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Law school essay prompts

Access a complete database of law school essay prompts, including personal statements, optional essays, diversity statements, character and fitness prompts, and addenda.

Villanova

Thank you for your interest in applying to Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. The admissions process is designed to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your full abilities. Although selection to Villanova Law is competitive, the wide range of numerical scores of the matriculating class from year-to-year indicates a class selected using a variety of criteria. If you are interested in the J.D./LL.M. in Taxation, the J.D./M.P.A., or the J.D./M.B.A. program, you must apply and be accepted to both the J.D. and the other degree program.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you must have successfully completed your baccalaureate programs before matriculation at Villanova Law.
As a general rule, Villanova Law will summarily deny your application to enter the first-year class if you have matriculated at another US law school and either were academically excluded from that school or else completed any first semester course or exam that was graded. If this situation applies to you, please contact the Admissions Office prior to applying to discuss whether there are special circumstances that would persuade the Admissions Committee to consider your application.
Admission is only for the fall of each year and only a full-time program is offered.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE NOTICE

American Samoa Applicants - The curriculum of Villanova's Juris Doctor degree does not meet the educational requirements in American Samoa to become a licensed attorney.

For more information, please visit our professional licensure/certification resource page.

***International Applicants -***We are unable to determine if the curriculum of Villanova?s Juris Doctor degree meets the educational requirements in the country in which you are located to become a licensed attorney or obtain an equivalent license. Please research applicable country/regional requirements.

For more information, please visit our professional licensure/certification resource page.

The Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

You must participate in the Credential Assembly Service and be registered with the Credential Assembly Service during the application year. Through this service, you are required to send the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) official transcripts (including single course or summer school transcripts) from all colleges, universities, junior or community colleges, and graduate or professional schools that you have attended.
If you have completed more than a year of undergraduate work at an international institution or if you have earned degrees from international institutions, you are also required to utilize the Credential Assembly Service.

LSAT/LSAT-Flex

You must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), administered by LSAC, before the end of April 2026. If you are submitting a later score, you must request, in writing, consideration of a later score, giving an explanation of the relevant extenuating circumstances. Your application may be submitted prior to taking the LSAT.
If you have substantially different scores on multiple testing dates, you should provide reasons for disregarding the lower score(s). The decision to disregard any test score is at the sole discretion of Villanova Law.
We will not accept an LSAT score that is more than five years old. In other words, your LSAT score must be from June 2020 or later.

Deadlines

Early Decision (Binding) Application

Round 1

Submit and complete application by December 1, 2025
Receive decision by January 12, 2026 (or sooner)

Round 2

Submit and complete application by February 1, 2026
Receive decision by March 1, 2026 (or sooner)

*Early Decision applications must be submitted through LSAC no later than December 1 for Round 1 or February 1 for Round 2. All other required documents, including the LSAC Credential Assembly Service Report, must be received by December 15 for Round 1 or February 15 for Round 2 Early Decision consideration.

Once an Early Decision application is deemed complete, the application may immediately go to the Admissions Committee for review, regardless of a Round 1 or Round 2 option. Therefore, a decision could be made at any point and will be considered binding once made.

Regular Decision Application

Submit and complete application by May 1, 2026.

**Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in November and decisions are made beginning in December.

The Application

The Admissions Office requires that you apply online. The Application for Admission is located at the Law School's website. You may also access the application electronically through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service.
You must complete all sections of the application. Applications with unanswered questions will remain incomplete and may be subsequently denied. You must also update information on your application if any information changes throughout the process.
The application fee is waived for all new fall 2026 JD applicants.
Your application should not be submitted until after September 1, 2025 and may not be accepted after May 1, 2026. If your application is received after May 1, it will be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of Villanova Law.
In completing the application, you should provide an e-mail address that will remain current and accessible through August 2026. The Admissions and Financial Aid Offices will use that e-mail account to contact you throughout the admissions cycle. You should not use an e-mail account of a school from which you are graduating unless you are sure your account will remain accessible after graduation. Applicants should be aware of their service provider's procedures for spam filtering that may affect delivery of any email communications sent from the Admissions Office. Steps should be taken to ensure that messages can be delivered promptly.
Out of fairness to all applicants, the law school evaluates each application on the basis of materials contained in each application, any supplementary written materials provided by the applicant, the Credential Assembly Service report, and any recommendations provided for the applicant.
Colleges and universities are asked by many groups, including accrediting associations, to describe the ethnic/racial backgrounds of students and employees. In order to fulfill these requests, we ask that you provide the responses to those demographic questions on the application. Your responses are confidential, completely voluntary and will be concealed from the admissions committee that is evaluating your application. The Charles Widger School of Law and Villanova University does not discriminate with regard to race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected category.

