwestern Law JD Application Instructions
To be eligible for admission to the Juris Doctor program at Northwestern Law, you must have a bachelor?s degree from an accredited college or university, or have completed the equivalent of six semesters and expect to graduate during the current academic year.
In recent years, the Admissions Committee has selected the members of the first-year class from approximately 8,000 applicants. Decisions are based on a number of factors, including academic records, personal essays, recommendation letters, standardized test results, interviews, work experience, extracurricular activities, leadership, and personal circumstances.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Application Materials
A completed application to Northwestern Law consists of:
- The following Application for Admission form
- A personal statement (electronically attached to your Application for Admission)
- One letter of recommendation
- LSAT and/or GRE results
- The Credential Assembly Service Law School Report, which includes your LSAT results and previous transcripts (sent to us electronically, if you have registered with LSAC)
- A current résumé (electronically attached to your Application for Admission)
- A nonrefundable $75 application fee (payable by credit card electronically)
Additionally, the following items are optional:
- An evaluative interview. Please note that the Admissions Committee occasionally invites candidates to interview who previously had not requested one in order to obtain additional information prior to rendering a decision.
- Optional essay(s) (electronically attached to your Application for Admission)
The various parts of the completed application may be sent to the Law School before the Application for Admission itself. Any supplementary materials submitted with the Application for Admission must clearly list your name and LSAC account number on each page. Although your Social Security number is requested to assist in the accurate assembly of your file, you are not required to supply that number.
Application Updates
Although the Office of Admissions seeks to keep you informed of the status of your application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all parts of your application are received before the deadline. You can check the status of your application via a website that will be emailed to you after receipt of your application. To receive this email, you must apply with a valid email address.
Applicants will be notified of their decisions electronically. Decisions will not be sent via U.S. mail, nor will decisions be provided over the phone.
How to Apply for Admission
We require that all applicants complete their application to Northwestern Law via the LSAC Credential Assembly Service electronic application.
If you have difficulty with the electronic application or lack access to a computer, we will email you a PDF copy of the application or fax you a paper version. Please contact the Office of Admissions at (312) 503-8465 or admissions@law.northwestern.edu.
Personal Statement
The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and distinguish yourself from other applicants. You may discuss, among other topics, your personal or professional goals, or personal, academic, or career history. Please do not send revisions to your personal statement after you have submitted your application.
Letter of Recommendation
One letter of recommendation is required. The letter should be completed by someone who may evaluate your professional performance (e.g., current or former supervisor, client, or co-worker) or your academic performance (e.g., college professor).
Please note that because only one recommendation is required, your file will become complete once we have received the first letter. The Office of Admissions will not hold your file for pending recommendations. You Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report will not be transmitted to Northwestern Law until at least one letter of recommendation has been received and processed by LSAC.
Credential Assembly Service Law School Report
The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report contains a summary of each applicant?s academic work and LSAT results. It also includes copies of college transcripts.
You are encouraged to register for CAS in early fall. Please ask your college registrars to mail transcripts to LSAC as soon as they become available. Although LSAC attempts to inform each applicant about the receipt of transcripts, you are responsible for following up with LSAC.
If you received your undergraduate degree from an educational institution outside the United States, its territories, and Canada, you are required to register with CAS and have your transcripts and any other required documentation sent to LSAC for processing. LSAC will then forward your complete CAS report to the Law School.
Standardized Test Scores
Applicants must take either the LSAT or the GRE and submit valid test result(s) as part of their application for admission. The Law School will accept LSAT or GRE scores up to five years after the test date. If you take either test more than once, we will use your highest score(s) when evaluating your file.
LSAT test results are sent directly to the Law School from LSAC as part of your CAS report. Therefore, if you have taken the LSAT and have a valid reported score on file, it cannot be waived from your application. Applicants may register for the LSAT through the LSAC website.
Applicants applying with a GRE may submit their GRE test result(s) in lieu of or in conjunction with LSAT test result(s) for the Admissions Committee to consider. If you elect to submit your GRE scores for consideration and have taken the GRE more than once in the last five years then you must submit all valid GRE test results. GRE test results are sent directly to the Law School from ETS. Northwestern Law's GRE school code is 2579.
To be sure that your application is completed on time, you should take either test no later than November 2025 if you are applying early decision or no later than February 2026 if you are applying regular decision. Although later test results are accepted, waiting for these results may delay review of your application.
Additional information can be found on our website, http://www.law.northwestern.edu/admissions/faq/faqjd.html#TEST.
Optional Essay
Responding to these questions is entirely optional and should not be viewed as required. You may include responses to as many of the four optional essays as you wish or none at all. These are intended to give you an opportunity to provide additional information that you were unable to include in other portions of the application. Please limit your response to each essay that you complete to 1-2 pages, double-spaced, and at least an 11-point font.
Online Video Interviews
All applicants have the option of including an evaluative interview with their application. All interviews are conducted online. Interviews provide the Admissions Committee with additional information about your interpersonal skills, maturity, and motivation. Interviews also provide you with the opportunity to learn more about the Law School.
To request an online interview, you must first submit your application for admission and indicate your desire to complete an online interview. Within 5-7 business days of submitting your application, you will receive an acknowledgement of your interview request and a link to the online video portal where you will register and complete your online interview. Online interviews can be conducted at any time of the day and can be completed in approximately thirty minutes.
Application Filing Period
Applications for Admission are accepted from September 1 to February 15, and are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in November. Applicants should complete the application process as early as possible, as an early application often yields an early decision. If your materials are received by the February 15 deadline, you will be notified of your decision by the end of May.
The Law School may exclude from consideration any application submitted after February 15 or any application that is incomplete on that date. Applications are considered only for the current year and for full-time registration. There is no evening program or mid-year entry.
Early Decision Program
Applicants who have thoroughly researched their law school options and have identified Northwestern Pritzker School of Law as their first choice law school may wish to apply through the Early Decision program. Applicants admitted through the Early Decision program receive a $45,000 annual scholarship.
Northwestern Law?s Early Decision program is binding. If admitted through the Early Decision program, you must commit to matriculating at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and submit a nonrefundable $750 seat deposit by the date indicated in your admission letter. You must also withdraw all of your applications to other schools and refrain from initiating any new applications. You may not be an Early Decision candidate at more than one law school.
To be considered for the Early Decision program, your application must be complete by November 1, including your Credential Assembly Service Law School Report. Accordingly, it is in your best interest to submit your application prior to November 1 to ensure all materials are received in time and to allow time for you to complete the required online video interview. The last acceptable LSAT score is from the November 2025 LSAT administration.
Early Decision applicants must have at least one valid LSAT or GRE test result(s).
An online video interview is required for all Early Decision candidates. Your online video interview must be completed by November 1.
Finally, you must sign and return the Early Decision Certification (Supplemental Application) directly to the Office of Admissions with your Application for Admission. Your Early Decision Certification will not be transmitted by the Credential Assembly Service.
The Early Decision deadline is November 1, 2025 for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. Early Decision candidates will be notified of their decisions by the end of December.
Application Fees and Deposits
The Law School charges the following nonrefundable fees:
Table 2
Reapplicants
Although the Office of Admissions maintains applications for two years, the Admissions Committee requires reapplicants to submit a full application, including an updated personal statement. The updated application will enable the re-applicant to adequately present information that has changed since the original application.
Foreign-Educated Applicants
A separate test of English proficiency is not required for admission into the JD program.
JD-MBA Program
The Law School and Northwestern?s Kellogg School of Management offer a combined JD-MBA program. The joint program enables you to complete both degrees in three years instead of five.
All applicants must submit a single online application, which is available here. Please refer to the application for deadlines.
An evaluative interview must be arranged with a member of Kellogg?s admissions staff or a Kellogg alumni representative. The admissions officers at Kellogg and the Law School jointly evaluate all applications.
Both degrees are conferred upon completion of 16 managerial courses, including all core courses, and a minimum of 73 semester hours of Law School coursework.
JD-PhD Program
The Law School and Northwestern?s Graduate School offer a combined JD-PhD program. The JD-PhD program allows students to earn a law degree and a doctorate in approximately six years. Applicants may select a doctoral program in any discipline, provided they can incorporate their interest in legal studies with their graduate research. Furthermore, JD-PhD candidates must complete a dissertation that integrates both disciplines.
In addition to any tests required by The Graduate School, JD-PhD applicants can satisfy the Law Schools's admission test requirement by submitting either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or both. Additional information about the JD-PhD application is available here.
The primary objective of the JD-PhD program is to produce scholars who have the skills necessary to conduct basic and applied research in legal systems. Graduates qualify for admission to the bar.
Financial Aid Checklist
To be considered for scholarships and federal and/or private educational loans, you must submit:
- A Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- A university required application, available January 1
Northwestern offers a comprehensive financial aid program designed to enable any admitted student to attend the Law School, regardless of financial need. To that end, all scholarships are awarded on a combined basis of need and merit.
Applying for financial aid is separate from the admissions process, and financial aid information has no bearing on admissions decisions.
Financial Aid for International Students
International students do not need to file a FAFSA, as they are not eligible to receive federal loans. However, they may be eligible for scholarships and private educational loans.
To be considered for scholarships, you must submit:
- A university required application, available January 1
To be considered for private educational loans, you must submit:
- A university required application, available January 1
Please include the conversion rate of foreign currency into U.S. dollars. Tax returns in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified translation.
Northwestern University Nondiscrimination Statement
Northwestern prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship status, military status, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health decision making, height, weight, or any other classification protected by law (referred to as ?protected classes?) in the educational programs or activities Northwestern operates, including but not limited to matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services. Prohibited discrimination based on sex includes sexual misconduct, including but not limited to, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, and dating or domestic violence. Such conduct violates Northwestern?s values and disrupts the living, learning, and working environment for students, faculty, staff, and other community members.
Northwestern
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UCLA
Jan 30, 2026
ED: -
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$75.00
2 to 2
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UCLA essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Please upload a separate essay not to exceed two double-spaced typed pages, and no less than 11-point font. In this essay, you may discuss any matters relevant to your ability to succeed in law school and the practice of law and any attributes, experiences, challenges or interests that would enable you to make a distinctive contribution to the law school and/or the legal profession.
Please share any information about adversity or challenge that you would like us to consider about your personal life experiences. This may include socio-economic challenges; educational challenges; health issues; disability; immigration status; surviving abuse; or complex family circumstances like an incarcerated parent, homelessness, living in foster care, or others. This is not an inclusive list, but simply an opportunity, if you wish, to share any additional aspects of your background that may give us a deeper sense of your strengths and who you are.
If you believe you can make a distinctive contribution to a specific UCLA School of Law Specialization, Academic Program, Joint Degree, Law Review/Journal, Institute or research in a particular subject area (as described on the website: www.law.ucla.edu), please identify one such specific area and explain your prior academic training, work, or extracurricular activities that enable you to make that distinctive contribution.
If applicable, please describe any circumstances that negatively affected the extent to which your academic record or standardized test score(s) reflect your ability to succeed in law school: (maximum characters 999)
If there is additional information you would like to include in your application, please attach an addendum. You may attach more than one addendum to your application.
Please provide a current résumé.
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Are there any misdemeanor, felony, or other criminal charges pending against you?
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Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony (or the equivalent in a juvenile court)? This includes sealed convictions and all convictions where you entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. You need not report traffic violations unless conviction for the violation(s) would constitute a misdemeanor or a felony.
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Have you ever been subject to a warning, dismissal, suspension, probation, or other disciplinary or academic sanction by any college, university, professional school, or professional association?
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Has your college, university, or professional school attendance been interrupted for one or more terms for any reason?
UCLA
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Berkeley
Feb 17, 2026
ED: -
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Berkeley essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
You are required to submit a personal statement as part of your application. It should be limited to four double-spaced pages in 11-point font that is highly legible and with 1 inch margins. Three pages is recommended.
The subject matter of the personal statement is up to you, but keep in mind that the reviewer will be focused on determining your potential to be a successful law student and graduate of Berkeley Law. Specifically, we are interested in how your personal background/lived experience shapes, informs and enhances that potential. Each year we seek to enroll a class with varied backgrounds and interests who will ultimately become advocates serving all segments of society. The main objective, always, should be to share the things you think are most important for us to know about you (beyond the purely academic and professional) when assessing your candidacy. No topic is off-limits, but we encourage you to consider how what you discuss is relevant to your candidacy for law school.
When crafting your personal statement, you may want to consider addressing several of the following topics. You do not need to answer every question, but we have found that these are the most helpful in assessing your candidacy for admission to Berkeley Law:
Perspectives and Experiences: How will you (your perspective, experience, voice) contribute to diversity in our classrooms and community? Feel free to address any factors or attributes you consider important and relevant. In the past, applicants have included information about characteristics such as: race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, first generation college or professional school student, student parent, re-entry student, geographic diversity, ideological diversity, and others.
Interest in the Legal Profession: What about you (your experiences, your values, your perspective, etc.) calls you to law school? How will you use your law degree with integrity, vision, creativity, and/or to innovate? What makes you hopeful, optimistic, or excited about entering the legal profession? How do you see yourself contributing to or advancing the public good as a lawyer, scholar, or advocate?
Interest in Berkeley Law: Tell us more about your interest in Berkeley Law. What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?
We ask that you also include a separate résumé of your past and current employment history, extracurricular activities, interests, honors, etc. There is no need to repeat experiences described in the résumé in the personal statement. Similarly, you should note the availability of optional statements focused on other aspects of your candidacy. Please use those spaces to answer those questions, and reserve the personal statement for its unique purpose.
The thoughts and words contained in your personal statement must be your own and no one else should assist in its creation beyond basic proofreading or critiquing. This must be your original work.
This section is optional.
In addition to assessing your ability to achieve academic success, we are interested in welcoming a class of students with a diverse set of experiences, qualities, talents, and interests. We also understand that there may be facets of your personality and passions that do not align with what you may wish to share in a personal statement. In order to gain a better understanding of what characteristics or qualities you may bring to the class, we invite you to answer up to two of the following questions. Each response should be no more than one double-spaced page, using 11-point font and 1-inch margins. Please indicate the number(s) of the question(s) you are answering.
