Each applicant is required to submit a personal statement. This statement provides you the opportunity to describe your background and any unique experiences, characteristics, or circumstances you want the admissions committee to consider. You should explain your desire to study law, why you believe you will be a successful law student, and what you plan to do with your law degree. You are encouraged to explain your interest in attending our law school and may discuss any information not otherwise apparent from your application. Limit your personal statement to no more than 1,000words.

NOTE: If you want to include relevant information explaining a low undergraduate grade point average, low LSAT score, or low GRE score we encourage you to submit an addendum separate from your personal statement.

Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials. If you think writing on any of the topics suggested would help the Admissions Committee have a better sense of who you are, please select from one of the prompts below. Your essay should be one to two pages long. For ease of reading, please double-space and use a font size of 11-12. Please be sure to include the number of the prompt you are addressing at the top of your essay.

Prompt 1: What life experiences have had the biggest impact on shaping your character and why?

Prompt 2: How do you believe your experiences or perspective will make you a better law student or lawyer?

Prompt 3: Discuss the importance of divergent thoughts and perspectives and whether you have ever been persuaded to change your opinion after having a conversation with someone with a different perspective than your own.

Prompt 4: Discuss any circumstance(s) that have had an impact on your educational opportunities, character, or perspective(s).

Prompt 5: How do you feel your perspective, your voice, or experiences will contribute to the classroom.

If you want to include relevant information explaining a low undergraduate grade point average or low LSAT or GRE score, please submit this in a separate addendum. Include your name and LSAC account number on all documents.

An updated resume is required, please attach prior to submitting application.

Lawyers are held to high ethical standards. Not surprisingly, then, bar applicants are also held to high ethical standards and must undergo a “character and fitness” review as part of the bar application process in every United States jurisdiction. Accordingly, the following questions seek information about events in your past that shed light on your character and fitness to be a lawyer.

Read the questions below very carefully. Answer fully and honestly. Please note that the questions ask whether an event happened, not whether it is reflected in your “record” or whether there is documentation of the event. If the honest answer to whether an event in question actually happened is yes, disclose it.

Even expunged or sealed matters MUST be disclosed, unless the expunged or sealed matter was resolved while you were a juvenile (i.e., 17 or younger).

If you are in doubt about whether a disclosure is required, we encourage you to err on the side of disclosure. The failure to make a required disclosure is itself viewed as an ethical lapse. The failure to make a required disclosure may lead to serious consequences, including denial of admission or, for those already enrolled, dismissal from law school.

Many states require you to submit a copy of your application for admission to law school along with your bar application as part of the character and fitness review. Accordingly, you should keep a copy of your law school application in your records.

If you answer yes to any of the following six (6) questions, you must provide relevant details of the incident, including, but not limited to, the date of the incident, the location of the incident, and the outcome of the incident. Failure to provide detailed information may result in the Admissions Office requesting additional information, which will ultimately delay the admission decision. Copies of relevant court or other documents should accompany the explanation.

As set forth in ABA Standard 504, “[i]n 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 (http://www.ncbex.org/).”

If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office at lawadmissions@memphis.edu or 901.678.5403

CERTIFICATION: By submitting this application electronically, I certify that the information provided by me in this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that falsifications, misrepresentations, or omissions on the application may be grounds for denial or, if I am accepted, for suspension or dismissal from the University of Memphis or revocation of a degree. I understand that I have a continuing duty to disclose any changes to any of the facts indicated in this application at any time after submission through my graduation from the University of Memphis School of Law. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the law school or other appropriate action.

1. Have you ever been subject to or are actions pending against you involving any disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, warning, probation, suspension, dismissal, or request for resignation for academic or other reasons at any of the post-secondary schools, colleges, universities, graduate, or professional schools (including law schools) you have attended? Include all such disciplinary actions by a social fraternity or sorority of which you were a member while enrolled at any post-secondary institution.

2. Have you ever been arrested, taken into custody, formally accused, indicted, charged, cited, or convicted (by plea agreement, no contest plea, or otherwise) in connection with the violation of a criminal law or ordinance in any jurisdiction? The foregoing includes:

A. All adult offenses and matters that have been expunged or otherwise removed from court records.

B. Any delinquent act if you were fourteen (14) or more years of age at the time of the alleged act and the conduct constituting the delinquent act, if committed by an adult, would be a serious felony as specified in T.C.A. 37-1-154(b)(2)* involving use of a weapon or bodily injury to the victim. *The conduct would specifically constitute ?first degree murder, second degree murder, rape, aggravated rape, rape of a child, aggravated robbery, especially aggravated robbery, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping or especially aggravated kidnapping.?

If you were charged or convicted as a juvenile with any of these serious acts, you must provide a detailed description of the incident, even if the juvenile court matter has been expunged, along with any documentation that may still be available, and the disposition of the case.

C. You must disclose all traffic violations UNLESS the traffic violation (1) did not result in a jail sentence, (2) did not result in suspension or revocation of your driver?s license, AND (3) did not result in a fine of $200 or more, including court costs and fees. However, any arrest, charge, or conviction for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs must be disclosed regardless of outcome or sanction imposed.

3. Have you ever been tried by a court martial or discharged, other than honorably, from any military organization?

4. Have you ever been disciplined, suspended, laid off, permitted to resign (in lieu of termination), or terminated from any job? Additionally, have you ever had any licensure or certification revoked or suspended in addition to or separate from any disciplinary action?

5. Have you ever been charged with fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, forgery, or other acts of dishonesty in any civil, criminal, administrative, or other proceeding?

