Law school essay prompts

The Admissions Committee requires an original personal statement (attached electronically). Your statement should address factors that have been significant in your development and identity, something that may distinguish you from other candidates, or highlights of special achievements or accomplishments. As such, you should feel free to discuss the topic(s) of your choice. The Admissions Committee recommends a personal statement of at least 500 words.

This section is optional.

Is there any other information that you wish to provide us relating to your background and ability to add depth, breadth, or diversity to the law school class? Please attach your statement or additional documents.

1. Appalachian School of Law seeks a wide array of people with varied life experiences as candidates for admission. This statement is optional. You may describe any unique, interesting, or compelling qualities that you have and that would benefit the entering law school class. You may also use this section to describe any ties you have to the Appalachian region. (maximum characters 2000)

This section is optional.

Is there any information you wish to provide us relating to any connection to the Appalachian Region or Appalachian School of Law?

You may attach a statement or additional documents.

This section is optional.

Have you ever attended another law school?

If you answered "yes" to this question in the Education section, you should attach a statement explaining where and when you attended law school and your reasons for leaving. In addition, you must have that law school provide to us an official transcript and a letter from the dean/registrar explaining your status at the time of your departure from the prior law school.

If you answered "no" to this question in the Education section, you should indicate by "NA".

ASL's policy for admission of previously disqualified students is consistent with American Bar Association Standard 505. See https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_education_and_admissions_to_the_bar/standards/2024-2025/2024-2025-standards-chapter-5.pdf

This section is optional for applicants who elect to include a résumé in addition to the data included in the Employment section of the application. Keep in mind that for any full-time or significant part-time employment (including employment before, during, and after college), please list the positions held, dates of employment, and nature of your responsibilities.

Explain any period of time after high school not accounted for by the preceding educational or employment history. Please attach additional documents, if necessary.

1. 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 that jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Appalachian School of Law is committed to providing an educational program that ultimately will qualify its graduates for admission to the bar and prepare them to participate effectively in the legal profession. While Appalachian School of Law is prohibited by Virginia statute from requiring disclosure of information concerning arrests or charges that have been officially expunged (see Virginia Code § 19.2-392.4), state bar examiners may require that bar applicants disclose such information and closely compare disclosures on law school applications with such disclosures on applications for bar admissions. A vital component of all applications for bar membership is full disclosure in the character and fitness evaluation. Applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness and other qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners at http://www.ncbex.org.

For each question with a "yes" response, you must provide an explanation in the text boxes provided. The explanation(s) should include date, location, a brief description of the violation(s), and the final outcome or resolution.

For example:

Date: July 4, 2009
Location: Your town, State, USA
Violation: Speeding. I received a ticket for going 45 mph in a 25 mph school zone.
Final Outcome: I was found guilty in traffic court and paid all required fines and court costs in full. I have no pending traffic citations or tickets.

2. Regardless of the outcome, have you ever been arrested, cited, ticketed for or charged with any violation of the law, including juvenile offenses and traffic violations?
   (Note: In other words, all violations of the law must be reported.)

3. Are there any disciplinary charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

4. Have you ever been subjected to a civil forfeiture, civil fine, or sanction for civil contempt?

5. Have you ever been the subject of disciplinary proceedings at a college or university or with respect to a professional or occupational license?

6. Have you ever been suspended, dismissed, or placed on probation for academic performance?

Attach your personal statement describing your motivation for law school, any obstacles you have overcome, or your goals once your law degree has been awarded. The personal statement should be 1½ to 2 pages, double spaced, and on one side of the page(s). Please do not attach writing samples or other such material to your application.

This section is optional.

If there is anything else in your application that you wish to explain to the Admission Committee please outline them here.

Please attach a separate addendum or professional résumé listing the following information:

• Any significant work experience (including military and type of discharge) since graduation from high school.
• Academic honors received including scholarships, fellowships, prizes, and honor societies.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Every American jurisdiction in which you may practice law after graduation from law school requires each applicant for admission to the bar to meet character and fitness requirements as a condition of eligibility for admission. A character and fitness review will require truthful, accurate and complete reporting of all requested information related to past conduct that bar examiners may deem relevant to one’s fitness to practice law, in most jurisdictions including (but not limited to) all criminal arrests, charges, plea agreements, convictions, or instances of being taken into custody, as a juvenile or adult; all traffic violations except minor parking citations; involvement as a party to civil litigation; acts of fraud, dishonesty or lack of candor; educational discipline or misconduct; failure to pay financial obligations; and substance abuse. Many jurisdictions require disclosure of all criminal arrests, charges, plea agreements or convictions, as a juvenile or adult, even where the record has been expunged.

It should be noted, however, that while bar admission boards require a complete disclosure of requested information, in many instances past relevant conduct, particularly if isolated and/or not recent, has not resulted in denial or delay of admission to the bar in a particular jurisdiction of interest. (This is not to suggest or predict how any jurisdiction’s bar admissions board would respond to any applicant’s particular conduct disclosures going forward.)

A failure to truthfully, accurately and completely respond to a character and fitness inquiry, however, is commonly deemed a character and fitness violation in and of itself, and may be more detrimental to bar admission prospects than the undisclosed or incorrectly disclosed underlying conduct. Please be aware that if you answer “YES” to any of the following questions and are offered admission to Barry University School of Law, this is no guarantee by the law school that you will likewise gain admission to any particular state bar (including the Florida Bar). Admission to a state bar is a process separate from admission to law school, and each state bar makes its own determination of whether an applicant is fit to be admitted to its bar. You are encouraged, as you go through the law school application process and before you enter law school, to determine the character and fitness requirements of the jurisdiction(s) where you intend to practice 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 at www.ncbex.org/. If you are uncertain where you will practice law, you may wish to review the Standard NCBE Character and Fitness Application, titled Request for Preparation of a Character Report, of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which is used by a number of jurisdictions’ bar admission authorities.

Please pay close attention to the information that has been requested on the following questions of your Application for Admission. If your answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you are required to provide a complete statement explaining the ap

1. Educational Institution Discipline. (Academic Probation, Suspension, Expulsion) Answer the following question "Yes" or "No". If your answer is YES, an addendum addressing this issue MUST be included. Have you ever been warned, placed on academic probation, suspended, or expelled? If yes, provide a complete statement including the circumstances, the offense date, institution, and resolution or punishment.

2. If you answered "yes" to the above question please explain: (maximum characters 2500)

3. Educational Institution Discipline (Academic Dishonesty). Answer the following question "Yes" or "No." If yes, an addendum addressing this issue must be included. Have you ever been the subject of or accused of cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty at any school? If yes, provide a complete statement including the circumstances, the offense date, institution, and resolution or punishment.

4. If you answered "yes" to the above question please explain: (maximum characters 2500)

5. Education Institution Discipline. (Honor or Student Conduct Code Violations, Warnings or Probations) Has any type of honor code, ethics or conduct code complaint been made against you, or have you ever been investigated for any of these at any undergraduate, graduate or law school institution? If your answer is "yes", please supply all details of the matter(s), including but not limited to (1) date(s) involved, (2) specific charges or the specific conduct involved, (3) name, address and telephone number of both the academic institution and the particular office or person involved in investigating or charging, (4) whether any hearing was held on any such complaint(s) or charge(s), and (5) regardless of whether any hearing was held, the specific resolution of the complaint(s) or charge(s).

6. If you answered "yes" to the above question please explain: (maximum characters 2500)

7. Felony Offense(s) Answer the following question "Yes" or "No." If yes, an addendum addressing the issue must be included. In your entire life, have you ever been arrested, detained, or restrained, taken into custody, or accused formally or informally of a felony, whether or not the charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor, other lesser charge or dismissed? If yes, provide a copy of the final disposition and a complete explanation of the circumstances leading to the arrest, the subsequent action taken by the authorities, and the final disposition, including information about the conviction, incarceration, probation, and restoration of civil rights.

8. If you answered "yes" to the above question please explain: (maximum characters 5000)

9. Misdemeanor Offense(s). Answer the following question "Yes" or "No." If yes, an addendum addressing this issue must be included. In your entire life, have you ever been arrested, detained, or restrained, taken into custody, or accused formally or informally of a misdemeanor offense? If yes, provide a complete explanation of the circumstances leading to the arrest(s), the subsequent action taken by authorities, and the final disposition, including conviction, incarceration, and probation.

10. If you answered "yes" to the above question please explain: (maximum characters 5000)

11. Sealed or Expunged Records. Answer the following question "Yes" or "No." In your entire life, have you ever had any record expunged or sealed by a court or any other authority or institution? If yes, provide a complete explanation of the underlying circumstances regarding the record(s) sealed or expunged

12. If you answered "yes" to the above question please explain: (maximum characters 5000)

13. Civil Litigation. Answer the following question "Yes" or "No." If yes, an addendum addressing this issue must be included. In your entire life, have you ever been a defendant, counter-defendant, cross-defendant, respondent, or third**-**party defendant in any civil court proceeding? This includes, but is not limited to, default judgments, business proceedings, tax, or other governmental liens/assessments, and bankruptcy. If yes, list each and provide a summary of facts and final disposition.

14. If you answered "yes" to the above question please explain: (maximum characters 5000)

1. Complete your application to Barry Law using the LSAC electronic application; the application will automatically be certified through this process. It is strongly recommended you save a copy of your application for future reference.

2. Attach your personal statement and resume to the application. At Barry University School of Law, we value diversity and commitment to public service. Your personal statement may address diversity, commitment to public service, and your motivation to attend law school. You may also include information regarding obstacles you have overcome, and your goals once your law degree has been awarded. The personal statement should be 1 to 2 pages, double spaced, and on one side of the page(s). Do not attach writing samples or other such material to your applicant documents. Be sure to attach all relevant information before transmitting your application.

3. Make sure that you check the correct response regarding citizenship and that you accurately answer each question. List all undergraduate institutions attended with the exception of high school and include graduate and post graduate institutions. Transcripts from all undergraduate nstitutions must be sent to LSAC in order for your CAS report to be released.

4. If you answer "yes" to any of the Character and Fitness questions, a detailed explanation, including dates and the circumstances surrounding the incident are required. In some instances, court documentation may be requested. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is accurate and complete before transmitting your application.

5. Register for the CAS and verify that all undergraduate transcripts are sent for inclusion in your CAS Report. At least one letter of recommendation is required, and it must be assigned to our school. Additional letters can be submitted through your LSAC account or sent directly to the School of Law.

Barry University follows a rolling admissions policy and we accept applications until all seats are filled. The priority deadline for Fall is May 1, Spring is December 1. If accepted, a $200.00 non-refundable seat deposit is required to hold your seat and is credited towards tuition. An official transcript conferring a Bachelor's degree is a mandatory requirement and the final transcript must be sent to www.LSAC.org.

If any information changes from the time of the initial application, please contact the admissions office immediately. You will receive an email with your username and password within 24 hours of the submission of the application. In order to enable the receipt of important communications throughout the application and admissions process, add barry.edu and lsac.org to your safe sender list.

Please email us at lawadmissions@barry.edu if you have any questions regarding the application process.

A personal statement is an important and required part of your application. This statement should be limited to no more than three double-spaced pages typed in 12-point font. There is no specific prompt for you to write on. This statement should enable the reviewer to know you, your interests, and/or challenges that you may have experienced that have led you to this stage in your life.

This section is optional.

An applicant who believes that their background or life experience may have adversely affected them and their past educational performance, should provide detailed information about their background or life experience in this separate adversity statement. You may describe any challenges, disadvantages, traumatic events, forms of social exclusion, or any other kinds of adversity that you have experienced, and how these life experiences may have adversely affected you and your past educational performance. If so, please discuss how you overcame these adverse experiences and/or how they have shaped the person you are.

This section is optional.

An applicant who believes that their application contains any perceived weakness(es) (such as a low undergraduate GPA or a low admission test score) should provide a statement to further explain the perceived weakness(es) in their application.

Submit a résumé outlining your employment history, organizational memberships, volunteer experiences, and other pertinent information related to your work or volunteer history.