- Setting aside our academics and curriculum, how does Berkeley Law's location and broader environment align with your personal values, ambitions, or goals for your future?
- If law school was not an option, what would you do instead, and why?
- Aside from being capable and smart, what else will you contribute to the classroom or community?
- Fast forward several years - it is your law school graduation. Who are you scanning the audience to find first, and why?
- Describe a recent time when you defied or exceeded the expectations someone else had of you?
- What's the last new thing that you tried? How did it go?
- Describe a time when you made a difference or a place where you had an impact that does NOT appear on your résumé.
- We all make mistakes. When was the last time you made a mistake, and what was the outcome of that realization?
- Tell us about a moment where laughter helped build a bridge with someone.
- Describe a time when you had to put aside personal beliefs to stand up for fairness or justice.
This section is optional.
If you do not believe that your standardized test score(s) or academic record accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, then you may tell us why and share what you believe indicates your potential. (350 word maximum, double spaced, 11 point font with 1 inch margins). You may attach a copy of your SAT or ACT score report(s) to this essay, and we reserve the right to request score reports to verify statements made in this optional essay.
This section is optional.
You may attach any other supplemental materials or addenda to your application here. Please use 11 point font, double spaced, with 1 inch margins.
This section is optional.
The Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship (BLOS) requires an additional essay. The prompt is located in the Scholarships section of the application. Please submit the essay below, using the following format: 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins, and 1-2 pages in length.
This section is optional.
The Public Interest Scholars Program requires an additional essay. The prompt is located in the Scholarships section of the application. Please submit the essay below, using the following format: 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins, and 1-2 pages in length.
This section is optional.
The Hyundai-Kia Scholarship Program requires an additional essay. The prompt is located in the Scholarships section of the application. Please submit the essay below, using the following format: 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins, and 1-2 pages in length.
We ask that you submit a résumé as part of your application materials. There is no page limit, but generally two pages is adequate.
You need not limit yourself to strictly law-related or professional experiences. We strongly recommend that your first section be "Education." You may then include other sections as needed to highlight and summarize your experiences, such as: Research, Award and Honors, Presentations, Employment, Experience, Volunteer, Leadership, Campus Engagement, Community Involvement, Other Responsibilities, Other Skills and Interests, Pre-Law Programs, Memberships, Certification, Affiliations, etc. You should include in all cases: organization or activity name (avoid acronyms or abbreviations), your title or role, dates of involvement, average hours per week or per month, and then also list specific responsibilities using bullet points. You may list more than one role under a single organization name to show advancement or promotion. Rather than attach additional materials to your application, you can include URLs within the resume that go to external references (e.g., published works, newspaper articles, alumni magazine profiles, artist portfolio, etc.) Doing so does not guarantee that any reviewer will visit those pages or links, but inclusion of a URL does inherently give us permission to access such information.
For legibility purposes, please do not include multiple colors or fonts in your résumé, and please keep the font no smaller than 10 or 11-points for all text other than your name at the top. We suggest using a highly legible font such as Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, Calibri, Cambria, etc.
Please do NOT include a personal photograph, other image(s), graphic(s), or art within your résumé. There is no need to list an objective. We do not recommend a separate list of "Key Qualities" or a "Personal Summary," motto, or quote.
If you answer "Yes" to any of the questions below, we require that you attach an addendum that (a) lists all individual incidents/past conduct, to the best of your ability to recall, that would triggers an affirmative response, including relevant dates, (b) explain the overall context for those incidents, (c) share the outcome(s) or current status(es) of those incidents, (d) share what insight you gained and whether or how it informed your decision to pursue a legal education. Should you need to submit an addendum, please use the following format: 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins. There is no word or page limit, and you should feel free to take as much space as is required to fully address the incident. Note that an affirmative answer to any of these questions does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission to Berkeley Law. Your answer will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to all aspects of your experience, academic achievement, and potential.
If your answer to any of the following questions becomes affirmative after you submit your application, you are required to notify the Admissions Office in writing. Failure to disclose and/or notify us will result in the revocation of your offer of admission.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
1. Have you ever been convicted of any offense, excluding minor traffic and parking violations, or is any such charge now pending against you?
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Have you ever been subjected to a dismissal, suspension, probation, or other disciplinary or academic sanction by any college, university, or professional school (including university/college housing)?
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Have you ever been subject to discipline by a professional organization?
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Have you ever been separated from any branch of the US armed forces or foreign military under something other than Honorable Discharge (excluding medical discharge)?
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There will be opportunities to update your application post-matriculation should that be necessary. However, disclosure after the first year of law school may trigger a comprehensive re-review of your application for admission, and it is possible that it could impact your ability to complete your degree program. Please click the button to show that you have read and understand this.
FIRST-YEAR APPLICANTS
Submitting Your Application
We require that you submit your application electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website at LSAC.org by the published deadline(s). The LSAC Help Desk is available at (215) 968-1393 if you have questions. We receive completed applications electronically from LSAC, usually within one hour of your submission.
This application form is only one part of the application requirements for consideration of admission to Berkeley Law. If you submit only the application form and fee, your application will be incomplete until all required components are received. If we do not receive the other required parts within a reasonable amount of time after the application deadline, we will deny your application based on it being incomplete and ineligible for review.
Paying Your Application Fee
A $75.00 (USD) non-refundable application fee is required to process your regular decision application. The application fee must be received before your application can be considered complete and reviewed. Through LSAC, you must pay by credit card or request an app fee waiver.
LSAC and Berkeley Law fee waivers are available, but limited. Qualification (or non-qualification) for the LSAC or Berkeley Law fee waiver is not considered nor weighed in our review process.
Application Fee Waivers
LSAC Waivers
Waivers of the LSAT registration, Credential Assembly Service (CAS), and other fees are available on a financial need basis directly from LSAC. Information and the fee waiver application form is available on the LSAC website. You should act early to obtain a waiver; we will not extend application deadlines based on the timeline for LSAC's fee waiver review process.
LSAC fee waivers are reviewed and determinations are made entirely by LSAC; Berkeley Law has no role in that review nor those decisions. However, we will regard receipt of either a tier 1 or tier 2 LSAC waiver as a de facto finding of financial need. As such, we will automatically waive your Berkeley Law application fee if you receive a LSAC fee waiver.
Berkeley Law App Fee Waivers
Berkeley Law fee waivers are online application-based or may be sent to candidates directly by the school after being identified through the LSAC Candidate Referral Service. CRS is an LSAC service that is "opt-in," and questions about that process should be directed to LSAC.
Application-based Berkeley Law fee waivers are available to candidates who submit our online form by the published deadline in January. Your application will be considered once all required documentation is provided directly to the Admissions Office. You may qualify for a Berkeley Law fee waiver based on participation that falls into three broad categories: Honors/Research Program participation (e.g., Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes, Truman, etc.), Public Service work (e.g., Teach for America, Peace Corps, U.S. Military service, etc.), and Educational/Socioeconomic Disadvantage Program participation (e.g., CYDL participant, Gates Scholar, Pell Grant recipient). For a detailed list, please go to the online form.
Berkeley Law fee waivers only apply to the $75.00 application fee. We do not offer CAS fee waivers, LSAT fee waivers, or any other financial support related to the application process.
How to Apply: The deadline for Berkeley Law fee waiver requests is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on January 1, 2026. Requests must be made through the online form, and supporting documentation is required for processing. Please do not attach a fee waiver request to your online application; it will not be reviewed. Applicants who are not approved for a fee waiver or who do not meet the deadline must pay the $75 application fee. You will be notified via email once a decision is reached regarding your fee waiver request. If your request is approved, you will be given an application waiver code that will allow you to submit your application without having to pay the application fee. Waiver codes are non-transferable and can only be used once. A record of your code is kept both with LSAC and the Berkeley Law Admissions Office. Any misuse of the fee waiver code may result in withdrawal of your application and a referral to LSAC's Misconduct Committee.
Do not pay with a credit card prior to applying for and receiving a Berkeley Law fee waiver decision. We are not able to refund our fee once it has been paid for any reason.
Registering for the LSAT/LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
The majority of our applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Regardless of whether or not an applicant takes the LSAT or another standardized exam, they must create an account with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). All related information, policies, and fees are available on the LSAC website at LSAC.org. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is a service of LSAC that collects and analyzes academic data and transcripts. Your CAS registration authorizes LSAC to compile your application documents and send CAS reports to the law schools where you apply once you have paid the required fees.
It is through CAS that we receive: Your transcripts (sent to CAS by you, and to us through CAS) from all undergraduate institutions attended and graduate programs (including foreign transcripts); transcript analysis; LSAT scores and score report(s); letter(s) of recommendation; and the LSAT Writing Sample. We may also receive as part of your CAS report information that contextualizes your performance prepared by LSAC with data they are provided by applicants. We are not able to receive any of this information in any other way; CAS registration is required and cannot be waived.
Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring their CAS reports are sent to Berkeley Law (and that all other required components of the application are received by our office on or before deadlines). We strongly suggest applicants plan ahead to avoid delays or other issues that may limit their ability to submit a complete, on-time application. We cannot extend our deadline because, for example, LSAC did not receive or process a transcript or a letter of recommendation on time, nor because an international transcript was sent from LSAC to AACRAO for foreign transcript analysis. If we do not receive all required materials within a reasonable time after the February 17, 2026 deadline, your application will be denied on the basis of being incomplete.
Using directions provided by Berkeley Law, part of the service provided by LSAC will be to combine your high LSAT score and cumulative undergraduate grade point average as calculated by LSAC (uGPA) into a single value, called the index number. LSAC will print the index number on your CAS report. Graduate school grades are not calculated into the index number. However, they are considered a "plus" factor during the review process and are therefore required in your CAS transcript information.
You will be able to monitor your CAS status through the LSAC website (LSAC.org). CAS updates (for new scores, new transcripts, new letters, etc.) are sent to us automatically once you send us a first-time report.
The LSAT and Other Standardized Tests
Applicants to the Berkeley Law J.D. program are required to take a standardized test for admission. We accept the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) including the LSAT-Flex, and/or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) general test. All valid and reportable scores must be submitted to us via LSAC or ETS. For a limited group of applicants, mainly those applying for a dual degree, we may accept the GMAT. Please review our admissions website for eligibility criteria and requirements.
Applying with Multiple Test Types: If you have a valid and reportable LSAT score it will be seen and it will be considered in our review, even if you wish to be considered with "only" a GRE score. That LSAT score will flow in automatically from LSAC through the CAS report and/or CAS updates. You may write an addendum to provide context for score and performance differences. If you have a valid and reportable GRE score, we require you to send a score report to us (from ETS). Your GRE score(s) will be seen and considered alongside your LSAT score(s), even if you wish to apply with "only" the LSAT. We may consider your application incomplete without any/all applicable test scores.
No Score Requirements or Cut-Offs: As our Faculty Policy Governing Admissions states, strong performance on standardized tests is important for admission, but numbers alone are not dispositive in admissions decisions. Test scores are viewed in the context of the entirety of your application materials, with the purpose of assisting with our ability to predict first-year academic performance only, and through the lens of our mission and policies as a public institution. Amongst other goals, Berkeley Law seeks to enroll students whose "quality of mind and character suggests that they have the capacity to make a contribution to the learning environment of the law school and to distinguish themselves in serving the needs of the public through the practice of law, the formulation of public policy, legal scholarship, and other law-related activities." Test scores inform our assessment but cannot satisfy it fully.
Past Performance on Standardized Tests: When evaluating standardized test scores, the law school may consider whether other standardized tests (taken for similar, higher education admissions purposes) that were taken in the past under-predicted your academic performance and grades. For example, if you document that past test scores would have predicted you were likely to perform below-average in college but you went on to earn very high undergraduate grades, then this information may be taken into account to contextualize test scores taken for law school admission purposes when evaluating your potential to succeed in law school. One of the optional statements (listed below) invites you to share information that you believe suggests your numerical qualification profile (uGPA, LSAT, GRE, etc.) is non-predictive of your academic performance and potential and should be given less consideration in our review. If raising this issue related to non-predictive test scores, you are expected to provide a copy of previous, relevant test scores such as the SAT or ACT. Unofficial copies of score reports are acceptable for the review process, but we may request official versions (sent directly by the testing company) at any time. This in no way should be construed to suggest that submission of such a statement and documentation will ensure admission.
The LSAT
The LSAT is typically offered eight times each year and can be taken remotely or at examination centers throughout the world. Registration, disability-related accommodation requests, and all other candidate services for the LSAT are managed entirely and led solely by the Law School Admission Council; Berkeley Law has no role in any aspect of the registration process, fee waivers, eligibility, or other determinations.
LSAT Writing Sample: The LSAT Writing Sample is a requirement to apply to Berkeley Law. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid LSAT Writing Sample available by the application deadline. LSAC requires that you have at least one valid Writing Sample on file in order to issue a CAS report to a school.
Past Scores: LSAT scores are valid for five years. If you took the LSAT between September 2020 and January 2026, then you are not required to take it again (you have a valid and reportable score that we can consider). However, you must ensure that your CAS registration is current so that your test score(s) and transcripts are sent to us.
Future Scores: If you register for a future test date (indicated in this application), we will automatically hold your application for review until we receive the new score from LSAC. If you do not wish for us to hold your application, it is your responsibility to email us and request we no longer hold your application. If we are holding your application and (after taking the future test) you decide to cancel that score, your application is still being held until the cancellation is reported unless you contact our office to request otherwise. If you did not plan to retake (and did not indicate a future test in the application) but then changed your mind, please note that we will consider your application complete unless you contact us and tell us to hold it.
Multiple Scores: If you take the LSAT more than once, we will primarily consider the highest score when evaluating your candidacy. However, there is a standard error of measurement on the exam and there is not a statistically-significant difference between many scores. We do not assign a value to the number of times you took (or did not take) the test. All tests registered for and attempted are reportable, including no-shows, applicant cancellations, LSAC cancellations, and other indicators of tests taken without reportable scores.
The GRE and GMAT
For information regarding the GRE or GMAT, please refer to the specific testing agency. In all cases, we require a valid and reportable score in order to review and consider your application. Generally, scores over 5 years old are no longer valid and reportable. It is each applicant's responsibility to understand when and how a testing agency will report a score and for how long it remains valid. Some will only report a score up to 5 years to the month when the test was administered, for example.