Interviews

The Law School conducts an Admissions Interview Program. Interviews are by invitation only. Applicants may not request an interview. Being invited to interview does not mean one applicant is viewed more or less favorably than another. All interview invitations will be communicated via e-mail. Each applicant invited to interview will have one week in which to accept the invitation to interview. Therefore, please check your e-mail inbox on a regular basis, as all applicants who do not accept the invitation to interview within the timeframe specified in the interview invitation will have their application evaluated without an interview. Any outcome is possible with or without an interview. Each application will be reviewed thoroughly and holistically, independent of the decision of the Committee to invite an applicant to interview.

Additional Requirements

A personal statement is required and is preferred to be in an 11-point font size or larger, double-spaced, and two to three pages in length. Reflect on your personal background and experiences and how they have shaped your values, motivations, and aspirations. Include how they will contribute to your success at Villanova Law and the legal profession.
A résumé detailing all employment (including employment during the academic year as an undergraduate) is required. The résumé should also include extracurricular and community service activities.
The Admissions Committee requires that every applicant answer questions pertaining to character and fitness. If you answer 'Yes' to any of these questions on the application, you must provide a detailed explanation in your application. We caution you to err on the side of full disclosure.
Any supplemental information/documentation that cannot be sent through LSAC, should be sent as PDF attachments to admissions@law.villanova.edu. Be sure to include your full name and LSAC account number on each attachment.

Letters of Recommendation

One (1) letter of recommendation is required; two letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged. We require that you use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.
We will accept up to a total of 3 letters of recommendation.
Letters should be provided by persons with personal knowledge of your abilities, qualifications, motivations, and integrity. If you are completing or have recently completed undergraduate or graduate studies, recommendations from professors or other teachers who can speak to your intellectual abilities are particularly helpful.

Optional Essays

The admissions process consists of a fair and comprehensive review of all applicants to determine potential success at Villanova Law and in the legal profession. Admission assessment will consider all achievements, both academic and non-academic, to enroll students with a broad range of characteristics and perspectives. Considerations include, but are not limited to, academic achievement, leadership and collaboration potential, ability to learn from experience, service to the community, ability to address systemic shortcomings, substantial experience with other cultures, and goal setting. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit an optional essay (no longer than two pages, double-spaced) to share more about their interest in Villanova Law, as well as their qualifications, talents, perspectives, and goals. We invite you to illustrate how your background and aspirations align with our community and values.

For questions concerning applying to Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, please contact the Admissions Office at 610-519-7010 or e-mail admissions@law.villanova.edu. You may also access our PDF instructions here.

UC - Davis

Each applicant is required to submit a personal statement with the admission application. The Personal Statement should not exceed four pages, double-spaced, using a 12-point standard font. A Community Contribution Statement (see below) may be included in addition to the Personal Statement, but the combined length of the Personal Statement, Community Contribution Statement, and optional addenda must not exceed four pages, double-spaced. The Community Contribution Statement should be included and appropriately labeled within the Personal Statement you upload. Each page should include the applicant's full name and LSAC account number.

Because it promotes learning, one important goal of the admissions process is a student body with a considerable variety of backgrounds, interests, and skills. Experience or background that enables an applicant to bring a unique perspective to the study of law or contribute to serving all populations of California may be taken into account. We also invite applicants to review the School of Law's Mission Statement at https://law.ucdavis.edu/about/law-school-mission. Applicants are welcome to submit a Community Contribution Statement, in addition to the Personal Statement, but it is not required.

We encourage all applicants to consider the below factors in crafting their Personal Statement and any optional addenda (including a Community Contribution Statement). We believe these factors can bear on the applicant's suitability for the study and practice of law.

Demonstrated history of character and determination sufficient to overcome obstacles despite economic disadvantage, challenging social environment, and/or specific experience(s) of hardship.
Unusual accomplishments, abilities, or skills (including skills in languages other than English) relevant to the study of law and not falling under other listed criteria.
Extra-curricular activities during undergraduate studies.
Community activities and employment experience during and after undergraduate studies.
Advanced degrees or other advanced studies.
Other objective evidence of growth, maturity and commitment to law study.

