Personal Statement: Upload a personal statement that demonstrates your capacity for the study of law.

Many applicants submit a personal statement about a major life experience that has shaped their world view, overcoming a difficult challenge, or unique personal traits that they would bring to the Boston College Law School community. In crafting your personal statement, you may wish to consider one of the aforementioned topics, or you may choose a topic of your own.

Your personal statement should not exceed two pages (double-spaced) with a minimum of one-inch margins and 11-point font size.

You are not required to submit an optional statement. However, you may upload an optional statement regarding your salient experiences; economic, cultural, or social background; impactful connections to Boston and BC Law; or other factors that you wish for us to consider when reviewing your application. Your optional statement should not exceed two pages (double-spaced) with one-inch margins and 11-point font size.

If you believe there is additional information or context that would be helpful for the admissions committee, please provide a brief paragraph detailing the circumstance. Common addenda may include information about gaps in employment, standardized test score(s), and/or a GPA that may not be reflective of your ability to succeed in law school.

You are not required to submit an addendum. Your addendum should not exceed one page (double-spaced) with a minimum of one-inch margins and 11-point font size.

This attachment is only required for applicants applying for the Public Service Scholarship.

Please share why you are applying to be a Public Service Scholar at Boston College Law School, examples of your leadership and experience in public service beyond what is stated in your resume, your career plans after law school, if you know, and what steps you have taken to learn about different career paths available to you. Your response should not exceed two pages (double-spaced) with a minimum of one-inch margins and 11-point font size.

Upload your current résumé or curriculum vitae.

1. Have you ever been compelled to curtail or discontinue your study or your work for a substantial period?

2. Have you ever been placed on academic warning, academic probation, or conduct probation; or been dismissed, reprimanded, sanctioned, expelled or disciplined, or been the subject of any unresolved conduct or disciplinary complaint by or at any college, graduate or professional school, or professional licensing agency?

3. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense? Do not answer yes if the conviction was subsequently vacated. Do not answer yes if the conviction was for a first offense of any of the following misdemeanors: drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray, or disturbance of the peace. Do not answer yes if the conviction was for a misdemeanor where such conviction (i) occurred more than five years before the date of this application, (ii) did not result in a prison sentence, and (iii) you were not convicted of any other criminal offense within the last five years.

4. Have you ever been a party on either side in a civil action, or a proceeding involving a claim of fraud, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, professional malpractice or other wrongful conduct?

5. Have you ever been a party, other than as representing counsel, in non-criminal legal or administrative proceedings? NOTICE TO APPLICANT: The Board of Bar Examiners, both in Massachusetts and other jurisdictions, may require additional information pertaining to criminal/disciplinary history and legal proceedings that educational institutions in Massachusetts are not permitted to seek under state law. Examples of character and fitness questions from three jurisdictions are provided below.

The Massachusetts Petition for Admission by Examination - First Time includes the following three questions:

Have you ever been charged with or been the subject of any investigation for a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic charge? Have you ever been a party on either side in a civil action or proceeding involving a claim of fraud, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, professional malpractice or other wrongful conduct? Have you been a party in any other legal or administrative proceedings? The Application for Admission to Practice as an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law in the State of New York includes the following question:

Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, ticketed, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, indicted, convicted or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, or been the subject of any juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding? Traffic violations that occurred more than ten years before the filing of this application need not be reported, except alcohol- or drug-related traffic violations, which must be reported in all cases, irrespective of when they occurred. Do not report parking violations. The Texas Bar Exam Application for Out-of-State Law Students includes the following three questions:

Have you ever been convicted of an offense, placed on probation, or granted deferred adjudication or any type of pretrial diversion? You must report any such offenses involving alcohol or drugs. You must report any failure to appear conviction resulting from any offense. You must report any conviction for failure to maintain financial responsibility (legally required auto insurance). You may exclude only Class C misdemeanor traffic violations. Have you, within the last 10 years, been arrested, cited or ticketed for, or charged with any violation of the law? You must report any such offenses involving alcohol or drugs. You must report any failure to appear charge or warrant resulting from any such offense. You must report any failure to maintain financial responsibility (legally required auto insurance) arrest, citation, ticket or charge. You may exclude only Class C misdemeanor traffic violations. Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or other governmental agency investigation?

6. 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.

Dear Prospective Applicant,

We are excited about your interest in Boston College Law School. Please take the time to carefully read these instructions. We know that the application process can be complex, so feel free to contact us with any questions you may have throughout the admissions cycle.

Sincerely,

Shawn D. McShay, Assistant Dean, Graduate Enrollment Management Boston College Law School, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 885 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02459 Office Email: bclawadm@bc.edu and Office Telephone: 617-552-4351

Application Instructions

When to Apply

Application opens: September 1 Important Deadlines Early Decision I: December 1 Early Decision II: January 15 Public Service Scholars: February 1 Regular Decision: March 1 Boston College Law School Regular Decision Program We accept applications from September through February for the following fall's entering class. Because we have a rolling admissions process and begin reviewing completed files long before the application deadline, we strongly suggest that you submit your application well before the deadline.