Applicants applying with the GRE or GMAT must also send a CAS report to Berkeley Law. No application will be complete without a CAS report received from LSAC, and the associated CAS fee will not be waived by Berkeley Law.
For the GRE, we will primarily consider your "superscore" when evaluating your candidacy. We do not draw parallels or calculate "comparable" percentiles or raw scores on the LSAT and GRE. Both tests are different and test different things, and scores on one or both will be viewed as distinct from one another.
Transcripts and Academic History
Transcripts are critical to our analysis; they provide important information and assist with our assessment of your academic strength. Yet much like test scores, cumulative undergraduate GPA (uGPA) is not dispositive. Furthermore, academic history is more important than pure uGPA when considering potential for success and contribution, and academic history is itself much more than your uGPA as calculated by LSAC. No application is complete without receipt of transcripts.
You must ensure that your transcripts are submitted to LSAC from every undergraduate and graduate college or university you are currently or have previously enrolled at. This includes community colleges attended (even through high school dual enrollment programs), all undergraduate schools, study abroad programs equivalent to an academic year of study and that generated transcripts separate from your institutions, graduate programs, non-U.S. institution transcripts, and part-time, remote, hybrid, and extension programs. You are not required to submit transcripts from non-degree granting certificate programs, but you may submit unofficial versions to us directly to accompany an addendum, should you wish. Do NOT send transcripts directly to Berkeley Law; they will not be appended to your application, will not be analyzed or considered, and will not render your application complete and ready for review.
Grades in Progress: If you are currently completing undergraduate work, do NOT wait for fall or winter grades to be posted on the transcript that you send to LSAC. Without transcripts and your CAS report, we cannot process, complete, or review your application. You may send fall/winter grades to LSAC later, and we will automatically receive an update and those transcripts will be included. Please note, however, that decisions on many applications may already have been made before we receive these grades and receipt of updated transcripts will not trigger re-review if a decision has been reached.
P/F and Credit/No Credit Coursework: Part of why academic history is more nuanced than pure uGPA is because we are also looking at courses attempted, rigor of the course of study, etc. This could include taking into consideration the frequency of courses taken on a P/F (or similar) basis. Of course, some classes must be taken P/F; physical education or recreational classes are a prime example. Therefore, we do not make an assumption that an applicant took a class or classes P/F by choice. Similarly, we understand that as a result of COVID-19, many schools moved to a P/F or similar grading system for spring and fall 2020. We cannot ascertain whether you opted into, out of, or had no choice in selecting a P/F grading system, and we refrain from drawing conclusions about your grading patterns in those academic terms. In all cases, you may write an addendum explaining P/F grades should you wish. We strongly recommend you explain any non-passing grade earned that appears on your transcript(s).
Ungraded Transcripts: Some institutions do not grade on an A-F scale and may not calculate a GPA. Often these schools provide a narrative analysis in place of a scored transcript. In these cases, we will carefully review the information provided to us by the school that serves as an assessment of your academic performance. No comparable uGPA is calculated and no index score will be generated.
Final Transcripts: If you are applying while your Bachelor's degree is in progress, we will review the transcripts that are complete at the time you apply. However, if you are admitted to Berkeley Law, you will be required to submit final transcripts by the time classes begin. Final transcripts must indicate that your degree was conferred. If for any reason you do not earn a Bachelor's before law school begins (as planned), you will not be permitted to matriculate to Berkeley Law. A Bachelor's degree is required. It will be entirely at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions whether or not you are permitted to defer your admission or will be required to reapply.
Grade Point Average
In evaluating your undergraduate cumulative uGPA, the following factors will be considered: Overall performance, age/recency of the grades, exceptionally high grades, difficulty of coursework, time commitments while attending college, dependent care during school, grading patterns at the school attended, and grade trends, outliers, or discrepancies among your grades. This is not an exhaustive list, and the Admissions Committee or reviewer may take other things into consideration as permitted by the corresponding policy document. It is your responsibility to provide any relevant information you wish to have considered, likely in the form of optional statements or addenda.
No uGPA "Cut-Offs": We do not employ cut-off scores or requirements for uGPA. All applicants will be considered, weighing overall performance in the broader context of the factors listed above as well as test scores, resume, letters or recommendation, statements, etc.
Graduate Grades: If you attended a graduate or other professional program, we will review your graduate grades and transcripts to the extent that they shed light on your potential for academic success in law school. However, your uGPA will not be changed based on your graduate GPA. We do, however, consider having performed exceptionally well in a graduate program a positive factor and strong indicator of law school success.
Personal Statement
You are required to submit a personal statement as part of your application. It should be limited to four double-spaced pages in 11-point font that is highly legible and with 1 inch margins. Three pages is recommended.
The subject matter of the personal statement is up to you, but keep in mind that the reviewer will be focused on determining your potential to be a successful law student and graduate of Berkeley Law. Specifically, we are interested in how your personal background/lived experience shapes, informs, and enhances that potential. Each year, we seek to enroll a class with varied backgrounds and interests who will ultimately become advocates serving all segments of society. The main objective, always, should be to share the things you think are most important for us to know about you (beyond the purely academic and professional) when assessing your candidacy. No topic is off-limits, but we encourage you to consider how what you discuss is relevant to your candidacy for law school.
When crafting your personal statement, you may want to consider addressing several of the following topics. You do not need to answer every question, but we have found that these are the most helpful in assessing your candidacy for admission to Berkeley Law:
Perspectives and Experiences: How will you (your perspective, experience, voice) contribute to diversity in our classrooms and community? Feel free to address any factors or attributes you consider important and relevant. In the past, applicants have included information about characteristics such as: race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, first generation college or professional school student, student parent, re-entry student, geographic diversity, ideological diversity, and others.
Interest in the Legal Profession: What about you (your experiences, your values, your perspective, etc.) calls you to law school? How will you use your law degree with integrity, vision, creativity, and/or to innovate? What makes you hopeful, optimistic, or excited about entering the legal profession? How do you see yourself contributing to or advancing the public good as a lawyer, scholar, or advocate?
Interest in Berkeley Law: Tell us more about your interest in Berkeley Law. What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?
We ask that you also include a separate résumé of your past and current employment history, extracurricular activities, interests, honors, etc. There is no need to repeat experiences described in the résumé in the personal statement. Similarly, you should note the availability of optional statements focused on other aspects of your candidacy. Please use those spaces to answer those questions, and reserve the personal statement for its unique purpose.
The thoughts and words contained in your personal statement must be your own, and no one else should assist in its creation beyond basic proofreading or critiquing. This must be your original work.
Optional Short Answer Questions
In addition to assessing your ability to achieve academic success, we are interested in welcoming a class of students with a diverse set of experiences, qualities, talents, and interests. We also understand that there may be facets of your personality and passions that do not align with what you may wish to share in a personal statement. In order to gain a better understanding of what characteristics or qualities you may bring to the class, we invite you to answer up to two of the following questions. Each response should be no more than one double-spaced page, using 11-point font and 1-inch margins. Please indicate the number(s) of the question(s) you are answering.
- Setting aside our academics and curriculum, how does Berkeley Law's location and broader environment align with your personal values, ambitions, or goals for your future?
- If law school was not an option, what would you do instead, and why?
- Aside from being capable and smart, what else will you contribute to the classroom or community?
- Fast forward several years - it is your law school graduation. Who are you scanning the audience to find first, and why?
- Describe a recent time when you defied or exceeded the expectations someone else had of you?
- What's the last new thing that you tried? How did it go?
- Describe a time when you made a difference or a place where you had an impact that does NOT appear on your résumé.
- We all make mistakes. When was the last time you made a mistake, and what was the outcome of that realization?
- Tell us about a moment where laughter helped build a bridge with someone.
- Describe a time when you had to put aside personal beliefs to stand up for fairness or justice.
Optional Video Interview
In addition to the written components of the application, some applicants may be invited to submit an optional video interview. Interview invitations are sent out at the discretion of the Admissions Office and may happen at any time during the admissions process. Applicants may not request to interview.
Completing the video interview: If invited, a personal link to submit your interview will be emailed to you via the third party platform (Kira). After completing your registration and device setup on the platform, you will be directed to a practice session and prompted to record a practice response to a different question.
The interview consists of two separate questions. Question one asks you to demonstrate your unique interest in all that Berkeley Law has to offer. Question two is a randomized situational question that you can answer freely. You will have four minutes to record your answer to each question (eight minutes total).
We strongly encourage those invited to take advantage of this special opportunity to provide additional information relevant to your candidacy. To ensure the video is available during our review, please complete your submission within 3-5 business days after you receive the personalized link from Kira.
Accessibility: Questions regarding platform support, accessibility, or other concerns related to completing your interview should be directed to Kira. Video interviews will only be accepted for review if submitted via the Kira platform. If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to complete the video interview, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@law.berkeley.edu.
Academic Potential Addendum (optional)
If you do not believe that your standardized test score(s) or academic record accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, then you may tell us why and share what you believe indicates your potential. (350 word maximum, 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins). You may attach a copy of your SAT or ACT score report(s) to this essay (a screenshot or unofficial copy will suffice), and we reserve the right to request score reports to verify statements made in this optional essay.
Résumé
We ask that you submit a résumé as part of your application materials. There is no page limit, but generally two pages is adequate.
You need not limit yourself to strictly law-related or professional experiences. We strongly recommend that your first section be "Education." You may then include other sections as needed to highlight and summarize your experiences, such as: Research, Award and Honors, Presentations, Employment, Experience, Volunteer, Leadership, Campus Engagement, Community Involvement, Other Responsibilities, Other Skills and Interests, Pre-Law Programs, Memberships, Certification, Affiliations, etc. You should include in all cases: organization or activity name (avoid acronyms or abbreviations), your title or role, dates of involvement, average hours per week or per month, and then also list specific responsibilities using bullet points. You may list more than one role under a single organization name to show advancement or promotion. Rather than attach additional materials to your application, you can include URLs within the resume that go to external references (e.g., published works, newspaper articles, alumni magazine profiles, artist portfolio, etc.) Doing so does not guarantee that any reviewer will visit those pages or links, but inclusion of a URL does inherently give us permission to access such information.
For legibility purposes, please do not include multiple colors or fonts in your résumé, and please keep the font no smaller than 10 or 11-points for all text other than your name at the top. We suggest using a highly legible font such as Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, Calibri, or Cambria.
Please do NOT include a personal photograph, other image(s), graphic(s), or art within your résumé. There is no need to list an objective. We do not recommend a separate list of "Key Qualities" or a "Personal Summary," motto, or quote.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are recommended to complete your application. If you submit letters, we recommend that you provide two letters from recommenders who are familiar with your past academic performance and who are able to assess your potential for law study. Typically, these would be professors or teaching assistants. If you have been away from academia for some time, letters from work colleagues are useful. We accept up to four letters of recommendation and non-academic recommendations are welcome in addition to those from academic sources. A dean's certification letter is not required.
In general, we do not complete applications with fewer than two letters of recommendation on file. If you wish for your application to be completed with fewer than two letters of recommendation, please contact us at admissions@law.berkeley.edu to make that request in writing.
We will not hold your application for review pending receipt of your recommendations provided that at least two letters are on file. If you want all of your letters to be considered in the review process, be sure that they are available with your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report when you submit your application.
You are required to use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service if you submit letters. This service is included in your CAS registration. Letters are sent to us with your CAS report, and there is a maximum of four letters allowed. Letters sent to us outside of the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service will NOT be added to your application materials and will NOT be considered when evaluating you for admission. Do not direct recommenders to email us letters or messages regarding your application status, interest, qualifications, etc.
Application Deadline
All application materials must be submitted electronically before 11:59 PM (PST) on February 17, 2026. Your application should be submitted as early as possible to receive optimal consideration. We begin to review applications in early October. Applications submitted after the deadline are not accepted.
Residency and Citizenship
The information requested on the application form regarding residency and citizenship is used for demographic reference. We do not take either into consideration when making admissions decisions. If you are admitted, residency determinations for tuition purposes are made at the time of registration by a campus office. We cannot guarantee that the Residency Office will agree with your assessment of your residency status for tuition purposes.
Applicants with Disabilities
Berkeley Law does not discriminate against students with disabilities and is committed to admitting people from all segments of society who will serve all members of our communities. It is our desire to ensure that each application is reviewed appropriately. Applicants may share information about disabilities in the written parts of the application or may write a separate addendum. This information may be used by the law school to consider if there are voluntary efforts it could take prior to the students' arrival to reduce or eliminate barriers to full participation. Thus, a disability may be considered as one factor in the evaluation of an application. Disability-related information disclosed voluntarily by an applicant will in no way adversely affect an applicant's candidacy.
Accommodations provided by the law school for students with disabilities are designed and implemented in consultation with UC Berkeley's Disabled Students Program (DSP). For more information, call DSP at (510) 642-0518 or (510) 642-6376 (TTY/TDD), or visit http://dsp.berkeley.edu/. When students with disabilities enroll with DSP, DSP professionals will review relevant information and meet with the student, then recommend specific accommodations to the Director of Student Academic Advising and Support Services (SAASS) for Accessible Education at Berkeley Law. If you disclose a disability to the law school and are subsequently admitted, that information is in no way transmitted to another office. The candidate alone is responsible for contacting SAASS DSP, or other appropriate offices to request accommodations, and admission does not guarantee that requested accommodations will be approved.
International Applicants
The financial resources required for international students to attend Berkeley Law are substantial. International applicants should evaluate their ability to meet the total education costs and to obtain a visa. International applicants must be prepared to fund all of their educational and living expenses. Even students who receive some fellowship assistance must be prepared to provide approximately $119,308 (USD) per academic year required for educational and living expenses at Berkeley Law. If the student is married and/or has children, an additional $9,000 is recommended for the spouse and for each child. These funds must be provided by either the applicant or the applicant's sponsor.
We require that foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). An evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and will be incorporated into your CAS report. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Please plan accordingly.