Applicants are required to answer the following questions fully and honestly. Applicants have a continuing duty prior to and after matriculation to inform California Western of any and all changes to their answers to these questions. Failure to make such disclosure(s) may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action by California Western, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which the applicant seeks 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 found guilty of an honor code violation (or its equivalent) at any institution of higher learning?

2. Provide a full explanation that specifies the surrounding circumstances, applicable dates, and repercussions of each honor code violation. Attach additional documentation ONLY IF your explanation exceeds the character limits allotted. (maximum characters 5000)

3. Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been apprehended, cited, arrested, taken into custody for, charged with, indicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty or no contest (nolo contendere) to the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except for minor traffic violations unrelated to the use of intoxicants, or been the subject of juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceedings, or is any such action pending or expected to be brought against you? Answer affirmatively even if the applicable offense has been dismissed or expunged.

4. Provide a full explanation that specifies the surrounding circumstances, applicable dates, and the sentencing, if any, be it incarceration, probation, community service, community control, restitution, fine, revocation or suspension of driving privileges, or suspension of sentence altogether. Attach additional documentation ONLY IF your explanation exceeds the character limits allotted. (maximum characters 5000)

5. Have you ever been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil lawsuit?

6. Provide a full explanation that specifies the surrounding circumstances, whether you were the plaintiff or defendant, applicable dates, and the outcome of each lawsuit. Attach additional documentation ONLY IF your explanation exceeds the character limits allotted. (maximum characters 5000)

7. Have you ever been informally or formally dropped, suspended, warned, placed on disciplinary probation, expelled, or requested to resign or allowed to resign in lieu of discipline by any educational institution, or otherwise subjected to any academic or non-academic discipline by any such institution or requested or advised by any such institution to discontinue your studies therein?

8. Provide a full explanation that specifies the surrounding circumstances, applicable dates, and repercussions of every disciplinary action taken against you. Attach additional documentation ONLY IF your explanation exceeds the character limits allotted. (maximum characters 5000)

9. Has any governmental or administrative agency (including any branch of the armed forces), or employer ever taken disciplinary action against you?

10. Provide a full explanation that specifies the surrounding circumstances, applicable dates, and repercussions of every disciplinary action taken against you. Attach additional documentation ONLY IF your explanation exceeds the character limits allotted. (maximum characters 5000)

You are required to submit a personal statement. Capital Law does not require adherence to a particular prompt; an applicant may choose to explore whichever subject they so choose. You may explore why you wish to attend law school, a memorable experience, a personal story - we encourage you to be personal and introduce yourself to the Admission Committee. We value learning about your perspective, worldview, and what unique perspectives you would bring to our student body. We encourage you to explore your individuality. The personal statement gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself beyond quantitative factors such as the LSAT score, academic grade point average, and information reflected on your resume. Your statement should be no longer than two pages in length, double-spaced. As strong written communication is valuable in the legal field, we encourage you to spend adequate time proofreading, editing, and finessing this portion of your application.

This section is optional.

Applicants may include optional written statements and essays. These written statements might be presented as a statement regarding the unique perspective you would bring as a student, a Why Capital Statement, an explanation of grades or LSAT scores, or another optional statement of the applicant's choosing. We welcome you to include an optional statement, should you determine it will benefit your application. We encourage optional statements to be no longer than one page in length, double-spaced.

Capital University Law School requires all applicants to submit a resume with their application. Your resume must include the following information:

• A chronological list of all undergraduate and professional institutions you have attended. Please include the name of the institution, the location of the institution, dates of attendance, major and degree, semester/quarter hours, and approximate GPA.
• A chronological list of your last five years of employment. Include your title, name and location of employer, and dates of employment. You may also include a brief statement summarizing each position. You should feel comfortable sharing, and are encouraged to share, full-time, part-time, volunteer, and unpaid employment.
• A list of all academic honors and awards received post high school.
• A list of extracurricular and community activities and leadership positions held, if any.

Answer each of the following questions YES or NO. If you answer YES, you must submit a supplemental electronic attachment which fully describes the date(s) and details of the disclosed act or event (see Attachments section). If a new event(s) or change in circumstance(s) should arise after you submit this application, you are REQUIRED to submit a signed and dated explanation detailing the new event/circumstance.

It is of critical importance that all questions below be answered truthfully. Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, the failure to disclose an act or event such as the ones described in the questions 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 Admission Office of any changes to your answers, may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action by the Law School, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission. If you are in doubt, disclose.

****1. Academic Misconduct. Have you ever been investigated, suspended, expelled, or disciplined, formally or informally, by any school, college, or university above the high school level? This includes academic probation.

2. Military Service. Have you ever been separated from any branch of the US armed forces under less than honorable conditions?

3. Criminal, Juvenile, or Traffic Offenses. Have you ever been arrested, served a summons, cited, indicted, taken into custody, charged, tried, or investigated for a felony, misdemeanor, infraction (including traffic tickets), or probation violation? (Include all incidents as a juvenile or adult, no matter how minor the charge, guilty or not, exonerated or not, whether or not sentencing was withheld, excluding only non-moving traffic violations that resulted in a penalty less than $25.00. You must include criminal and/or juvenile matters that have been expunged.)

4. Civil Suits. Have you ever, in any capacity, been a party to, named, or described in any civil proceeding, action, or suit, including divorce, any court case, bankruptcy, or administrative proceeding?

5. Licensure. Have you ever been the subject of any complaint, grievance, or proceedings that either sought or resulted in your admonition, reprimand, censure, suspension, discipline, citation, contempt, or fine as a member of any profession or occupation, or as the holder of any license?

6. Termination of Employment. Have you ever, for any reason, been terminated from employment or requested to resign by an employer?

7. Misrepresentation, Fraud, Etc. Have you ever been charged, formally or informally, with misrepresentation, fraud, misapplication, perjury/false swearing, or misappropriation of property, either individually or in a representative capacity (i.e., as an officer of a business entity, partner or other fiduciary relationship)?

8. Denied Licensure. Have you ever been denied any license or certificate requiring proof of good moral character?

9. Default of Financial Duty. Are you, either individually or in association with others, in default in any way in the performance or discharge of any duty or obligation imposed on you by decree of any court, including, but not limited to alimony, maintenance or child support?

10. Default on Indebtedness. Have you at any time in the past ten (10) years, either individually or in association with others, been in default on or past due for more that sixty (60) days on any indebtedness, including those barred by a Statute of Limitations?

11. Previous Dismissals. Have you ever been dismissed from or denied readmission to any law school or professional organization?

12. Overthrow of Government. Have you ever supported or advocated the overthrow of the U.S. government by force?

13. Sealed Record. Have you ever had a record sealed which contained facts relating to you?

14. Undisclosed Facts. Are there any facts not disclosed by your answers concerning your background, history, experience or activities which may cause one to question your character, fitness or ability to practice law?

At the Florida A&M University College of Law, we value diversity and commitment to public service. Please prepare an essay (no more than three typed pages in length) that addresses the following questions:

1. How have your life experiences and background shaped you into an individual who will enrich the Florida A&M University College of Law?
2. How have your life experiences and background demonstrated a commitment to public service?
3. Why do you want to pursue a legal education at Florida A&M University, and how do you envision using your legal education?

Please include a résumé summarizing activities, honors, work experience, accomplishments, etc.

Failure to truthfully respond to and/or disclose the requested information in response to the following questions may lead to disciplinary action, including but not necessarily limited to, the denial or revocation of admission, dismissal, the invalidation of credits, or revocation of the law degree from Florida A&M University College of Law. As stated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, "Failure to disclose information often yields a more serious outcome than the matter itself would have produced had it been revealed by the applicant."

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: http://www.ncbex.org/ .

If you are unsure whether to report an offense, you are strongly advised to answer "yes" and fully explain the incident.

1. In your entire life, have you been arrested, detained, restrained, taken into custody or accused, formally or informally, of violating a law or ordinance? Please include all matters, including juvenile and traffic violations resulting in a fine of $200 or more, regardless of final disposition (dismissal, acquittal, expungement, sealed or other resolutions).

If you answer "yes", please attach a statement providing detailed information regarding the nature of the offense and its disposition, including all relevant material, dates and facts as a Character and Fitness attachment. In addition, official documents pertaining to the incident(s) are required. Official documents include, but are not limited to, court documents, copies of the citation, letter of good standing from the university, letter from the university regarding academic or disciplinary sanctions and the completion of sanctions, etc. Official documentation must include the final disposition of the incident to be valid.

2. Have you ever been disciplined, warned, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, sanctioned, expelled, accused of an honor code or student conduct code violation or advised or required to withdraw by any college, university, graduate or professional school? If "yes," you are required to explain each incident in detail as a Character and Fitness attachment.

3. Have you ever been the subject of disciplinary proceedings with respect to a professional or occupational license? If "yes," please explain in detail within a Character and Fitness attachment. Additionally, include any official documentation.

4. Each state bar reviews an individual’s application for certain conduct that may result in further inquiry, including any neglect of financial responsibilities or professional obligations. In many instances, having debt is not the concern, but being irresponsible about managing and repaying that debt is what is more troubling. Therefore, if you have filed for bankruptcy, defaulted on financial obligations (including student loans), or experienced other instances of financial setback, it is crucial that you both explain those instances and provide evidence of renewed financial responsibility.

Have you ever filed bankruptcy, been delinquent or in default of any financial obligations, including student loans?

If you answered "yes" to attending any law school, please list the name of the law school(s), the dates of attendance, and the reason for leaving. In addition, you must provide an official law school transcript and a letter from each school regarding your status. Include any law school ever attended, even if you did not receive grades. Include any provisional or conditional program(s) ever attended.

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 it's to your understanding that any additional information with regard to your academic, personal, disability, social or economic status background, and the same merits mentioning it to the Admissions Committee for its consideration, you may send along with this application of admission an essay, that does not exceed more than two pages, double-spaced, in a letter-sized style or, if applying electronically via LSAC, use an electronic attachment.

1. Have you ever been suspended due to disciplinary action?

2. Except for minor traffic violations, have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in Puerto Rico, the United States, its territories, or abroad?, Except for minor traffic violations, have you ever been charged with a felony or misdemeanor in Puerto Rico, the United States, its territories, or abroad?

3. If yes, please explain: (maximum characters 1000)

Requirements for Admission:

1. You must have a Bachelor's degree granted from an accredited university or its equivalent, as certified by the Vice President of Academic Affairs of the Inter American University, with the minimum required GPA.
2. You must have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and have fulfilled the minimum score required by the Admissions Committee. Also, you must be registered with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS), as indicated at LSAC.org. The LSAT is offered in Puerto Rico and many different places in the continental United States. Application forms and any other information related to the LSAT can be obtained through:

• LSAC (Law School Admission Council)
  662 Penn Street
  Box 2000
  Newtown PA 18940-0998
  Telephone: 215.968.1001
  LSAC.org
• The candidate must take the LSAT no later than June of the year admission is requested.

1. Provide a copy of your official transcript from each of the universities and institutions in which you studied for your Bachelor's degree. Students in their senior year, or close to graduating, must provide an official incomplete transcript. Preliminary admissions are conditioned to the completion of these requirements.
2. Academic or disciplinary action cannot have been taken at any university or institution.
3. Must not have been under academic probation at any law, professional, or graduate faculty due to academic deficiency, or have been dismissed from any of them because of disciplinary action.
4. Submit a denying certificate of ever having been in prison from the police department of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico or from the police department of your place of residence.
5. Submit an application to the admissions office of the Faculty, no later than June 30, of the year for which you are requesting admission. The application must be accompanied by a certified or bank check payable to Inter American University of Puerto Rico in the sum of $63 as a nonrefundable admission fee. The same can also be made in cash, when the application is handed in at the admissions office.
6. Any applicant under the age of 21 must also submit health and immunization records with their application.
7. Include with your application a verification of Security Social number.
8. Once admitted, the applicant must register for the preparatory course during the summer semester that will provide integration and adaptation to the legal sciences. This is mandatory.

