Please provide a response to the prompt. Your personal statement should be approximately two pages in length. Add it to your application as an attachment.

We do not recommend explaining any legal or educational issues associated with your application here. If needed, please address these issues in a separate optional attachment.

Essay Prompt

Describe how one or more aspects of your experiences have impacted your life and prepared you to be part of Mizzou Law, whether it be experiences of support, community, adversity, inequity, or other circumstances you wish to address.  Be sure to describe something about you personally as an individual (such as how you were able to overcome a challenge or were motivated to reach a goal or assume a leadership role).

Please attach your resume. Please include education, employment, activities, community service, etc.

1. 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.

2. Have you been placed on academic probation at any college or university? If yes, explain the dates and circumstances in an attachment (see Attachments section).

3. Are you currently or have you ever been subject to disciplinary action/charges at any college or university? If yes, in an attachment, please list the charges, describe the discipline and the circumstances (see Attachments section).

4. Other than minor traffic violations (speeding, parking tickets), have you ever been arrested for any violation of the law? This would include, but is not limited to: arrests for under-age drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. If yes, in an attachment, name the offense, the date and describe the circumstances. (see Attachments section)

Note: You must disclose the information requested in this question even if you received a deferred prosecution, a suspended imposition of sentence, the conviction was stayed or vacated, or the record (including but not limited to proceedings in juvenile court, family court, or any court of general jurisdiction) was expunged.

5. Are there any criminal charges currently pending against you? If yes, in an attachment, please name the offense and describe the circumstances. (see Attachments section)

6. Are you now or have you ever been investigated or subject to discipline by any professional licensing board or body? If yes, please explain in an attachment. (see Attachments section)

This section is optional.

Under special circumstances, students may be able to attend part-time. If you answered yes to this question, please explain in an attachment if you wish to be considered to attend on a part-time basis.

This section is optional.

If you have ever been on academic probation at any college or university, please explain the situation and dates in an attachment.

Applicants for admission must have earned a bachelor?s degree from an accredited four-year postsecondary institution before enrolling at the University of Missouri School of Law.

Applications open September 1 for the following fall term. The Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications shortly thereafter, and decisions are made on a rolling basis. Submission by November is encouraged.

First-year JD students are admitted for full-time study in the fall semester only.

Mizzou Law does not offer a structured part-time program. However, in limited circumstances, full-time students may reduce their course load. Evening, weekend, online, and distance courses are not available.

Application Checklist

All items listed below are required for an application to be considered complete. Applications are reviewed only after all required materials have been received. Responsibility for ensuring completion of the application rests with the applicant.

Application Form: All questions must be answered completely and accurately. False statements, omissions, or misrepresentations will be reported to LSAC and may result in denial of admission. Applications may be submitted before LSAT scores are released, but review will not begin until scores have been received. Any changes to submitted information should be reported to the admissions office.

Application Fee: A nonrefundable $60 application fee is required.

Personal Statement Essay: A response to the prompt must be submitted as an attachment and should not exceed two pages. The personal statement should not be used to explain legal, educational, or other issues, whether current or past. Such matters should instead be addressed in a separate attachment (see below).

Resumé: Recommended information includes education, employment, activities, and community service. The resumé is not limited to one page and should be submitted as an attachment.

Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required, and up to four may be submitted. Letters should come from individuals familiar with the applicant and capable of addressing academic ability and potential for success in law school. Applicants who are current undergraduates or who graduated within the past five years must provide at least one letter from an instructor who evaluated undergraduate coursework. Letters from high school teachers or earlier instructors will not satisfy this requirement. No specific format is required. All letters must be submitted through CAS.

Transcripts: Official transcripts must be sent to LSAC from every undergraduate and graduate institution attended. This includes dual-credit coursework completed in high school, transfer credits, postgraduate coursework, secondary degrees, master?s programs, PhD programs, and other professional degrees. Applicants are advised to complete at least six semesters of undergraduate study before requesting transcripts.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT): Submission of an LSAT score is required. The highest score will be considered. Applicants are encouraged to complete the LSAT before the listed deadlines. Questions should be directed to the admissions office.

JD-Next: The LSAT is required. A JD-Next score is not accepted as a substitute. However, a JD-Next score may be submitted as a supplement to the application. To submit a JD-Next score, contact jd.next@aspenpublishing.com to request transmission of the score report through LSAC.