To apply for admission, you must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to entering law school, have taken either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the past five years, and register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

Applicants who have taken the LSAT or GRE exam(s) prior to June 1, 2021, must retake the exam for a score to be considered current and accepted by the admissions committee. For those applicants taking both the LSAT and GRE, the admissions committee will record and report the highest LSAT score in our review process. Applicants who have a valid GRE test score must submit GRE test scores to Boston College Law School. Any applicant that indicates a future test date, either LSAT or GRE, will have their application held until that score has been received. Boston College's ETS code is 4882.

In addition, you must submit:

A complete electronic application. Applications submitted to LSAC for transmission to Boston College Law School will be considered submitted on the day that they are electronically transmitted. A personal statement that demonstrates your capacity for the study of law. Many applicants submit a personal statement about a major life experience that has shaped their world view, overcoming a difficult challenge, or unique personal traits that they would bring to the BC Law community. In crafting your personal statement, you may wish to consider one of the aforementioned topics, or you may choose a topic of your own. Your personal statement should not exceed two pages (double-spaced) with one-inch margins and 11-point font size. A non-refundable application fee of $85 USD.
A minimum of two (2) and a maximum of three (3) letters of recommendation, either academic or professional. Public Service Scholarship (PSS) applicants must submit a total of three letters of recommendation, two letters to satisfy the JD application requirement and a third Public Service letter of recommendation which uniquely addresses your commitment to working in the public sector. The Public Service letter of recommendation should be from a professional reference specific to your qualifications for the Public Service Scholarship and should be addressed to the Public Service Awards Committee. All letters of recommendation must be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service. You must have at least nine months of full-time professional experience prior to the start of law school, preferably in the public sector. Internships, co-ops, and similar experiences completed while you were enrolled in a degree program do not apply. The PSS is renewable for up to a total of six semesters (three academic years) provided that the recipient maintains good academic standing and remains enrolled full-time at Boston College Law School. Recipients must work in a qualifying public interest position for 60 months (5 years) immediately following graduation from the Law School. Due to the significant commitment asked of the PSS scholars both during law school and after graduation, it is important that you review the requirements of this program on our website prior to submitting the application. The admissions committee will only consider PSS applications that fulfill the above requirements. The deadline to apply for the PSS is February 1, 2027. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, regardless of whether or not a degree was sought. Transcripts should be sent directly to LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Boston College Law School requires that all foreign transcripts be submitted through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service Authentication and Evaluation (CAS A&E). Your application will not be considered complete if transcripts are missing, unacknowledged, or otherwise unavailable in your CAS Report. The only exception to this requirement is if you completed foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by an American or Canadian institution of higher education, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the sponsoring institution's transcript.

Character and Fitness

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.

Optional Addenda

If you believe there is additional information or context that would be helpful for the admissions committee, please provide a brief paragraph detailing the circumstance. Common addenda may include information about gaps in employment, standardized test score(s), and/or a GPA that may not be reflective of your ability to succeed in law school.

Optional Statement

You may upload an optional statement regarding your salient experiences; economic, cultural, or social background; impactful connections to Boston and BC Law; or other factors that you wish for us to consider when reviewing your application. Your optional statement should not exceed two pages (double-spaced) with one-inch margins and 11-point font size.

Scholarships and Financial Aid (Regular Decision Applicants)

All admitted students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarship awards. Review for merit-based scholarship awards begins in March. We do not negotiate scholarships. Regardless of your application status, you should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible if you wish to be considered for federal financial aid. The FAFSA code for Boston College is 002128. All candidates pursuing a dual degree with one of Boston College's graduate programs must consult the Law School's admissions and financial aid office prior to the start of their dual degree enrollment. Law school scholarship recipients may only receive their law school scholarship when enrolled at the Law School. When a student is enrolled at one of Boston College's graduate schools as a dual degree candidate, their scholarship for the semester(s) is determined by the other graduate school at Boston College.

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of Boston College Law School to assure fair and equal treatment in the admissions process and not to discriminate on the basis of a person's race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, gender identity & expression, religion, disability, age, marital or parental status, genetic information or family medical history, military status, and to comply with state law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of a person's sexual orientation.

Boston College Law Binding Early Decision Program Early Decision I deadline: December 1, decisions released December 15. Early Decision II deadline: January 15, decisions released January 28. In addition to the instructions above, the following additional requirements apply to our Early Decision Program:

This program is designed for applicants who consider Boston College Law School as their first choice for law school. Applicants who are admitted Early Decision are committing to matriculate in the fall 2027 term, with no deferral option. Applicants who apply Early Decision may not apply to other Early Decision programs. Applicants applying Early Decision should have a valid LSAT or GRE score, or plan to take either exam by November 14. Please note that we will accept a GRE score in lieu of an LSAT score; however, if you have taken both the LSAT and GRE, the LSAT score will be considered in the admissions review process. Applicants who are admitted Early Decision are required to pay their binding seat deposit by the deadline noted in the offer of admission. Boston College Law School reserves the right to share applicant data, including Early Decision status, with other law schools and with LSAC. Early Decision applicants must select one of the following scholarship award options when applying: Dean's Scholars ($40,000 to $55,000 per year, for a total of up to $165,000 for three years) based on six semesters of enrollment at the Law School. BC Scholars ($20,000 to $35,000 per year, for a total of up to $105,000 for three years) based on six semesters of enrollment at the Law School. Eagle Track (No scholarship consideration). Applicants who are applying to the Early Decision Program are not eligible to apply for the Public Service Scholarship. The admissions committee reserves the right to request a virtual or in-person interview for any applicant applying Early Decision.