You are required to submit a personal statement as part of your application. It should be limited to four double-spaced pages in 11-point font that is highly legible and with 1 inch margins. Three pages is recommended.

The subject matter of the personal statement is up to you, but keep in mind that the reviewer will be focused on determining your potential to be a successful law student and graduate of Berkeley Law. Specifically, we are interested in how your personal background/lived experience shapes, informs and enhances that potential. Each year we seek to enroll a class with varied backgrounds and interests who will ultimately become advocates serving all segments of society. The main objective, always, should be to share the things you think are most important for us to know about you (beyond the purely academic and professional) when assessing your candidacy. No topic is off-limits, but we encourage you to consider how what you discuss is relevant to your candidacy for law school.

When crafting your personal statement, you may want to consider addressing several of the following topics. You do not need to answer every question, but we have found that these are the most helpful in assessing your candidacy for admission to Berkeley Law:

Perspectives and Experiences: How will you (your perspective, experience, voice) contribute to diversity in our classrooms and community? Feel free to address any factors or attributes you consider important and relevant. In the past, applicants have included information about characteristics such as: race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, first generation college or professional school student, student parent, re-entry student, geographic diversity, ideological diversity, and others.

Interest in the Legal Profession: What about you (your experiences, your values, your perspective, etc.) calls you to law school? How will you use your law degree with integrity, vision, creativity, and/or to innovate? What makes you hopeful, optimistic, or excited about entering the legal profession? How do you see yourself contributing to or advancing the public good as a lawyer, scholar, or advocate?

Interest in Berkeley Law: Tell us more about your interest in Berkeley Law. What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?

We ask that you also include a separate résumé of your past and current employment history, extracurricular activities, interests, honors, etc. There is no need to repeat experiences described in the résumé in the personal statement. Similarly, you should note the availability of optional statements focused on other aspects of your candidacy. Please use those spaces to answer those questions, and reserve the personal statement for its unique purpose.

The thoughts and words contained in your personal statement must be your own and no one else should assist in its creation beyond basic proofreading or critiquing. This must be your original work.

If you answer "Yes" to any of the questions below, we require that you attach an addendum that (a) lists all individual incidents/past conduct, to the best of your ability to recall, that would triggers an affirmative response, including relevant dates, (b) explain the overall context for those incidents, (c) share the outcome(s) or current status(es) of those incidents, (d) share what insight you gained and whether or how it informed your decision to pursue a legal education. Should you need to submit an addendum, please use the following format: 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins. There is no word or page limit, and you should feel free to take as much space as is required to fully address the incident. Note that an affirmative answer to any of these questions does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission to Berkeley Law. Your answer will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to all aspects of your experience, academic achievement, and potential.

If your answer to any of the following questions becomes affirmative after you submit your application, you are required to notify the Admissions Office in writing. Failure to disclose and/or notify us will result in the revocation of your offer of 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 convicted of any offense, excluding minor traffic and parking violations, or is any such charge now pending against you?

Have you ever been subjected to a dismissal, suspension, probation, or other disciplinary or academic sanction by any college, university, or professional school (including university/college housing)?
Have you ever been subject to discipline by a professional organization?
Have you ever been separated from any branch of the US armed forces or foreign military under something other than Honorable Discharge (excluding medical discharge)?
There will be opportunities to update your application post-matriculation should that be necessary. However, disclosure after the first year of law school may trigger a comprehensive re-review of your application for admission, and it is possible that it could impact your ability to complete your degree program. Please click the button to show that you have read and understand this.

FIRST-YEAR APPLICANTS

Submitting Your Application

We require that you submit your application electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website at LSAC.org by the published deadline(s). The LSAC Help Desk is available at (215) 968-1393 if you have questions. We receive completed applications electronically from LSAC, usually within one hour of your submission.

This application form is only one part of the application requirements for consideration of admission to Berkeley Law. If you submit only the application form and fee, your application will be incomplete until all required components are received. If we do not receive the other required parts within a reasonable amount of time after the application deadline, we will deny your application based on it being incomplete and ineligible for review.

Paying Your Application Fee

A $75.00 (USD) non-refundable application fee is required to process your regular decision application. The application fee must be received before your application can be considered complete and reviewed. Through LSAC, you must pay by credit card or request an app fee waiver.

LSAC and Berkeley Law fee waivers are available, but limited. Qualification (or non-qualification) for the LSAC or Berkeley Law fee waiver is not considered nor weighed in our review process.