U Washington

Colorado - Boulder

Please answer fully and accurately the following character and fitness questions. If you have any questions as to how to answer these questions, please first refer to our web page. If you still have questions please email our Director of Admissions. Failure to fully and accurately answer these questions may result in expulsion or other disciplinary action by Colorado Law. There are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. You are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the jurisdiction in which you intend to practice by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. As a part of your application for admission to the bar, many states will review your answers to these questions and may require additional information during their determination of your fitness to practice law.

Have you ever been accused of a violation of an honor code or student conduct code, warned or advised of any misconduct, accused of and/or investigated for any misconduct, placed on scholastic or disciplinary or any other form of probation, sanctioned, suspended, requested or advised to discontinue your students, dropped, expelled or requested to resign or otherwise subjected to discipline by any college, law school or other post-secondary institution? Include, for example, any warnings or discipline for violation of school or dormitory policies related to alcohol or controlled substances.
Regardless of whether the record has been expunged, canceled, or annulled, or whether no record was made, have you ever been accused of cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty at any college, university, law school, or post-secondary institution you attended?
Have you ever been investigated, arrested, cited for, charged with, or convicted of any alcohol or drug-related offenses? Include any traffic or other violations that involved alcohol or drugs, as well as any minor in possession or open container charges.

Include all matters that have been dismissed for any reason, subject to a diversion or a deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. You do not need to disclose any incident (including a juvenile one) that ended in the sealing or expungement of the incident by a court. Expungement or sealing of a record is different than a dismissal as it is conducted by a court and results in a court order.

In the last five years, have you ever been investigated, arrested, cited for, charged with, or convicted of any traffic violation? Exclude violations disclosed in the previous question and any parking violations.

Have you ever been investigated, arrested, cited for, charged with, convicted, imprisoned, or placed on probation or parole for any offense against the law? Exclude violations disclosed in the previous two questions.

Houston

CHARACTER AND FITNESS QUESTIONS. 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.

PLEASE THOROUGHLY READ THE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS BELOW. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ANSWER SIMILAR QUESTIONS DURING THE LICENSING PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES STATE AND FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECKS. Please review the Character & Fitness FAQs.

You must answer "yes" or "no" to the questions below. 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 promptly inform the Office of Admissions of any changes to your answers due to an incident that occurs after you submit your application may result in revocation of admission, disciplinary action by the University of Houston Law Center, or denial of permission to practice law by the state bar in which you seek admission.

Please note that these questions are very broad, and any exceptions should be construed very narrowly. When in doubt you should always err on the side of FULL DISCLOSURE.

If you answer yes to any of the questions, please attach the Character and Fitness Disclosure Template to your application explaining the circumstances. For questions 1, 2, and 3, please forward the official documentation showing the final disposition of the incident(s).

1. Have you ever been disciplined in any way for any matter by any college, university, law school, or other institution of higher learning, or by any professor, administrator, employee, or entity representing any college, university, law school, or other institution of higher learning, or have you been allowed to withdraw from such an institution to avoid such discipline, whether or not the record of such action was retained in your file? (Discipline includes, without limitation, a letter or other written notice of reprimand or warning, suspension, expulsion, adjustment of grade, assignment of community service, any form of probation, or any other adverse action.) (Entity includes, without limitation, residential facilities or other facilities owned or managed by a college, university, law school, or other institution of higher learning.) Character & Fitness FAQs

Have you ever been convicted of an offense, placed on probation, or granted deferred adjudication or any type of pretrial diversion? You must report any such offenses involving alcohol or drugs. You must report any failure to appear conviction resulting from any offense. You must report any conviction for failure to maintain financial responsibility (legally required auto insurance). You may exclude only Class C misdemeanor traffic violations. Character & Fitness FAQs
Have you, within the last ten (10) years, been arrested, cited or ticketed for, or charged with any violation of the law? You must report any offenses involving alcohol or drugs. You must report any failure to appear charge or warrant resulting from any such offense. You must report any failure to maintain financial responsibility (legally required auto insurance), arrest, citation, ticket, or charge. You may exclude only Class C misdemeanor traffic violations. Character & Fitness FAQs
Have you ever been confined by any governmental authority because you were found to be dangerous to yourself or others? Character & Fitness FAQs

If you answered "yes" to any of the questions, attach a completed Character and Fitness Disclosure Template for each incident explaining all the relevant circumstances. For questions 1-3, forward the final disposition of the incident(s).