Additional Information

Any legal or character-and-fitness issues must be disclosed. Such matters are required to be reported during the bar admission process, and failure to disclose them may jeopardize admission to the Bar, standing within the law school, or scholarship eligibility. Supporting documents should be saved and attached as PDF files. Questions should be directed to the Admissions Office.

Applicants may also address educational, socioeconomic, disability-related, or other factors relevant to the application. Supporting documents should be saved and attached as PDF files. Questions should be directed to the Admissions Office.

Deadlines

All items listed above are required for an application to be considered complete. Applications are reviewed only after all required materials have been received. To meet a deadline, the application must be complete by that date. Following receipt of materials by the Law School Admission Council, approximately two business days are typically required for transmission to the law school. Responsibility for ensuring completion of the application rests with the applicant.

September 1: Application process opens. Decisions are made on a rolling basis. Early application, preferably before Thanksgiving, is recommended.

November 1: Priority scholarship deadline. The School of Law awards scholarships throughout the admissions cycle. Applicants admitted by November 1 will receive priority consideration during the first scholarship review process. Initial scholarship awards will be made in early November, with additional scholarship awards made on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle as funding remains available.

No separate application is required for automatic scholarship awards. Scholarship eligibility is evaluated as part of the admissions review process, and students whose academic credentials are competitive with the School of Law's entering class profile may be considered for automatic merit-based scholarships.

In addition to automatic scholarship awards, admitted students who do not receive an automatic scholarship may apply for a Tiger Scholarship by submitting a brief supplemental application. Information regarding the Tiger Scholarship application process, requirements, and deadlines will be provided to eligible admitted students. Tiger Scholarship applications will be reviewed throughout the admissions cycle as funding remains available.

Because scholarship funding is limited, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Students admitted by November 1 will receive priority consideration during the initial scholarship review process, and scholarship funds are awarded until available funding has been exhausted.

November 15: Early Decision Program Round 1 deadline. Deadline for consideration under the binding Early Decision Program Round 1. Additional details are available on the MU Law website.

January 15: Early Decision Program Round 2 deadline. Deadline for consideration under the binding Early Decision Program Round 2. Additional details are available on the MU Law website.

March 1: FAFSA deadline. Priority processing deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The MU school code is 002516.

April 1: Seat Deposit deadline. Seat deposit deadline for students admitted before this date.

Contact Information

University of Missouri School of Law Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 103 Hulston Hall Columbia, MO 65211 umclawadmissions@missouri.edu 573.882.6042 888.685.2948

Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Box 2000 Newtown, PA 18940 215.968.1001

Personal and Ethnicity Information of Applicants

Ethnicity information provided in the Demographic section of the application is not shared with the Admissions Committee during the admissions process and is not considered in admission decisions.

Submission of an application provides the University with personal information. The University?s processing of personal information is outlined at:

University of Missouri System Privacy Information for Students and Applicants

As described in greater detail there, processing of personal information, including social security numbers, is necessary to take steps requested prior to entering into a contract; to comply with legal obligations; to perform tasks carried out in the public interest; and to pursue legitimate interests of the University.

This section is optional.

Other than minor traffic violations (speeding, parking tickets), have you ever been arrested for any violation of the law? This would include, but is not limited to: arrests for under-age drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. If yes, in an attachment, name the offense, the date and describe the circumstances.

Note: You must disclose the information even if you received a deferred prosecution, a suspended imposition of sentence, the conviction was stayed or vacated, or the record (including but not limited to proceedings in juvenile court, family court, or any court of general jurisdiction) was expunged.

This section is optional.

If you have ever been investigated or subject to discipline by any professional licensing board or body, please explain.

This section is optional.

Please use this to address any socio-economic factors you feel are important to know when considering your application.

This section is optional.

Please use this to address any disability factors you feel are important to know when considering your application.

This section is optional.

Attach a file explaining anything not covered elsewhere which you feel the Admissions Committee should know.

This section is optional.

If you are currently or have ever been subject to disciplinary action/charges at any college or university, please list the charges, describe the discipline and the circumstances in an attachment.

This section is optional.

Are there any criminal charges currently pending against you? If yes please name the offense and describe the circumstances in an attachment.

This section is optional.

If you feel your LSAT score(s) do not accurately reflect your abilities or align with your undergraduate GPA please explain. You may demonstrate this by showing that you outperformed your ACT, or SAT as an undergraduate.