11. Character and Fitness

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Because of the high ethical standards governing lawyers, 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 full and truthful answers may result in denial of admission, withdrawal of admission, expulsion after matriculation, revocation of the law degree after graduation, other disciplinary action by the Law School, referral to appropriate legal education authorities and state bar examiners, and/or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission. Failure to answer a question and/or providing superficial explanations will result in your application file being considered incomplete. Full candor in the application process is required not only by Baylor Law but also by the state bar for the jurisdiction(s) in which you intend to practice. At the start of your studies, the state bar authorities will review your law school application answers for accuracy by means of a thorough background check. Additionally, your entire history will be checked again by the state bar authorities when you apply for admission to the bar, which you must do in order 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.

Read the following questions very carefully. If the answer to any of the following questions is "yes," you must provide a detailed explanation in a separate Word document as an electronic attachment. Include your name and LSAC account number on each page. This explanation must be separate from any material provided as part of your personal statement.

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

2. Have you ever been accused within any academic setting of cheating, plagiarism, or any other academic dishonesty?YesNo

Instructions for the question below: You may exclude minor traffic violations. You must, however, report any traffic or other offenses involving alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances, or any offenses in which there was an attempt, successful or not, to suspend or revoke your driver's license. List and provide a detailed explanation of each instance, including its ultimate disposition. You must disclose each instance, even if no charges were filed, even if you were granted any type of pretrial diversion, even if filed charges were dismissed (with or without prejudice), even if such charges resulted in a deferred adjudication, even if you were acquitted of such charges, or even if such charges resulted in a conviction that was reversed, set aside, vacated, or expunged. Administrative license suspensions must also be disclosed. You must also disclose any matters involving a failure to appear or answer any citation or warrant, whether for a traffic violation or otherwise. Disclosure is required even if you have been informed by any source that you do not have to disclose any such instance and even if a search of your public records made by you or on your behalf did not disclose an instance that has in fact occurred.

3. Have you ever, either as an adult or juvenile, been ticketed for, arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any violation of the law?YesNo

4. If you have ever served in the Armed Forces (federal or state), were any administrative or disciplinary proceedings commenced against you, or did you receive a less-than-honorable discharge? List and explain each instance including its ultimate disposition and all details. (If you have never served in the Armed Forces, you may leave this question blank.)YesNoClear answer

5. Have you ever been a part of a civil proceeding in which: (1) you were alleged to have committed fraud or any type of misrepresentation; (2) you were alleged to have engaged in grossly negligent or reckless conduct; (3) you were the subject of a proceeding to enact guardianship or commitment based upon incompetency, mental illness, or substance abuse; or (4) you were alleged to have engaged in any act of violence against person(s) or to have engaged in the willful destruction of property? If any of these instances have occurred, this question should be answered "yes", regardless of the outcome of the proceeding. List and provide a detailed explanation for each instance, including its ultimate disposition.YesNo

6. Have you ever been terminated, suspended, disciplined, or permitted to resign in lieu of termination from a job?YesNo

7. Have you ever been suspended, placed on probation or warning, or otherwise disciplined by any professional organization or state agency charged with reviewing professional conduct, or are any charges or proceedings pending or completed?YesNo

8. Are you currently the target or subject of actual or potential grand jury proceedings?YesNo

Application Deadlines

All early (non-binding) applications must be electronically transmitted by 11:59 p.m., Central Time, on December 1, 2025 and must be completeed by 11:59 p.m., Central Time, on December 5, 2025. All regular applications must be electronically submitted by March 15, 2026, and all applications must be completed by 11:59 p.m., Central Time, on March 19, 2026.

Application Fee

There is no application fee for any applicant who submits an electronic application.

Baccalaureate Degree and Transcripts

Each applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from a four-year, accredited college or university or be enrolled in a course of study at a four-year, accredited college or university that will lead to the awarding of a baccalaureate degree. You should arrange to have all post-secondary transcripts included with your CAS report when you apply.

If you matriculate at Baylor Law, you are required to submit official transcripts from each institution of higher education in which you were enrolled prior to matriculation at Baylor Law, so that we may verify all academic credits undertaken and all degrees conferred. If the transcript(s) included with the law school application is/are the final transcript(s), nothing additional is needed. For Fall starters, all transcripts are due by October 15, 2026. For Spring and Summer starters, all transcripts are due by the Monday of the fifth week of class. Unless an exception is approved by the Associate Dean on the basis of extraordinary circumstances, a student will not be allowed to enroll in the second quarter of law school until all transcripts are received.

Current Mailing and E-mail Addresses

A decision letter will be mailed to your current mailing address. We will also be sending communications to your primary email address. Therefore, if either of these addresses changes at any point prior to matriculation, you should update your address through the online status checker.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

All applicants are required to take the LSAT, and you must have an LSAT score on file prior to the application deadline for the term to which you are applying.

