Personal Statement is required of New JD Applicants ONLY

The personal statement may expand on your application or reveal a side of yourself not expressed on your application. It may include but need not be limited to 1) how a law school education will further your personal and professional goals; 2) significant personal accomplishments; and 3) special circumstances, if any, that you wish the admissions committee to know as it reviews your file.

If you as an individual have overcome special challenges such as economic hardship, educational deprivation, physical disability, discrimination, assimilation to a different culture/society, or any other disadvantage, or if your life experiences as an individual have otherwise shaped your character or worldview, please describe these challenges or experiences in your personal statement.

Avoid clichés, grammatical errors, typographical errors, and plagiarism. The personal statement should be typed, double-spaced, and should be no longer than two pages.

This section is optional.

Why are you applying to Akron Law?

Please tell us, in 500 words (approximately 1 page, double-spaced) or less, why you chose to apply to The University of Akron School of Law.

This section is optional.

This is a space for you to upload any addendums you may wish to share with the Admissions Committee.

This section is optional.

This is a space for you to upload any addendums you may wish to share with the Admissions Committee.

Please limit attachments to a reasonable length (not more than two pages), as the Admissions Committee may potentially review more than 2,000 applications in a given application cycle.

All law schools are obligated to ensure that their law students have the necessary fitness and character to be lawyers. If you answer any of these questions affirmatively, you must provide an explanation, which must include the information outlined below. You may attach this statement of explanation to your application electronically or e-mail it separately to lawadmissions@uakron.edu.

You have a duty to be truthful and accurate as well as a duty to reveal all information even if you do not have complete documentation. You need to disclose details of the result of any criminal charges. Even if the charges were dismissed, adjudication was withheld, a conviction was reversed, a conviction was set aside, a conviction was vacated, a conviction was expunged, or the record sealed, you must provide disclosure. Contrary advice by legal counsel does not exempt you from this requirement. The charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, and reckless driving must be disclosed as criminal charges.

Your answers to these questions are confidential and are limited to a determination of your character and fitness to practice law. You are under a continuing obligation to notify the Admissions Office of any changes in your answers to these questions up until the time of your enrollment. Once enrolled, you are under a continuing obligation to notify the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs of any changes in your answers to these questions.

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, please submit a DETAILED statement that references the question number and that includes the following information (please be as SPECIFIC as possible):

1. Date of incident and your age at the time of the incident
2. Parties involved
3. Description of incident
4. Result (expunged, dismissed, probation, arrest, incarceration, etc.)
5. Degree of misdemeanor or felony and code section (Ohio Revised Code or other state or city code involved)
6. Photocopy of official court documentation, if applicable
7. Information related to post-sentence events (pardon, etc.)

Vague statements are NOT acceptable. Failure to fully disclose may result in dismissal from the School of Law.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

1. Were you ever involved in a disciplinary matter at a college or university; placed on disciplinary (non-academic) probation at a college or university; regardless of the outcome, have you ever been charged with, penalized for, or adjudicated guilty of a violation of a college or university honor code; or have you ever been suspended or dismissed from a college or university, including any actions or legal proceedings that were dismissed, expunged or sealed?

2. Regardless of the outcome, have you ever been the subject of disciplinary action for plagiarism at any educational institution?

3. Are there any disciplinary (non-academic) charges from any educational institution pending against you?

4. As a member of any profession, have you ever been subject to disciplinary action by a licensing board or professional association, or had any license denied, suspended, or revoked, including any complaints that were dismissed, expunged or sealed?

5. As a member of any profession, have you ever been removed from office, public or private, because of conduct reflecting upon your character or charged with conduct reflecting on your character that could result in removal from office?

6. Are there any criminal charges pending against you?

7. Have you been arrested, charged, formally accused, cited, fined, posted bail, subject to a restraining order, or ordered to do community service for the violation of any law (including any juvenile or expunged matters, but excluding traffic or parking violations)?

8. Have you ever been or are you currently a party to or otherwise involved (except as a witness) in any criminal or quasi-criminal action (including, but not limited to, a misdemeanor, minor misdemeanor, traffic offense, or felony) or ANY other legal proceeding (including, but not limited to, bankruptcy, divorce, or any other civil matter), including any actions or legal proceedings that were dismissed, expunged, or sealed?

9. Have you ever been or are you currently a party to or otherwise involved (except as a witness) in any action or legal proceeding in a juvenile court, including any actions or legal proceedings that were dismissed, expunged or sealed?

10. Have you ever been summoned for a violation of any statute, regulation or ordinance?

11. Do you have any outstanding or unpaid fines, court costs, or tickets, including those for traffic or parking violations?

12. Have you ever been granted immunity from prosecution?

13. Have you ever been cited or arrested for contempt of court for any reason, including, but not limited to, failure to appear as a witness or answer a subpoena or a jury summons?

14. Have you ever been the subject of a court martial hearing, dishonorably discharged from military service, or administratively separated from military service with other than an honorable discharge?

15. Have you ever been terminated, suspended, disciplined, laid-off, or permitted to resign in lieu of termination from any job?

16. Have you ever been sued for a non-criminal act that was alleged to have been intentional?

17. Have you been cited or fined for any moving traffic violations within the last ten years (including moving violations that were dismissed, reduced, or removed from your record)?

18. Have you ever been arrested for or charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

This section is optional.

Cover Letter: Required of TRANSFER Applicants ONLY

Your cover letter should explain in detail your reasons for seeking to transfer to The University of Akron School of Law. Your cover letter should not exceed two pages in length (typed and double-spaced).

Other Materials Required of Transfer Applicants

Before your application for transfer admission can be considered, the following documentation from your law school must be received:

1. A letter from the dean, dean of students, registrar, or other appropriate law school official indicating your current class ranking, that you are in good academic standing, and that you were not subject to any disciplinary proceedings at your current law school.
2. An official, original law school transcript showing all grades earned through the semester leading up to your transfer to Akron.

In addition, if you are admitted as a transfer student, we will require copies of outlines and syllabi from all courses completed in order to determine which classes will transfer. You may wish to compile this information soon after you apply in the event that you are admitted, but you need not send it to us until after you are admitted.

You may e-mail your supplemental materials to lawapps@uakron.edu, fax them to 330.258.2343, or mail them to The University of Akron School of Law, Attn: Admissions, 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, OH 44325-2901.