Foreign applicants must submit their accredited authorization documentation to fulfill studies in Puerto Rico and complete the required forms for the Justice Department, Immigration, and Naturalization Offices of the United States.

The Admissions Committee enforces on an annual basis criteria that will govern the admissions process for the first-year class of the following academic year. Unless specified otherwise, all correspondence regarding admission must be addressed to:

• Office of Admissions
  Faculty of Law
  Inter American University of Puerto Rico
  PO Box 70351
  San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8351

Additional Information for the Admission Process

1. The admission applications to the Faculty of Law will be considered for the class beginning on August and January of every year.
2. Selection is based entirely on the information provided in the application (test scores, GPA, etc.). Inter American University will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, gender, religion, nationality, marital status, physical appearance, political preference, or physical handicap.
3. Our admissions office has a notification system by telephone or mail, with the purpose of keeping the applicant well apprised of the status of an application. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to make sure that an application is in order and up to date. An applicant's file must be completed no later than June 30 in order for the application to be evaluated. Admitted applicants will be notified during the last week of June.
4. Once an applicant has been notified by mail regarding admission, a nonrefundable payment of $125 is needed to reserve a seat. Official documentation for the admission process is included in the brochure.

Transfers

Those candidates requesting admission as transfers should:

1. Fulfill the admission requisite by the faculty.
2. Come from a law school that is affiliated with the American Association of Law Schools or that is accredited by the American Bar Association.
3. Have maintained in the course of studies at the previous law school a 3.00 GPA or its equivalent.
4. Not have been suspended because of academic or disciplinary action, nor probation.
5. Submit a completed application to the Office of the Registrar on or before June 30, to be considered for admission for the semester beginning in August or before November 30, to begin studies in the month of January.

Decision for admission of transfer students is made by the Dean of the Faculty of Law.

The Dean of the Faculty will determine the amount of transferred credits to be accredited. Credits earned at a member law school of the American Association of Law Schools or approved by the American Bar Association will be the only ones accredited.

The only credits to be accepted will be those with a grade of "C" or its equivalent.

Applications for admission with "advanced standing" from law schools outside the United States and Puerto Rico will be considered on an individual basis by the dean.

In all transfer cases, at least two full semesters must be completed at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico to be eligible for the Juris Doctor degree.

Faculty of Law

Important documents required from all applicants

• Application for Admission
• Certification of police records (original)
• Official CAS report (include all scores from each test taken and credential assesment)
• Original graduation certificate with grade point average (GPA) (possible graduating candidate for May or in the summer)
• Application fee ($63 certified check or postal money order)
• Official transcript of Bachelor's degree with major (from university to university)
• Official incomplete transcript (if you are expected to graduate in May or summer)
• Immunization records*
• Official proof of citizenship or residency**
• Form I-20 (proof of eligibility)**

• Applicants under 21 years of age
  ** In case of foreign applicants

Please submit with the application a typed personal statement setting forth those life experiences which have contributed to your personal development and which have prepared you to undertake successfully a rigorous program of law study.

Please provide the following information on a separate attached document. You may still submit your résumé to facilitate this information.

1. List academic and non-academic honors and awards received, including fellowships, prizes, and membership in honor societies.

2. List extracurricular, volunteer, and community service activities.

3. List your positions of employment (either full- or part-time) and the dates of employment.

4. Explain any time after high school not accounted for by the preceding educational or employment history.

1. Excluding parking violations, have you ever been cited (including the paying of fines, even as a juvenile), detained, arrested, formally accused, or prosecuted for the violation of any law? Note: You must disclose each instance even though the charges may have been dismissed or you were acquitted or allowed to plead nolo contendere or an adjudication was withheld, or you were pardoned or a conviction was reversed, set a side or vacated, or the record sealed or expunged and regardless of whether or not you have been told by anyone, including a judge or a lawyer, you do not need to disclose such an instance. You must provide documentation of each instance. Please note, the Office of Admissions cannot complete an applicant's file if they have any open or pending criminal charges.

2. Have you ever been delinquent or in default of any financial obligations, including student loans?

3. Have you ever been subject to dismissal, suspension, probation, warning, or other academic or disciplinary sanction by any college, university, or professional school?

4. Have you ever been dishonorably discharged from military service?

5. Have you ever held a professional license which has been subject to disciplinary action, probation, suspension, or revocation?

You may use any of the Additional Items to attach any additional information, résumé, statements, or addenda you wish the Admissions Committee to consider in its review of your application for JD admission.

If your score on the LSAT improved or decreased substantially (four or more points) over time, we encourage you to attach an addendum explaining why you think the score(s) fluctuated over time. The members of the Admission and Scholarship Committee want to assess which score most accurately reflects your test-taking ability, and this is your opportunity to explain why one score is more representative. Likewise, if you had a bad semester or year in college, then this is your opportunity to explain what occurred so the Committee can put the academic performance in context.

You may use any of the Additional Items to attach any additional information, résumé, statements, or addenda you wish the Admissions Committee to consider in its review of your application for JD admission.

You may use any of the Additional Items to attach any additional information, résumé, statements, or addenda you wish the Admissions Committee to consider in its review of your application for JD admission.

You may use any of the Additional Items to attach any additional information, résumé, statements, or addenda you wish the Admissions Committee to consider in its review of your application for JD admission.

Every American jurisdiction in which you may practice law after graduation from law school requires each applicant for admission to the bar to meet character and fitness requirements as a condition of eligibility for admission. A character and fitness review will require truthful, accurate and complete reporting of all requested information related to past conduct that bar examiners may deem relevant to one’s fitness to practice law, in most jurisdictions including (but not limited to) all criminal arrests, charges, plea agreements, convictions, or instances of being taken into custody, as a juvenile or adult; all traffic violations except minor parking citations; involvement as a party to civil litigation; acts of fraud, dishonesty or lack of candor; educational discipline or misconduct; failure to pay financial obligations; and substance abuse. Many jurisdictions require disclosure of all criminal arrests, charges, plea agreements or convictions, as a juvenile or adult, even where the record has been expunged.

It should be noted, however, that while bar admission boards require a complete disclosure of requested information, in many instances past relevant conduct, particularly if isolated and/or not recent, has not resulted in denial or delay of admission to the bar in a particular jurisdiction of interest. (This is not to suggest or predict how any jurisdiction’s bar admissions board would respond to any applicant’s particular conduct disclosures going forward.)

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. If you are uncertain where you will practice law, you may wish to review the Standard NCBE Character and Fitness Application, titled Request for Preparation of a Character Report, of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which is used by a number of jurisdictions’ bar admission authorities. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available at www.ncbex.org.

A failure to truthfully, accurately and completely respond to a character and fitness inquiry, however, is commonly deemed a character and fitness violation in and of itself, and may be more detrimental to bar admission prospects than the undisclosed or incorrectly disclosed underlying conduct.

Because of the stringent character and fitness qualifications for admission to the bar, the Lincoln Memorial University - Duncan School of Law requires full disclosure in response to all questions. The application must be filled out completely. Failure to provide information may delay the process and require more time and effort at an inopportune time. Answer all questions honestly, as failure to do so may result in sanctions. Failure to disclose information often yields a more serious outcome than the matter itself would have produced had it been revealed by the applicant.

The questions asked in this section of this application are the exact questions we are asked about your file when you apply to sit for the bar examination. The investigative body does not disclose the information it possesses; rather, it compares what you disclosed on your application to the information it gathered independently.

The ABA precludes the admission of applicants who do not appear capable of satisfactorily completing a legal program of study and being admitted to the bar. Similar questions to the ones listed below will be asked of you at the time of application for admission to the bar, so candor and full disclosure is essential.

1. Have you ever been arrested?

2. Have you ever been accused of a violation of trust?

3. Have you ever been dropped from any educational institution?

4. Have you ever been suspended from any educational institution?

5. Have you ever been expelled from any educational institution?

6. Have you ever been asked to resign from any educational institution?

7. Have you ever been otherwise disciplined by any educational institution?

8. Have you ever been a party to a legal proceeding?

9. Have you ever been a party to proceedings before an administrative agency?

10. Have you ever been addicted to the use of narcotics?

11. Have you ever been addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors?

12. Have you ever been afflicted with or received treatment for an emotional disturbance?

13. Have you ever been afflicted with or received treatment for a mental disorder?

14. Have you ever been afflicted with or received treatment for a nervous disorder?

15. Have you ever been denied admission to the Bar of any state?

16. Have you ever been delinquent in any financial obligations?

If you answer "yes" to any of the above questions, you must fully explain the nature of each incident. Answering "yes" to any question does not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for admission. The Admissions Committee would like the opportunity to review all relevant facts including (but not limited to) the issue(s), the offense(s), the date(s) of the offense(s), the law enforcement agency involved and disposition, including fine(s), court costs or other penalties, etc. Please include the corresponding question number(s) and question(s) for each explanation.

If you need to provide additional details or documentation, beyond the available space here, please attach explanation(s) to the Character and Fitness attachment. You should entitle the document “Character and Fitness Explanation(s) of [Your Full Name]” and describe in detail the facts of each incident. Please include the corresponding question number(s) and question(s) for each explanation.

If you need to report additional incidents after submitting your application, please email your explanation(s) with a subject line titled "Character and Fitness Explanation(s) of [Your Full Name]" to law.admissions@lmunet.edu.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY -- JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR. SCHOOL OF LAW
OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
601 WEST SUMMIT HILL DRIVE
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37902-2003

Email: law.admissions@LMUnet.edu
LMU Law Website: https://law.LMUnet.edu
LSAC Code (for LSAT Applicants): 1977
ETS Code (for GRE Applicants): 4002

JD APPLICATION FOR THE FALL 2026 FULL-TIME PROGRAM

The following instructions are for applicants to the full-time program for fall 2026. The program begins in early August annually.

To be eligible to earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from LMU Law, students must complete a minimum of 90 credit hours. The course of study for a J.D. degree must be completed within a period of no fewer than 24 months and, except in extraordinary circumstances, no more than 84 months after beginning law school, including any time spent at an institution from which LMU Law accepts transfer credit.

THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

There are a limited number of seats available in the full-time program. The likelihood of receiving an offer of admission or scholarship generally decreases as the cycle progresses; therefore, applicants are encouraged to complete their files earlier rather than later. It is possible that worthy applicants who apply late in the admissions cycle may not receive an offer of admission and/or the level of scholarship they might otherwise earn had they applied earlier.

Applicant files will be reviewed holistically. Offers made will be based on the credentials and experience presented related to institutional goals for the program, the number of acceptances received to date, and the remaining seats available. Even highly qualified applicants are not guaranteed admission due to seat limitations.

Admission decisions are based on a thorough review of each applicant's file. While the LSAT or GRE score and cumulative undergraduate GPA are considered significant, multiple factors are considered when making a decision. Applicants who demonstrate that they possess the qualities and characteristics necessary to succeed in the study and practice of law will be selected for admission.

Scholarship opportunities will be considered as applications are reviewed. There is not a separate scholarship application. Scholarship recipients will be notified at the same time they are informed of an offer of admission. It is possible that not everyone will receive a scholarship despite being admitted.

LMU Law seeks to attract and retain students whose goals align with the institution's mission and purpose. Admitting applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences enhances the educational experience of all students. Strong consideration will be given to those who desire to serve smaller, underserved, and underrepresented populations throughout the Appalachian region and beyond.

Admission decisions are communicated in writing.

Admitted applicants must return the acceptance form(s) and pay a seat deposit by the acceptance deadline indicated in their offer letter to secure a place in the entering class. The seat deposit amount and submission deadline are provided in the admission letter. Seat deposits are non-refundable but will be credited toward tuition and fees upon matriculation.

APPLICATION AND PRIORITY CONSIDERATION DEADLINES

The application deadline for the full-time program is July 1, 2026. The priority consideration deadline is March 15, 2026. We hope to fill the available seats with applicants who apply by the priority consideration deadline; however, we will continue to review applications and make offers until the application deadline.

