A personal statement is required. Your personal statement should be written in your own words and limited to 2-3 pages on a topic of your choice that will provide additional insight into your qualifications and interests. While there is no required topic, if you are unsure of a topic, you may consider sharing why you are interested in pursuing a law degree and/or what your anticipated career goals/interests are at this time.

Additional Addenda (optional) Albany Law School values a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives that our students contribute to our community and classes. We also acknowledge that many applicants have overcome obstacles or hardships to achieve their current level of education. If you feel there is information not shared elsewhere in your application that the Admissions Committee may find relevant to their review process, you may choose to submit an optional statement and/or additional addenda.

Brief optional addenda may also be useful to explain LSAT score discrepancies, grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for reviewers on any other topic you feel is relevant to their decision. If not already included in your personal statement, you may also wish to share why you are specifically interested in pursuing your goals at Albany Law School.

Please submit your resume.

If you answer “yes” to any of the below questions, you must submit a statement reciting, in detail, the facts and circumstances of each reported event. The statement should include dates, exact name and location of courts (if any), and final disposition of all matters. Proof of final disposition is required, when availabe. If not available, please explain the reason. Your statement must be attached in order to submit your application. Failure to provide sufficient description and/or explanation of reported events may prompt the Admissions Committee to request additional information from you, thereby causing a delay in the processing of your application.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Bar Examiners may ask additional questions beyond those listed on this application. 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.

Please note that in regards to answering “yes” to questions involving academic or criminal records, the Board of Bar Examiners may ask for more detailed or additional information. Inconsistencies between your law school application and your application to the Bar may cause difficulty with bar admission. Failure to make a complete disclosure when answering the below questions may also subject a student to disciplinary action.

1. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action, including being placed on probation or being suspended or dismissed, for scholastic or other reasons from any of the colleges, universities, or graduate or professional schools you have attended and/or are there any disciplinary charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

If yes, you must attach a detailed explanation. Please note that if you have been academically dismissed from a previous Law School, your statment should explain why your prior disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete our JD program and earn admission to the bar.

2. Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted, tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except minor parking or traffic violations, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender processing, including matters that have been expunged or dismissed?

If yes, you must attach a detailed explanation.

3. Have you ever been named in any lawsuit, litigation, or civil judicial proceeding?

If yes, you must attach a detailed explanation. You may exclude annulment, divorce, and separation actions.

All applications to the Residential J.D. program MUST be submitted electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The Fall 2027 application cycle begins in September 2026. The application deadline for Fall 2027 is June 30, 2027. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Please carefully complete all required sections. Failure to do so may delay the processing of your application. In order to be considered, an application must be transmitted and your application file must be complete with all supporting documentation and additional requirements.

The Admissions Committee typically begins admitting applicants by late November. All completed applications are carefully reviewed in their entirety to determine whether the applicant possesses the academic preparation and motivation to successfully complete a rigorous law school curriculum. Committee members attempt to gauge each applicant's prior academic performance, expected performance, and writing skills. While LSAT or GRE scores and undergraduate GPA are important factors, the Admissions Committee also considers personal statements, letters of recommendation, and supplemental materials.

Checklist of J.D. Application Requirements: Completed Application Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report (including all transcripts and letters of recommendation) LSAT Score Report (included with CAS) OR GRE Score (report directly from ETS) Two Letters of Recommendation Personal Statement Resume Transfer Applicants must also submit

Complete Transcript from your current law school Letter of Good Standing from your current law school Your Cumulative GPA and Class Rank must be included in this documentation from your current law school Application Please complete the appropriate Albany Law School J.D. application, making certain that you select the correct program and term in which you wish to enroll. Please be sure to answer all required questions completely. Failure to do so may delay the processing of your application.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Either an LSAT or GRE score is required for all JD applicants. A valid reportable score must be received directly from LSAC or ETS. You are encouraged to sit for your test by the Fall of 2026. Should you opt to take the LSAT more than once, Albany Law School will consider all LSAT scores presented by an individual applicant, but more weight is given to the highest LSAT score. Test scores older than five years from the anticipated year of matriculation will not be accepted.

Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report Registration with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required. The following materials MUST be submitted through this service:

Two letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty who can address your academic and intellectual abilities. Letters from employers or professional recommendations are also acceptable, especially from applicants who received their undergraduate degree five or more years prior. Only two letters are required, but up to four will be accepted. Transcripts from ALL colleges, graduate, professional, or technical schools you have attended, as a matriculated or non-matriculated, whether or not a degree was earned. Please note that the J.D. degree program requires that, at minimum, a Bachelor-level degree has been earned prior to the start of J.D. coursework. If you have one or more reportable LSAT scores, those will also be automatically included in your CAS report. If you elect to take the GRE in lieu of the LSAT, you must separately request that ETS send a score report to Albany Law School, in addition to requesting your CAS report from LSAC. Personal Statement A personal statement is required. Your personal statement should be written in your own words and limited to 3 pages on a topic of your choice that will provide additional insight into your experiences, qualifications and interests. While there is no required topic, if you are unsure of a topic, you may consider sharing why you are interested in pursuing a law degree, what your anticipated career goals/interests are at this time, or why you are interested in pursuing your education at Albany Law School.

Resume Please include all employment, publications, any substantive extra-curricular activities, scholastic accomplishments and community service.

Character & Fitness If you answer ?yes? to any of the character and fitness questions, you must submit a detailed statement, including the facts and circumstances of each reported event. The statement should include dates, exact name and location of courts (if any), and final disposition of all matters. Proof of final disposition is preferred, when available. If not available, please explain the reason. Your statement must be attached in order to submit your application. Failure to provide sufficient description and/or explanation of reported events may prompt the Admissions Committee to request additional information from you, thereby causing a delay in the processing of your application.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Bar Examiners may ask additional questions beyond those listed on this application. 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.

Please note that in regards to answering ?yes? to questions involving academic or criminal records, the Board of Bar Examiners may ask for more detailed or additional information. Inconsistencies between your law school application and your application to the Bar may cause difficulty with bar admission. Failure to make a complete disclosure when answering the below questions may also subject a student to disciplinary action.

Additional Addenda (optional) Albany Law School values a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives that our students contribute to our community and classes. We also acknowledge that many applicants have overcome obstacles or hardships to achieve their current level of education. If you feel there is information not shared elsewhere in your application that the Admissions Committee may find relevant to their review process, you may choose to submit an optional statement and/or additional addenda.

Brief optional addenda may also be useful to explain LSAT score discrepancies, grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for reviewers on any other topic you feel is relevant to their decision. If not already included in your personal statement, you may also wish to share why you are specifically interested in pursuing your goals at Albany Law School.

Certification All applicants must electronically certify that the information provided in this application, including supporting documents and attachments, is correct, true, and subject to verification. The applicant understands that any offer of admission and/or financial assistance is contingent upon the accuracy and completeness of this application. The applicant has an ongoing obligation to promptly notify the Albany Law School Admissions Office should there be any change to information included in this application, supporting documents, or attachments, even after acceptance or enrollment.

Evidence of English Proficiency If English is not the primary language in which your prior education was delivered, applicants are required to provide evidence of English proficiency via a TOEFL® or IELTS score report.

Financial Documentation Required for International Students A completed "International Student Financial Statement" is required to document the applicant's ability to pay the cost of attendance and in order to prepare the I-20 necessary to obtain the F-1 student visa. This financial statement should be submitted upon receipt of an official offer of admission.

Questions Contact the Albany Law School Admissions Office at 518-445-2326 or admissions@albanylaw.edu.

Albany Law School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, genetic predisposition status, criminal conviction or age in its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy may be directed to the Office of Human Resources, Albany Law School, 80 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, N.Y. 12208, 518-445-2311