Application Fee Waivers

LSAC Waivers

Waivers of the LSAT registration, Credential Assembly Service (CAS), and other fees are available on a financial need basis directly from LSAC. Information and the fee waiver application form is available on the LSAC website. You should act early to obtain a waiver; we will not extend application deadlines based on the timeline for LSAC's fee waiver review process.

LSAC fee waivers are reviewed and determinations are made entirely by LSAC; Berkeley Law has no role in that review nor those decisions. However, we will regard receipt of either a tier 1 or tier 2 LSAC waiver as a de facto finding of financial need. As such, we will automatically waive your Berkeley Law application fee if you receive a LSAC fee waiver.

Berkeley Law App Fee Waivers

Berkeley Law fee waivers are online application-based or may be sent to candidates directly by the school after being identified through the LSAC Candidate Referral Service. CRS is an LSAC service that is "opt-in," and questions about that process should be directed to LSAC.

Application-based Berkeley Law fee waivers are available to candidates who submit our online form by the published deadline in January. Your application will be considered once all required documentation is provided directly to the Admissions Office. You may qualify for a Berkeley Law fee waiver based on participation that falls into three broad categories: Honors/Research Program participation (e.g., Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes, Truman, etc.), Public Service work (e.g., Teach for America, Peace Corps, U.S. Military service, etc.), and Educational/Socioeconomic Disadvantage Program participation (e.g., CYDL participant, Gates Scholar, Pell Grant recipient). For a detailed list, please go to the online form.

Berkeley Law fee waivers only apply to the $75.00 application fee. We do not offer CAS fee waivers, LSAT fee waivers, or any other financial support related to the application process.

How to Apply: The deadline for Berkeley Law fee waiver requests is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on January 1, 2026. Requests must be made through the online form, and supporting documentation is required for processing. Please do not attach a fee waiver request to your online application; it will not be reviewed. Applicants who are not approved for a fee waiver or who do not meet the deadline must pay the $75 application fee. You will be notified via email once a decision is reached regarding your fee waiver request. If your request is approved, you will be given an application waiver code that will allow you to submit your application without having to pay the application fee. Waiver codes are non-transferable and can only be used once. A record of your code is kept both with LSAC and the Berkeley Law Admissions Office. Any misuse of the fee waiver code may result in withdrawal of your application and a referral to LSAC's Misconduct Committee.

Do not pay with a credit card prior to applying for and receiving a Berkeley Law fee waiver decision. We are not able to refund our fee once it has been paid for any reason.

Registering for the LSAT/LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

The majority of our applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Regardless of whether or not an applicant takes the LSAT or another standardized exam, they must create an account with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). All related information, policies, and fees are available on the LSAC website at LSAC.org. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is a service of LSAC that collects and analyzes academic data and transcripts. Your CAS registration authorizes LSAC to compile your application documents and send CAS reports to the law schools where you apply once you have paid the required fees.

It is through CAS that we receive: Your transcripts (sent to CAS by you, and to us through CAS) from all undergraduate institutions attended and graduate programs (including foreign transcripts); transcript analysis; LSAT scores and score report(s); letter(s) of recommendation; and the LSAT Writing Sample. We may also receive as part of your CAS report information that contextualizes your performance prepared by LSAC with data they are provided by applicants. We are not able to receive any of this information in any other way; CAS registration is required and cannot be waived.

Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring their CAS reports are sent to Berkeley Law (and that all other required components of the application are received by our office on or before deadlines). We strongly suggest applicants plan ahead to avoid delays or other issues that may limit their ability to submit a complete, on-time application. We cannot extend our deadline because, for example, LSAC did not receive or process a transcript or a letter of recommendation on time, nor because an international transcript was sent from LSAC to AACRAO for foreign transcript analysis. If we do not receive all required materials within a reasonable time after the February 17, 2026 deadline, your application will be denied on the basis of being incomplete.

Using directions provided by Berkeley Law, part of the service provided by LSAC will be to combine your high LSAT score and cumulative undergraduate grade point average as calculated by LSAC (uGPA) into a single value, called the index number. LSAC will print the index number on your CAS report. Graduate school grades are not calculated into the index number. However, they are considered a "plus" factor during the review process and are therefore required in your CAS transcript information.

You will be able to monitor your CAS status through the LSAC website (LSAC.org). CAS updates (for new scores, new transcripts, new letters, etc.) are sent to us automatically once you send us a first-time report.