5. I certify that I have read and understood the character and fitness instructions and questions, and by transmitting electronically, I certify that the information I have submitted is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I agree that I have a continuing duty to notify the University of Houston Law Center Office of Admissions of any matters that are required to be disclosed, even after I submit my application, and even after I begin school. This obligation exists until I graduate from the Law Center. If my answers change after I submit my application, I should contact the Office of Admissions to amend my application.

Application for LSAT Test Takers
This application is intended for applicants that are applying with an LSAT score. If you are applying exclusively with a GRE score, or are a Houston Law Express applicant, please DO NOT complete this application.

Full-Time or Part-Time Application
You have two options for completing your JD degree: 3-year, full-time program, or 4-year part-time evening program. You must choose either the full-time or part-time evening program; you may not apply to both. The full-time program is designed for students who plan to devote nearly all of their time to the study of law. The part-time evening program is designed for students who plan to work during law school. Full-time students are prohibited from working more than 20 hours per week. Please consider this mandate when determining which program will best fit your needs.

Deadlines
Applications must be received by the dates listed below:

Full-Time Early Decision: November 15th
Part-Time Early Decision: November 15th
Full-Time Regular Decision: March 15th
Part-Time Regular Decision: May 15th

Early decision is non-binding. In order to be eligible for early decision consideration, you must: 1) take the LSAT no later than the November administration, 2) your application must be received by November 15th, and 3) your application must be complete by December 15th. Applications that do not meet these criteria will be considered as regular decision. Applications received after the regular decision deadlines will be considered late and evaluated at the end of the admissions cycle on a space-available basis.

Admissions Policy
Qualifications for J.D. enrollment are based upon factors relevant to the legal profession and to enrolling a talented student body with a variety of perspectives, experiences, and viewpoints that will enhance the educational experience of all students. Academic ability as demonstrated by undergraduate cumulative grade point average, LSAT scores or GRE scores, are important criteria for admission. However, it is university policy, consistent with Texas statutes, that no single criterion can be utilized as the sole determiner of admission status, nor can fixed weights be applied to any one criterion during the admission process; therefore, the personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, and optional statements are extremely important in the decision-making process. All files receive a full-file review, and consideration is given to many factors. Additional factors include, without limitation, the applicant's background; honors and achievements; service to others; communication skills; talents relevant to the practice of law; hardships overcome; advanced degrees; work experience; leadership; and other relevant factors.

Credential Assembly Service (CAS)/LSAT
All applicants must complete their transcript registration with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). In addition, your LSAT score(s) will be sent through LSAC's CAS. Full-time regular decision applicants are encouraged to take the LSAT no later than February, but the April administration will be considered on a space-available basis. Part-time regular decision applicants are encouraged to take the LSAT no later than April, but the June administration will be considered on a space-available basis. LSAT scores earned prior to July 2021 will not be accepted. If you have multiple scores and would like for the Admissions Committee to consider a score from a future LSAT administration, please note that in the application and email lawadmissions@uh.edu requesting our office hold your file until the future LSAT score is available. Questions about the Credential Assembly Service should be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001 or lsacinfo@lsac.org.

Foreign Educated Applicants
Applicants whose undergraduate degrees were earned outside the US or Canada must use LSAC's CAS for the evaluation of foreign transcripts, unless you completed the foreign course work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. The Law Center accepts both the TOEFL and IELTS exams, which are only required of applicants who obtained their law degree from a country where English is not the official language. TOEFL and IELTS scores should be submitted to the CAS by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Additional information on the admissions criteria for international students can be found on our website - https://law.uh.edu/admissions/international-students.asp.

Mandatory Attachments

Resume (use an electronic attachment).
Personal Statement (use an electronic attachment).
Two letters of recommendation (no more than three) submitted through the LSAC's CAS.

Optional Attachments

Character and Fitness - If you answered "yes" to any of the questions in the Character and Fitness section, attach a completed Character and Fitness Disclosure Template for each incident explaining all the relevant circumstances. For questions 1-3, forward the final disposition of the incident(s).
Residency Statement - If there is any additional information that you believe the University of Houston Law Center should know in evaluating your eligibility to be classified as a Texas resident for tuition purposes, please attach a residency statement.
Prior Law School Enrollment - If you have previously enrolled in any law school, please attach a statement which includes the name of the institution or institutions, dates of attendance, the number of credit hours earned, and an explanation of the reason for not continuing your legal education there. We will also need an official copy of your transcript (sent through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service). If you are in good standing with the school, please provide a Letter of Good Standing.
Other Optional Statement - See "Attachments" section of the application for more details.