Character and Fitness
If you answer "Yes" to any of the character and fitness questions, we require that you attach an addendum explaining the circumstances. If your answer to any of the character and fitness questions contained in this application becomes affirmative after you submit your application, you are required to notify the Admissions Office in writing. Failure to disclose and/or notify us will result in the revocation of your offer of admission. In addition to a Bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the Bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Note that an affirmative answer to any of these questions does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission to Berkeley Law. Your answer will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to all aspects of your experience, academic achievement, and potential. Individuals may be strong applicants and passionate contributors to classroom discussions not in spite of their past engagement with the criminal justice system, but because of those experiences. We regularly admit, enroll, and graduate law students who have responded affirmatively to questions in this section.
Our character and fitness questions do not represent all the possible questions, topics, or considerations a state Bar might inquire about or require you to disclose, or for the law school to disclose in the course of the Bar certification process. Admission to our law school does not suggest or ensure eligibility for, nor guarantee, admission to any state, federal, or other Bar.
If you would like more information or resources for navigating these questions or attending law school as a justice-system impacted person, contact our office. We are also available for individual advising appointments.
Should you need to submit an addendum, please use the following format: 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins. There is no word or page limit, and you should feel free to take as much space as is required to fully address the incident.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Berkeley Law, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and the University's non-discrimination policies, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth and medical conditions related thereto, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. UC Berkeley's full Nondiscrimination Policy Statement can be found on our Berkeley Law admissions website under "ABA Required Disclosures."
Contacting Applicants
Decision letters and other correspondence will be sent to the email address you provide on your application. Be sure that your email address is current at all times and add "admissions@law.berkeley.edu" to prevent our email from landing in your spam folder.
Our concern for confidentiality precludes discussion of individual files with anyone other than the applicant unless expressly authorized by the applicant. If you expect to be unavailable at any point during the application process, you should appoint someone to act on your behalf and inform the Admissions Office in writing of the appointee's name, e-mail address, and phone number.
Evaluation
Once a file is complete, it is evaluated by a professional Admissions Office staff member. The Admissions Office, guided by faculty policy, admits a certain number of applicants determined each year. An initial reader makes a recommendation, and that recommendation is forwarded to the Dean of Admissions for a secondary review. Some applications will be reviewed by members of the faculty. The applicant status online (ASO) tool does not always accurately reflect where a candidate is in our internal review process.
As a result of the Admission Office's consideration, some applicants are admitted, some are placed on a waiting list, and the remaining applicants are denied. If the number of admitted students who accept an offer of admission falls below the number necessary to fill the class, then the wait list is used to fill the remaining places.
Our goal every year is to have all decisions transmitted to applicants by April 1. Waitlist admissions can take place as late as August 15.
Scholarship Application (optional)
The Scholarship application is an optional section intended to invite applicants to self-identify as possible candidates for certain, very specific awards, and to allow them to provide additional information in support of their candidacy. This application is not a complete list of scholarships available at Berkeley Law. Additional information about scholarships can be found on the Scholarships page of our website.
Several of these scholarships have deadlines that are earlier than the regular decision application deadline. In order to be considered for these scholarships, you must adhere to these deadlines. Applicants to the Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship (BLOS) and the Public Interest Scholars Program must submit a complete application no later than December 15. If all application materials are received by December 15, with the exception of the November LSAT test score, your application will still be considered for BLOS and Public Interest Scholars. The Hyundai-Kia Scholarship deadline is February 17, the same as our regular decision application deadline.
The BLOS, Public Interest Scholars Program, and Hyundai-Kia scholarship all require submission of additional essays, which must be uploaded in the attachments section of the online application. The essay prompt for each award is listed in the scholarship section of the application.
Please review the scholarship section of the application carefully for additional information and requirements that pertain to each award. All admitted students will be considered for scholarships in general. To be considered for a need-based award, an admitted applicant must complete the Supplemental Gift Aid Questionnaire.
Other Financial Aid
The scholarship application is not inclusive of all scholarships available at Berkeley Law. Additional information about scholarships can be found on the Scholarships page on our website. If you receive an offer of admission, we will provide instructions on applying for other gift aid (fellowships, grants, scholarships, etc.) at that time.
Socioeconomic Questionnaire (optional)
We seek to identify students whose ability to overcome disadvantages or obstacles promises success in law school and in the profession. To this end, applicants are invited to complete the Socioeconomic Questionnaire included with the application. Completion of the questionnaire is optional and will not adversely affect an applicant's candidacy. If a questionnaire is submitted, it will be used to augment the other factors considered during the evaluation process.
Other Factors
In making admission decisions, substantial weight is given to the cumulative undergraduate GPA and LSAT score. However, other factors are also considered and quantitative factors alone are not dispositive. If it appears that an applicant has experienced disadvantages that have adversely affected the applicant's past performance, and that the applicant has successfully overcome such disadvantages, this information will be considered when assessing the applicant's potential to be distinguished in the study and practice of law and to contribute to the educational process and the legal profession.
Race, religion, sex, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and national origin are not used as criteria for admission. No weight is given to the political or ideological views of the applicant, how an applicant intends to use his or her legal education, nor to an applicant's need for financial aid or employment during law school.
Concurrent Degree Programs
If you are applying to a Concurrent Degree Program (CDP) with another department at UC Berkeley, please be aware that application deadlines, decision notifications, financial aid requirements and processing timelines, and commitment deadlines vary from program to program. It's possible that you will be required to make a commitment to another degree program before you have learned of your decision from Berkeley Law (or vice versa).
To address a part of this issue, we offer expedited review (ER) of applications to UC Berkeley CDPs in some cases. In order for CDP applicants to be eligible for ER, you must submit a complete application to Berkeley Law on or before December 1st of the current application year. The last LSAT administration that would make you eligible for ER is the November test, including a Writing Sample completed before December 1. (A Writing Sample must be on file to allow us to receive your CAS report). Note: ER only applies to the admission review process, not to financial aid review.
Notification of Decision
Once you submit your application, you may assume that it is being processed in a timely manner. You will receive an email informing you when your application is being reviewed. Decision notifications are also sent out via email. In previous years, most applicants were notified of their admissions decision by mid-March. Admitted applicants usually have several weeks in which to respond to an admission offer. In no case will an applicant be required to respond before April 1.
Because we process large numbers of applications each year, we ask that you do not telephone unless it is urgent. You may email questions to admissions@law.berkeley.edu.
Acceptance Deposit
Berkeley Law does not require an acceptance deposit. Instead, the school relies on the integrity of those admitted to provide candid responses about accepting the offer of admission.
Appeals
Once an applicant has been denied admission, the file is not reconsidered during that admission cycle. Files are carefully reviewed on a comparative basis. Reconsideration after the conclusion of the process might create an unfair situation more favorable to the individual applicant, since reconsideration would lack the perspective provided by comparison with other files. Exceptions are made only in unusual cases in which an error, for which the applicant was not responsible and which the applicant promptly brought to the law school's attention, may have affected the decision.
Deferment of Admission
Applicants are encouraged to apply in the year in which they wish to enroll. However, deferment requests may be granted at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions. Examples of reasons a deferment might be granted include: Admission to a concurrent degree program, a serious family illness, award of a fellowship, or another extraordinary opportunity. Deferments may be granted for up to, but no more than, two consecutive years at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions.
Applicants Who Wish To Reapply
Applicants who wish to reapply are required to comply with all of the regular application instructions. Applicants who took the LSAT prior to September 2020 must take the test again and re-register with the CAS.
Contact the Berkeley Law Admissions Office
E-mail: admissions@law.berkeley.edu
Phone: (510) 642-2274
Fax: (510) 643-6222
Mail: 225 Law Building
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
Web: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/
FIRST YEAR APPLICANT CHECKLIST
The application filing period begins September 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM (PST) February 17, 2026. Submit application through LSAC's website. Late applications are not accepted.
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with a Writing Sample or GRE taken between September 2020 and January 2026 (unless you qualify to submit GMAT scores)
- Submit transcripts and letters of recommendation to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
- Enclose the personal statement, résumé, and optional addenda
- Submit the $75.00 application fee, or request a fee waiver via Berkeley Law or LSAC
DEADLINES
- Application Fee Waiver Requests: January 1, 2026
- J.D. Program Application: February 17, 2026
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): March 1, 2026
This section is optional.
If you have ever been or are currently registered at another law school, please attach an addendum explaining the circumstances.
In addition to the written components of the application, some applicants may be invited to submit an optional video interview. Interview invitations are sent out at the discretion of the Admissions Office and may happen at any time during the admissions process. Applicants may not request to interview.
We strongly encourage those invited to take advantage of this special opportunity to provide additional information relevant to your candidacy. However, your application will be considered complete even if you do not submit the video interview.
Completing the video interview: If invited, a personal link to submit your interview will be emailed to you via the third party platform (Kira). After completing your registration and device setup on the platform, you will be directed to a practice session and prompted to record a practice response to a different question.
The interview consists of two separate questions. Question one gives you the opportunity to discuss what draws you to Berkeley Law. Question two is a randomized situational question that you can answer freely. You will have four minutes to record your answer to each question (eight minutes total).
Even though your application will be deemed complete and sent to review without a video interview, we highly encourage you to consider submitting it to supplement your application. To ensure the video is available during our review, please complete your submission within 3-5 business days after you receive the personalized link from Kira.
Accessibility: Questions regarding platform support, accessibility, or other concerns related to completing your interview should be directed to Kira. Video interviews will only be accepted for review if submitted via the Kira platform. If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.), please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@law.berkeley.edu.
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Georgetown essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
You may write your personal statement on any subject of importance that you feel will assist the Admissions Committee in their decision. Please double-space.
This section is optional.
At Georgetown Law, we have always taken great pride in having an admissions process that focuses on the individual. If you would like to share any additional personal perspectives, reflections, or experiences -- whether positive, challenging, a combination of both, or something else entirely -- that have contributed to who you are as a person and as a future legal scholar and lawyer, we invite you to do so here.
This section is optional.
In the Office of Admissions, we take great pride in dispelling the myth that the admissions process is strictly a numbers game. While numbers are important, the Admissions Committee would like to give you the opportunity to express yourself, and us the opportunity to get to know you, in another way. Please feel free to choose ONE of the following optional responses.
When we say optional, we really do mean optional. The Committee will in no way hold it against you if you choose not to answer any of these questions.
250 words maximum
- What's the best (or worst) piece of advice you ever received?
- If you could "uninvent" one thing, what would it be?
- Tell us about a moment in your life that you regret.
- Describe your perfect day.
- Share a top ten list with us.
This section is optional.
Please attach any addenda you would like included in the review of your application here.
Please attach your résumé describing schools attended, dates of attendance, and degree(s) awarded; work experience; extracurricular/community activities, including nature and length of involvement; and scholastic honors, including academic awards, scholarships, or fellowships.
If your answer to any of these questions is "yes," please submit a "Character and Fitness Addendum" fully and clearly explaining your answer(s). Your application is incomplete until receipt of applicable explanations.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
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Have you ever been the subject of any disciplinary action taken by any college or university?
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Have you ever been placed on academic probation?
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Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense, or is any charge now pending against you, for any crime other than a traffic violation?
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Have you ever been separated from a branch of the armed forces of the United States under conditions other than favorable?
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Has your college, university, graduate, or professional school course of study been interrupted for one or more terms for any reason?
INSTRUCTIONS: GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER
The following provides general Law Center admissions information. For additional details and the most current information on the application process, visit our website at https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissions-aid/jd-admissions/.
Please contact the Office of Admissions at lawadmissions@georgetown.edu if you have any questions or need assistance in submitting an application.
EVALUATION PROCESS
The Admissions Committee hopes to admit students who will succeed at Georgetown, would benefit from a legal education here, and will contribute to our community.
The Committee does not use numerical cutoffs, and focuses on the applicant's personal statement, letter of recommendation, extracurricular and volunteer activities, graduate work, and professional experience in addition to test scores and academic record.
The Law Center welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The Office of Accessibility Services works in partnership with students and faculty to determine reasonable accommodations in order to remove access barriers for students with disabilities in curricular and co-curricular environments.
TIMETABLE
Due to the large number of applications we receive and our rolling admissions process, candidates are strongly encouraged to complete their applications as early as possible. Applications will not be reviewed until all required documentation has been received.
September 2, 2025
First day J.D. Regular and Early Decision applications accepted for Fall 2026.
March 2, 2026
Recommended J.D. Regular and Early Decision application deadline for Fall 2026. Although we strongly recommend all applicants submit their application on or before March 2, the Admissions Committee will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after this recommended deadline.
CHOICE OF APPLICATION PROCESS
- Early Decision (Binding)
The Early Decision process is designed for applicants who are certain that Georgetown Law is their first choice. This process will commit applicants to attend Georgetown, if admitted. Early Decision applicants are given priority review in our rolling admissions process.
If your Early Decision application is complete by March 2, your decision will typically be emailed within approximately 4-6 weeks of your completion date, whenever possible. You are welcome to apply Early Decision after March 2, and your decision will be expedited, though the typical timeline may vary.
Please note that the Early Decision process is binding and candidates applying Early Decision to Georgetown may not submit a binding application to any other law school. Although candidates admitted under Early Decision are committed to attending Georgetown, and will not receive their financial aid information before their admissions decision, please be assured that you will be considered for merit scholarships and need-based financial aid in the same manner, and on the same timeline, as all other admitted students.
If your application is deferred or you are added to the waitlist, you are no longer bound by your Early Decision commitment and we encourage you to proceed with applications at other law schools.
If you wish to apply through the Early Decision process, please select "Early Decision" in Question 1, which indicates your intention to apply under this process.
- Regular Decision (Non-Binding)
The strongly recommended application deadline for all applicants (Full-Time or Evening) is March 2. Candidates are notified as soon as decisions are reached, usually 8-12 weeks after their file is marked complete, but the timeframe for each file may vary.
STATUS CHECK
Once your application is received, our office will email confirming receipt of your application.
Please check your email settings to ensure that you are able to receive emails from "@georgetown.edu" addresses. Please check your spam folder if you are expecting a message from our office and have not yet received it.
You may check the status of your application using LSAC's status check website https://aso.lsac-unite.org/?guid=opDTsTIIp4E%3D.
Please note that Georgetown's status checker only marks two points in the multi-step review process: "application complete" and "decision rendered." If your application is marked incomplete, your application status will show "applicant action required" and our office will email you to let you know what application component is missing.