CHARACTER AND FITNESS

The legal profession is demanding. The admissions process is designed to ascertain if a particular applicant has the requisite academic preparation, temperament, and desire to practice this noble profession. LMU Law reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who, in the judgment of the faculty or its designee, does not demonstrate the character and fitness expected of a member of the legal profession.

Furthermore, a degree conferred by LMU Law does not certify an individual as "fit" to practice law in any jurisdiction. Fitness to practice law is determined by the state board of law examiners in the jurisdiction where an individual seeks a license. The licensing process typically requires a background check. Applicants should review licensure standards in the jurisdiction of interest before matriculation.

Standard 504(a) of the ABA Standards, Interpretations, and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools requires us to make you aware of the following:

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 they intend to seek admission to by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

For information on jurisdictions, please visit the NCBE website (https://www.ncbex.org/jurisdictions).

If you are uncertain where you will practice law, you may wish to review the NCBE Sample Application (https://www.ncbex.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/NCBE-Character-and-Fitness-Sample-Application-4.pdf), which is used by many jurisdictions' bar admission authorities.

Because of the stringent character and fitness qualifications for admission to the bar, LMU Law requires full disclosure in response to all questions in the application. If you answer 'yes' to any question in the Character and Fitness section, you must provide an explanation in the space provided on the application and also upload a separate written attachment. Title your document 'Character and Fitness Explanation ? [Your Full Name]' and attach it to your application. Each explanation should include the corresponding question number and text. Be sure to fully describe the nature of each incident and provide a detailed account of the relevant facts.

If you need to provide additional documentation or report other incidents after submitting your application, you can email your explanation(s) with the subject line "Character and Fitness Explanation of [Your Full Name]" to the Office of Admissions at law.admissions@LMUnet.edu.

Answering "yes" to any question does not automatically disqualify you from consideration. The Admission and Scholarship Committee would like the opportunity to review all relevant facts, including (but not limited to) the issue(s), the offense(s), the date(s) of the offense(s), the law enforcement agency involved and disposition, including fine(s), court costs or other penalties, etc.

ABA Standard 501(b) precludes the admission of applicants who do not appear capable of satisfactorily completing a legal program of study and being admitted to the bar.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for admission, an applicant must hold or be able to obtain a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree before matriculation from an institution accredited by a regional accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

LMU Law neither requires specific courses nor endorses any particular field of study in preparation for legal studies. However, those considering a legal program of study are encouraged to pursue a curriculum that emphasizes analytic and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, and task organization and management skills.

The American Bar Association (https://www.americanbar.org/) and Law School Admission Council (https://www.lsac.org/) websites offer excellent information on various topics that aspiring attorneys may find informative.

The following items must be received for an applicant's file to be considered for admission:

1. Application for Admission

Each applicant is required to complete the current application for admission. We cannot use applications or documents submitted for prior academic terms for the current term.

All questions must be answered completely and accurately. Failure to do so may result in delays, denial of admission, or rescission of an offer.

Applicants are encouraged to maintain a copy of the supporting documents and the application submitted. Most state boards of law examiners require applicants to recite information from their law school application(s) when applying to take the bar examination. Therefore, it would be helpful to make a copy of your law school application for your records to refer to when preparing to apply for the bar exam.

2. An Admission Test

An approved admission test is required for consideration. Applicants may take either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). LMU Law does not accept JDNext as a substitute for an admission test.

a. LSAT: Applicants may take the LSAT one or more times. While the high score achieved will be used for reporting purposes, the Admission and Scholarship Committee will consider ALL SCORES when making an admission decision

The LSAT is administered numerous times each year. The deadline to apply to take each exam varies, but a general rule is approximately six weeks before the administration of each LSAT.

To register for the LSAT, visit the Law School Admission Council's website (https://www.lsac.org/LSATdates). Only scores achieved within five years of matriculation will be considered.

Applicants who find it difficult to pay for the LSAT may be eligible to apply for a waiver from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Detailed information about a waiver can be located through the LSAC (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees/fee-waiver).

b. GRE: An applicant can take the GRE instead of the LSAT. However, if an applicant has taken the LSAT, the admission decision will be based on the LSAT score. GRE scores obtained before August 2021 will not be accepted for fall 2026 or subsequent enrollment.

Applicants who take the GRE must apply to LMU Law through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website and participate in the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. All official academic transcripts and letters of recommendation must be sent directly to LSAC?s Credential Assembly Service.

Applicants who elect to take the GRE (instead of the LSAT) must also instruct the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send all scores from the prior five-year period to LMU Law.

The ETS code for LMU Law is 4002 (Lincoln Memorial U. Duncan School of Law). Please note that there are multiple codes for the various graduate programs at LMU, and we will not be notified if you submit your scores to a different department within the university. Further, we will not receive your scores unless they are sent to the correct department.

3. At Least Two Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit at least two (2) letters of recommendation. Individuals providing recommendations should be able to comment on your aptitude for legal study and promise as a practitioner. Furthermore, recommendations should be based on personal observations of your academic or professional work, with specific examples being most helpful. In selecting references, applicants should focus on the strength of their professional working relationship with the individual rather than their stature. The Admissions Committee finds little value in letters submitted by references whose observations stem solely from a personal relationship with your family. Moreover, letters repeating information gleaned from your application are equally unpersuasive.

Applicants are encouraged to submit all letters through the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service. Using the Credential Assembly Service permits applicants to verify receipt of their letters of recommendation and track delivery to law schools by accessing their online accounts. Additionally, documents can be easily regenerated in the event of an error.

Although LMU Law will accept recommendation letters submitted by the authors directly to the Office of Admissions, there are no guarantees that all letters will arrive. In the event of a mishap or delivery failure, documents cannot be easily regenerated. Additionally, failure to use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service may delay the processing and review of your application.

Finally, letters of recommendation submitted to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service must be assigned by you from your LSAC account to each school to which you apply. Please remember to assign them to Lincoln Memorial University--John J. Duncan Jr. School of Law; otherwise, your file will remain incomplete until assigned to us.

The four-digit LSAC code for the Lincoln Memorial University--John J. Duncan, Jr. School of Law is 1977.

4. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report/Law School Report

In addition to registering and paying for the LSAT (or GRE through the ETS), all applicants must register with the Law School Admission Council?s Credential Assembly Service. The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration fee is currently $215. Additionally, applicants must pay a $45 Law School Report fee for each law school to which they elect to send a CAS Report. Nearly all ABA-approved law schools require a CAS Report to consider your application for admission.

Applicants who find it challenging to pay the CAS Report fee may apply for a waiver from LSAC. Detailed information and qualifications can be located through the LSAC site (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees/fee-waiver).

Detailed registration information, the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and required fees can be found at the LSAC site (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees).

Once registered, you must send the Credential Assembly Service official transcripts from every educational institution you have attended since graduating from high school. This includes community colleges, universities, and professional schools. The Credential Assembly Service centralizes the collection of college transcripts and letters of recommendation required for law school admission decisions. CAS sends your official transcripts to each law school in what is known as a "CAS Report." All transcripts must have been received before an applicant's CAS Report is released.

5. Writing Sample

a. Applicants Submitting LSAT Scores

You must complete at least one LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise. The LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise must be completed independently of the Law School Admission Test. Information about the LSAT Argumentative Writing Exercise can be obtained on the LSAC's website (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/about/lsat-argumentative-writing).

Once your application, personal statement, letters of recommendation, CAS Report/Law School Report, and LSAT Writing Sample are received, your file will be deemed "complete" and forwarded to the Admission and Scholarship Committee and the Dean for consideration.

b. Applicants Submitting GRE Scores

The GRE Analytical Writing section is a required component of the Graduate Record Exam. It will be scored by the ETS and provided to the law school as part of your score report.

6. Academic Addendum, If Needed

If your cumulative undergraduate grade point average improved or decreased dramatically over time, we strongly advise you to attach an addendum explaining the increase or decrease. The explanation need not be lengthy, but it should clearly describe your circumstances. The Committee wants to understand what occurred from your perspective.

7. Character and Fitness Addendum, If Needed

If you need to respond completely to a question or questions from your application's Character and Fitness section, you should attach each explanation in the Attachments section. Please include the question number(s) and question(s). Please include the number(s) and question(s) to which you are responding.

8. Personal Statement and/or Other Addenda

As an applicant, you can attach a personal statement and/or any other addenda. While not required, these documents would assist the Committee with understanding you as an applicant. The document(s) could expand further into responses you provided in your application, or they may provide additional information you want the Committee to consider.

The responses must be your own work, prepared without assistance from others, professional writing services, or generative artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT.

IF AN OFFER OF ADMISSION IS MADE...

If the Committee offers admission, admitted students must submit an acceptance form to the Office of Admissions by a specific deadline. Failure to return the form by the deadline date will result in the termination of the offer and forfeiture of the seat. If a scholarship is offered, both signature fields on the acceptance form must be signed and submitted (one to accept admission to the law school and the other to accept the scholarship).

Incoming students must submit a final official transcript from every educational institution attended directly to the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. If you have already submitted an official transcript from a college or university and have not taken any additional classes at that institution, then you will not be required to submit an additional transcript for that school. Moreover, you must submit an official transcript from any school where you have taken classes since you originally submitted them to LSAC. At least one transcript must indicate a bachelor's degree award from an accredited institution recognized by the United States Department of Education.

All transcripts must be received, processed, and verified by LSAC before Orientation. If all transcripts are not received, you may be unable to matriculate.

If you plan to graduate in August of the year you intend to matriculate in law school, please contact the Office of Admissions for guidance.

PREVIOUSLY DISQUALIFIED APPLICANTS

LMU Law considers the admission of applicants who have been disqualified academically from another law school. An applicant who was disqualified academically must demonstrate that he or she possesses the requisite ability to succeed in our legal education program. You must also demonstrate that the previous disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete the course of study at our law school, that extraordinary circumstances contributed to his or her inability to meet the academic requirements, and that the conditions resulting in the student?s academic disqualification have been remedied or no longer exist.

An applicant who was academically disqualified cannot apply for admission until one calendar year has expired since the student's disqualification. For example, if you were disqualified academically on December 15, 2024, then you cannot apply for admission to LMU Law until after December 16, 2025.

In addition to an application, letters of recommendation, and a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report, to be considered for admission, an applicant who has been disqualified academically must provide two separate written statements:

1. A statement detailing the nature of interim work, activity, or studies that occurred since the disqualification; and

2. A statement describing why you believe that you now have more substantial potential for the study of law and are likely to complete the course of study at LMU Law successfully.

The statements should be attached to the application through the "Attachments" tab of your LSAC account. Alternatively, the statements can be sent to law.admissions@LMUnet.edu. The responses can be uploaded as a single file if both questions are addressed separately. Moreover, the responses cannot be combined into a single essay. The Committee will not review a single combined response; each question must be addressed separately and clearly.

Finally, you must send an official transcript from the law school from which he or she was dismissed to LSAC?s Credential Assembly Service.

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

Applicants who may rely in whole or part on the federal student loan program to finance their legal education must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you file a tax return, a copy of your most recent return is needed to complete the FAFSA. Applicants are encouraged to complete this process as soon as practicable to ensure funds will be available upon arrival at LMU's Duncan School of Law. Lincoln Memorial University's code is 003502. Although the law school is in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, LMU's main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. Be sure to select the Harrogate campus when completing your FAFSA, as all LMU sites?including the law school?use that location for financial aid purposes. LMU has 15 extended sites, all of which use the Harrogate campus for the FAFSA and financial aid. Detailed instructions are available at StudentAid.gov.

STATEMENT ON ACCREDITATION AND APPROVAL

Lincoln Memorial University--John J. Duncan, Jr. School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.

LMU Law encourages applicants to confirm the legal education requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission to the bar by contacting the state bar admission agencies of the jurisdiction. Contact information for all relevant agencies is available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURE

Because the American Bar Association?s Council approved the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, as part of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, the law school meets the state educational requirements for licensure in all fifty states of the United States of America, as well as the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are no U.S. states or territories for which the law school?s full-time program curriculum does not meet the state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification.

Contact information for all relevant bar admissions agencies is available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners (https://ncbex.org/).