Additional information regarding the Law Center and the admissions criteria is available on our website.

Financial Aid/Scholarships
All admitted students will be automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. For more information on merit scholarships, please visit our website.

Checking the Status of Your Application
The Office of Admissions will notify applicants via e-mail when their application has been received. This communication will include instructions for using the online status checker. The Office of Admissions will also notify applicants via e-mail and through the online status checker when their decision has been rendered. Decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in December. Early decisions are usually emailed by mid-February. Regular decisions for full-time are usually emailed by mid-May. Regular decisions for part-time are usually emailed by early July. To protect the applicant's confidentiality, the admissions staff will not give admissions decisions over the telephone.

Contact Information
All communications will be sent via email, therefore it is important that you provide a current email address and that you check your e-mail regularly. Updates to your contact information should be sent to lawadmissions@uh.edu.

Campus Visits
Throughout the year we have a number of ways and times that you can visit the University of Houston Law Center. Event dates, times, and locations, including a calendar of events is available at Visit Us.

USD

**Please note, law school applicants have an ongoing duty to disclose throughout the application process.

1. Have you ever been found to have violated a university or college honor code, or been subject to any academic or disciplinary action (e.g., allegation, expulsion, suspension, probation, warning, dismissal, invitation or requirement to withdraw) from any academic institution attended, any employer, profession, or professional association? If "Yes", submit a detailed explanation using an electronic attachment.

2. Have you ever attended any law school including USD School of Law? If "Yes," state where and when and give clear reasons for leaving in an electronic attachment. You must provide a letter from the dean or other authorized official verifying your good standing, together with an official transcript from any law school previously attended.

3. Please clarify the status in which you left your prior law school. Select Item Does not apply to me, I am currently enrolled in law school Academically Disqualified from USD Law Academically Disqualified from ABA Law School Academically Disqualified from Non-ABA Law School Administratively Disqualified from ABA Law School Administratively Disqualified from Non-ABA Law School Administratively Disqualified from USD Law Withdrew from ABA Law School Withdrew from Non-ABA Law School Withdrew from USD Law

4. Please clarify the timing of when you withdrew from your prior law school. I withdrew... Select Item Does not apply to me, I am currently enrolled in law school Before sitting for any 2nd Semester Exams After sitting for any 2nd Semester Exams Before sitting for any 1st Semester Exams

5. Have you ever been charged with a misdemeanor or felony (or the equivalent in a juvenile court), is any such charge now pending, or are under investigation? In responding to this question, please include incidents where the charge was originally a misdemeanor or felony, but may have ultimately been reduced to a lesser charge or dismissed. Include all incidents, no matter how minor, even if the record has been sealed, obliterated, destroyed, dismissed or expunged. Please furnish complete facts, including the name and nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the name and locality of the court, and the disposition of each event using an electronic attachment.

6. Have you ever been convicted of a violation of a misdemeanor or felony? As used herein, a conviction includes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or a verdict or finding of guilt, regardless of whether a sentence is imposed by the court. Please furnish complete facts, including the name and nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the name and locality of the court, and the disposition of each event using an electronic attachment.

7. Have you ever been convicted by General Court Martial or did you receive a dishonorable or less than honorable discharge from the military? If "Yes", please furnish complete facts including the name and nature of the offense using an electronic attachment.

8. Has a restraining order ever been filed against you? If "Yes", please furnish complete facts, including the name and nature of the restraining order, the date of the offense, using an electronic attachment.

ABA Standard 504

Moral Character Amendment Notice

Applicants are required to promptly update their admissions application with any moral character disclosures that were not previously disclosed, from the time of application submission until a final decision is made. This obligation remains in effect for admitted students and persists through matriculation and throughout law school. Any new disclosures will undergo a review process and could potentially impact the student's standing at the School of Law.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES: REGULAR ADMISSION

USD has a rolling admissions process which means that the application is open for the majority of the academic year. However, applicants are encouraged to apply early. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all application materials are received by the School of Law admissions office. The latest LSAT, GRE, or JD Next test date that is generally considered is the June test.