All admissions decisions will be communicated over email.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Completed application form
- Non-refundable $85 application fee
- Admission Test: All applicants seeking to enroll in the Full-Time program or applying to both JD divisions at Georgetown Law are required to submit a valid LSAT, GRE, or GMAT score.
- Candidates submitting a GRE score should follow the reportable history guidelines outlined here and must have their official score report sent directly to Georgetown Law. Georgetown Law's institution code is 2329.
- Candidates submitting a GMAT score should follow the reportable history guidelines outlined here and must have their score report sent directly to Georgetown Law. Georgetown Law's school code is JT7-JB-84.
- Applicants seeking to enroll in the Evening Program only, who do not have a currently valid LSAT score, may apply on a test-optional basis. This means that applicants have the option to apply without a standardized test score (LSAT, GRE, or GMAT) and should mark on the application their intent to apply to the Evening Program without a standardized test.
- Personal Statement: An applicant may write a personal statement on any subject of importance that they feel will assist the Admissions Committee in its decision. There is no minimum/maximum length requirement, but the statement should be double-spaced.
- Letters of Recommendation: Georgetown Law requires one letter of recommendation to apply to the J.D. program, although additional letters or evaluations will be accepted.
- If possible, recommendations should be completed by faculty members with personal knowledge of the applicant's academic work. Recommendations from employers are also acceptable.
- We recommend that letters be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation Service, included with your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration subscription. Individual letters may, however, be sent directly to Georgetown Law by the recommender to lawadmissions@georgetown.edu. We will not accept letters of recommendation transmitted by applicants.
- Resume: Please prepare a resume describing: 1) schools attended, dates of attendance, and degree(s) awarded; 2) work experience, including employer, position, nature of work, and dates of employment; 3) extracurricular/community activities, including nature and length of involvement; and 4) scholastic honors, including academic awards, scholarships, or fellowships.
- Transcripts/CAS: Applicants should submit transcripts from all institutions from which they have received academic credit, regardless of whether a degree was awarded.
- All applicants must register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) at LSAC.org. A transcript from all colleges or universities attended must then be sent directly to CAS, not to Georgetown Law. We strongly encourage candidates who have received their undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States to have credentials sent to LSAC to be analyzed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (www.aacrao.org).
APPLICANT WORK PRODUCT
The purpose of the application, and perhaps especially the personal statement and other essays, is for the Admissions Committee to learn more about you: how you think, what you value, how you write. While you can (and should) receive and incorporate feedback on drafts, the only person who may be engaged in the actual writing is you. Friends, family members, advisors, etc., whether real or artificial, are not applying to Georgetown Law -- you are.
There are countless ways you could choose to use external resources as you put together your application, and we cannot provide you with specific guidance on each and every scenario. But we urge you to reflect on how you would feel being completely open and honest with a member of the Admissions Committee about your process. If you would omit or downplay how you used an AI tool, or how much wordsmithing a trusted friend did in your draft, you should adjust your plan. Our goal is to get to know you, and we are eager to hear your voice.
JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS
Applicants for our joint degree programs should refer to the website for more information: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/ admissions-aid/jd-admissions/joint-degree-programs/.
This section is optional.
You may submit an optional one-minute video that says something about you. Upload the video to an easily accessible website and provide us the URL in an attachment to your application. The video must have permissions set so that anyone with the link may view the video. Please note that we are unable to watch videos that come in any form other than a URL link.
This section is optional.
Applicants who are applying with a GRE or GMAT test score, should upload a copy of their GRE or GMAT score report here.
Please note you will also need to have an official score report sent directly to Georgetown Law.
Georgetown
GRE
GRE
Fee
$85.00
Recs
1 to 4
Requirements
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UT Austin
Mar 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$70.00
2 to 2
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UT Austin essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
The personal statement is an opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee your background, interests and experiences. Your personal statement demonstrates to the Admissions Committee not only how you write, a skill fundamental to success in the legal profession, but also how you think and how you have reflected upon and derived meaning from your life experiences. Although there is no specific topic or question for the personal statement, your narrative should at some point address your decision to pursue a legal education
Applicants may submit one or more of the following option statements to provide to the Admissions Committee additional insight when reviewing their application. Each optional statement may not exceed one (1) double-spaced page with minimum 11-point font size and 1-inch margins.
Optional Statements:
- Please address any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and that sheds more light on your unique potential to succeed in the J.D. program and contribute to the University community and the field or profession.
- Civil dialogue and reasoned debate over contested ideas are core values both for the practice of law and in legal education. In light of this, Texas Law is interested in learning about experiences you may have had engaging with ideas with which you disagreed, and how such experiences have impacted you.
If your academic performance for one or more academic terms was markedly different from that of others, please explain. Please make any other comments about your college transcript(s) or your preparation for college that you believe will help the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application.
Your statement may not exceed one (1) double-spaced page with a minimum 11-point font size and 1-inch margins.
Candidates sometimes seek to establish that their academic potential is inaccurately reflected by standardized tests or that one LSAT or GRE score is more representative than another. If you believe this to be true in your case, please explain.
Your statement may not exceed one (1) double-spaced page with a minimum 11-point font size and 1-inch margins.
Please provide a résumé detailing any significant vocational, avocational, extracurricular, or community activities; graduate work or degree; honors and awards; any service in the Armed Forces; publications, or other information that you believe the Admissions Committee should consider in evaluating your application. Please specify dates of employment, location (city and state), job descriptions, and major areas of responsibility. Your résumé may not exceed three (3) pages. Résumé or education gaps may be explained in a separate addendum.
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Have you, within the last 10 years, been arrested, cited or ticketed for, charged with any violation of the law; or, have you ever been convicted of an offense, placed on probation, or granted deferred adjudication or any type of pretrial diversion; or, are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury governmental agency investigation? If you answer "yes", please provide a full explanation that includes a narrative description, cause, and outcome of each reported event, and upload the attachment.
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Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled, requested or advised to resign from any postsecondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school? If you answer "yes", please provide a full explanation that includes a narrative description, cause, and outcome of each reported event, and upload the attachment.
UT Austin
GRE
GRE
Fee
$70.00
Recs
2 to 2
Requirements
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14
Vanderbilt
Apr 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$70.00
2 to 3
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Vanderbilt essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Please present yourself as a prospective law student by writing a personal statement. You may write about any topic that you feel will help readers of your application get a sense of you as a person and as a prospective law student, such as your motivation to pursue law; your personal and professional goals and interests; or your thoughts on engaging the intellectual, experiential, and professional resources and opportunities that law school and the legal profession offer. Please use double-spaced formatting, standard margins, 12-point, 2 page limit.
The quality and vibrance of the educational environment at Vanderbilt Law arise from enrolling a student body with a broad mix of individual backgrounds, experiences, skills, knowledge, and interests. Please tell us about any aspects of your background and experience that you believe would contribute to the educational environment.
How did you first become interested in Vanderbilt Law School? Please limit your response to 250 words. (maximum characters 1000)
This attachment is optional and user-defined.
You are welcome to use this attachment to provide any other information that you would like to make available to readers of your application
In addition to your employment responses on the application form, please attach a résumé.
- Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action for any academic or behavioral misconduct or violation of an honor or ethical code, or are you currently under investigation or in an appeal process for any academic or behavioral misconduct or violation of an honor or ethical code, at a current or prior academic institution? You should answer “yes” even if those matters have been dismissed or ?expunged? or your current or prior academic institution would no longer report about them due to the passage of time.
- Have you ever, either as an adult or minor, been charged with or convicted of any crime, or charged with or found to have committed any offense (whether or not defined as a crime), or received anything other than an honorable discharge from the military? You should answer “yes” even if charges were dismissed or deferred; a conviction was expunged, sealed, or otherwise required by law or ordered by a court to be kept confidential; you received a pardon/commutation; your civil rights have been restored; or you received legal advice that the offense will not appear on your criminal record.
- Are any charges pending or charges that you reasonably expect will be brought which would require you to answer "yes" to either question above?
Vanderbilt
GRE
GRE
Fee
$70.00
Recs
2 to 3
Requirements
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14
WashU
Aug 16, 2026
ED: -
GRE
-
0 to 4
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WashU essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
A personal statement, approximately one to three pages in length, is not required during application submission. If your personal statement is not attached here, you may send it as an email attachment directly to the Washington University School of Law Admissions Office at applylaw@wustl.edu. Successful applicants have written about significant experiences and sources of personal motivation.
Providing your race, ethnicity, and/or gender identity is always optional. These are not factors that we consider in the admissions and scholarship process. Unique perspectives, skills, and character qualities improve classroom discussion, education experience, and overall community. The committee invites you to share as much as you are comfortable about yourself and your experiences. Your answers help us better understand the variety of skills and perspectives developed through your experiences.
Please attach any additional addenda. This may include, but is not limited to, addenda regarding lived experience, financial need, unique perspective(s), grades, gaps in employment, and any other areas you feel best represent your background and tell your complete story. You may also attach GRE score reports (pdf) here.
In addition, you may submit addenda addressing your specific interest in WashU Law and its areas of expertise. For example, WashU Law is a national leader in legal AI education and became one of the first law schools in the country to provide formal AI training to students and faculty. As such, you may wish to submit a brief addendum addressing the use of AI in the legal profession.
A résumé is not required during application submission and may be sent as an email attachment directly to the Washington University School of Law Admissions Office at applylaw@wustl.edu.
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Have you ever been denied admission to a law school on grounds of fraud, immorality, or improper or dishonorable conduct?
-
Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action for scholastic, judicial/code violation, or any other reason by any college, university, graduate or professional school, or trade or professional organization?
-
Have any disciplinary charges ever been brought, are currently pending, or are expected to be brought against you by any college, university, graduate or professional school, or trade or professional organization?
-
Have you ever been charged with and/or convicted of a criminal offense, including any matters that may have been expunged, or received anything other than an honorable discharge from the military? (Applicants do not need to disclose speeding tickets.)
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Have you been a party to any noncriminal legal proceeding, including but not limited to any civil, administrative, family court, or domestic abuse proceeding, or any arbitration?
-
Were you ever investigated for misconduct, suspended, formally reprimanded, disciplined, fired, asked to resign, or allowed to resign in lieu of discipline or discharged by an employer?
-
Have you ever been charged with, convicted of, or pled guilty to a misdemeanor sex crime or felony criminal offense?
WashU
GRE
GRE
Fee
-
Recs
0 to 4
Requirements
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Cornell
Mar 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
-
2 to 4
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Cornell essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
RESPOND TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PROMPTS (required). YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE PROMPT(s) YOU ARE RESPONDING (not required). YOU MAY RESPOND TO AS MANY AS YOU WISH, BUT DO NOT EXCEED A TOTAL OF FIVE (5) PAGES.
- We aim to train excellent lawyers. GPAs and test scores have some predictive power, but they don't tell the whole story. Please describe any significant challenges you have overcome, including but not limited to economic hardship, discrimination, trauma, or disability, and/or significant accomplishments of which you are proud.
- In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra's vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a law school learning community devoted to "...any person...any study." We encourage you to think broadly about what you will contribute to a law school class and eventually to the legal profession, including but not necessarily limited to expertise you have, experiences you can share, and how communities of which you have been part have shaped your perspective.
- From its founding, Cornell Law School has not only focused on producing excellent lawyers, but "lawyers in the best sense." A law school education teaches you a craft, and prepares you for a great career, but law is also a calling, and a lawyer in the best sense is one who will, in some way, serve justice. If your career goals include representing under-served populations or otherwise vulnerable individuals or groups, please tell us about those goals and how you hope to pursue them.
- Is there anything else you wish the Admissions Committee to know about you beyond what you have revealed in other parts of your application? You can describe a formative experience, or your motivation to go to law school, or a story that reveals your character, personality, or strengths, or whatever else you think is relevant.
This section is optional.
Why do you think Cornell Law School is right for you? You may address whatever has influenced your decision to apply including: the reputation of Cornell Law School, either generally or with respect to an area of you interest; available concentrations, clinics, or classes; individuals who have influenced your decision to apply; prior experiences with or connections to Cornell, our location, or anything else that is significant to you. Please limit you explanation to one (1) page.
This section is optional.
If you attended another law school and did not leave in good standing, explain the details of your departure.
This section is optional.
Please explain why your attendance in college, university, graduate school, or professional school been interrupted for one or more terms for any reason.
This section is optional.
If there is anything additional you believe would be helpful to us when reviewing your application, you may include it here. If you are providing multiple addenda, provide a separate description header for each statement.
In a resume, provide the following (required):
- Education
- Work experience, including full-time, part-time, summer
- Scholastic honors you have received
- Extracurricular and community activities while in college and/or since graduation
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, submit an explanatory statement in the attachments section.
1. Have you ever been the subject of disciplinary proceedings or been warned, placed on probation, dropped, expelled, been asked, advised, or permitted to withdraw, suspended for academic, nonacademic, or any other reasons, by any college, university, graduate school or professional school you have attended, or are any such proceedings pending?
- Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, ticketed, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding? Traffic violations that occurred more than ten years before the filing of this application need not be reported, with the exception of alcohol or drug-related traffic violations, which must be reported in all cases irrespective of when they occurred. Do not report parking violations.
Although a conviction may have been expunged from the records by an order of a court, it nevertheless should be disclosed in the answer to this question. For example, if you were charged with shoplifting, only received a fine, and the charge was expunged, you must disclose; or, if you were charged with, but not convicted of, possession of an illegal substance, you must disclose; or if you received a traffic violation as a minor for possession of alcohol, you must disclose. Also, you should have available and be prepared to submit or exhibit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question.
Note: In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Two letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation Service. For those who have graduated from college in the past two years, the admissions committee prefers letters of recommendation from faculty members who can provide detailed comments about your academic abilities compared with other students who are applying to law schools. Recommendation letters from school administrators who can speak to your extracurricular involvement that are good indications about your potential employability are helpful too. Recommendation letters from internship or work supervisors are also taken into strong consideration. Concerning the options above, it is strongly encouraged that at least one recommendation letter comes from a recommender who has observed your classroom performance and can comment on your ability to succeed academically in law school.