Questions? Contact Us. We're Here to Help!

Submit a two-page typed, double-spaced, Personal Statement, consisting entirely of your own work without the assistance of AI. Keeping in mind that LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs are only a part of what the Admissions Committee will consider, take this opportunity to explain to the Committee why you should be selected for admission to NSU Law. Topics that the Committee considers helpful in evaluating qualifications include:

• Significant personal experiences that inspired or had a significant impact on your life beyond what may be reflected in the transcripts and on the resume, especially experiences associated with the law. If you have had an experience that involved the law or legal system, that could make an appropriate topic too.
• Why are you interested in NSU Law? Characteristics and experiences that you will bring to NSU Law and the legal profession that distinguish you from other applicants.
• Long-range career plans and goals that you intend to pursue with your law degree.
• The intellectual contribution you will make to the classroom.
• Any other topic, story or subject you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that would be relevant to the consideration of your application.

Submit a typed, double-spaced, additional statement, consisting entirely of your own work without the assistance of AI, which should not exceed one page.

• Explain how your life experiences and background may contribute to classroom discourse and to the enrichment and discussion of coursework by and between your future classmates and professors and to your future legal career.

A Statement of Success indicates in detail how you plan to be successful if offered admission. This statement needs your full thought, attention, and drafting before submission as we expect that this statement exhibit stronger writing and advocacy skills than a first-year application.

1. Why do you believe you were academically dismissed?
2. What have you learned about yourself as a result of the dismissal?
3. What have you done since being academically excluded that will predict future success?
4. Distinguish in detail what you would do differently, if admitted to NSU Law than what you did in your first attempt at law school?
5. How are you attempting `self-care' and finding balance again in your life, while you address the pain, loss of confidence, etc. that this academic dismissal may be causing?
6. NSU Law does not believe that beginning law school a few months after being dismissed offers the opportune time needed to regroup. Please address sitting out a year, or two, before beginning 1L at NSU Law.
7. If we have one seat left for a student who was academically dismissed but who is the best prepared, and you are one of 2 competing for this seat, how should we decide and why?

Disclosure is required whether the matter occurred when you were an adult or a juvenile, or in the U.S. or a foreign jurisdiction. For each question in this section, you are advised to first consult transcripts, school records, institutions, court records, police records, or other records before answering to determine your response and to enable you to provide the detail required. Disclosure is required irrespective of advice you may have been given, including legal counsel, that such information need not be disclosed. Attach a statement for each circumstance requiring disclosure in accordance with the instructions for that question.

You may use this to attach any additional information, statements, or addenda you wish the Admissions Committee to consider in their review of your application for JD admission.

Submit a resume which should include the following:

• All post-secondary degree/certificate-granting institutions with attendance dates, major(s), degrees received.
• Employment with dates, position titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments.
• Extracurricular, political, public interest, and community activities.
• Honors, awards, publications, certifications, and licensures.
• List the names of all community organizations you are a member of.
• List the names of scholarships/awards and monetary awards you have been granted.
• Anything else such as hobbies, interests or other similar things that will help the Admissions Committee see what makes you an interesting addition to the class.

Please take particular care in responding to this acknowledgement and the following four 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. You should be aware that any state bar to which you apply will receive a copy of this application. In rare cases, bar candidates, after graduating from law school and the bar examination, have been denied admission to the bar on character and fitness grounds.

Disclosure is required whether the matter occurred when you were an adult or a juvenile, or in the U.S. or a foreign jurisdiction. For each question in this section you are advised to first consult transcripts, school records, institutions, court records, police records, or other records before answering to determine your response and to enable you to provide the detail required. Disclosure is required irrespective of advice you may have been given, including legal counsel, that such information need not be disclosed.

Because NSU Law is an American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law school, the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree meets the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the bar examination (required for professional licensure as an attorney) in all U.S. States as defined in 34 CFR §600.2. In addition to a bar examination there are character, fitness, and other state-specific requirements for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Moreover, specific licensure and certification requirements can vary by state. Because these requirements can change frequently and often without notice, it is strongly encouraged and is the responsibility of the student to ensure the student will meet all requirements for licensure in the states in which they seek to be licensed. For individual state bar contact information and requirements, please see National Conference of Bar Examiners.

1. At any post-secondary school, college, professional school, or law school, have you ever been expelled (dropped), suspended, disciplined (academic warning and/or academic probation or equivalent), or requested or advised to resign or unenroll. If "Yes," provide a complete, factually detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding each occurrence, dates and institutions involved, (including final determination of each), including school documents.

2. At any post-secondary school, college, professional school, or law school, have you been charged with or accused of any violation of standards, policies or codes of conduct? Otherwise, have you been investigated for or accused of cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty (regardless of whether the record has been sealed, expunged, canceled, or annulled, whether no record was made)? If "Yes," provide a complete, factually detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding each occurrence, dates and institutions involved (including final determination of each), including school documents.

3. Are there charges currently pending against you in any jurisdiction or have you ever been convicted of, or pled guilty (including a deferred sentence) to any violation of law other than minor traffic violations? Has your record been sealed, expunged, canceled, annulled, whether no record was made? If you answered "Yes," to either question attach a statement with dates and complete details (what led to the charge, details about the facts before and after the charge, including dates), the specific action and final determination, including court documents.

4. Has your license to practice or engage in any profession, occupation, or business ever been suspended or revoked, or have you ever been reprimanded, censured, or otherwise disciplined by the agency that oversees such a license? If "Yes," provide a complete statement for each occurrence that includes the dates involved, nature of the charge, the facts (before and after the charge), the disposition of the matter**,** including licensing agency documents.

FIRST YEAR JD APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

SCHOLARSHIP PRIORITY CONSIDERATION is given to COMPLETED APPLICATIONS Received by DECEMBER 15, 2026, at 11:59PM (EASTERN TIME)

*1. It is strongly recommended that applications be submitted and completed by December 15, for early consideration and to compete for scholarships. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. FINAL DEADLINE for SUBMISSION and TRANSMISSION of the application is JUNE 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM (EASTERN TIME). NSU Shepard Broad College of Law does not charge an application fee.

2. Complete as much of the data requested as possible. Items/fields marked with an asterisk () are required and must be completed to submit your application. While other items are optional, the data provided will assist us in our review process. Nova Southeastern University (NSU) recognizes the importance of protecting personal privacy. Read our Privacy Policy, including notifications for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

*3. Designate the preferred division, Full-Time or Part-Time.

*4. Submit a two-page typed, double-spaced, Personal Statement, consisting entirely of your own work without the assistance of AI. Keeping in mind that LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs are only a part of what the Admissions Committee will consider, take this opportunity to explain to the Committee why you should be selected for admission to NSU Law. Topics that the Committee considers helpful in evaluating qualifications include:

• Significant personal experiences that inspired or had a significant impact on your life beyond what may be reflected in the transcripts and on the resume, especially experiences associated with the law. If you have had an experience that involved the law or legal system, that could make an appropriate topic too.
• Why are you interested in NSU Law? Characteristics and experiences that you will bring to NSU Law and the legal profession that distinguish you from other applicants.
• Long-range career plans and goals that you intend to pursue with your law degree.
• The intellectual contribution you will make to the classroom.
• Any other topic, story or subject you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that would be relevant to the consideration of your application.

*5. Submit a typed, double-spaced, additional statement, consisting entirely of your own work without the assistance of AI, which should not exceed one page.

• Explain how your life experiences and background may contribute to classroom discourse and to the enrichment and discussion of coursework by and between your future classmates and professors and to your future legal career.

*6. Submit a resume which should include the following:

• All post-secondary degree/certificate-granting institutions with attendance dates, major(s), degrees received.
• Employment with dates, position titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments.
• Extracurricular, political, public interest, and community activities.
• Honors, awards, publications, certifications, and licensures.
• List the names of all community organizations you are a member of.
• List the names of scholarships/awards and monetary awards you have been granted.
• Anything else such as hobbies, interests or other similar things that will help the Admissions Committee see what makes you an interesting addition to the class.

*7. Two (2) letters of recommendation are required through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). These letters should preferably be from college professors, who have taught you in person or virtually, and can attest to your ability to enter a competitive program in the law.

• If you are currently in college/university or have graduated within a year**, one of the required letters** must be academic, from one of your professors.
• If your graduating GPA is below NSU Law's percentiles, one of the required letters should be academic, from one of your professors. If you have been out of school for some time, letters from a work situation can be helpful.

*8. Official transcript(s) from all post-secondary educational institutions must be submitted to LSAC for the CAS report. This includes any dual enrollment (for example, courses taken during high school at a community college) or registered courses whether completed or not. These transcripts must be sent by the institution(s) directly to LSAC, and not by the applicant.

• If you are still enrolled in courses, you will have to send an updated transcript to LSAC with the most current semester update.
• Example: If you apply while enrolled in your fall semester, once you complete the semester you will need to submit the updated transcript to LSAC to be processed. The Admissions Committee will continue their review once final transcripts are received.

*9. All applicants whose education was not completed in English must submit official scores from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) before the application will be processed. The minimum score accepted: 100-TOEFL internet-based test, or 7.0-IELTS. Scores should not be more than two years old and should be sent directly to LSAC by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or by IELTS. If you have a bachelor's or master's degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction and examination, you may be exempt from the English test requirement. Please submit proof with your application.

All materials submitted as part of the application process become the property of Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law (NSU Law).

For questions regarding the application, please contact NSU Law, Office of Admissions at 954-262-6119 or law-admissions@nova.edu

Information about requirements, the admissions review process, deadlines, entering class profile, and our programs may be found on our website.

Office of Admissions
Nova Southeastern University
Shepard Broad College of Law
3070 Shepard Broad Way
Davie, FL 33314
Phone: 954.262.6119
Toll-Free: 800.986.6529, ext. 26119

https://www.law.nova.edu/index.html

Provide a personal statement as an electronic attachment. Please be concise and submit no more than two-to-three pages double-spaced. A well-written personal statement is the most effective means of communication with the Office of Law Admissions and the Admissions Committee. Applicants should use the personal statement to provide insight into the general background and motivation the applicant can bring to Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law. The personal statement also serves as a sample of the applicant's writing ability.

Please choose one of the following topics below:

• Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law has many unique programs and attributes. Given there are many law schools throughout the country, please discuss why you want to attend law school and, more specifically, why you have applied to ONU Law.
• Given your personal, educational, and cultural background, please discuss how you would add value to the community at ONU Law.

1. Briefly describe your interest in Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law: (maximum characters 500)

Please use this to attach any additional addendums you wish to submit.

Enclose a current and complete résumé.

You must answer every question within the Character and Fitness section. If you fail to do so, your application will be returned to you. If you answer YES to any of the questions in this section, you must submit an explanation (electronic attachment), including the date, details of incident, outcome, and current status of the incident, and any other pertinent information. Applications WILL NOT be processed until we receive an explanation. 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.

1. Have you ever been charged with and/or convicted of any criminal offense other than minor traffic violations including as a juvenile? You must answer YES even if your record has been expunged. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to request further documentation.

2. If you answered YES to question 1, was the incident a misdemeanor?

3. If you answered YES to question 1, was the incident a felony?

4. Are criminal charges now pending against you?

5. If you answered “yes” to number 4, are the charges pending against you misdemeanor charges or felony charges?

6. Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled, or requested or advised to resign or withdraw from any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school? If so, please explain fully.

7. Have you ever been delinquent or in default of any financial obligations, including student loans?

8. Have you ever filed or been the subject of a petition for bankruptcy?

9. As a member of any profession or professional organization, have you ever been disciplined for unethical conduct?

10. Have you ever been a party in any litigation?

11. Are there any other potential character and fitness issues you feel should be disclosed to the College of Law?

Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law

Application for Admission

Lawyers are held to a high ethical standard; therefore, you are required to fully disclose all acts and/or events that implicate this standard. Failure to provide truthful and complete answers and/or provide the Office of Law Admissions with any changes to your current situation can be more significant and lead to more serious consequences than the act or event itself. Such omissions may be reported to LSAC and may result in the revocation of admission, disciplinary action by the Law School and/or denial of permission to practice law by a state bar association.