The LSAT and Other Standardized Tests

Applicants to the Berkeley Law J.D. program are required to take a standardized test for admission. We accept the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) including the LSAT-Flex, and/or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) general test. All valid and reportable scores must be submitted to us via LSAC or ETS. For a limited group of applicants, mainly those applying for a dual degree, we may accept the GMAT. Please review our admissions website for eligibility criteria and requirements.

Applying with Multiple Test Types: If you have a valid and reportable LSAT score it will be seen and it will be considered in our review, even if you wish to be considered with "only" a GRE score. That LSAT score will flow in automatically from LSAC through the CAS report and/or CAS updates. You may write an addendum to provide context for score and performance differences. If you have a valid and reportable GRE score, we require you to send a score report to us (from ETS). Your GRE score(s) will be seen and considered alongside your LSAT score(s), even if you wish to apply with "only" the LSAT. We may consider your application incomplete without any/all applicable test scores.

No Score Requirements or Cut-Offs: As our Faculty Policy Governing Admissions states, strong performance on standardized tests is important for admission, but numbers alone are not dispositive in admissions decisions. Test scores are viewed in the context of the entirety of your application materials, with the purpose of assisting with our ability to predict first-year academic performance only, and through the lens of our mission and policies as a public institution. Amongst other goals, Berkeley Law seeks to enroll students whose "quality of mind and character suggests that they have the capacity to make a contribution to the learning environment of the law school and to distinguish themselves in serving the needs of the public through the practice of law, the formulation of public policy, legal scholarship, and other law-related activities." Test scores inform our assessment but cannot satisfy it fully.

Past Performance on Standardized Tests: When evaluating standardized test scores, the law school may consider whether other standardized tests (taken for similar, higher education admissions purposes) that were taken in the past under-predicted your academic performance and grades. For example, if you document that past test scores would have predicted you were likely to perform below-average in college but you went on to earn very high undergraduate grades, then this information may be taken into account to contextualize test scores taken for law school admission purposes when evaluating your potential to succeed in law school. One of the optional statements (listed below) invites you to share information that you believe suggests your numerical qualification profile (uGPA, LSAT, GRE, etc.) is non-predictive of your academic performance and potential and should be given less consideration in our review. If raising this issue related to non-predictive test scores, you are expected to provide a copy of previous, relevant test scores such as the SAT or ACT. Unofficial copies of score reports are acceptable for the review process, but we may request official versions (sent directly by the testing company) at any time. This in no way should be construed to suggest that submission of such a statement and documentation will ensure admission.

The LSAT

The LSAT is typically offered eight times each year and can be taken remotely or at examination centers throughout the world. Registration, disability-related accommodation requests, and all other candidate services for the LSAT are managed entirely and led solely by the Law School Admission Council; Berkeley Law has no role in any aspect of the registration process, fee waivers, eligibility, or other determinations.

LSAT Writing Sample: The LSAT Writing Sample is a requirement to apply to Berkeley Law. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid LSAT Writing Sample available by the application deadline. LSAC requires that you have at least one valid Writing Sample on file in order to issue a CAS report to a school.

Past Scores: LSAT scores are valid for five years. If you took the LSAT between September 2020 and January 2026, then you are not required to take it again (you have a valid and reportable score that we can consider). However, you must ensure that your CAS registration is current so that your test score(s) and transcripts are sent to us.

Future Scores: If you register for a future test date (indicated in this application), we will automatically hold your application for review until we receive the new score from LSAC. If you do not wish for us to hold your application, it is your responsibility to email us and request we no longer hold your application. If we are holding your application and (after taking the future test) you decide to cancel that score, your application is still being held until the cancellation is reported unless you contact our office to request otherwise. If you did not plan to retake (and did not indicate a future test in the application) but then changed your mind, please note that we will consider your application complete unless you contact us and tell us to hold it.

Multiple Scores: If you take the LSAT more than once, we will primarily consider the highest score when evaluating your candidacy. However, there is a standard error of measurement on the exam and there is not a statistically-significant difference between many scores. We do not assign a value to the number of times you took (or did not take) the test. All tests registered for and attempted are reportable, including no-shows, applicant cancellations, LSAC cancellations, and other indicators of tests taken without reportable scores.

The GRE and GMAT

For information regarding the GRE or GMAT, please refer to the specific testing agency. In all cases, we require a valid and reportable score in order to review and consider your application. Generally, scores over 5 years old are no longer valid and reportable. It is each applicant's responsibility to understand when and how a testing agency will report a score and for how long it remains valid. Some will only report a score up to 5 years to the month when the test was administered, for example.

