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.

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.

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 a named party to a civil action?

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

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

1. Important note to applicants: Before applying for admission to law school, applicants are advised to investigate the requirements for admission to the practice of law in the jurisdiction in which they intend to practice. Some state bars require registration at the time of entry into law school or during the applicant's legal education. If an applicant has been a party to any criminal proceeding; been arrested, summoned, charged with, or convicted of a crime; been confined to a mental, penal, or correctional institution, or undergone mental treatment, the applicant's ability to be admitted to the practice of law, even after successful completion of legal studies and graduation from law school, may be severely limited in one or more jurisdictions. Some state bar examining authorities require bar applicants who intend to take their bar examination to submit a copy of their law school application. You should retain a copy of this application for your records. Appalachian School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association. Office of the Consultant of Legal Education / American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60654; Phone: (800) 285-2221.

Appalachian School of Law is certified to operate in Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) and is an AA/EEO employer.

The Appalachian School of Law admits students without regard to age, race, color, sex/gender, gender identy or expression, sexual orietation, pregnancy/childbirth, marital status, genetic information, disability, religion, politial affiliation, military status, ethnicity, or national origin.

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.

Admission Requirements

To apply for admission to Appalachian School of Law (ASL), you must provide the following:

• A completed electronic application. ASL has a paperless admissions process, so all applicants must apply electronically.
• All applicants must register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). ASL will refer to your CAS report during the file review process.
• An original personal statement of 500 words or more describing your professional goals and qualifications.
• Two letters of recommendation (current within two years) provided through the Credential Assembly Service. Applicants may provide additional letters specific to their ASL application.
• A current resume covering educational, professional, and volunteer history.
• The application fee is waived for the 2026-2027 enrollment year.
• If you are admitted and you matriculate at Appalachian School of Law, you will be required to obtain official copies of all undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts by a specified date, which is typically two weeks before the first day of class.
• All U.S. Permanent Residents must submit a copy--front and back--of their residency card.

Applicants for admission must be in a position to complete all requirements for a bachelor's degree before enrolling at Appalachian School of Law. Only students who have in fact completed all requirements for a bachelor's degree are eligible to enroll at Appalachian School of Law.

Appalachian School of Law is authorized to issue I-20 documents required to obtain an F-1 student visa.

All documents received by Appalachian School of Law in connection with such applications for admission become the property of the law school. Under no circumstance will they be duplicated, returned to the applicant, or forwarded to any agency or other college or university.

Financial Aid Information

Appalachian School of Law offers merit-based scholarships, Federal Stafford Loans (Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized), Direct Graduate Plus Loans, and the Federal Work Study Program.

To apply for loan assistance or scholarships, you are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be completed prior to acceptance. You may complete the FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

The federal school code for ASL is G35593.

The law school reserves the right to change, eliminate, or add to without notice the admission requirements, schedules, policies, practices, programs, procedures, tuition, and fees.

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. You should also include any extraordinary circumstances that resulted in your departure. 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