LSAT registration information is available by visiting LSAC.org or by sending an e-mail to LSACinfo@LSAC.org.

Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

All applicants must register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and arrange to have each undergraduate transcript sent through that service. The CAS is the division of LSAC that collects and analyzes academic data and transcripts. All applicants must also comply with all Credential Assembly Service notifications and payment requirements. The CAS furnishes law schools with college transcripts, LSAT scores, and letters of recommendation.

Letters of Recommendation

Baylor Law requires the submission of one letter of recommendation per applicant, preferably from someone who can attest to the applicant's ability to enter a competitive professional program. To avoid delays in the consideration of the application, Baylor Law requires that the letter be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service that serves all member schools. This service is included in the CAS registration. The letter will be copied and sent along with the law school report. To use this service, an applicant should follow the directions for submitting letters outlined at LSAC.org, making sure to fill out and give the letter writer a Letter of Recommendation Form.

Additional letters of recommendation are not necessary; however, you may submit a maximum of three letters. Baylor Law requires that any additional letters of recommendation also be submitted through the Letter of Recommendation Service. Since application files may be reviewed shortly after receipt of law school reports, Baylor Law cannot guarantee that additional letters of recommendation will be considered by the Admissions Committee if the letters are received after an application file has been sent to the Admissions Committee for review. Furthermore, Baylor Law cannot accommodate special requests to hold application files awaiting (an) additional letter(s) of recommendation.

Personal Statement

You must electronically attach a personal statement, which should be two or three pages, double-spaced, and in 12-point font. The personal statement must be your own work product, although others (e.g., your pre-law advisor) may review it and offer guidance. You may not use generative artificial intelligence to write your personal statement. This is your opportunity to persuade the Admissions Committee that you should be admitted to Baylor Law. Through the personal statement, the Committee will try to get a sense of your character and will evaluate your writing ability. Any number of factors could be helpful to the Admissions Committee, including your motivation to study law; past work experience and future career objectives; evidence of academic achievement, leadership, and responsibility; community involvement; educational, social, and economic background; and any special skills or training, such as language skills, advocacy skills, or scientific or technical training. The Committee is particularly interested in learning about any aspect of your background that would allow you distinctively to enrich our community. The Admissions Committee places considerable importance on the personal statement.

Résumé

A résumé is required. It is not limited to one page or to your educational background and professional experience but should only include activities after high school. It should also highlight volunteer activities, leadership experience, and special skills.

Applying for Admission to More Than One Quarter

Baylor Law operates on a true quarter system and enrolls entering students in three of its four quarters?Spring (February), Summer (May), and Fall (August). The application pool for the Fall class is larger than the application pools for the Spring and Summer classes, making admission into the Fall class more difficult. Most law schools admit one class per year in the Fall; therefore, most applicants only consider applying to Fall classes. At Baylor Law, smaller application pools for the Spring and Summer classes provide students with a better chance of admission. Therefore, an applicant can apply for admission to more than one quarter at a time. If you are interested in applying to more than one quarter, you must submit a separate application form for each quarter for which you want to be considered.

Follow-up E-mails and Online Status-Checking Feature

Within two business days of receiving the application form, the Admissions Office will send an e-mail confirming receipt. This e-mail will contain instructions on how to check, 24/7, the status of the application. Additionally, within two business days of your application's completion, the Admissions Office will send an e-mail notifying you that your file is complete and ready for review. If you indicated on the application form that you will be taking a future LSAT, the Admissions Office will hold the file until receipt of that LSAT score, unless you notify us otherwise.

Prior Law School Attendance

An applicant who enrolled at another law school, even for a brief amount of time, is required to submit a letter of standing to the Admissions Office. If exams were taken, a transcript must also be sent. Applications will not be considered complete until these items are received. These documents must be sent through CAS or to Baylor Law directly. If you attend another law school while you still have an active application file at Baylor Law, you must notify the Admissions Office of this fact in writing to gobaylorlaw@baylor.edu.

International Degree Applicants

Applicants who have earned undergraduate degrees from institutions outside the United States or Canada must submit copies of international transcripts through the CAS. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of international transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if the international work was completed through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS registration fee. An international credential evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into the CAS Report. If the Admissions Committee determines that you need to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 8395. The score will be included in the international credential evaluation document that will be included in the law school report.

Applicants with international degrees must take the LSAT. Many forms of financial aid are not available to international students. Therefore, international degree applicants need to evaluate their abilities to meet the total education costs and to obtain the necessary visas. International degree applicants must be prepared for the possibility of funding all of their educational and living expenses for the entire three years of law school.

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Application requirements