Applicants applying with the GRE or GMAT must also send a CAS report to Berkeley Law. No application will be complete without a CAS report received from LSAC, and the associated CAS fee will not be waived by Berkeley Law.

For the GRE, we will primarily consider your "superscore" when evaluating your candidacy. We do not draw parallels or calculate "comparable" percentiles or raw scores on the LSAT and GRE. Both tests are different and test different things, and scores on one or both will be viewed as distinct from one another.

Transcripts and Academic History

Transcripts are critical to our analysis; they provide important information and assist with our assessment of your academic strength. Yet much like test scores, cumulative undergraduate GPA (uGPA) is not dispositive. Furthermore, academic history is more important than pure uGPA when considering potential for success and contribution, and academic history is itself much more than your uGPA as calculated by LSAC. No application is complete without receipt of transcripts.

You must ensure that your transcripts are submitted to LSAC from every undergraduate and graduate college or university you are currently or have previously enrolled at. This includes community colleges attended (even through high school dual enrollment programs), all undergraduate schools, study abroad programs equivalent to an academic year of study and that generated transcripts separate from your institutions, graduate programs, non-U.S. institution transcripts, and part-time, remote, hybrid, and extension programs. You are not required to submit transcripts from non-degree granting certificate programs, but you may submit unofficial versions to us directly to accompany an addendum, should you wish. Do NOT send transcripts directly to Berkeley Law; they will not be appended to your application, will not be analyzed or considered, and will not render your application complete and ready for review.

Grades in Progress: If you are currently completing undergraduate work, do NOT wait for fall or winter grades to be posted on the transcript that you send to LSAC. Without transcripts and your CAS report, we cannot process, complete, or review your application. You may send fall/winter grades to LSAC later, and we will automatically receive an update and those transcripts will be included. Please note, however, that decisions on many applications may already have been made before we receive these grades and receipt of updated transcripts will not trigger re-review if a decision has been reached.

P/F and Credit/No Credit Coursework: Part of why academic history is more nuanced than pure uGPA is because we are also looking at courses attempted, rigor of the course of study, etc. This could include taking into consideration the frequency of courses taken on a P/F (or similar) basis. Of course, some classes must be taken P/F; physical education or recreational classes are a prime example. Therefore, we do not make an assumption that an applicant took a class or classes P/F by choice. Similarly, we understand that as a result of COVID-19, many schools moved to a P/F or similar grading system for spring and fall 2020. We cannot ascertain whether you opted into, out of, or had no choice in selecting a P/F grading system, and we refrain from drawing conclusions about your grading patterns in those academic terms. In all cases, you may write an addendum explaining P/F grades should you wish. We strongly recommend you explain any non-passing grade earned that appears on your transcript(s).

Ungraded Transcripts: Some institutions do not grade on an A-F scale and may not calculate a GPA. Often these schools provide a narrative analysis in place of a scored transcript. In these cases, we will carefully review the information provided to us by the school that serves as an assessment of your academic performance. No comparable uGPA is calculated and no index score will be generated.

Final Transcripts: If you are applying while your Bachelor's degree is in progress, we will review the transcripts that are complete at the time you apply. However, if you are admitted to Berkeley Law, you will be required to submit final transcripts by the time classes begin. Final transcripts must indicate that your degree was conferred. If for any reason you do not earn a Bachelor's before law school begins (as planned), you will not be permitted to matriculate to Berkeley Law. A Bachelor's degree is required. It will be entirely at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions whether or not you are permitted to defer your admission or will be required to reapply.

Grade Point Average

In evaluating your undergraduate cumulative uGPA, the following factors will be considered: Overall performance, age/recency of the grades, exceptionally high grades, difficulty of coursework, time commitments while attending college, dependent care during school, grading patterns at the school attended, and grade trends, outliers, or discrepancies among your grades. This is not an exhaustive list, and the Admissions Committee or reviewer may take other things into consideration as permitted by the corresponding policy document. It is your responsibility to provide any relevant information you wish to have considered, likely in the form of optional statements or addenda.

No uGPA "Cut-Offs": We do not employ cut-off scores or requirements for uGPA. All applicants will be considered, weighing overall performance in the broader context of the factors listed above as well as test scores, resume, letters or recommendation, statements, etc.

Graduate Grades: If you attended a graduate or other professional program, we will review your graduate grades and transcripts to the extent that they shed light on your potential for academic success in law school. However, your uGPA will not be changed based on your graduate GPA. We do, however, consider having performed exceptionally well in a graduate program a positive factor and strong indicator of law school success.