ONU Law makes the determination as to whether the applicant's moral character warrants admission to law school.

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.

Non-Discrimination Statement:

It is the policy of Ohio Northern University not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, transgender status, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law in its educational programs, admissions policies, employment policies, financial aid, or other school administered programs.

Notice:

Our Summer Starter Program is an 8 week (in-person) program that begins the Tuesday after Memorial Day. That program has limited seats, and we interview all those who make it past the application stage. Those interviews are on specific dates running November - the first week of April, please contact our office if you would like to know the dates ahead of time. If you are interested in this program, please indicate it on your application, and apply early to ensure you get your application reviewed, and have the opportunity to interview before the program begins in May.

Admissions Application Checklist:

• Attach the (required) detailed explanation for each part of the Character and Fitness section for which you responded "YES".
• Attach a current and complete résumé.
• Attach a personal statement. Please be concise and submit no more than two-to-three pages double-spaced. A well-written personal statement is the most effective means of communication with the Office of Law Admissions and the Admissions Committee. Applicants should use the personal statement to provide insight into the general background and motivation the applicant will bring to Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law. The personal statement also serves as a sample of the applicant's writing ability. Please choose one or more of the following topics below:
  • ONU Law has many unique programs and attributes. Given there are many law schools throughout the country, please discuss why you want to attend law school and, more specifically, why you have applied to ONU Law.
  • Given your personal, educational, and cultural background, please discuss how you would contribute to a diverse intellectual environment and/or multicultural experiences at ONU Law.
  • Please provide more context on how your experiences and strengths could make you a valuable contributor to the community at ONU Law.
• Please provide the names of a maximum of three people who will send recommendation letters on your behalf, one letter of recommendation is required.
• In order for your application to be considered complete, you must have submitted at least one LSAT writing sample, unless you are applying with the GRE.
• If you are a GRE applicant please email us a PDF copy of your scores to lawadmissions@onu.edu
• Electronically sign and date your application. False statements, omissions, or misrepresentations will be reported to LSAC and may result in the rejection of your application. Notify the Admissions Office of any changes.

Please use this to attach your GRE test results.

DECLARACIÓN PERSONAL En nuestra sociedad, la abogacía desempeña un rol fundamental en la defensa de los valores y garantías que sostienen a un sistema libre y democrático. Para nuestra Escuela de Derecho resulta fundamental poder proveer una educación de excelencia, adecuada para la formación de juristas capaces y comprometidos, plenamente conscientes de su responsabilidad social, que contribuyan al fortalecimiento de una sociedad ética, justa e inclusiva. Es por ello que en nuestra Escuela de Derecho fomentamos un ambiente diverso, vibrante y estimulante a través de la admisión de estudiantes calificados y con diversos trasfondos, talentos, experiencias y perspectivas y que sean representativos de todos los sectores del país, en especial de aquellos con mayor desventaja socioeconómica, o pertenecientes a grupos históricamente discriminados, como por ejemplo, por su raza, sexo, género, orientación sexual o identidad de género. Una diversidad amplia abarca experiencias de vida, trasfondos socioeconómicos y otros atributos que les permitan a nuestros estudiantes aportar perspectivas únicas o diferentes al ambiente académico de la Escuela de Derecho y al logro de una profesión jurídica diversa y representativa de todos los sectores del país.

Con estas consideraciones en mente, usted debe relatar en su declaración personal cualquier experiencia de vida que haya tenido, talentos personales excepcionales que tenga o haya desarrollado y cualquier otro dato sobre su trasfondo que pueda ser relevante para aportar a la diversidad de nuestro cuerpo estudiantil. Explique cómo usted podría aportar una perspectiva única y diversa como estudiante de nuestra Escuela de Derecho.

Experiencias de vida relevantes pueden incluir, pero no están limitadas a, experiencias académicas y laborales, desventajas socioeconómicas, retos o dificultades financieras, retos o dificultades académicas, limitaciones físicas, trabajo comunitario o experiencia de servicio a la comunidad, ser en su familia inmediata de primera generación en realizar estudios universitarios, haber tenido una crianza en un ambiente rural o urbano inusual, haber residido en el extranjero, tener demostrados dotes de liderazgo, haber cursado estudios graduados o circunstancias familiares extraordinarias.

(La declaración personal debe tener en un máximo de 2 páginas (papel 8 1/2” x 11”), espacio sencillo y letra 12)

COPIA DE UN TRABAJO O ESCRITO UNIVERSITARIO Cada solicitante debe incluir una copia de un trabajo escrito que haya realizado individualmente durante sus estudios universitarios. De no tener un escrito disponible, puede preparar un escrito sobre cualquier tema, en el que demuestre sus capacidades de redacción y análisis. No se aceptarán trabajos grupales, trabajos que no sean en forma de ensayo, trabajos de tesis o tesinas, ni libros. El trabajo escrito deberá tener de 8-15 páginas.

OTRA INFORMACIÓN Provea una explicación detallada para cada pregunta a la cual contestó afirmativamente de modo que el asunto pueda ser evaluado adecuadamente.

*La comisión de un delito grave por parte del solicitante exige una evaluación de su caso, pero no implica necesariamente su descalificación.

RESUME O CURRICULUM VITAE Favor de incluir su resume o curriculum vitae, el cual deberá incluir su experiencia académica y laboral, si alguna.

RELEVO DE REVÁLIDA Favor de incluir el documento titulado Relevo de Reválida que se encuentra en el enlace titulado "Forms" en el menú de la solicitud.

CERTIFICACIÓN IDIOMA ESPAÑOL Favor de incluir la hoja titulada Certificación Idioma Español con la información requerida. El documento se encuentra en el enlace titulado "Forms" en el menú de la solicitud.

ACREDITACIÓN DE LECTURA Favor de incluir la hoja titulada Acreditación de Lectura con la información requerida. El documento se encuentra en el enlace titulado "Forms" en el menú de la solicitud.

CERTIFICATION LETTER Favor de incluir el documento titulado "Certification Letter" con la información requerida. El documento se encuentra en el enlace titulado "Forms" en el menú de la solicitud.

Applicants are required to submit a personal statement. The personal statement should be two to three pages in length, double spaced, and uploaded as an attachment to the online application. In your personal statement, or as a separate attachment, please include answers to both of the following questions:

• What are your career plans after law school or areas of interest in the law?
• Describe any life experiences that would indicate unusual drive, determination, perseverance, motivation, or leadership characteristics.

Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes all post-high school education, employment history, honors and awards, and extracurricular activities including community service.

Note: Gaps in an applicant's education or employment history of more than six months should be included in the resume; however, a separate addendum should be included to explain the gap in education or employment. The resume (and addendum, if applicable) should be uploaded with the online application.

Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School requires all applicants to make a complete and full disclosure to the Character and Fitness questions at time of application. If the answer is "Yes" to one or more of the Character and Fitness questions outlined in the application, applicants will need to upload a written explanation of each incident that includes dates, locations, charges, associated fees, and final disposition.

NOTE: Full disclosure is required for any charges against you, including those that have been dismissed, and those for which you were acquitted, adjudication was withheld or deferred, a conviction was reversed, set aside, or vacated, any records were sealed or expunged, you received court supervision, or you pled guilty or nolo contendere to the charge, and regardless of whether you have been previously told that you do not need to disclose any such instance.

In addition, applicants are under continuing obligation to update disclosures and add new occurrences. Failure to make complete disclosure on this application may result in revocation of an offer of admission to Simmons Law School and/or denial of your application for admission to practice law in a particular state. Discrepancies between disclosure on this application and an applicant?s Character and Fitness Application for admission to the bar may result in serious consequences while in law school and when applying to take the bar examination. Therefore, prior to matriculation, applicants are encouraged to seek the specific bar requirements for the state the applicant plans to practice 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.

If you answer "Yes" to any question(s) below, you will need to upload a written explanation of each incident that includes dates, locations, charges, associated fees, and final disposition. For clarification in answering these questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at (618) 453-8858.

1. Have you ever been reprimanded, placed on probation, disciplined, suspended, sanctioned, dropped, or expelled by any post-secondary institution, professional association or licensing agency for any academic, non-academic or social reason? Include actions arising from academic dishonesty (such as cheating, plagiarism, and similar activities) and instances of behavioral misconduct (including, but not limited to, alcohol or substance abuse, violations of institutional or student conduct codes).

2. Have you ever been charged or convicted of any crime or offense, including misdemeanors and felonies, or is there now pending against you any indictment, criminal information, or criminal complaint charging a felony or misdemeanor offense, excluding minor traffic offenses? This includes offenses that have been expunged from your record or instances in which the records have been sealed. It includes offenses for which you were charged or convicted when you were a juvenile or adult. Your duty to disclose all offenses for which you have been charged or convicted exists irrespective of any legal advice you receive suggesting you are not required to disclose the offense.

3. Is there a warrant for arrest pending or issued against you, or has a warrant for arrest ever been issued against you?

4. Is an order of protection pending against you or has an order of protection ever been issued against you?

5. By initialling, I certify that my responses to the Character and Fitness questions are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and I further acknowledge the consequences described above of providing false information.

Contact Information

Office of Admissions
SIU Simmons Law School
1150 Douglas Drive, Mail Code 6804
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
(618) 453-8858
lawadmit@siu.edu

Consideration for Admission

Individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree or equivalent, from an accredited institution in the United States or abroad, by the first day of fall semester class (August 17, 2026), are eligible for admission to law school. There are no prerequisite courses or specific majors required for entry. Students from all disciplines and areas of study are admitted to Simmons Law School.

Application and Admissions Timeline

The Simmons Law School Admissions Committee will conduct a holistic review of each application received. Therefore, while GPA and LSAT are important factors in the admissions process, non-numeric factors are considered. Non-numeric factors include, but are not limited to, the personal statement, letters of recommendation, work experience, community service, and honors or awards reflected through a resume.

Applications for Fall 2026 entry are available on September 1, 2025 through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC.org). The application deadline is July 1, 2026. We will accept any LSAT scores that arrive from LSAC before the deadline.

• September 1: Application cycle for Fall 2026 opens.
• October: Admissions Committee begins reviewing applicant files.
• October through July: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; decisions posted to the applicant's online status checker.
• April 1: First seat deposit due.
• May 15: Second seat deposit due.
• June 15: Application deadline for international applicants (see below).
• July 1: Application deadline for all other applicants, including transfer applicants. Application cycle for Fall 2026 closes.

Application Material Checklist

Below is a checklist for first-year JD applicants. For international, transfer, or visiting JD applicants, please visit www.law.siu.edu for a specific list of requirements. An application will not be reviewed until all application materials have been received. An application must be complete by the application deadline. Once a file is complete, please allow up to six weeks for a committee decision to be reached. All admission decisions are posted to the applicant?s online status checker.

• Create a LSAC.org account
• Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
• Submit all undergraduate and graduate transcripts to LSAC
• Submit two letters of recommendation to LSAC
• Submit 2026 Application, including your personal statement and resume, to LSAC
• Pay the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) fee
• Request GRE Score Report release to SIU Simmons Law School (School 1751) if you choose to use GRE scores instead of LSAT
• If you choose to submit your application before you have taken the LSAT or before the score is available and do not want Simmons Law to consider your application without the score (whether new or a retake), email lawadmit@siu.edu to notify us so that we know to wait. If you do not notify us, your application will be considered without the missing score.

Special note for June LSAT takers

The application deadline is July 1 of each year. Given the date LSAC releases June LSAT scores, applicants who are considering taking the June LSAT should make sure that all other application materials have been submitted before scores are released so that their file is complete by the July 1 deadline. Because LSAT scores for applicants who have requested accommodations are sometimes delayed, applicants with accommodations are advised to take the April instead of the June LSAT to avoid missing the application deadline. Similarly, applicants who have purchased the LSAT score preview option from LSAC should make sure that using this option doesn't delay their score past the July 1 application deadline.