6. Have you ever enrolled in or attended this or any other law school?

1. How did you finance your undergraduate education?required (maximum characters 200)

2. What are your present sources of financial support?required (maximum characters 200)

Complete and submit the general application and attach all required and optional documents. The priority application deadline is March 1st and applications submitted by the March 1st deadline will be given priority scholarship consideration. We will continue to accept applications until July 15.

There is no application fee.

Required Materials: Application

Answer all questions on the application.

Personal Statement

Each applicant is required to submit a personal statement. This statement provides you the opportunity to describe your background and any unique experiences, characteristics, or circumstances you want the admissions committee to consider. You may explain your desire to study law, why you believe you will be a successful law student, and what you plan to do with your law degree. You are encouraged to explain your interest in attending our law school and may discuss any information not otherwise apparent from your application. Limit your personal statement to no more than two pages, standard formatting.

LSAT and LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS Report)

Register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and arrange to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The Credential Assembly Service, a service of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), provides a means to centralize and standardize undergraduate academic records to simplify the law school admission process. The Credential Assembly Service prepares a report for law schools that includes your LSAT score; undergraduate academic summary; a copy of your LSAT writing sample; copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and professional school transcripts; and copies of letters of recommendation. Upon receipt of the law school application, the admissions office will receive a CAS report for the applicant.

GRE

Applicants who elect to take the GRE, in lieu of the LSAT, must instruct ETS to send The University of Memphis School of Law all GRE test scores from the preceding five-year period. Applicants who have already taken the GRE can log into their ETS account and select The University of Memphis School of Law as a recipient of GRE results using the school code: 1087. Please note: All applicants who have taken the LSAT are considered LSAT applicants even if GRE scores are submitted.

Transcripts

Applicants must submit all academic transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, law) directly to LSAC. Do not submit transcripts directly to the University of Memphis Law Admissions office. Only your first undergraduate degree will be used in your admission index as calculated by LSAC, but all transcripts must be submitted to LSAC.

Undergraduate: You must submit transcripts for college-level work completed at any two or four-year institution of higher learning, or through an online or distance learning program if the hours earned apply toward your undergraduate degree.

Graduate: If you have earned a graduate degree or credit hours toward a graduate degree, you must submit transcripts from all graduate institutions to LSAC to be included in your CAS report. While your graduate grade point average is not used in calculating your admission index, the admissions committee will review your graduate level academic record.

Law: (Start-Over applicants only) If you attended any law school, including Memphis Law, you must submit law school transcripts directly to LSAC to be included on your CAS Report.

Letters of Recommendation

One is required and up to four letters of recommendation are permitted. Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to LSAC to be included in your CAS report. Recommendations should be from professors, instructors, or other professionals who can provide relevant information on your intellectual ability, academic performance, potential for success in law school, and character. Letters from social acquaintances and personal or family friends, which provide only minimal or no information about your academic abilities, are not considered to be helpful. If you have been out of school for a number of years, your recommendations or evaluations may come from employers, supervisors, clients, or someone who can address the above characteristics.

Resume

Please submit an updated resume.

Optional Materials: Addendum

If you want to include relevant information explaining a low undergraduate grade point average, low LSAT score, or low GRE score we encourage you to submit an addendum separate from your personal statement. Addenda may also speak to other areas of the application that you feel the need to explain in more detail, such as a gap in your resume, credits from multiple colleges/universities, or other explanations.

Supplemental Essay

If you feel you have additional relevant information to share that will provide the admissions committee a more in-depth understanding of your background, interests, and goals, we encourage you to provide a supplemental essay using the prompts provided.

Explanation of Admonitory Action (if applicable)

If the answer to any item in the Admonitory Action section of the application is "Yes," the applicant is required to provide a full and detailed explanation. Copies of relevant court or other official documents should accompany the application. Instructions for completing the admonitory action section are on the application. NOTE: We recommend you keep a copy of all admonitory information submitted. This information will be confirmed prior to matriculation and again as part of the bar exam application. All admitted law students must notify the School of Law Associate Dean of any criminal charges or arrests that occur between enrollment and graduation from the University of Memphis School of Law.

Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law (TIP Program):

Each summer the University of Memphis School of Law operates the Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law (TIP Program). TIP is an admission by performance program for Tennessee residents and border-county residents (from Crittenden County, AR, DeSoto, Marshall, Tunica, and Tate County, MS) who are not admitted through the regular process, but who show potential for the study of law. There is no tuition cost associated with this program. Applying to TIP does not disqualify you from consideration for regular admission. If you are interested in being considered for the TIP program, you must answer the TIP application questions and ensure that your application includes how you meet the eligibility requirements, e.g., residency, first-generation college graduate, and/or socioeconomic disadvantage.

Additional Information: College and University Security Information Act

Pursuant to the requirements of the College and University Security Information Act, Tenn. Code Ann. Section 49-7-2200, an annual report of security information and statistics is available upon request. Contact the Assistant Dean of Students, Office of Judicial Affairs, the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, 901.678.2298, to obtain any or all of the information. All other Student-Right-To-Know information is available online at http://www.memphis.edu/registrar/.

Statement of Procedure

All credentials become the property of the University and cannot be forwarded or returned. Credentials will be maintained in active files for a 12-month period. After this period, credentials will be relegated to inactive status and must be submitted again before an admissions decision can be made.

The University of Memphis is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law does not discriminate in admissions or employment on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). The ABA may be contacted at: Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-7598, telephone 312.988.6738. The AALS may be contacted at 1614 20th Street, NW; Washington, DC 20009, telephone 202.296.8851; http://www.aals.org/.