Personal Statement

You are required to submit a personal statement as part of your application. It should be limited to four double-spaced pages in 11-point font that is highly legible and with 1 inch margins. Three pages is recommended.

The subject matter of the personal statement is up to you, but keep in mind that the reviewer will be focused on determining your potential to be a successful law student and graduate of Berkeley Law. Specifically, we are interested in how your personal background/lived experience shapes, informs, and enhances that potential. Each year, we seek to enroll a class with varied backgrounds and interests who will ultimately become advocates serving all segments of society. The main objective, always, should be to share the things you think are most important for us to know about you (beyond the purely academic and professional) when assessing your candidacy. No topic is off-limits, but we encourage you to consider how what you discuss is relevant to your candidacy for law school.

When crafting your personal statement, you may want to consider addressing several of the following topics. You do not need to answer every question, but we have found that these are the most helpful in assessing your candidacy for admission to Berkeley Law:

Perspectives and Experiences: How will you (your perspective, experience, voice) contribute to diversity in our classrooms and community? Feel free to address any factors or attributes you consider important and relevant. In the past, applicants have included information about characteristics such as: race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, first generation college or professional school student, student parent, re-entry student, geographic diversity, ideological diversity, and others.

Interest in the Legal Profession: What about you (your experiences, your values, your perspective, etc.) calls you to law school? How will you use your law degree with integrity, vision, creativity, and/or to innovate? What makes you hopeful, optimistic, or excited about entering the legal profession? How do you see yourself contributing to or advancing the public good as a lawyer, scholar, or advocate?

Interest in Berkeley Law: Tell us more about your interest in Berkeley Law. What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?

We ask that you also include a separate résumé of your past and current employment history, extracurricular activities, interests, honors, etc. There is no need to repeat experiences described in the résumé in the personal statement. Similarly, you should note the availability of optional statements focused on other aspects of your candidacy. Please use those spaces to answer those questions, and reserve the personal statement for its unique purpose.

The thoughts and words contained in your personal statement must be your own, and no one else should assist in its creation beyond basic proofreading or critiquing. This must be your original work.

Optional Short Answer Questions

In addition to assessing your ability to achieve academic success, we are interested in welcoming a class of students with a diverse set of experiences, qualities, talents, and interests. We also understand that there may be facets of your personality and passions that do not align with what you may wish to share in a personal statement. In order to gain a better understanding of what characteristics or qualities you may bring to the class, we invite you to answer up to two of the following questions. Each response should be no more than one double-spaced page, using 11-point font and 1-inch margins. Please indicate the number(s) of the question(s) you are answering.

Setting aside our academics and curriculum, how does Berkeley Law's location and broader environment align with your personal values, ambitions, or goals for your future?
If law school was not an option, what would you do instead, and why?
Aside from being capable and smart, what else will you contribute to the classroom or community?
Fast forward several years - it is your law school graduation. Who are you scanning the audience to find first, and why?
Describe a recent time when you defied or exceeded the expectations someone else had of you?
What's the last new thing that you tried? How did it go?
Describe a time when you made a difference or a place where you had an impact that does NOT appear on your résumé.
We all make mistakes. When was the last time you made a mistake, and what was the outcome of that realization?
Tell us about a moment where laughter helped build a bridge with someone.
Describe a time when you had to put aside personal beliefs to stand up for fairness or justice.

Optional Video Interview

In addition to the written components of the application, some applicants may be invited to submit an optional video interview. Interview invitations are sent out at the discretion of the Admissions Office and may happen at any time during the admissions process. Applicants may not request to interview.

Completing the video interview: If invited, a personal link to submit your interview will be emailed to you via the third party platform (Kira). After completing your registration and device setup on the platform, you will be directed to a practice session and prompted to record a practice response to a different question.

The interview consists of two separate questions. Question one asks you to demonstrate your unique interest in all that Berkeley Law has to offer. Question two is a randomized situational question that you can answer freely. You will have four minutes to record your answer to each question (eight minutes total).

We strongly encourage those invited to take advantage of this special opportunity to provide additional information relevant to your candidacy. To ensure the video is available during our review, please complete your submission within 3-5 business days after you receive the personalized link from Kira.

Accessibility: Questions regarding platform support, accessibility, or other concerns related to completing your interview should be directed to Kira. Video interviews will only be accepted for review if submitted via the Kira platform. If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to complete the video interview, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@law.berkeley.edu.