Additional application materials for transfer applicants

In addition to the materials above, transfer applicants (students currently enrolled in another law school) must provide the following:

• an official law school transcript from their current law school showing grades earned in all courses sent to LSAC;
• a letter of good standing from the law school dean or registrar certifying their good standing;
• a letter, transcript or email from the law school dean or registrar indicating their class rank, and
• the cumulative GPA needed to graduate from their current law school.

Accepting an offer of admission

To accept an offer of admission, an applicant must pay a seat deposit of $500. If the applicant is admitted before May 15th, the deposit can be paid in two installments of $250 each. Applicants admitted May 15 or later will have two weeks to submit the full seat deposit. Seat deposits cannot be waived and are non-refundable. A portion of the seat deposit is given back to students who are enrolled through the second week of their first semester at Simmons Law School.

Application Fee Waiver

The SIU Simmons Law School does not charge a fee for an application. However, LSAC charges for the LSAT and the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). LSAC offers full and partial waivers to applicants who have an inability to pay for either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the CAS Report. For more information, visit the LSAC website: Apply for an LSAC Fee Waiver | The Law School Admission Council. Because Simmons Law does not charge an application fee, we do not offer CAS fee waivers.

LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

Applicants are required to register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). All undergraduate and graduate transcripts and letters of recommendation must be sent directly to LSAC. For more information on the LSAT or CAS, visit the Law School Admission Council website, LSAC.org. Questions relating to your CAS law school report should be directed to LSAC, Box 2000, 662 Penn Street, Newtown, PA 18940-0998. The candidate referral service phone number is (215) 968-1001.

International Applicants

International applicants are citizens or permanent residents of a country outside the United States (U.S.) that require an F-1 or J-1 visa to enter and study in the U.S. Please note that the application deadline for international applicants is two weeks earlier (June 15) than the application deadline for domestic applicants.

International applicants who are admitted to the School of Law may be required to participate in the Southern Illinois University Center for English as a Second Language Graduate Student English Program or an equivalent program prior to matriculation. To learn more about our admission requirements for international applicants visit the School of Law website, www.law.siu.edu.

Applicants with undergraduate degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States and whose native language is not English, or who have not obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree in the United States, must provide proof of English proficiency. Applicants may submit a qualifying TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency exam score. Minimum English Proficiency exam scores are 600 (PBT)/100 (IBT) TOEFL or 7 IELTS. Applicants must retake the English proficiency exam if the minimum score is not earned. If you completed a degree in a third-party country where English was the primary language of instruction, this may be considered on a case-by-case basis with documentation from the institution proving English was the standard.

In addition, applicants are required to register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and all academic records must be mailed to LSAC for transcript translation and evaluation.

Personal Statement

Applicants are required to submit a personal statement. Personal statements should be two to three pages in length, double-spaced, and uploaded as an attachment to the online application. In your personal statement, or as a separate attachment, please include answers to both of the following questions:

• What are your career plans after law school or areas of interest in the law?
• Describe any life experiences that would indicate unusual drive, determination, perseverance, motivation, or leadership characteristics.

Resume

Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes all post-high school education, employment history, honors and awards, and extracurricular activities including community service.

NOTE: Gaps in an applicant's education or employment history of more than six months should be included in the resume; however, a separate addendum should be included to explain the gap in education or employment. The resume (and addendum, if applicable) should be uploaded with your online application.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit two, and may submit up to four, letters directly to LSAC. The School of Law prefers at least one letter from a professor, instructor, or teaching assistant addressing the applicant's academic work. The recommender should detail the applicant's analytical and critical thinking skills, work ethic, maturity, and professionalism.

Character and Fitness Disclosure

SIU Simmons Law School requires all applicants to make a complete and full disclosure to the Character and Fitness questions at time of application. If the answer is "Yes" to one or more of the Character and Fitness questions outlined in the application, applicants will need to upload a written explanation of each incident that includes dates, locations, charges, associated fees, and final disposition. Answering "Yes" to any of these questions does not mean that an applicant will automatically be rejected. Answering these questions honestly may be a factor in your application and in the law school's certification to practice law in any jurisdiction.

NOTE: Full disclosure is required for any charges against you, including those that have been dismissed, and those for which you were acquitted, adjudication was withheld or deferred, a conviction was reversed, set aside, or vacated, any records were sealed or expunged, you received court supervision, or you pled guilty or nolo contendere to the charge, and regardless of whether you have been previously told that you do not need to disclose any such instance.

In addition, applicants are under continuing obligation to update disclosures and add new occurrences. Failure to make complete disclosure on this application may result in revocation of an offer of admission to the School of Law and/or denial of your application for admission to practice law in a particular state. Discrepancies between disclosure on this application and an applicant?s character and fitness application for admission to the bar may result in serious consequences while in law school and when applying to take the bar examination. Therefore, prior to matriculation, applicants are encouraged to seek the specific bar requirements for the state the applicant plans to practice 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 website (https://www.ncbex.org/).

Cost of Attendance, Financial Aid, and Scholarships

Educational costs are determined each year by the SIU Board of Trustees. The resulting budgets are used to determine a student's financial need and eligibility for various types of financial aid.

Applicants applying for financial aid must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application online, https://studentaid.gov/. Applicants must include the Southern Illinois University federal school code (001758) to have the FAFSA information sent directly to the SIU Financial Aid Office. In order to receive timely financial aid award information, the School of Law suggests that applicants submit their FAFSA as early as October 2025. For more information on the estimated cost of attendance, law student budget, and financial aid, please visit the School of Law website, www.law.siu.edu.

SIU Simmons Law School has a generous scholarship program including renewable tuition waiver scholarships and annual Foundation scholarships. However, scholarships are limited. As such, applicants are advised to apply early in the application cycle (before January 15) to be considered for all available scholarships.

Tuition waiver scholarships are automatically awarded at time of admission; no additional application is required and are automatically renewed when the terms are met at the end of the second and fourth semesters.

In early spring, Foundation scholarships are awarded and there may be a secondary response required. For more information on financial aid and scholarships, contact the Office of Admissions at lawadmit@siu.edu or (618) 453-8858.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The SIU School of Law follows all applicable laws and regulations relating to students with physical or learning disabilities including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Applicants are not required to identify known disabilities in the application. Academic and programmatic support services are available for students with either permanent or temporary disabilities through Office for Access and Accommodations. Admitted students with a disability who seek an accommodation from the Simmons Law School should immediately contact OAA.

Equal Opportunity Policy

In accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois and the United States, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and is committed to taking affirmative steps aimed at overcoming historical patterns of discrimination in our society. The Board of Trustees directs that all elements of Southern Illinois University adhere to procedures which promote this policy in all phases of university activities including employment, educational programs, choice of contractors, and relationships with employee organizations. Article VII. Policy on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Statutes of the Board of Trustees of SIU. For more information, visit the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustee Statute, http://siusystem.edu/board-of-trustees/legislation/board-legislation-statutes.shtml#7.

Questions

If you have additional questions, please contact:

Office of Admissions
(618) 453-8858
lawadmit@siu.edu

Since you answered "Yes" to Prior Law School Question 9c, you will need to upload a written explanation of each law school that you attended and the reason for separation.

This statement is extremely important in the selection process. Due to the fact that personal interviews are not granted, your personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and should include your personal experiences, career ambitions, and why you want to attend law school.

If you responded yes to the question regarding any personal factors, your diversity, disadvantaged background, socioeconomic status, grade trends, substantial discrepancy between your performance on standardized tests and your actual level of academic achievement, or any other information you believe is relevant to the Admissions Committee, you must attach those addenda here.

Applicants must provide a current résumé.

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 at: http:www.ncbex.org/.

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 Office of Admissions of any change to your answers, may result in denial or revocation of admission, expulsion after matriculation, revocation of law degree after graduation, or other disciplinary action by the Law School, referral to the appropriate state bar examiners, or denial of permission to practice by the state in which you seek admission. If you are unsure as to whether to make a disclosure, we strongly urge that you err on the side of full disclosure.

You may exclude minor traffic violations and parking tickets. However, if the traffic violation resulted in a Failure to Appear charge or warrant, you must report this information. You must also report any traffic or other offenses involving alcohol, drugs, or a controlled substance, or any offenses in which there was an attempt, whether successful or not, to suspend or revoke your driver's license. (Full disclosure is required even though you may have been advised by another source that you are not required to do so.)

If you answer "yes" to question 1, you must submit official court records as well as a detailed explanation of each instance, including its ultimate disposition. If a court or arresting/ticketing agency is unable to provide copies of pertinent records, you must obtain a written statement stating so from the court or agency. You must disclose each instance even if no charges were filed, even if you were granted any type of pretrial diversion such as deferred disposition or deferred adjudication, even if charges were dismissed, even if you were acquitted of such charges, and even if such charges resulted in a conviction that was reversed, set aside, vacated, or expunged. If expunged, please attach (in the Attachments Section) official court documents showing that the charges were expunged and the date of the expungement.

1. Have you ever (either as a juvenile or adult), been charged, arrested, convicted, or granted deferred adjudication or deferred disposition in any jurisdiction of any crime other than a minor traffic violation? If yes, give details in a separate statement and attach to this application in the Attachments Section.

2. Have you ever been charged with an honor violation or had disciplinary action (non-academic) taken against you while in school? If yes, give details in a separate statement and attach to this application in the Attachments Section. If you are in doubt as to whether or not such action has been taken against you, it is recommended that you call your school(s). In addition to providing the statement of details, you may request that your school's judicial office send a letter to our admissions office (lawadmissions@tsu.edu) regarding your infraction, sanctions, and outcome. Failure to disclose is often a more serious infraction than the misconduct.

3. Have you ever been, or are you now, academically suspended, dismissed or placed on academic probation? If yes, please attach a statement of circumstances to your application in the Attachments Section.

4. Have you ever been expelled, dismissed, or advised to resign from any post-secondary institution, college, professional school or law school in order to avoid academic or disciplinary action? If yes please provide a statement of explanation and attach to this application in the Attachments Section.

If you your record has been expunged, attach the court records documenting the expungment and date recorded.

Thurgood Marshall School of Law only has one option for completing their JD degree: a full-time program. The full-time program is designed for students who plan to devote nearly all their time to law study. The Law School does not recommend full-time students to work more than 20 hours per week. Thurgood Law does not offer spring enrollment for entering 1L students.

Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

Thurgood Marshall School of Law accepts LSAT scores on admissions applications. Applicants submitting an LSAT score should request scores for the past five years from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) using Thurgood Law's school code 6824. LSAT scores are reportable for five years following the applicants' test date. If you would like the Admissions Committee to consider a score from a future LSAT, you should note that on the application form and email a statement to our office asking that we hold your file until the future test score arrives. The email should be sent to lawadmissions@tsu.edu. No other communications will be acceptable. Suppose we receive this communication after reviewing your file. In that case, the decision of whether your file will be reconsidered, in light of the later score, will be left to the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

Mandatory Attachments - JD1 Application

Reminder: If you have previously attended any law school, please complete the JD2 application.

Personal Statement - A personal statement of no more than four pages is extremely valuable in the selection process. You may write your personal statement on any subject, but you should include a statement explaining your interest in attending Thurgood Law in either your personal statement or an optional statement.

Resume - Attach a resume or a list of civic and extracurricular activities, honor societies, and work experience on a separate sheet.

Letters of Recommendation - You must submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation (LOR). The most valuable LORs are those from professors, employers, or colleagues with whom you have had close working relationships. All letters must be sent through CAS.

Optional Attachments - Required for Certain Applicants

Character and Fitness - If you answered "yes" to any of the questions in the character and fitness section, please include an electronic attachment explaining all the relevant circumstances. For any of the questions, provide the final disposition of the incident(s).

Optional Attachments - Permitted for All Applicants

Optional Statement: You may wish to explain or highlight elements in your application that are not readily apparent. You may write an optional statement regarding your diversity, disadvantaged background, socioeconomic status, grade trends, substantial discrepancy between your performance on standardized tests and your actual level of academic achievement, or any other information you believe is relevant to the Admissions Committee that has not been previously included in your personal statement. If you did not include it in your personal statement, you should also describe why you want to attend Thurgood Law. Please limit this statement to no more than two pages, and include an appropriate header to this document. The header can be as simple as "Last Name, L#, Optional Statement."

