Each entering class is composed of accomplished people who bring a spectrum of experiences and perspective to the Law School community. To aid in constructing a diverse and interesting class, we require a personal statement. This statement provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate the ways in which you can contribute your talents and experiences to the Law School. In the past, successful applicants have written about significant personal, academic, and professional experiences; meaningful intellectual interests; extracurricular activities; and factors inspiring them to obtain a legal education.

Please limit your statement to two double-spaced pages, and include your printed name and LSAC account number on all attachments.

This section is optional.

An addendum is an optional statement that allows you to provide additional context or explanations regarding information included in your application. Addenda should be brief, factual, and limited to circumstances that require clarification.

Applicants may submit an addendum to address matters such as:

• Academic performance or circumstances that affected academic records
• Standardized test score circumstances
• Gaps in education or employment
• Significant personal circumstances that affected academic or professional experiences

Any Character and Fitness disclosures should be submitted separately in the Character and Fitness section of the application.

This section is optional.

In addition to your personal statement, you may include a statement discussing background or experience that you believe is important for the admissions committee to consider. Information that students have included in the past that the admissions committee has found to be helpful includes, but is not limited to, the description or documentation of a disability, hardships overcome, personal or family history of education, or socioeconomic disadvantage.

Please limit your statement to two double-spaced pages. The heading of your statement should be labeled "Optional Essay."

Please attach a current résumé.

1. 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 revocation of admission or disciplinary action by the Law School, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission. Note: An affirmative answer to any of these questions will not automatically preclude your admission. In addition, as state requirements vary, we advise you to obtain information about qualification for admission to the bar of the state in which you intend to practice.

*If your answer to any of the Character and Fitness questions is "Yes," you must attach an explanatory statement.  If you do not attach an explanation, the processing and review of your application will be delayed. Vague statements are not acceptable.

Continuing Obligation to Report Information: Should your response to any of these questions change during the course of your application, prior to matriculation, or while enrolled at the Law School, you must immediately inform the Office of Enrollment Management.

2. Have you ever been subject to any disciplinary action, placed on academic probation, or dismissed from any school, college, university, or graduate/professional school that you have attended? Is any such action pending or expected to be brought against you?   Please provide details including relevant dates, description of the incident, disposition of the incident, and any other relevant details following the incident.

3. Are you a defendant in a pending criminal matter, or have you, at any age, unless specifically excluded below, been charged with, indicted for, tried for, convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law? In your response to this question, disclose any matter in which you were adjudicated a youthful offender or received an equivalent adjudication in another jurisdiction.

Do NOT report:

(a) any matter in which you were adjudicated a juvenile delinquent in Family Court or other noncriminal proceeding;

(b) any citation, ticket or arrest that did not result in criminal charges or an indictment, trial, conviction or guilty plea;

(c) vehicle and traffic matters that occurred more than 10 years before the filing of this application, EXCEPT alcohol or drug-related traffic violations, which must be reported in all cases, irrespective of when they occurred; or

(d) parking violations.

4. Have you ever registered for or attended any academic course of studies at another law school?

5. If you answered "Yes" to attending a previous Law School, please disclose the name of the law school here:

Additionally, if you answer "Yes", you must arrange for each prior law school attended to submit a Letter of Standing directly to the Office of Enrollment Management at lawadmissions@hofstra.edu. An official transcript from the institution must be submitted through LSAC.org.

This section is optional.

If you need additional space regarding any unique skills, please attach it here:

This section is optional.

Please attach explanation reason for discharge.

JURIS DOCTOR PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates of the Juris Doctor program must:

1.  Be at least 18 years of age upon entering the first-year class in the fall.

2.  Have earned a US Bachelors degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited four-year institution.

3.  Have a current LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration.

4.  Have a current Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score on file, GRE test or JD-Next Score.

Application Options

Early Action Application (Non-Binding)

Hofstra Law offers a non-binding, early action application option for first-year candidates of the JD program. This option is designed for students who have completed all application requirements prior to the November 15th Early Action Deadline. To meet the Early Action Application Deadline, you must take the LSAT no later than November 1st. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis and candidates should be notified of a decision by December 15th.

Regular Application

The regular application may be submitted from September 1st to the April 15th deadline. Regular applications are also considered on a rolling basis and candidates should be notified within 6 to 8 weeks from completion (not submission) of the application.

Academic Dismissal

Applicants who have been academically dismissed from another ABA approved law school must wait at least two years before applying for admission to Hofstra Law School. Previously dismissed applicants must apply as first-year candidates and should provide detailed information and documentation from their prior law school regarding their former enrollment. Additionally, you must arrange for each prior law school attended to submit a Letter of Standing directly to the Office of Enrollment Management at lawadmissions@hofstra.edu. An official transcript from the institution must be submitted through LSAC.org.

Transfer Application

In addition to submitting your Transfer application, you must arrange for each prior law school attended to submit a Letter of Standing directly to the Office of Enrollment Management at lawadmissions@hofstra.edu. An official transcript from the institution must be submitted through LSAC.org.

Application Process

1. The Application Form. Applicants to Hofstra Law School must apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Prospective candidates may add addendums, résumés, and other items of support by attaching the electronic document(s) to the online application. Failure to provide a complete application may result in processing delays.
2. Personal Statement. The Personal Statement provides an opportunity for you to present yourself, your background, your ideas, and your qualifications to the Admissions Committee. Please limit your statement to two double-spaced pages.
3. Application Fee. The application fee to apply to Hofstra Law School is waived with your electronic application submission through LSAC.
4. Optional: Letters of Recommendation. Recommendations provide useful information in the selection process and should come from those who have had an opportunity to carefully assess you over a sufficient period of time. All letters of recommendation must be sent to the Credential Assembly Service to be included with your law school report. Applicants may submit up to three letters of recommendation.
5. Register with the Credential Assembly Service. For more information, please visit the LSAC web site at LSAC.org or call at 215.968.1001.
6. Law School Admission Test (LSAT). You may submit a formal application to Hofstra Law School prior to taking the LSAT. However, your application will not be complete until all components of the application have been received.
7. Other Tests: In lieu of the LSAT, applicants may submit GRE scores or JD-Next scores, however, if an applicant has an LSAT score, Hofstra Law School will consider only the LSAT score.

Hofstra Law accepts all administrations of the LSAT for each entering fall class. If you have taken the LSAT within five years from the current application cycle, you do not need to retake the test.

Decision Notification

Decisions will be sent electronically to your primary email address. Please allow up to 8 weeks from the date your application is complete to receive a decision. For real-time application updates, please access your Applicant Status Online.

Contact Information:

Office of Enrollment Management

Phone: 516.463.5916
Email: lawadmissions@hofstra.edu