Transfer Credit Applicants

If any of the circumstances below apply to you, please contact the USD Law Admissions Office at jdinfo@sandiego.edu to ensure your application is completed correctly and properly considered for our transfer credit program:

If you have completed JD credits as a JD student at another ABA-accredited law school in the United States you may, upon approval by the Dean, be allowed to transfer a limited number of earned credits for courses completed toward a University of San Diego School of Law JD degree.
If you are a graduate from a foreign law school you may, upon approval by the Dean, be allowed to transfer a limited number of earned credits for courses completed toward a University of San Diego School of Law JD degree.
If you are an applicant who graduated from a foreign law school and completed a Masters of Laws (LL.M.) program at University of San Diego School of Law you may, upon approval by the Dean, be allowed to transfer a limited number of earned credits from LL.M. courses completed toward a University of San Diego School of Law JD degree.

Note: Transfer credits shall not, individually or in combination, exceed one-third of the total required by University of San Diego School of Law for the JD degree.

If you would like to learn more about the possibility of transfer credits to the JD degree, click here to visit our website for more information.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES: EARLY DECISION PROGRAM

USD Law offers an early decision program to JD applicants. The deadline for filing an application for admission under early decision is December 1, 2025. All materials required for review (including the early decision program agreement) of your file must also reach the admissions office by December 1, 2025. The latest LSAT test date that can be considered is an exam held before November 8th, 2025.

The early decision program is created for applicants whose first choice in law school is USD. If you are admitted to USD under the early decision program, you will receive your admittance by December 22, 2025 and you will have until January 15, 2026 to confirm your place in the incoming class. Applicants are not required to withdraw from other programs should financial reasons prevent the applicant from attending. Applicants are required to meet with the USD Law financial aid team prior to withdrawing from other law programs with which they have an active application before submitting their full seat deposit to USD. If you apply under early decision and do not receive an early offer of admission, then your application will continue to be considered in the general applicant pool. To be considered for early decision, you must check the indicated box. You will also be required to submit a $500 nonrefundable deposit by the January 15, 2026 deadline.

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

We prefer applications that have been prepared using the LSAC electronic applications program. This service allows you to use your computer to efficiently fill out applications for all ABA-approved law schools. LSAC will then send an electronic version of your application to our office. Applications electronically submitted to LSAC for transmission to this law school will be considered postmarked on the day they are electronically submitted. If you are unable to complete an electronic application, please contact the USD Law Admissions Office via email at jdinfo@sandiego.edu for a paper copy*.* The paper application needs to be complete, accurate, and signed by the applicant. Submit the application to:

            University of San Diego School of Law  
            Office of Admissions  
            5998 Alcala Park  
            San Diego, CA 92110-2492

STANDARDIZED TEST REQUIREMENTS

All applicants, unless applying as a Direct Admissions Program candidate, are required to take the LSAT or GRE test OR apply with JD Next information on file.

For GRE and JD-Next applicants, if an LSAT exam is taken and a score is issued at the time an application is submitted, or any time after submission but before the start of first-year classes, it must be transmitted to the Office of Admissions via an updated LSAC Credential Assembly Service Report (CAS Report). The Admissions Committee may use any new standardized test information of this specific nature to change an original offer of admission. Failure to report said information may result in the same action. For more information about this requirement, please contact the USD School of Law Admissions Office at jdinfo@sandiego.edu.

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate competency in English by successfully completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants are required to send the results of their TOEFL directly to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

NOTES ABOUT APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Ethnicity - Colleges and universities are asked by many organizations, including the federal government, accrediting associations, college guides, newspapers, and our own college/university communities, to describe the racial/ethnic backgrounds of their students and employees. Your responses may be used for statistical purposes and in a manner in accordance with state and federal laws.

CREDENTIAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE (CAS) AND TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS

All applicants need to register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS), Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940-0998. This service collects and analyzes academic data and transcripts on behalf of most United States law schools and sends both the report and copies of the received transcripts to the designated school. First-year applicants need to request that all colleges, universities, and law schools previously attended send official transcripts directly to the Credential Assembly Service. Transcripts for work completed prior to registering with Credential Assembly Service (CAS) should be sent to CAS, not to USD School of Law. Applicants need to designate the University of San Diego (code 4849) as a recipient of the Credential Assembly Service report. Applicants should allow approximately six weeks for the Credential Assembly Service process. Applicants whose undergraduate degree was earned outside the United States also need to apply for the Credential Assembly Service. Applicants must demonstrate an earned degree which is equivalent to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