Academic Potential Addendum (optional)

If you do not believe that your standardized test score(s) or academic record accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, then you may tell us why and share what you believe indicates your potential. (350 word maximum, 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins). You may attach a copy of your SAT or ACT score report(s) to this essay (a screenshot or unofficial copy will suffice), and we reserve the right to request score reports to verify statements made in this optional essay.

Résumé

We ask that you submit a résumé as part of your application materials. There is no page limit, but generally two pages is adequate.

You need not limit yourself to strictly law-related or professional experiences. We strongly recommend that your first section be "Education." You may then include other sections as needed to highlight and summarize your experiences, such as: Research, Award and Honors, Presentations, Employment, Experience, Volunteer, Leadership, Campus Engagement, Community Involvement, Other Responsibilities, Other Skills and Interests, Pre-Law Programs, Memberships, Certification, Affiliations, etc. You should include in all cases: organization or activity name (avoid acronyms or abbreviations), your title or role, dates of involvement, average hours per week or per month, and then also list specific responsibilities using bullet points. You may list more than one role under a single organization name to show advancement or promotion. Rather than attach additional materials to your application, you can include URLs within the resume that go to external references (e.g., published works, newspaper articles, alumni magazine profiles, artist portfolio, etc.) Doing so does not guarantee that any reviewer will visit those pages or links, but inclusion of a URL does inherently give us permission to access such information.

For legibility purposes, please do not include multiple colors or fonts in your résumé, and please keep the font no smaller than 10 or 11-points for all text other than your name at the top. We suggest using a highly legible font such as Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, Calibri, or Cambria.

Please do NOT include a personal photograph, other image(s), graphic(s), or art within your résumé. There is no need to list an objective. We do not recommend a separate list of "Key Qualities" or a "Personal Summary," motto, or quote.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are recommended to complete your application. If you submit letters, we recommend that you provide two letters from recommenders who are familiar with your past academic performance and who are able to assess your potential for law study. Typically, these would be professors or teaching assistants. If you have been away from academia for some time, letters from work colleagues are useful. We accept up to four letters of recommendation and non-academic recommendations are welcome in addition to those from academic sources. A dean's certification letter is not required.

In general, we do not complete applications with fewer than two letters of recommendation on file. If you wish for your application to be completed with fewer than two letters of recommendation, please contact us at admissions@law.berkeley.edu to make that request in writing.

We will not hold your application for review pending receipt of your recommendations provided that at least two letters are on file. If you want all of your letters to be considered in the review process, be sure that they are available with your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report when you submit your application.

You are required to use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service if you submit letters. This service is included in your CAS registration. Letters are sent to us with your CAS report, and there is a maximum of four letters allowed. Letters sent to us outside of the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service will NOT be added to your application materials and will NOT be considered when evaluating you for admission. Do not direct recommenders to email us letters or messages regarding your application status, interest, qualifications, etc.

Application Deadline

All application materials must be submitted electronically before 11:59 PM (PST) on February 17, 2026. Your application should be submitted as early as possible to receive optimal consideration. We begin to review applications in early October. Applications submitted after the deadline are not accepted.

Residency and Citizenship

The information requested on the application form regarding residency and citizenship is used for demographic reference. We do not take either into consideration when making admissions decisions. If you are admitted, residency determinations for tuition purposes are made at the time of registration by a campus office. We cannot guarantee that the Residency Office will agree with your assessment of your residency status for tuition purposes.

Applicants with Disabilities

Berkeley Law does not discriminate against students with disabilities and is committed to admitting people from all segments of society who will serve all members of our communities. It is our desire to ensure that each application is reviewed appropriately. Applicants may share information about disabilities in the written parts of the application or may write a separate addendum. This information may be used by the law school to consider if there are voluntary efforts it could take prior to the students' arrival to reduce or eliminate barriers to full participation. Thus, a disability may be considered as one factor in the evaluation of an application. Disability-related information disclosed voluntarily by an applicant will in no way adversely affect an applicant's candidacy.

Accommodations provided by the law school for students with disabilities are designed and implemented in consultation with UC Berkeley's Disabled Students Program (DSP). For more information, call DSP at (510) 642-0518 or (510) 642-6376 (TTY/TDD), or visit http://dsp.berkeley.edu/. When students with disabilities enroll with DSP, DSP professionals will review relevant information and meet with the student, then recommend specific accommodations to the Director of Student Academic Advising and Support Services (SAASS) for Accessible Education at Berkeley Law. If you disclose a disability to the law school and are subsequently admitted, that information is in no way transmitted to another office. The candidate alone is responsible for contacting SAASS DSP, or other appropriate offices to request accommodations, and admission does not guarantee that requested accommodations will be approved.