For those who have graduated from college more than two years ago, while it is desired to obtain a letter from a faculty member who remembers your academic abilities, it is understandable if you must rely on more recommenders from your workplace environment. If you attended graduate school, a recommendation from someone who taught you in that program and can write about your recent academic performance and abilities is helpful.
Access to recommendations: Federal legislation gives enrolled students the right of access to letters of recommendation submitted in support of their applications. Your decision will not influence the Admissions Committee's decision.
JD Regular Decision
Application Instructions - Fall
Eligibility
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent).
Students matriculate in the fall semester on a full-time basis.
Applications are reviewed by our Admissions Committee in order of completion, but applicants may not be notified in that order. We recommend submitting your application as early as possible.
- Online application available through LSAC on September 1
- File and complete application by March 1 (priority deadline)
- File and complete application by July 1 (final deadline) - we strongly encourage your regular decision application to be submitted by March 1.
Complete accuracy is required in all statements made on any portion of the application. To ensure that decisions are based on factual information, we audit applications randomly each year. In addition, you are required to update us about any changes that take place after the submission of your application. Inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading statements, or failure to update, can result in withdrawal of admission offers, honor code proceedings, dismissal from Cornell Law School, rescission or cancellation of any degrees you may have received from Cornell Law School or other disciplinary sanctions.
Note: Enrolled students must submit any updates to the character and fitness portion of the application by November 1 of the 1L (first year) of law school.
Note: In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Optional Document:
Why Cornell Statement
This is an optional statement to address what has influenced your decision to apply to Cornell Law School and should be limited to one page.
Required Documents:
Personal Statement
The admissions committee has provided specific prompts to help guide your personal statement. You may respond to as many prompts (one, some, or all) as you wish but please do not exceed a total of five pages. You may choose, but are not required to, identify which prompts you are answering. You may submit distinct essays responding to a specific prompt or a combined essay so long as the total does not exceed five pages. The goal is to offer you the maximum flexibility to craft personal statements in response to the available prompts. The prompts are as follows:
- We aim to train excellent lawyers. GPAs and test scores have some predictive power, but they don't tell the whole story. Please describe any significant challenges you have overcome, including but not limited to economic hardship, discrimination, trauma, or disability, and/or significant accomplishments of which you are proud.
- In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra's vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a law school learning community devoted to "...any person...any study." We encourage you to think broadly about what you will contribute to a law school class and eventually to the legal profession, including but not necessarily limited to expertise you have, experiences you can share, and how communities of which you have been part have shaped your perspective.
- From its founding, Cornell Law School has not only focused on producing excellent lawyers, but "lawyers in the best sense." A law school education teaches you a craft, and prepares you for a great career, but law is also a calling, and a lawyer in the best sense is one who will, in some way, serve justice. If your career goals include representing under-served populations or otherwise vulnerable individuals or groups, please tell us about those goals and how you hope to pursue them.
- Is there anything else you wish the Admissions Committee to know about you beyond what you have revealed in other parts of your application? You can describe a formative experience, or your motivation to go to law school, or a story that reveals your character, personality, or strengths, or whatever else you think is relevant.
Resume
Provide your education, all work experience (full-time, part-time, summer), scholastic honors received, and any extracurricular and/or community activities while in college and/or since graduation.
Standardized Testing Options:
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT);
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE), score reporting code 2456;
- Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), score reporting code 5JW-8V-77;
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), 3 Plus 3 Accelerated Pathway Scholar Program, Cornell University applicants only; score reporting code 9168;
- American College Test (ACT), 3 Plus 3 Accelerated Pathway Scholar Program, Cornell University applicants only; score reporting code 3009
If you plan to apply with the LSAT, you must take the test no later than February to meet the March 1 deadline. GRE/GMAT scores must be available to us by our March 1 deadline.
- Note: 3 Plus 3 Accelerated Pathway Scholar applicants admitted without an LSAT or GRE score who subsequently take the LSAT or GRE will be subject to admission reconsideration. In the event admission is rescinded, any seat deposits paid will be refunded.
Credential Assembly Service Report (CAS)
You are required to register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. Official transcripts from each college or university that you attended must be submitted to LSAC for analysis and distribution to us (this process may take several weeks).
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation Service. For those who have graduated from college in the past two years, the admissions committee prefers letters of recommendation from faculty members who can provide detailed comments about your academic abilities compared with other students who are applying to law schools. Recommendation letters from school administrators who can speak to your extracurricular involvement that are good indications about your potential employability are helpful too. Recommendation letters from internship or work supervisors are also taken into strong consideration. Concerning the options above, it is strongly encouraged that at least one recommendation letter comes from a recommender who has observed your classroom performance and can comment on your ability to succeed academically in law school.
For those who have graduated from college more than two years ago, while it is desired to obtain a letter from a faculty member who remembers your academic abilities, it is understandable if you must rely on more recommenders from your workplace environment. If you attended graduate school, a recommendation from someone who taught you in that program and can write about your recent academic performance and abilities is helpful.
Access to recommendations: Federal legislation gives enrolled students the right of access to letters of recommendation submitted in support of their applications. Your decision will not influence the Admissions Committee's decision.
Applicants With Foreign Credentials and/or Non immigrant Visas
If all undergraduate course work was completed at institutions outside the United States (including its territories), we require that your foreign transcripts be submitted through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If you completed any post secondary work outside the U.S. (including its territories), you must use this service for transcript evaluation and authentication of your foreign transcripts. An exception to this requirement is if you completed the coursework through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. Transcript evaluation is included in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and will be incorporated into your law school report. Questions about the Credential Assembly Service should be directed to www.lsac.org.
Interviews
Online interview assessments are extended by invitation only by our Admissions Committee. Further detailed instructions will be provided when the invitation is extended.
Visiting the School
Law School tours and class visits can be scheduled by visiting the calendar listed on our website, by emailing us at jdadmissions@cornell.edu or by calling 607-255-5141. If you are unable to travel to Ithaca, we may be visiting a location near you. Our recruiting schedule can also be found on our website.
Application Checklist
Completed application priority deadline: March 1
Final application deadline: July 1
A complete application consists of:
- LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Registration
- Standardized Test - LSAT/GRE/GMAT
- SAT/ACT (3 Plus 3 Accelerated Pathway Scholar Program, Cornell University applicants only)
- Electronic application submitted through LSAC
- Academic transcripts disseminated by CAS
- Two letters of recommendation to LSAC for processing
- TOEFL or IELTS score report (for international applicants who do not qualify for a waiver)
Cornell University has an enduring commitment to support equality of education and employment opportunity by affirming the value of inclusivity and by promoting an environment free from discrimination. Cornell Law School is committed to Cornell University's policy affirming equality of opportunity:
No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo_hó:no' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo_hó:no' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo_hó:no' dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo_hó:no' people, past and present, to these lands and waters.
Visit the Tuition and Financial Aid section of our website for detailed financial aid information. Admitted students interested in scholarship consideration must apply.
This section is optional.
Please attach your waiver request and supporting documentation.
- Waiver request can be in addendum format
- Supporting documentation should contain:
- A copy of your current passport is preferred if using citizenship, or
- Please make a note if your waiver is for an academic program of two years within the last five years in one of the listed countries
- List the country in which you studied
- Transcripts must be sent through CAS via LSAC - our office will verify the transcripts when they are received
Cornell
GRE
GRE
Fee
-
Recs
2 to 4
Requirements
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UNC
May 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$75.00
2 to 3
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UNC essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
All essays should be no more than three (3) pages, double-spaced and no less than 10-point font. No additional addenda are permitted within statements. Topic Two (Attach to Statement Topic 2) What is your reason for choosing the University of North Carolina School of Law? How does the institution meet your educational and/or your professional goals? Please include how your academic background, personal qualities, and life experiences inform your pursuit of legal education at Carolina Law and how you will contribute to the breadth of perspectives in the law classroom and broader law school community.
All essays should be no more than three (3) pages, double-spaced and no less than 10-point font.
No additional addenda are permitted within statements.
Topic One (Attach to Statement Topic 1) The legal profession plays a vital role in the pursuit of justice and in sustaining the institutions of society, including governments, private corporations and organizations, nonprofit organizations, families and individuals. Please write a statement discussing why you want to become a member of the legal profession and why you think you are prepared for the ethical, professional, and time demands of the profession.
This section is optional. All essays should be no more than three (3) pages, double-spaced and no less than 10-point font. No additional addenda are permitted within statements.
Topic Three (Attach to Statement Topic 3 (opt.)) The School of Law is committed to a full evaluation of your credentials. Please set forth any circumstances you believe may have negatively affected your cumulative undergraduate grade-point average, your performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and/or your participation in service or extracurricular activities.
Please include a résumé of your academic, employment, community service, leadership and professional activities, and accomplishments and awards. Your resume can be up to three (3) pages in length and nothing less than 10-point font.
- (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY) You are applying to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law (Carolina Law) and other law schools with the likely goal of becoming licensed to practice law in some state after graduation. When a law school graduate applies to take a bar examination in any state, the bar examiners of that state ask the applicant's law school to provide an evaluation of the student's character and fitness to practice law. Most states are interested in character and fitness issues that include, but by no means are limited to, prior criminal conduct. Typically, state bar examiners compare a student's answers to conduct questions on the applicant's law school application to information provided by the student on the student's bar application when assessing the applicant's character and fitness to practice law. We recommend that as soon as you know the state in which you intend to practice, you contact that state's Board of Bar Examiners to determine its requirements. The Board of Bar Examiners of a particular state might ask you for information on an application to sit for its bar exam that is not asked for in an application for law school admission. This may include criminal records that have been sealed or expunged by order of a court.
Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, failing to disclose an act or event is often more significant, and leads to more serious consequences, than the act or event itself. Similarly, in applying to Carolina Law, we encourage open disclosure of any matters that might bear on an assessment of your character and fitness to practice law. Thus, as part of the admissions process, all applicants to Carolina Law are required to answer the questions below as accurately and completely as possible. If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you must submit a completely factual explanation of the circumstances and disposition of the event(s) referred to.
If Carolina Law determines that your answers are incomplete or inaccurate, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be sent to the Admissions Committee for review until it is complete. When completing this application for admission, all applicants are required to disclose ALL THE DETAILS AND RESULTS of any criminal charges (except for minor traffic violations, which include parking tickets and/or original charges of speeding less than 10mph over the speed limit). Even if charges were dismissed, or a conviction reversed, set aside, or vacated, the matters must be disclosed to Carolina Law. Contrary advice by legal counsel does not exempt an applicant from this requirement. Records that have been sealed or expunged by order of a court need not be disclosed on this application.
Your answers to the questions are confidential, except as may be required by Bar Examiner disclosure, a court order, or other legal process. All applicants are under a continuing obligation to notify the Office of Admissions of any changes in their applications up until the time of enrollment, and to notify the Assistant Dean for Student Development of any changes in their answers to these questions after enrollment. As part of the Honor Code for the University of North Carolina, a student who is found to have falsified or withheld information from answers to an admissions application is subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from Carolina Law. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you must attach an addendum in the "Attachments Section" of the application providing dates, a complete explanation and description of the circumstances, and resolution of each incident.
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Have you ever been expelled, dismissed, suspended, placed on probation, or otherwise subject to any disciplinary sanction by any high school, college, university, graduate or professional school? (This includes information listed in your academic records as "FOR INFORMATION ONLY.") If yes, please include an attachment explaining the circumstances.
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Have you ever received a citation for, been arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or pled guilty, no contest, nolo contendere, entered an Alford plea, or otherwise accepted responsibility for a crime, or have you received a deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued, for any criminal charge other than speeding? This would include any charges of driving under the influence or any other drug or alcohol-related offenses. (Records that have been sealed or expunged need not be disclosed.) If yes, please include an attachment explaining the circumstances.
-
Are there any criminal charges pending against you or are you presently under investigation for a crime of any kind? (This includes any charges of driving under the influence or other drug or alcohol-related charges.) If yes, please include an attachment explaining the circumstances.
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Have you ever been involuntarily separated from a job, internship, externship, or as a volunteer for a nonprofit organization, as a result of an accusation that involved dishonesty or moral turpitude? If yes, please include an attachment explaining the circumstances.
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Have you ever been sued for a non-criminal act that was alleged to have been intentional? If yes, please include an attachment explaining the circumstances.
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Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action by a professional association or state licensing board, or had a professional license suspended or revoked? If yes, please include an attachment explaining the circumstances.
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Do you have any adverse financial history, including but not limited to, bankruptcy, foreclosure, or loan default?
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Please address any other incident involving questions of your character that are not covered by the above questions. You should not include responses from the questions above in this space. Please include those responses in an addendum.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
UNC
GRE
GRE
Fee
$75.00
Recs
2 to 3
Requirements
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20
Minnesota
Jun 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$80.00
1 to 2
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Minnesota essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
A personal statement is required and should be two pages, double-spaced. Through this statement, applicants have the opportunity to introduce themselves to the Admissions Committee and articulate significant achievements, professional goals, and reasons for pursuing a law degree. It is also helpful to the Admissions Committee to discuss your interest in the University of Minnesota Law School specifically. Strong writing skills are paramount to being a successful attorney. Therefore, the personal statement (as well as any other essays included in the application) may be used to evaluate writing skills, judgment, passions, and analytical abilities. The personal statement and all other supplemental statements should be your own work and not produced by artificial intelligence.
Please tell us about a significant challenge you may have faced in school, work, or life experience that would help you succeed in law school. How did you address the challenge and what did you learn from the experience? 200 word limit. You may attach a supplemental statement in lieu of answering here. (maximum characters 1500)
Please tell us the most important factors in choosing to apply to the University of Minnesota Law School (e.g., specific course offerings, reputation/rankings, recommendations from friends/colleagues/alumni/pre-law advisor).
Applicants may attach additional statements to highlight how your views, life experiences, and skills would contribute to this program and to your success in this program and/or ways that you have contributed to a culture of inclusivity and non-discrimination in your institutions or organizations; explain absences or breaks in academic history; or present other matters that may be of importance to the Admissions Committee. Each additional statement should be no more than one-page, double spaced.