The admissions committee views the personal statement as an opportunity to evaluate the writing and thinking ability of applicants and learn more about their interests, personal background, and concerns. This statement must be 2-3 pages double spaced, with 12 point font and traditional margins. Applicants should refer to the application form for information regarding the content of the personal statement. You may also wish to address: (a) why you wish to study law, setting forth your special qualifications or aptitudes; (b) how you plan to use your legal training; and (c) any additional information you deem important for the admissions committee to consider.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Letters of recommendation are required by the USD School of Law. The letters must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. The directions and forms can be found at LSAC's website, LSAC.org. Letters will be forwarded to USD with an applicant's CAS report. Letters of recommendation should be from professors or individuals who can evaluate some significant aspect of the applicant's academic background and/or work experience. If the candidate has been out of undergraduate school less than five years, we prefer letters from academic sources. Applicants are required to submit at least two letters and we ask that you send no more than three through LSAC.

Applicants on the waitlist may submit one additional letter of recommendation outside of the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. For information on this step, please email jdinfo@sandiego.edu for instructions.

FINANCIAL AID

For updated information, please refer to the Financial Aid section of the School of Law website at https://www.sandiego.edu/law/financial-aid/.

NOTIFICATION OF DECISION: EARLY DECISION PROGRAM

The admissions office will begin to review early decision applications in November 2025. Applicants will be notified of the decision no later than December 22, 2025. The criteria used to evaluate applicants under this program will be the same as the criteria and selection process employed for regular admissions. Applicants who are not offered admission under the early admission program will be rolled over and considered with all applicants under regular admission. If an admission offer is extended, you will have until January 15, 2026 to confirm your place in the entering class by submitting the $500.00 nonrefundable seat deposit.

NOTIFICATION OF DECISION: REGULAR ADMISSION

The admissions office begins considering completed applications as late as November of the current application cycle. Since several thousand applications are individually reviewed, it may take several weeks or months for a completed application to be considered. Once the admissions committee has made a decision, applicants are advised promptly of the decision as an offer of admission, an offer of a place on the wait list, or a denial of admission. Because the admission process includes an evaluation of the overall achievements of each applicant relative to those of other applicants, many admission decisions are not finalized until the bulk of applications have been reviewed. Decisions are final and University of San Diego School of Law does not offer an appeals process for applicants.

Applicants who are in the wait list category may not receive a final decision until late summer. Due to confidentiality concerns, admission decisions are generally not communicated by telephone nor is information on an applicant released to anyone other than the applicant.

If an offer of admission is extended, the admitted student is required to send a deposit to the admissions office by the specified date in order to secure a position in the entering class. The offer of admission will be withdrawn if the required deposit is not received when due.

OFFICIAL FINAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENT

Admitted students must provide an official final transcript from all degree-granting institutions indicating that a degree has been conferred. The date of conferral must be listed on the transcript. Copies of transcripts provided with the law school report are not sufficient to meet this requirement. Official final transcripts need to be on file in the admissions office prior to the first day of orientation and the law school retains the right to withdraw an admitted student for failure to adhere to this requirement by stated deadlines.

NOTES ABOUT APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Ethnicity - Colleges and universities are asked by many organizations, including the federal government, accrediting associations, college guides, newspapers, and our own college/university communities, to describe the racial/ethnic backgrounds of their students and employees. Your responses may be used for statistical and reporting purposes.

Contact Information - Please note that e-mail is the primary method of communication used by the University of San Diego School of Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office.

Education - If you have previously attended a law school, including USD School of Law, state where and when and give clear reasons for leaving. You must provide a letter from the dean or other authorized official verifying your good standing, together with an official transcript from any law school previously attended.

Demographics - Our application includes a voluntary question on sexual orientation. If you choose to self-identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you consent to our sharing that information with current students, staff, faculty, and alumni who also identify as LGBTQ+ and who support community-building and recruitment efforts within the law school.

FINANCIAL AID

For updated information, please refer to the Financial Aid section of the School of Law website at https://www.sandiego.edu/law/financial-aid/.

