Application requirements
Essay prompts
A personal statement is required by the Admissions Committee and must be attached to your application at the time of submission. Your application will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review once all items are received. You may choose to write about your interest in studying law, your desire to attend New York Law School, obstacles or adversity that you have overcome, or economic, social, or cultural factors that have been significant in your development or identity. Your personal statement should be no more than two-pages, 12-point font, double spaced.
This section is optional.
New York Law School seeks to have an inclusive environment. You are invited to submit an optional statement on how your experiences, personal attributes, or character will add to the inclusive culture at New York Law School. This statement should speak to something different beyond what was discussed in the personal statement. Your statement should be no more than two-pages, 12-point font, double spaced, and attached after the personal statement under separate heading.
This section is optional.
You may attach an optional addendum, or addenda, addressing information you feel would be helpful to the admissions committee to review your application. Each addendum should be no more than one-page, 12-point font, double spaced, attached after the personal statement, and contain an indicative heading.
Attach a résumé or curriculum vitae that includes employment, volunteer, leadership, and school and community activities.
The American Bar Association Standards and Rules of Procedure require law schools to secure information regarding character and fitness and other qualifications for admission to the bar in the state in which the applicant intends to practice. Bar authorities and the New York Law School Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility require accurate and complete responses to all questions on both your law school application and, ultimately, on your application for admission to practice law. NOTE: responses to questions on your law school application must be fully consistent with responses to your future character and fitness application for bar admission. Therefore, full disclosure at this stage is essential.
Acceptance by New York Law School does not guarantee certification by state bar examiners. If you are concerned about factors that may affect your eligibility to practice law, you should discuss them with the bar examiners or character and fitness committee in the state and jurisdiction in which you expect to practice. Your answers must be complete and accurate. It is our strong suggestion that you consult academic, legal, and/or military records to determine that you are not making omissions. If you are uncertain about whether an incident must be disclosed with respect to any question in this section, ask our office before completing and submitting your application. You are advised to err on the side of inclusion and disclosure, rather than risking the failure to disclose or the omission of key facts.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR
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 directly. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (Standard 504a).
- A:) Have you ever been placed on academic probation, warned, suspended, dropped, expelled, been asked, advised, or permitted to withdraw, or subject to any disciplinary action for academic reasons from any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school? If yes, attach a supplemental statement that states the facts, including the institution and dates involved, and including insight into the difficulties that led to performance problems.
Or,
B:) Have you ever been disciplined, reprimanded, placed on probation, expelled, or been asked or advised or permitted to withdraw for non-academic reasons from any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school? If yes, attach a supplemental statement that states the facts, including the institution and dates involved, and including the outcome.
- C:) Have you ever, as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, ticketed, arrested, taken into custody, charged with, convicted of or tried for, or pleaded guilty to, the commission of any felony or misdemeanor or the violation of any law, except for minor traffic violations, or been the subject of juvenile delinquency or youthful offender proceeding, or is any such action pending or expected to be brought against you? If you answer yes, attach a supplemental statement that states the charge or charges, the disposition thereof, and the underlying facts, as well as the dates and locations involved and the penalty imposed, if any. We seek your statement and do not wish to receive court documents or letters from counsel.
Notes: Although a conviction may have been sealed or expunged from the record by an order of the court, it nevertheless must be disclosed in answer to this question. An example of a "minor traffic violation" includes parking tickets that have been paid. A matter that is “like” a traffic violation, but does not involve a vehicle must be disclosed. Traffic violations involving alcohol or drugs are not minor. If you are uncertain as to whether a matter must be disclosed in accordance with this question, please ask the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. We advise you to fully disclose any matter; the outcome does not determine whether the matter must be disclosed.
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D:) Were you ever separated from any branch of the armed forces of the United States under conditions other than honorable? If you answer yes, attach a supplemental statement that explains the relevant facts of your discharge. Note: If you have not served the U.S. armed forces, enter an answer of no.
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E:) Have you ever been suspended from practice, reprimanded, censured, removed, or otherwise disciplined as a member of any profession, or have complaints or charges, formal or informal, ever been made or filed or proceedings instituted against you in such capacity? If you answer yes, attach a supplemental statement that explains the relevant facts and disposition. Note: This question refers to professions and jobs which require licensure or adherence to ethical codes.
Office of Admissions and Student Financial Services
185 West Broadway | New York, NY 10013
212.431.2888 | 877.937.NYLS
admissions@nyls.edu | www.nyls.edu
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations on your decision to pursue a law degree, and thank you for your interest in New York Law School! The Admissions Committee look forward to reviewing your file. If questions arise as you complete your application, please do not hesitate to contact our office via e-mail at admissions@nyls.edu or by phone at 212.431.2888, or toll-free at 877.937.NYLS. We also invite you to visit our website at www.nyls.edu.
JD Application
The application for admission to the Juris Doctor (JD) program must be submitted online using LSAC?s electronic application. You may access the electronic application from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website, www.LSAC.org. Please note that New York Law School does not charge an application fee for the electronic application.
2026 JD Application Deadlines and Decision Timeline
Applications to be a first-year student in either the Full-Time Day or NYLS Pro: Part-Time Evening JD divisions are accepted for fall semester enrollment only. The Admissions Committee begin their review of an application after all required documents are received, starting in November 2025, with decision notification starting in December 2025, and continuing until the process is completed. The final deadline to apply for the fall 2026 entering class is June 30, 2026.