Checking the Status of Your Application

The Office of Admissions will notify applicants, via email, when their application has been received and processed. That email contact will include instructions for using our online status check system. It is vital that you provide us with a current email address and that you check your email regularly (including your spam folder). The Office of Admissions tries to keep applicants informed of their status via the online status check, but applicants are still responsible for making sure the application and all supporting materials arrive by the deadline. Applications that are not completed prior to the deadline will be denied. Applicants can check the status of their CAS file online at LSAC.org.

Because we use a rolling admissions process, more availability will likely occur earlier in the admission cycle. Decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in December, and all decisions will be communicated to the applicants via the online status check system and via email. The admissions staff will not give admissions decisions over the telephone to protect the applicants' confidentiality.

Character and Fitness

You should thoroughly and carefully respond to every question on this application, but you should use extra care concerning the character & fitness section. While an honest "yes" to any of these questions will not necessarily result in the rejection of your application, a dishonest "no" is evidence of a lack of candor and honesty and can have serious repercussions. Both Thurgood Marshall School of Law and any state bar associations to which you apply will consider any substantial discrepancy between your application and the facts as grounds for adverse action, including revocation of admission to, expulsion from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, or denial of admission to the bar. Good moral character is part of being a worthwhile lawyer. Providing truthful and complete answers to these questions is your chance to exhibit that character.

Thurgood Marshall School of Law will not be sympathetic to applicants who fail to disclose matters that are clearly required to be reported under this section. When in doubt, you should err on the side of full disclosure. If you still have questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at 713.313.7114. Thurgood Law also places upon each applicant the continuing responsibility to promptly notify us of any changes that render incorrect or incomplete responses in the application. This notification is required before, after, and at any time while enrolled as a student. You should research the character and fitness qualifications for the state(s) in which you intend to practice. Please retain a copy of your completed application and supporting documentation for your records. The Texas State Board of Examiners will require you to submit a copy of this application.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

All admitted students will be considered for merit scholarships. For more information on merit scholarships, please visit our website.

Texas Southern University- Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL), does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age or disability in the administration of its academic or employment policies or other school-administered rights, privileges, programs or activities.

If you have court documents to be attached, attach them here.

In your own words, please submit a typed 2 page (double-spaced) personal statement explaining what motivated you to pursue a legal education, and what attracts you to the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law.

In your own words, please submit a typed 2 page (double-spaced) essay on what issue(s) are important to you and how you have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing social justice.

Please submit an addendum that may give the Admission Committee more insight on you as an applicant, i.e., low GPA or LSAT score, or any interruptions in education or employment. Please note that this addendum should NOT exceed two (2) pages.

If you did not leave your previous law school in good standing, attach an addendum explaining the circumstances and request the appropriate law school official to submit an Academic Letter of Standing to lawadmission@udc.edu. We will not accept the Academic Letter of Standing from an applicant.

Please submit a current resumé.

1. Practice of law is a profession that demands the highest levels of honesty, integrity, and responsibility. In assessing applicants, law schools must evaluate not only academic potential but also the character and fitness of those seeking admission to the bar. As such, applicants are required to disclose information relevant to their background, including academic, professional, and personal matters that may reflect on their judgment, truthfulness, or ability to uphold the ethical and professional standards of the legal profession. Full transparency in responding to all inquiries is paramount.

Below are questions regarding your character and fitness to practice law. Please be aware that your application will not be prejudiced simply because you answer Yes to any of the questions. UDC Law will evaluate your answers to the questions in the context of your entire application. We believe that your ability to reflect on the challenging life circumstances and the impact of those experiences on your path to a legal career adds tremendous value to your law school application and experience. If you answer Yes to any of the following questions, you must provide a statement which includes:

• the date(s) of the incident(s)
• the original charge or citation
• the specific nature of the incident
• a detailed explanation of the relevant facts/circumstance
• show the matter was resolved (including any reduced charges or lesser included offence
• any supporting documentation

Simply providing copies of court documents does not satisfy this requirement. Your answers to these questions are confidential and will only be used for the determination of your character and fitness for admission to law school and to practice law, unless UDC Law is required to share this information pursuant to a court order or if required by a jurisdiction where you are sitting for a bar examination.

NOTE CAREFULLY: The Admission Committee wishes to emphasize to applicants that failure to disclose an act or event described here can be more serious than the act itself. [Many state bar associations require a candidate to reveal all criminal or disciplinary charges, even if expunged.] If in doubt, always err on the side of full disclosure. You must disclose all matters requested on this law school application, even if you have been advised otherwise by anyone else, including legal counsel. This means you must disclose matters even when an arrest did not lead to a charge, a charge was reduced or dismissed, you were acquitted or found guilty, adjudication was withheld, deferred, or diverted, or a conviction was reversed, set asi

2. Have you ever been academically dropped, dismissed, suspended, warned, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled or found in violation of student policy/honor code, from any post-secondary school, college, university, or professional school?

3. Have you ever been cited, charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or plead guilty or nolo contendere to a violation of any law? You must report all violations, even if those violations have been expunged. Repeated moving violations, unpaid parking tickets, or driving while intoxicated or impaired are viewed by some jurisdictions as serious offenses and should be reported here.

4. Have you ever been involuntarily separated from a job as a result of an accusation that involved fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, or any other act of dishonesty?

5. Have you ever had a professional license suspended or revoked, or been subject to disciplinary action by a professional organization, association, or licensing board?

If you answered yes to ANY questions in the Character and Fitness section, you MUST provide a COMPLETE explanation, which includes essential information (e.g. date, specific nature of the charge/incident, the circumstances that led to the charge/incident, disposition of the matter, etc.) Simply providing court documents does not satisfy this requirement. Please note: additional information may be requested by the Admission Committee before a final decision on your application is rendered.

6. I acknowledge that I have fully read and understand the Character and Fitness instructions.

Although academic history and the LSAT score are very important in the application review process, the personal statement is a vital factor as well. The personal statement should be no more than three pages, typed and double-spaced. In the personal statement, you should focus on your accomplishments, skills, experiences and motivation that indicate a potential for success in law school. Include any information such as extracurricular activities, career plans, leadership ability, or anything else that will help the Admissions Committee gain a clear and accurate picture of you as an individual. You can attach your personal statement below.

*For transfer students, include your reasons for transferring in your personal statement.

*For students who have been academically dismissed from a law school, you must have waited one year before applying. In your personal statement, explain the circumstances and what preparations you've made to succeed in law school.

*For students who started law school and did not earn credits, please explain the circumstances.

Western State's Principles of Community and Mission Statement cherishes diversity and celebrates differences as our most important resource. We invite you to discuss how your unique background, lived experience, or uncommon perspective would help you to make a distinctive contribution to our law school.

You are invited to submit a statement that describes in detail any notable life circumstances, challenges or adversities you have overcome.

If you would like to explain any inconsistencies, gaps or update any information about your undergraduate transcript, you may do so here.

If you have a decrease or increase in your LSAT score by five points or more, you may provide a written explanation if you wish.

Western State offers scholarships based on academic merit; LSAT scores and undergraduate records carry the most weight. All admitted students will automatically be considered. If you would like, please provide additional information about yourself and why you are specifically interested in attending Western State for the Scholarship Committee's consideration. (1 page max.)

Applicants are required to submit a current résumé, including extracurricular activities if applicable. You can attach your résumé here.

If you answer YES to any of the following questions, you MUST provide a detailed explanation and include supporting documents as necessary. You should also consult the rules and regulations of the Committee of Bar Examiners of the state in which you intend to practice law to determine whether or not these incidents might affect your eligibility for admission to the bar. Failure to provide truthful and complete answers, or failure to notify the Admissions Office of any changes in your answers, may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action by the law school or denial of permission to practice law in the state in which you seek admission. If you are unsure as to whether to disclose an incident or not, please contact the Admissions Office.

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. Are there any criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

2. Have you ever been, as an adult or juvenile, cited, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted, tried for, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to a crime (other than a minor traffic violation), including sealed and/or expunged convictions?

3. Have you ever been placed on academic probation from any college or university for academic reasons?

4. Have you ever been academically or otherwise disqualified or suspended from any college or university for academic reasons?

5. Have you ever been subjected to disciplinary action for scholastic or other reasons from any college or university attended?

6. Have you ever been found in violation of an honor code or been disciplined for misconduct by any college or university you have attended or by any organizations or employers?

All applicants are required to submit a personal statement. Personal statements should be approximately two (2) pages, double spaced, and standard font size. A personal statement provides you with the opportunity to show the Admissions Committee what you are passionate about and why you would like to attend Widener Law Commonwealth. Widener Law Commonwealth does not grant personal interviews, the personal statement is an opportunity to speak directly to those who will read your file and consider your status. Please proof and edit your statement prior to submitting the document.

A Diversity Statement is an opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee, any unique background and/or experiences that would support your request for admission. Diversity is very broadly defined and is best identified by the applicant and explained in terms of what aspects of their identity will contribute to the entering class and ultimately to the legal profession. The statement, using a standard font, should be double-spaced and not exceed a single page.

If you answered "Yes" to the question "Have you ever been separated from any branch of the US armed forces under less than honorable conditions?", then you must submit an attachment providing a detailed explanation of the circumstances that lead to your separation.

If you answered Yes to "Have you ever attended a conditional admission or enrichment program at any law school?" you must use this electronic attachment to provide your detailed explanation. Please submit an official transcript or letter from the law school at which you attended the conditional program including dates of attendance, grades, if any were given, and the outcome of your performance. Without this information, your application will remain incomplete and ineligible for review and decision.

You may attach any other supplemental materials or addenda to your application here. An addendum should provide any additional information that you believe would be helpful to the Admissions Committee as they review and consider your application. Common addendum are used to explain a low GPA or a grade trend. Another reason for an addendum is to address your LSAT or GRE score: How did you prepare for the test? How do you normally perform on standardized tests? Do you plan to retake the LSAT or GRE? If not, why not?

Please provide a current résumé. A résumé with specifics, such as public service, leadership roles, or unique experiences is especially helpful.

All applicants must respond to the following questions. If you answer "yes" to any question in this section, you must attach an addendum with a complete explanation of the event including the nature of the offense, the facts surrounding the event, all relevant dates, disposition and sanctions. Without this information, your application will remain incomplete and ineligible for review and decision.

You have a continuing duty to update the information you provided in response to these questions and must notify the law school of any actions occurring after submission of this application. Failure to adequately disclose or update your application can be sufficient reason for refusal or revocation of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral. In addition, please be on notice that bar jurisdictions will have access to your responses and may compare them to the results of your background check performed during the bar examination application process.

If your record was sealed as a result of the Pennsylvania Clean Slate law, you do not have to disclose it on the Character & Fitness section of the application. However, if you apply to take the Bar Exam, you may be required to give a greater disclosure to the Board of Law Examiners, which may be exempt from the PA Clean Slate 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. Admission to Widener University Commonwealth Law School does not guarantee that you will meet the requirements of the state bar to which you seek admission.

1. Have you ever received an academic warning, been placed on probation, disciplined, suspended, dismissed, or been subject to any action for misconduct or honor code violation by any college or university or licensing board for any reason or is any such action pending or expected to be brought against you?

2. Since the age of 18, have you ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any crime by a law enforcement agency, other than a minor traffic violation (i.e., parking or speeding citations) that has not been subsequently expunged? If it has been more than 10 years since you turned 18, then you need only list those convictions or guilty pleas that occurred in the past 10 years.

3. If you younger than 28 years of age, between the ages of 14 and 18, were you ever convicted of or pleaded guilty to a crime involving serious bodily injury to another person? If you are 28 or older you should answer "no" to this question since the conviction or guilty plea occurred more than 10 years ago.

4. Are there civil or criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you by any law enforcement agency, civil or administrative agency, or any other agency?