At Colorado Law, our core values of character, diversity, leadership, and commitment to service guide our mission to provide students with an exceptional legal education and prepare them to serve wisely and with professionalism. Our faculty and students advance the development of the legal profession through scholarship, challenge the status quo, and contribute to society with meaningful public service. Please write a personal statement explaining how you will positively exemplify the values of Colorado Law in the classroom and beyond. You may also discuss any other factors that you think may assist the Admission Committee's evaluation of your application, such as: background information; experiences, talents or special interests; adversities you have overcome; and your reasons for applying to the University of Colorado Law School.

The personal statement is an opportunity for us to get to know you. Be authentic and share information about yourself that is not available in other components of your application (without restating your resume). We’re also looking for evidence that you can communicate effectively. Be sure to write clearly and concisely, taking extra care to avoid misspellings, grammar issues, and other errors.

Your essay must be in your own words, double-spaced, and should not exceed 1,000 words.

Please attach your personal statement electronically to your application.

This section is optional. Optional Statement: The optional statement should cover how your experiences, background, or perspectives could contribute to the diversity and inclusivity of our law school community.

You may share any facets of your identity, upbringing, life experiences, work, education, interests, or values that would make our student body more vibrant and reflective of a wide range of viewpoints and walks of life. This could include discussing any economic disadvantages or other adversities that you have overcome, challenging family circumstances, unique talents or viewpoints you would contribute, or any other details about your personal story that would further our mission of training thoughtful, compassionate, and successful lawyers from all backgrounds.

You do not need to talk about information you included in your personal statement. This additional statement is an opportunity for you to share more information about yourself that doesn't appear elsewhere. This statement is optional.

Your optional statement must be in your own words, double-spaced, and not exceed 500 words.

Please attach your optional statement electronically to your application.

Addenda:

You may attach addenda as necessary to explain items in your application about which we may have questions.

All addenda must be in your own words and double-spaced.

Please attach addenda electronically to your application.

Please attach a current résumé. Please show volunteer activities as well as work experience. It is also helpful to include the number of hours per week that you participated in an activity, club, or job. You do not need to include any high school activities or sports unless they are particularly relevant to your current goals.

Please answer fully and accurately the following character and fitness questions. If you have any questions as to how to answer these questions, please first refer to our web page. If you still have questions please email our Director of Admissions. Failure to fully and accurately answer these questions may result in expulsion or other disciplinary action by Colorado Law. There are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. You are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the jurisdiction in which you intend to practice by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. As a part of your application for admission to the bar, many states will review your answers to these questions and may require additional information during their determination of your fitness to practice law.

1. Have you ever been accused of a violation of an honor code or student conduct code, warned or advised of any misconduct, accused of and/or investigated for any misconduct, placed on scholastic or disciplinary or any other form of probation, sanctioned, suspended, requested or advised to discontinue your students, dropped, expelled or requested to resign or otherwise subjected to discipline by any college, law school or other post-secondary institution? Include, for example, any warnings or discipline for violation of school or dormitory policies related to alcohol or controlled substances.

2. Regardless of whether the record has been expunged, canceled, or annulled, or whether no record was made, have you ever been accused of cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty at any college, university, law school, or post-secondary institution you attended?

3. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, cited for, charged with, or convicted of any alcohol or drug-related offenses? Include any traffic or other violations that involved alcohol or drugs, as well as any minor in possession or open container charges.

Include all matters that have been dismissed for any reason, subject to a diversion or a deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. You do not need to disclose any incident (including a juvenile one) that ended in the sealing or expungement of the incident by a court. Expungement or sealing of a record is different than a dismissal as it is conducted by a court and results in a court order.

4. In the last five years, have you ever been investigated, arrested, cited for, charged with, or convicted of any traffic violation? Exclude violations disclosed in the previous question and any parking violations.

Include all matters that have been dismissed for any reason, subject to a diversion or a deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. You do not need to disclose any incident (including a juvenile one) that ended in the sealing or expungement of the incident by a court. Expungement or sealing of a record is different than a dismissal as it is conducted by a court and results in a court order.

5. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, cited for, charged with, convicted, imprisoned, or placed on probation or parole for any offense against the law? Exclude violations disclosed in the previous two questions.

Include all matters that have been dismissed for any reason, subject to a diversion or a deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. You do not need to disclose any incident (including a juvenile one) that ended in the sealing or expungement of the incident by a court. Expungement or sealing of a record is different than a dismissal as it is conducted by a court and results in a court order.

Please share with us how you prepared for the LSAT. Possible answers to this question include, but are not limited to, the following: did practice questions on my own, took a commercial prep course, or used the LSAC free materials. The answers to this question are not used in the admission decision-making, but as survey material for how our applicants are preparing for the LSAT. (maximum characters 500)