International Applicants

The financial resources required for international students to attend Berkeley Law are substantial. International applicants should evaluate their ability to meet the total education costs and to obtain a visa. International applicants must be prepared to fund all of their educational and living expenses. Even students who receive some fellowship assistance must be prepared to provide approximately $119,308 (USD) per academic year required for educational and living expenses at Berkeley Law. If the student is married and/or has children, an additional $9,000 is recommended for the spouse and for each child. These funds must be provided by either the applicant or the applicant's sponsor.

We require that foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). An evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and will be incorporated into your CAS report. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Please plan accordingly.

Character and Fitness

If you answer "Yes" to any of the character and fitness questions, we require that you attach an addendum explaining the circumstances. If your answer to any of the character and fitness questions contained in this application becomes affirmative after you submit your application, you are required to notify the Admissions Office in writing. Failure to disclose and/or notify us will result in the revocation of your offer of 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.

Note that an affirmative answer to any of these questions does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission to Berkeley Law. Your answer will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to all aspects of your experience, academic achievement, and potential. Individuals may be strong applicants and passionate contributors to classroom discussions not in spite of their past engagement with the criminal justice system, but because of those experiences. We regularly admit, enroll, and graduate law students who have responded affirmatively to questions in this section.

Our character and fitness questions do not represent all the possible questions, topics, or considerations a state Bar might inquire about or require you to disclose, or for the law school to disclose in the course of the Bar certification process. Admission to our law school does not suggest or ensure eligibility for, nor guarantee, admission to any state, federal, or other Bar.

If you would like more information or resources for navigating these questions or attending law school as a justice-system impacted person, contact our office. We are also available for individual advising appointments.

Should you need to submit an addendum, please use the following format: 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins. There is no word or page limit, and you should feel free to take as much space as is required to fully address the incident.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Berkeley Law, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and the University's non-discrimination policies, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth and medical conditions related thereto, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. UC Berkeley's full Nondiscrimination Policy Statement can be found on our Berkeley Law admissions website under "ABA Required Disclosures."

Contacting Applicants

Decision letters and other correspondence will be sent to the email address you provide on your application. Be sure that your email address is current at all times and add "admissions@law.berkeley.edu" to prevent our email from landing in your spam folder.

Our concern for confidentiality precludes discussion of individual files with anyone other than the applicant unless expressly authorized by the applicant. If you expect to be unavailable at any point during the application process, you should appoint someone to act on your behalf and inform the Admissions Office in writing of the appointee's name, e-mail address, and phone number.

Evaluation

Once a file is complete, it is evaluated by a professional Admissions Office staff member. The Admissions Office, guided by faculty policy, admits a certain number of applicants determined each year. An initial reader makes a recommendation, and that recommendation is forwarded to the Dean of Admissions for a secondary review. Some applications will be reviewed by members of the faculty. The applicant status online (ASO) tool does not always accurately reflect where a candidate is in our internal review process.

As a result of the Admission Office's consideration, some applicants are admitted, some are placed on a waiting list, and the remaining applicants are denied. If the number of admitted students who accept an offer of admission falls below the number necessary to fill the class, then the wait list is used to fill the remaining places.

Our goal every year is to have all decisions transmitted to applicants by April 1. Waitlist admissions can take place as late as August 15.

Scholarship Application (optional)

The Scholarship application is an optional section intended to invite applicants to self-identify as possible candidates for certain, very specific awards, and to allow them to provide additional information in support of their candidacy. This application is not a complete list of scholarships available at Berkeley Law. Additional information about scholarships can be found on the Scholarships page of our website.

Several of these scholarships have deadlines that are earlier than the regular decision application deadline. In order to be considered for these scholarships, you must adhere to these deadlines. Applicants to the Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship (BLOS) and the Public Interest Scholars Program must submit a complete application no later than December 15. If all application materials are received by December 15, with the exception of the November LSAT test score, your application will still be considered for BLOS and Public Interest Scholars. The Hyundai-Kia Scholarship deadline is February 17, the same as our regular decision application deadline.

The BLOS, Public Interest Scholars Program, and Hyundai-Kia scholarship all require submission of additional essays, which must be uploaded in the attachments section of the online application. The essay prompt for each award is listed in the scholarship section of the application.

Please review the scholarship section of the application carefully for additional information and requirements that pertain to each award. All admitted students will be considered for scholarships in general. To be considered for a need-based award, an admitted applicant must complete the Supplemental Gift Aid Questionnaire.