JD Application Requirements
All candidates for JD admission must have earned a bachelor?s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or the international equivalent, prior to matriculation into the JD program. The following are required to complete the JD application for admission:
- A completed electronic application for JD admission
- A current registration with the Law School Admission Council Credential Assembly Service, including a score from the Law School Admission Test which is preferably no more than three years old
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- A personal statement (12-point font, double-spaced, maximum 2 pages)
- A minimum of one, but no more than three, letters of recommendation (you are required to submit at least one letter of recommendation to LSAC)
- A résumé or curriculum vitae
- Applicants may submit optional statements to provide additional context or information not addressed in the personal statement. This may include unique experiences, academic or testing considerations, or other factors that may assist the Admissions Committee in its review. While not required, an optional statement offers an opportunity to share relevant perspectives that strengthen your application (optional*,* 12-point font, double-spaced, maximum 1 page). Any optional statement(s) should be attached, under separate heading, to your personal statement
- For applicants who previously matriculated to any law school(s), a letter of standing from that law school is required and must be emailed or mailed from the school directly to New York Law School Office of Admissions
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
All candidates for JD admission are required to present a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score no more than five years old, and to register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Both services are provided by LSAC. Information on the LSAT and CAS, including registration requirements, is available from: LSAC, Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940-0998; 215.968.1001; www.LSAC.org. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution you have attended and send it promptly to those institutions.
JD Candidates with International Academic Credentials
New York Law School requires that any international transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). If you completed any post-secondary school work outside the United States, including its territories or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your international transcripts. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and will be incorporated into your CAS report. To utilize CAS, log in to your LSAC online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. When requesting a transcript from a foreign institution, please note that additional time is usually required to receive these transcripts.
If you earned 60 or more of your undergraduate credits at an international institution where the primary language of instruction is not English, you are required to take the TOEFL or the IELTS within two years prior to the date of your application. The minimum required score is 104 on the TOEFL, or 7 on the IELTS. If you are providing a score from TOEFL, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that they send your TOEFL score to LSAC. LSAC?s TOEFL code is 8935. Your score will be included in your CAS Law School Report.
Note this exception: Applicants who would otherwise need to take the TOEFL because of their educational background are exempt if they have worked in the United States for two or more years at a legally incorporated business.
Prior Applicants
New York Law School does not ?reactivate? prior applications; therefore, any subsequent request for admission requires completion and submission of a new application. In addition, we require (re)submission of all required items and we will not honor a request to refer to the prior application. If your prior attempt at admission was not successful, we urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to submit as much new information as possible, including, but not limited to, new test scores, a revised personal statement, additional transcripts, an updated résumé, and new letters of recommendation.
Application Fee and Seat Deposits
New York Law School does not charge an application fee for electronic application submissions.
If you are admitted to the fall 2026 entering class, you will be required to pay two seat deposits to secure your place. The first seat deposit of $300 will not be required prior to April 1, 2026. The second seat deposit of $500 is due in June 2026. Please refer to the email offering you admission for the exact dates. These deposit deadlines are subject to change, and applicants will be notified of any changes at the time of admission. Seat deposits are non-refundable, and are applied to your tuition and fees.
Human Rights Policy
It is the policy of New York Law School not to discriminate in its educational programs, admission policies, financial aid programs, employment practices, and other school-sponsored activities because of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, immigration/citizenship status, religion/creed, sex, pregnancy/lactation accommodation, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS diagnosis, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital, partnership, or parental status, veteran or military status, domestic violence victim, stalking, or sex victim statuses, caregiver status, height and weight, sexual and reproductive health decisions, credit history, arrest or conviction record, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, and/or federal law (?Protected Characteristic?). The placement facilities of the School are available only to employers whose practices are consistent with this policy. (In the wake of the 2006 U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming the Solomon Amendment, the faculty of New York Law School voted on March 27, 2006 to suspend its ban on military recruitment on campus.)
Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, relative to nondiscrimination on the basis of sex, or any other aspect of the School?s equal opportunity policy, may be directed to the Associate Dean and Vice President for Enrollment Management, Student Financial Services, and Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and to the Title IX Coordinator, or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
Qualifications for Admission to the Bar
In addition to earning a law degree and passing a bar examination, every U.S. jurisdiction requires that applicants possess the requisite character and fitness, among other qualifications, for admission to the bar. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction directly. Contact information for all relevant agencies is available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (Standard 504a)
Admissions Criteria
New York Law School is wholly devoted to recruiting a capable, diverse, inclusive, and well-rounded class who will contribute meaningfully to the culture and community of New York Law School and the profession, and pursue a just and equitable society. Thus, every part of an applicant?s file matters and is reviewed thoroughly.
Candidates interested in New York Law School?s J.D program must have:
· A Bachelor?s Degree or foreign equivalent completed prior to enrollment, and
· A valid Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score
New York Law School takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications and selecting students for our programs. All parts of an applicant?s profile are important in determining admission, including prior academic achievement and their lived experience. Accordingly, we focus heavily on an applicant?s demonstrated commitment to enter the legal profession, their ability to succeed in law school as may be suggested by their academic transcripts and LSAT scores, other achievements and awards or public recognitions, their work history and professional background, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and strong resolve to impact society through the law.
The Law School will look closely at the distinguishing characteristics of the application pool. As New York?s law school, we strive to yield a student body that reflects the communities served by our graduates. Accordingly, maintaining a broad diversity of individuals and lived experiences within our institution is important to the admissions process. There is also focus on leadership, grit, and authenticity. It is the policy of New York Law School not to discriminate in its educational programs, admission policies, financial aid programs, employment practices, and other school-sponsored activities on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, AIDS diagnosis, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or parental status, military status, domestic violence victim status, or any other classification protected by local, state, or federal law (?Protected Classification?).