Applicants who qualify for the University of San Diego Tuition Remission Program may not receive both a law school scholarship award and tuition remission benefits. More on this policy can be found at https://www.sandiego.edu/law/financial-aid/. Questions can be directed to lawaid@sandiego.edu.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

The educational mission of the University of San Diego embraces a commitment to academic excellence, individual dignity, and the development of the knowledge, values, and skills that will prepare students for service to their professional, global, civic, and faith communities. As a contemporary Catholic institution, USD has a moral and theological commitment to educating a diverse and inclusive student body. Accordingly, USD welcomes and respects those whose lives are formed by different traditions, viewpoints, identities, and lived experiences, recognizing that an inclusive student body is essential to the full and informed exchange of ideas and to the quality of legal education USD seeks to provide.

While LSAT scores, GRE scores, JD Next information, and undergraduate GPAs are important elements, other factors can also be significant in the admissions decision. These factors include: other areas of graduate study; work experience and community or professional service; awards and distinctions; personal recommendations; maturity and character; geographical background; undergraduate and graduate institutions and major; length of time elapsed since completion of undergraduate work; demonstrated motivation, discipline, and leadership ability; demonstrated success in completing a demanding educational program or activity; demonstrated success in overcoming hardship, discrimination, a social or economic disadvantage, or physical disability; demonstrated evidence of future promise, including the capacity to contribute to the legal profession and society; and lived experiences and perspectives that embody the University of San Diego and School of Law's mission statement and values.

The goal of the admissions committee, which serves in an advisory capacity to the Dean of the School of Law, is to consider all of the qualitative factors of each applicant that are demonstrative of the applicant's ability to successfully study law and serve as a member of the legal profession. When selecting from a pool of qualified candidates, the admissions committee considers the educational mission of the university, the critical role students play in educating one another, the demands of the legal profession, and the needs of the clients and communities they will serve. This makes the admissions process highly selective. The USD School of Law receives over 4,000 applications for roughly 240 available spaces in its entering class.

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF LAW MISSION STATEMENT

We are proud to be an integral part of the University of San Diego -- an engaged contemporary Catholic university community that is committed to advancing academic excellence, expanding liberal and professional knowledge, creating a diverse and inclusive community and preparing leaders who are dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service. The central mission of the USD's School of Law (Law School) is to cultivate and sustain a stimulating, entrepreneurial, and compassionate intellectual environment that nurtures and supports both our students' education and training and our faculty's scholarship. In the service of this central mission, we have educational and scholarly missions that sustain and reinforce each other. Our educational mission is to prepare our students to become outstanding attorneys and leaders who excel in the practice of law. Our scholarly mission is to make an enduring mark on our fields of study and to illuminate and enliven how we educate our students.

We strive through our teaching, scholarship, and service activities to instill in our students the capacity for critical judgment and practical skills that they will need to thrive in their professional lives. We are committed to providing our students with a deep understanding of the legal and social theory and research skills that will inform their choices and arguments. We are dedicated to endowing our students with a full appreciation of the ethical duties and responsibilities that come with being a member of the legal profession, which will allow them to become leaders in their public lives.

USD POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The University of San Diego is committed to upholding standards that promote respect and human dignity in an environment that fosters academic excellence and professionalism. It is the policy of the university to maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

To that end, the university prohibits and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of its employees, students or applicants for employment or admission on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, age, physical disability, mental disability, or other characteristic protected by federal or state law, unless a particular characteristic is a bona fide requirement of the position.

All members of the university community are expected to uphold this policy. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the university.

The university does not by this non-discrimination statement disclaim any right it might otherwise lawfully have to maintain its commitment to its Catholic identity or the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Tennessee

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: Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, character evaluations are conducted of all applicants for admission to a state bar. State requirements vary, and you should obtain information about qualifications for admission to the bar of the state where you intend to practice. Similarly, failure to provide complete and truthful answers to these questions may result in revocation of admission or other disciplinary action. In addition, state bar examiners will conduct background investigations prior to your admission to the bar. Therefore, you are advised to check transcripts and/or consult with school officials holding disciplinary records before answering these questions. If admitted, you are obligated to update this information provided in this section with any subsequent actions or conduct that takes place between the time of your admission and the end of your law school career.

Disciplinary Action:

Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on scholastic or disciplinary probation, expelled, requested to resign, allowed to resign in lieu of discipline, otherwise subjected to discipline, or requested to discontinue your studies by any college or university? Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation and any applicable documentation has been received.

Criminal Action:

Have you ever been cited for, arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any violation of any law including juvenile court? Note: Include matters that have been dismissed, expunged, subject to a diversion or deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. Omit traffic violations. If Yes, include a copy of the associated arrest report, complaint, indictment, citation, information, disposition, sentence, docket report, and appeal, if any.