Other Financial Aid

The scholarship application is not inclusive of all scholarships available at Berkeley Law. Additional information about scholarships can be found on the Scholarships page on our website. If you receive an offer of admission, we will provide instructions on applying for other gift aid (fellowships, grants, scholarships, etc.) at that time.

Socioeconomic Questionnaire (optional)

We seek to identify students whose ability to overcome disadvantages or obstacles promises success in law school and in the profession. To this end, applicants are invited to complete the Socioeconomic Questionnaire included with the application. Completion of the questionnaire is optional and will not adversely affect an applicant's candidacy. If a questionnaire is submitted, it will be used to augment the other factors considered during the evaluation process.

Other Factors

In making admission decisions, substantial weight is given to the cumulative undergraduate GPA and LSAT score. However, other factors are also considered and quantitative factors alone are not dispositive. If it appears that an applicant has experienced disadvantages that have adversely affected the applicant's past performance, and that the applicant has successfully overcome such disadvantages, this information will be considered when assessing the applicant's potential to be distinguished in the study and practice of law and to contribute to the educational process and the legal profession.

Race, religion, sex, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and national origin are not used as criteria for admission. No weight is given to the political or ideological views of the applicant, how an applicant intends to use his or her legal education, nor to an applicant's need for financial aid or employment during law school.

Concurrent Degree Programs

If you are applying to a Concurrent Degree Program (CDP) with another department at UC Berkeley, please be aware that application deadlines, decision notifications, financial aid requirements and processing timelines, and commitment deadlines vary from program to program. It's possible that you will be required to make a commitment to another degree program before you have learned of your decision from Berkeley Law (or vice versa).

To address a part of this issue, we offer expedited review (ER) of applications to UC Berkeley CDPs in some cases. In order for CDP applicants to be eligible for ER, you must submit a complete application to Berkeley Law on or before December 1st of the current application year. The last LSAT administration that would make you eligible for ER is the November test, including a Writing Sample completed before December 1. (A Writing Sample must be on file to allow us to receive your CAS report). Note: ER only applies to the admission review process, not to financial aid review.

Notification of Decision

Once you submit your application, you may assume that it is being processed in a timely manner. You will receive an email informing you when your application is being reviewed. Decision notifications are also sent out via email. In previous years, most applicants were notified of their admissions decision by mid-March. Admitted applicants usually have several weeks in which to respond to an admission offer. In no case will an applicant be required to respond before April 1.

Because we process large numbers of applications each year, we ask that you do not telephone unless it is urgent. You may email questions to admissions@law.berkeley.edu.

Acceptance Deposit

Berkeley Law does not require an acceptance deposit. Instead, the school relies on the integrity of those admitted to provide candid responses about accepting the offer of admission.

Appeals

Once an applicant has been denied admission, the file is not reconsidered during that admission cycle. Files are carefully reviewed on a comparative basis. Reconsideration after the conclusion of the process might create an unfair situation more favorable to the individual applicant, since reconsideration would lack the perspective provided by comparison with other files. Exceptions are made only in unusual cases in which an error, for which the applicant was not responsible and which the applicant promptly brought to the law school's attention, may have affected the decision.

Deferment of Admission

Applicants are encouraged to apply in the year in which they wish to enroll. However, deferment requests may be granted at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions. Examples of reasons a deferment might be granted include: Admission to a concurrent degree program, a serious family illness, award of a fellowship, or another extraordinary opportunity. Deferments may be granted for up to, but no more than, two consecutive years at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions.

Applicants Who Wish To Reapply

Applicants who wish to reapply are required to comply with all of the regular application instructions. Applicants who took the LSAT prior to September 2020 must take the test again and re-register with the CAS.

Contact the Berkeley Law Admissions Office

E-mail: admissions@law.berkeley.edu

Phone: (510) 642-2274

Fax: (510) 643-6222

Mail: 225 Law Building
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200

Web: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/

FIRST YEAR APPLICANT CHECKLIST

The application filing period begins September 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM (PST) February 17, 2026. Submit application through LSAC's website. Late applications are not accepted.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with a Writing Sample or GRE taken between September 2020 and January 2026 (unless you qualify to submit GMAT scores)
Submit transcripts and letters of recommendation to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
Enclose the personal statement, résumé, and optional addenda
Submit the $75.00 application fee, or request a fee waiver via Berkeley Law or LSAC

DEADLINES

Application Fee Waiver Requests: January 1, 2026
J.D. Program Application: February 17, 2026
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): March 1, 2026

Application requirements