Résumé: Please attach a detailed résumé containing the following:
a. Work history during college and since college graduation.
b. Extracurricular activities and community service, including the extent of your involvement.
c. Other relevant information, including academic honors and prizes, hobbies, and other special interests, abilities, or accomplishments.
- Have you ever in your entire life been charged with, or arrested for, the violation of any law? This includes moving violations (traffic tickets), misdemeanors, felonies, and administrative charges. You must disclose the requested information even if the charges were dismissed or you were acquitted, the conviction was stayed or vacated, the record was sealed or expunged (such as a juvenile record), or you were told at the time that you would not need to disclose in the future.
- Have you ever been investigated, warned, placed on probation, disciplined, dropped, suspended, or expelled from a post-secondary college, university, graduate school, professional school, or law school for academic or non-academic reasons?
Minnesota
GRE
GRE
Fee
$80.00
Recs
1 to 2
Requirements
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Notre Dame
Mar 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$75.00
2 to 3
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Notre Dame essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
The Admissions Committee gives considerable emphasis in its evaluation to the personal statement. The statement should provide the Admissions Committee with insights about the applicant and the applicant's interest in pursuing both a legal education and career. The most effective personal statements also typically provide further insight into the writer's personality, background, professional interests, or matters that are not fully present in other parts of the application. An applicant may consider answering the following question: In what ways have your culture, upbringing, or experiences inspired and motivated you and your pursuit of a legal education? The personal statement must be the applicant's original work in their own words. It should be no more than two double-spaced pages. The personal statement must be included with the application at the time of submission. The personal statement's header must include the student's name, LSAC account number, and be titled "NDLS Personal Statement."
The mission of Notre Dame Law School is to educate a "Different Kind of Lawyer" - one who sees the law as more than just a profession, but as a service to others. Students are encouraged to explore not only the moral and ethical dimensions of the law but also their unique roles in furthering the cause of justice.
In Dean G. Marcus Cole's charge to each graduating class in recent years, he stated the following:
"If there was ever a time when the world needed a different kind of lawyer, it is now. If there was ever a time for lawyers to be active, and vocal, and brave, it is now. If there was ever a time for lawyers to practice love, it is now. Whatever area of law you choose to practice, in whatever community you choose to live, don't forget where you came from."
Given the mission of Notre Dame Law School, Dean Cole's address, and his call to action, please provide a response to the following: How have your experiences, identities, or communities positioned you to become a Different Kind of Lawyer?
The "Different Kind of Lawyer" statement must be the applicant's own work in their own words. It should be no more than two double-spaced pages. If an applicant plans on providing this statement, it must be included with their application at the time of submission. The statement's header must include the applicant's name, LSAC account number, and be titled "DKL Statement."
Applicants are highly encouraged to submit this statement and use it to express why they wish to attend Notre Dame Law School specifically. If Notre Dame is the (or a) top choice for the applicant, it can be noted in this essay.
Consistent with the Catholic mission of the University, Notre Dame Law School views the law as a vocation - a means by which we as lawyers can be of service to God and to humankind. Our Catholic faith also moves us to be open and welcoming to people of all viewpoints and all religious traditions. Please provide a response to one or both of the following:
- How can the unique legal education at NDLS (both in program and in mission) assist in your professional and personal formation?
- How do your actions and community involvement demonstrate your commitment to the values Notre Dame Law School promotes, e.g., law as a vocation, excellence with purpose, inclusion and belonging, and integration of reason and faith?
The "Why Notre Dame Law School?" statement must be the applicant's own work in their own words. It should be no more than two double-spaced pages. If an applicant plans on providing this statement, it must be included with their application at the time of submission. The statement's header must include the applicant's name, LSAC account number, and be titled "Why NDLS Statement."
If the applicant believes the Admissions Committee would benefit from additional information about their candidacy that is not specifically and/or fully expressed elsewhere in the application, the applicant is welcome to provide further notes via the Addendum. Examples of information typically provided in this section of the application include, but are not limited to
- explanations of specific circumstances impacting the applicant's academic record or LSAT/GRE score. (Applicants are encouraged also to include how these circumstances were resolved and to point to other measures which demonstrate their potential for success in law school.)
- further information regarding specific items on an applicant's resume.
- further information about the applicant's background, including, but not limited to financial hardship.
- eligibility for various military educational benefits such as the Yellow Ribbon program or the Funded Legal Education Program.
Applicants should double-space the Addendum. The Addendum's header must include the applicant's name, LSAC account number, and be titled "Addendum."
An applicant's resume should highlight their educational, professional, leadership, and service experiences. The applicant may also wish to highlight honors, awards, or special skills. An applicant may note full-time vs. part-time or hours per week and weeks per year when applicable. There is no page limit for the resume but one to two pages is recommended.
- Have you ever been disciplined (i.e., suspended, dismissed, expelled, asked to withdraw, or placed on probation) or found responsible for any academic, scholastic, disciplinary, or other misconduct by any school, college, or university? Please include in your response an explanation of any instances where you have been accused of wrongdoing and are subject to a pending or incomplete academic, scholastic, disciplinary or other misconduct-related proceeding at any postsecondary institution.
- Have you ever been charged with, or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? This includes charges that are pending and/or to which you have plead "guilty" or "no contest," but this excludes expunged convictions or arrests.
Notre Dame
GRE
GRE
Fee
$75.00
Recs
2 to 3
Requirements
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BU
Apr 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$85.00
2 to 2
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BU essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Your personal statement should discuss the significant personal, professional, or academic experiences that have contributed to your decision to study law. Most personal statements are approximately two pages long. Please double-space your personal statement.
Consistent with the American Bar Association, Boston University School of Law believes that knowledge about bias, cross-cultural competency (ability to understand people from different backgrounds and engage with them effectively), and racism are central to the legal profession. Please tell us how your education, training, or experience has deepened your knowledge about "bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism" and/or prepared you to explore these topics at BU Law.
Your résumé should reflect all full-time and part-time employment, both paid and unpaid, and all extracurricular activities and honors. Please indicate on your résumé whether any employment was full or part-time, and paid or unpaid. Please format your résumé in reverse chronological order, with the most recent employment at the top. Please do not include high school activities or awards in your résumé. There is no required length for the résumé. Gaps of three months or more in the timeline of your résumé should be explained with an addendum.
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Has there ever been an interruption of one or more terms in your education for any reason?
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Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action or proceedings for academic misconduct, or subject to any action for academic insufficiency, at any college or university you have attended? * You should answer yes to this question even if no record of disciplinary action exists.
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Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action or proceedings for personal misconduct at any college or university you have attended? * You should answer yes to this question even if no record of disciplinary action exists.
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Have you ever been convicted, without such conviction being vacated, of a misdemeanor for which the sentence was imprisonment?
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Have you ever been convicted, without such conviction being vacated, of a felony?
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Have you been convicted of any misdemeanor within the past five years?*
*Other than a first conviction for drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray, or disturbance of the peace. -
Have you ever been separated from any branch of the armed forces of the United States, the Peace Corps, Teach for America, or any other service organization under conditions other than honorable? If yes, please include an explanation along with copies of all relevant discharge documents electronically (please provide an explanation in the box below and upload relevant documents in the Military Discharge attachment section).
BU
GRE
GRE
Fee
$85.00
Recs
2 to 2
Requirements
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22
Georgia
Jun 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$50.00
2 to 4
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Georgia essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Provide a personal statement as an electronic attachment. You may write about anything you deem relevant to your application for admission to the University of Georgia School of Law. Transfer and visiting applicants should state the reason(s) for desiring to attend the University of Georgia School of Law.
At the School of Law, we believe that students' experiences contribute to a dynamic and robust learning environment. We invite you to share how attributes of your personal experiences make you fit for the rigors of law school and how they would positively impact our student body and enrich our community. You may include aspects related to your background, perspective, or life journey, such as being a first-generation college graduate or veteran.
At the University of Georgia School of Law, we value understanding each applicant’s professional aspirations. Please describe your career goals, including the area(s) of legal practice you hope to pursue and the geographic region where you intend to work. Additionally, share any particular interests in experiential learning opportunities or clinics offered at Georgia Law, and how you envision these experiences contributing to your legal education and future career.
If there is any additional information you wish to call to the attention of the Admissions Committee, please do so in this attachment.
Submit a resume detailing your education, employment, skills, honors, awards, leadership positions, and accomplishments.
- Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on scholastic or disciplinary probation, expelled or requested to resign from any college, university, or law school, otherwise subjected to discipline by any such institution, or requested or advised by any such institution to discontinue your studies therein? Have you ever been formally charged with cheating, lying, or otherwise taking unfair advantage of fellow students at any college, university, or law school you attended or are presently attending? Regardless of whether the record has been expunged, cancelled or annulled, or whether no record was made, have you ever been subject to proceedings before a school honor court or council (or any similar body)?
- Excluding only parking violations, have you ever been detained, arrested, formally accused, cited, or prosecuted for the violation of any law? You must disclose each instance, even if the charges were dismissed; you were acquitted; you pled nolo contendere; adjudication was withheld; your conviction was reversed, set aside, or vacated; or the record was sealed or expunged.
- Have you ever been discharged from the armed forces other than honorably or are charges pending, which could result in such an outcome? (Check "No" if you have never been in the armed forces.)
- Have you ever been subject to disciplinary sanctions while holding a professional license or are charges pending, which could result in such an outcome? (Check "No" if you have never held a professional license.)
Georgia
GRE
GRE
Fee
$50.00
Recs
2 to 4
Requirements
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Texas A&M
-
ED: -
GRE
-
2 to 3
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Texas A&M essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Attach a personal statement of no more than two pages (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins).
One of the goals of the Admissions Committee at Texas A&M University School of Law is to assemble a diverse student body that will contribute to a collaborative and progressive learning environment. Academic background and strength of academic performance, though important, are not the only criteria evaluated in the application process. For this reason, a personal statement, written by you, is required as part of the application. In this statement we seek information about you. Statements about law in general or law and society will not be useful. The statement should illustrate the life experiences and talents that make you unique. You are invited to write about significant obstacles that you have overcome and events in your life that influence your perspective.
THIS ATTACHMENT IS FOR CONTRIBUTION ADDENDA ONLY. DO NOT ATTACH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR ADDENDA HERE.
You may submit an optional addendum, responsive to the following prompt. Your addendum should be one to two pages (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins) and should be labeled.
How will you contribute to the Texas A&M Law student body and the legal community?
At Texas A&M Law, we aim to build a vibrant community of students of character, who bring varied backgrounds and perspectives to the table. We believe that the study of law is defined, at its best, by the collision of ideas within a unified community of unique individuals.
Describe how your personal journey has shaped your unique perspective, viewpoints, and character. How will your presence and participation contribute to the intellectual and collaborative life of our law school community?
You may choose to attach an addendum (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins) to provide the Admissions Committee with any further context or explanation you believe is necessary for evaluation of your application (e.g., further context regarding your prior academic performance).
FOR MOST APPLICANTS, A CONCISE ADDENDUM OF NO MORE THAN ONE PAGE IS SUFFICIENT.
Attach a descriptive resume of no more than three pages. Please include details about:
- Your educational background, honor societies, scholarships, military service, extracurricular activities, public/community service, honors and awards, publications, foreign language proficiencies, and any other significant achievements and involvements;
- Your work history. Be sure to include the name of the employer or organization, location, dates of employment, position held, general description of duties performed, and any employer recognized achievements; and
- Any other activities, commitments, or achievements you wish the Admissions Committee to consider.
You may wish to note the hours spent per week on activities/work/other commitments.
Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, the failure to disclose an act or event such as the ones described below is often more significant, and leads to more serious consequences, than the act or event itself. Failure to provide truthful answers, or failure to inform the Admissions Office of any changes to your answers, may result in revocation of admission, revocation of law degree, or disciplinary action by the School of Law, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission.
Although an affirmative answer to any or all of the questions below does not necessarily preclude admission to Texas A&M University School of Law, persons who have been convicted of more serious criminal offenses may have difficulty gaining admission to the bar. In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. State licensing agencies often require you to include your law school application as part of your application for admission to the bar. Accordingly, your answers to these questions will often be part of your record. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. A Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which includes coverage of character and fitness requirements and contact information for each state, is available on the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners www.ncbex.org.
If your answer to any of the questions in this section is "Yes," you must attach a separate statement providing a complete description of your actions and full details of the charges and sanctions against you. Refer to the Attachments tab for guidance on what must be included in your statement.
1. ACADEMIC INSUFFICIENCY: Have you ever been warned, placed on probation, suspended, dropped, dismissed, expelled, or otherwise disciplined due to academic performance by any institution of higher education (i.e., community college, college, university, graduate school, or professional school)?You are advised to review your transcripts for notation of academic probation, suspension, etc.
2. ACADEMIC OR PERSONAL MISCONDUCT: Have you been subject to discipline or sanction for academic or personal misconduct by any institution of higher education, or have you been allowed to withdraw from such an institution to avoid such discipline, or are any such charges pending against you? Discipline or sanction may include adjustment of assignment or course grade, assignment of community service, assignment of educational opportunity or training, any form of conduct-related suspension or probation, or any other adverse action. You must report an incident regardless of whether a record of it was retained in your file. Discipline or sanction by university administrators, professors or other teaching staff, and other officials should be reported. Examples of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to, academic cheating, honor code violations, plagiarism, unauthorized use of artificial intelligence, and other academic dishonesty. Examples of personal misconduct include, but are not limited to, violations of residence hall policies, alcohol and drug violations, non-academic honor code violations, and other non-academic conduct violations. You must report any currently alleged or pending charges, violations, and/or sanctions.
3. CRIMINAL ISSUES: Have you ever been arrested for, cited or ticketed for, charged with, convicted of, placed on probation or deferred adjudication for, or pled guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to any criminal violation or offense, other than minor traffic violations, or are any such charges pending against you?Minor traffic violations (e.g., speeding and parking tickets) need not be disclosed. You must report any violation involving the use of drugs and alcohol, regardless of the severity of the incident. You must report charges of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; charges of reckless driving; any failure to appear resulting from a minor traffic violation; failure to appear resulting from any other offense; any failure to maintain financial responsibility (i.e., legally-required auto insurance); and any attempt, whether successful or not, to suspend or revoke your driver's license. It is not necessary to disclose information about a juvenile or criminal record that has been sealed or expunged; however, it is up to you to ensure that your offense is in fact expunged and/or sealed under the relevant state law. Mistaken belief or detrimental reliance upon the advice of a third party (such as an attorney or judge) is no excuse for the failure to disclose a reportable offense that has not actually been expunged or sealed. To ensure that you do not run afoul of this exception, you should obtain a copy of the signed Motion and Order of Expungement from the court in question. Please note deferred adjudication is not expungement, and cases decided on deferred adjudication should be reported.
4. PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE: Have you ever been reprimanded, suspended, placed on probation or warning, or otherwise disciplined by any professional organization, licensing board, or state agency charged with reviewing professional conduct; had a professional license denied, suspended, or revoked; or had other disciplinary action filed against you related to a license to practice a trade, business, or profession? If you have never held a professional license, please check "No."
5. EMPLOYMENT DISCIPLINE: Have you ever been terminated or permitted to resign in lieu of termination from a job since you completed high school?
6. BANKRUPTCY/CIVIL PROCEEDINGS: Have you ever been a party to a bankruptcy (business or personal) or other civil proceeding in which you were alleged to have committed fraud or any type of misrepresentation, engaged in grossly negligent or reckless conduct, or engaged in the willful destruction of property?
7. INVOLUNTARY CONFINEMENT: Have you ever been confined by any governmental authority because you were determined to be a danger to yourself or others? You do not have to disclose voluntary, non-court-ordered hospitalization.
8. MILITARY DISCIPLINE: Have you ever been subject to administrative or disciplinary proceedings, dismissed, or other than honorably discharged from the armed forces? If you have never served in any branch of the armed forces, please check "No."
9. CONTINUING DUTY TO DISCLOSE Please note that neither the submission of your application nor matriculation absolves you of your continuing duty to disclose any existing, pending, or new allegation, circumstance, or incident which would require you to answer "Yes" to any of the above Character and Fitness questions. If you discover that you have omitted an incident, or you receive the final disposition of a pending incident, or you are involved in a new incident, you must notify the admissions office immediately. You will be required to submit a written statement providing details regarding the reportable incident. By checking this box, I agree to provide any necessary updates and amendments to the above Character and Fitness questions to the admissions office in a prompt and timely manner.
If you are an Aggie Direct applicant, upload your unofficial SAT or ACT score report here. It should show both your composite score and your score percentile.
Howdy! Thank you for your interest in Texas A&M School of Law. Please read these instructions carefully and in their entirety before beginning work on your application.
THIS IS THE REGULAR DECISION APPLICATION (INCLUDING AGGIE DIRECT AND TEST-OPTIONAL). IF YOU INTEND TO APPLY VIA BINDING DECISION, RETURN TO THE LIST OF APPLICATIONS AND SELECT THE BINDING DECISION APPLICATION.
Applications for Fall 2026 will be accepted from August 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026.
The Admissions Committee will begin evaluating applications in mid-October, and will continue doing so until the class reaches capacity. Decisions will be made on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply as early as you can, without compromising the strength of your application.
We have several priority deadlines, which are detailed at the end of this page. Applications that are complete (including the CAS report) by the priority deadline will receive a decision on or before the corresponding decision date.
Once your application has been marked as complete, you will be invited to complete a short, one-way admissions interview. You will receive an email notifying you that your application is complete, which will include further instructions and a link to complete the interview.
USE OF ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE
You may use generative artificial intelligence****** in the preparation of your application materials, only after you have prepared an initial draft. You must prepare an initial draft of your application materials on your own, without the use of generative AI. Only after you have prepared an initial draft may you use generative AI.
You must certify that all information in your application is true, correct, and complete. You must also disclose whether you used generative AI in the preparation of your application materials and certify that you have complied with the above policy.
******Generative AI is any AI program that creates new content for you (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and similar programs), rather than modifying content you have created.
APPLICATION COMPONENTS
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APPLICATION (required): Your complete application form, submitted via LSAC.
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PERSONAL STATEMENT (required): A personal statement of no more than two pages (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins). Please refer to the Attachments tab for the prompt and further guidance.
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RESUME (required): A descriptive resume of no more than three pages. Please refer to the Attachments tab for further guidance.
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CONTRIBUTION ADDENDUM (optional): You may submit an addendum responsive to the following prompt. Your addendum should be one to two pages (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins), and should be labeled.
- Contribution Addendum Prompt: How will you contribute to the Texas A&M Law student body and the legal community? At Texas A&M Law, we aim to build a vibrant community of students of character, who bring varied backgrounds and perspectives to the table. We believe that the study of law is defined, at its best, by the collision of ideas within a unified community of unique individuals. Describe how your personal journey has shaped your unique perspective, viewpoints, and character. How will your presence and participation contribute to the intellectual and collaborative life of our law school community?
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CHARACTER & FITNESS ADDENDUM (required if you answer "Yes" to any of the Character & Fitness questions): If you answered "Yes" to any Character & Fitness question, you must attach a separate addendum (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins) providing a complete description of your actions, and full details of the charges/sanctions against you.
- If you answered "Yes" to multiple questions, you should submit a separate addendum for each question.
- Refer to the Attachments tab for further guidance on what must be included in your addendum.
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OTHER ADDENDUM (optional): You may submit an addendum to provide the Admissions Committee with any further context or explanation you believe is necessary for evaluation of your application (e.g., further context regarding your prior academic performance).
- For most applicants, a concise addendum of no more than one page (double-spaced, 11-pt. font., 1" margins) is sufficient.
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PRIOR MATRICULATION ADDENDUM (required if you have previously matriculated in a J.D. program at another law school): You must attach an addendum (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins) detailing your prior enrollment and your reasons for leaving your prior law school.
- This addendum is required even if you left voluntarily or in good standing.
- Your prior law school must send a letter of standing directly to the Texas A&M Law Office of Admissions.
- You should also submit your law school transcript to LSAC.
CAS REPORT COMPONENTS
All applicants must register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS), and arrange for the following items to be submitted to Texas A&M via CAS.
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TRANSCRIPTS (required): You must submit official academic transcripts from ALL undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools you have attended for evaluation by LSAC. This includes transcripts from dual enrollment courses and transcripts from any previous graduate programs in which you have enrolled, even if you did not earn a degree.
- Foreign-educated students must submit their transcripts for evaluation via LSAC's Credential Assembly Service Authentication and Evaluation system.
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TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (required): You must submit two letters of recommendation through LSAC, attesting to your readiness for advanced legal study.
- You are strongly encouraged to submit letters from current or former professors and past or present supervisors. Personal letters from friends, family friends, and relatives are strongly discouraged and should be avoided.
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THIRD LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION (optional): You may submit an optional third letter of recommendation through LSAC.
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LSAT SCORE HISTORY AND WRITING SAMPLE: Only LSAT scores received after August 1, 2021, will be accepted. You must take the LSAT no later than the April 2026 administration to be considered for Fall 2026 admission.
- You may submit your application before your LSAT score is released; however, we will not receive your CAS report, and your application will not be complete until you have a reportable LSAT score.
- GRE, JD-Next, Aggie Direct, and test-optional applicants, see below for instructions on submitting your test scores.
GRE AND JD-NEXT APPLICANTS
Once we have retrieved your GRE or JD-Next score report, we will waive the LSAT requirement and request your CAS report.
- GRE: Designate Texas A&M School of Law (ETS institution code 2593) to receive your official score history (including writing sample) from ETS.
- Scores for GRE examinations taken before August 19, 2021, will not be accepted.
- You should take the GRE no later than April 15, 2026, to be eligible for Fall 2026 admission.
- JD-NEXT: Designate Texas A&M School of Law to receive your official JD-Next score report (including writing sample).
- You should complete the JD-Next exam no later than April 15, 2026, to be eligible for Fall 2026 admission.
If you are offered admission with a GRE or JD-Next score and you subsequently receive an LSAT score, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to reevaluate your offers of admission and scholarship.
AGGIE DIRECT APPLICANTS
Texas A&M University College Station undergraduate students who have carefully considered their law school options, and are confident that Texas A&M School of Law is their first choice, are eligible to apply via the Aggie Direct Program. This program is available only to applicants who have received or will receive their bachelor's degree from Texas A&M College Station.
In order to qualify for this program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at Texas A&M University College Station OR received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University College Station no earlier than August 2025;
- Scored at or above the 85th percentile on the ACT or SAT;
- Achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher through six semesters of academic work; and
- Have no reportable LSAT or GRE score.
Aggie Direct applicants must upload their official SAT or ACT score report, showing their composite score and percentile, via the Attachments tab of the application. You must also designate Texas A&M School of Law as a recipient of your official SAT (institution code 7817) or ACT (institution code 2855) score report.
You are strongly encouraged to speak with Associate Director of Admissions Mario Villa before submitting an Aggie Direct application.
TEST-OPTIONAL APPLICANTS
Texas A&M Law may enroll a limited number of JD students who do not have an LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next score. To be eligible for test-optional admission, you must NOT have a reportable LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next score.
This alternate path if for applicants who can demonstrate preparedness for law school, independent of a test score. Ways in which you may be able to demonstrate this include, but are not limited to:
- Excellent undergraduate academic performance, as evidenced by grades, course rigor, and other factors;
- Significant, relevant professional work experience;
- Military experience;
- A doctoral or master's degree;
- Passage of the Patent Bar.
Test-optional applicants should select that they are applying test-optional in response to Question 5 in the Admissions Test section of the application. You must read and agree to the test-optional terms (Questions 5a-c).
An applicant who applies through the test-optional process and subsequently registers for the LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next exams must notify our Admissions Office immediately. If you take one of these examinations, you will no longer be eligible for admission through the test-optional process. Any prior offers of admission or scholarship will be rescinded, and you will be re-evaluated with the general applicant pool.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
You are classified as an international applicant if you require a visa to study in the United States.
Foreign-educated applicants must submit their transcripts for evaluation via LSAC's Credential Assembly Service Authentication and Evaluation system.
International applicants must meet minimum English language proficiency standards (ELP). Please review the International Students section of the application for a list of the methods by which you can establish minimum ELP.
TOEFL and IELTS scores should be submitted to LSAC, for inclusion in your CAS report. Instructions for sending your score reports can be viewed on LSAC's website.
GRE scores should be submitted as detailed in the GRE Applicants section above.
APPLICATION DEADLINES AND DECISION TIMELINES
Applications for Fall 2026 will be accepted from August 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026.
In order to be considered for a priority deadline, your application must be submitted on or before the stated deadline AND your CAS report must be received within 3 calendar days of the deadline.
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Priority 1 Deadline: December 1, 2025
- Priority 1 Decision Date: On or before February 13, 2026
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Priority 2 Deadline: February 1, 2026
- Priority 2 Decision Date: On or before April 3, 2026
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Priority 3 Deadline: March 1, 2026
- Priority 3 Decision Date: On or before May 1, 2026
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Priority 4 Deadline: April 1, 2026
- Priority 4 Decision Date: On or before June 8, 2026
Applications submitted after the final priority deadline of April 1, 2026, are not promised a decision by any specified date.
(REQUIRED IF YOU PREVIOUSLY MATRICULATED IN A J.D. PROGRAM AT ANOTHER LAW SCHOOL)
THIS ATTACHMENT IS FOR PRIOR MATRICULATION ADDENDA ONLY. DO NOT ATTACH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR ADDENDA HERE.
Applicants who previously matriculated in a J.D. program at another law school must attach an addendum (double-spaced, 11-pt. font, 1" margins) detailing their prior law school enrollment and their reasons for leaving the prior law school. You must attach this addendum even if you left in good standing.
Additionally, your prior law school must send your official law school transcript and a letter of standing directly to the Texas A&M School of Law Admissions Office at law-admissions@law.tamu.edu.
Texas A&M
GRE
GRE
Fee
-
Recs
2 to 3
Requirements
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25
BC
Mar 01, 2026
ED: -
GRE
$85.00
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BC essay prompts
As of 2025-2026 application cycle
Upload a personal statement that demonstrates your capacity for the study of law. Many applicants submit a personal statement about a major life experience that has shaped their world view, overcoming a difficult challenge, or unique personal traits that they would bring to the Boston College Law School community. In crafting your personal statement, you may wish to consider one of the aforementioned topics, or you may choose a topic of your own. Your personal statement should not exceed three pages (double-spaced) with a minimum of one-inch margins and 10-point font size.
Optional Statement: You are not required to submit an optional statement. However, you may upload an optional statement regarding your salient experiences; economic, cultural, or social background; impactful connections to Boston and BC Law; or other factors that you wish for us to consider when reviewing your application. Your optional statement should not exceed two pages (double-spaced) with one-inch margins and 11-point font size.
If you believe there is additional information or context that would be helpful for the admissions committee, please provide a brief paragraph detailing the circumstance. Common addenda may include information about gaps in employment, standardized test score(s), and/or a GPA that may not be reflective of your ability to succeed in law school. You are not required to submit an addendum. Your addendum should not exceed one page (double-spaced) with a minimum of one-inch margins and 10-point font size.
Upload your current résumé or curriculum vitae.
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Have you ever been compelled to curtail or discontinue your study or your work for a substantial period?
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Have you ever been placed on academic warning, academic probation, or conduct probation; or been dismissed, reprimanded, sanctioned, expelled or disciplined, or been the subject of any unresolved conduct or disciplinary complaint by or at any college, graduate or professional school, or professional licensing agency?
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Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense?
- Do not answer yes if the conviction was subsequently vacated.
- Do not answer yes if the conviction was for a first offense of any of the following misdemeanors: drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray, or disturbance of the peace.
- Do not answer yes if the conviction was for a misdemeanor where such conviction (i) occurred more than five years before the date of this application, (ii) did not result in a prison sentence, and (iii) you were not convicted of any other criminal offense within the last five years.
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Have you ever been a party on either side in a civil action, or a proceeding involving a claim of fraud, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, professional malpractice or other wrongful conduct?
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Have you ever been a party, other than as representing counsel, in non-criminal legal or administrative proceedings?
BC
GRE
GRE
Fee
$85.00
Recs
Requirements
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