Submit a personal statement with your application. Within the personal statement, discuss how your personal, academic, and/ or professional experiences have motivated you to pursue a legal education. The personal statement should be approximately two pages in length and double-spaced.

You may submit addenda that discuss aspects of your life experiences, academic background, or LSAT performance that you believe will enhance your application for admission. Your optional addenda should not exceed two pages in length and should not be used as an extension of your personal statement.

If you wish, please attach a resume to your application.

Instructions

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.

• Dean's Certificate of Character and Fitness to Practice Law: During law school, you may register with various state bar admissions boards, and you must register before you take a bar exam. The various bars have rules that specify the requirements for admission to those bars. Under these rules, the Dean of your law school may be asked to submit, on your behalf, an affidavit of good character and fitness for the practice of law.

• Discrepancies Between the Law School Application and the Bar Exam Application: In the Character and Fitness portion of the bar exam application, the bar examiners will ask about past incidents involving your character and fitness. The questions on the bar application may be different in number or content than those on this law school application. The bar examiners may ask to view your law school application to compare the answers on the two applications. Discrepancies between your law school application and the bar application may result in serious consequences. Therefore, please disclose all incidents and carefully answer each question.

• If in Doubt Answer "Yes": If you are unsure how to respond, disclosure is generally preferred. If you are unsure whether an incident should be disclosed, we strongly encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions at law-admit@niu.edu or 815-753-8595 before submitting your application.

• Provide a Complete Explanation to Every "Yes" Answer: If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you must disclose all the details including a complete explanation of the circumstances on a separate sheet. Include in the explanation(s) the date and year, location, a detailed description of the circumstances of the incident, and a detailed description of the disposition or outcome, including, without limitation, any fines and/or sanctions, nolo contendere pleas, dismissals, expungements, sealed records, etc. Do not provide official documentation in lieu of a written explanation of circumstances.

• Failure to Answer (Intended or Unintended) May Have Serious Consequences: If you fail to answer with candor or fail to notify our office with any changes, we may impose sanctions and possibly revoke your admission. Furthermore, you may be denied admission to the bar if you fail to disclose facts in this application.

• A Continuing Obligation to Disclose: After you submit this application, you have a continuing obligation to update our office, in writing, with any changes or additions to your answers. This obligation continues throughout the application process and throughout law school.

Required Information for Any "Yes" Response If you answered "Yes" to any of the below questions, you must provide a written explanation of the circumstances.

Your explanation should include:

• The date and year of the incident
• The location of the incident
• A detailed description of the circumstances
• A detailed description of the outcome or disposition, including any fines, sanctions, nolo contendere pleas, dismissals, expungements, or sealed records

IMPORTANT: Expunged and sealed matters must still be disclosed unless the question specifically states otherwise. Do not submit official documentation in place of a written explanation. Supporting documentation may be included in addition to your explanation.

1. Have you ever been subject to a dismissal, a suspension, probation, an accusation of misconduct, a probable cause hearing, the lowering of a grade, or any other academic or social sanction by a college, university, professional school, or professional association (including any sealed or expunged incidents)?

2. Have you ever, including when you were a juvenile, been arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any criminal offense other than parking violations or minor traffic violations? Minor traffic violations are those that resulted in a fine of $200 or less and did not (1) involve the use or possession of alcohol or drugs, or (2) result in the suspension of your driver's license.

Your answer to this question must include matters that have been sealed or expunged. Also, you should have available and be prepared if requested to submit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question.

3. In a paid or volunteer employment setting after high school, including unpaid internships, have you ever been disciplined, discharged or permitted to resign because of allegations or findings of fraud, misrepresentation, dishonesty, theft, sexual misconduct, or acts of violence?

4. Have you been discharged or dismissed from the armed forces, other than by honorable discharge, or have you been sentenced in a court-martial proceeding (including any sealed or expunged incidents)?

5. Please type your full name if you acknowledge that you have read and understand the instructions. Your typed name will serve as your signature.required (maximum characters 100)

1. Are you applying for financial aid?

2. Are you an AmeriCorps alum?

3. Will you receive tuition remission benefits from your current employer?

4. Are you a current Illinois public university employee, spouse, or dependent who may be eligible for tuition remission benefits?

5. Is there any additional information regarding financial need, socioeconomic circumstances, personal hardship, or other factors you would like the Admissions Committee to consider? (maximum characters 1000)

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have earned, or be in the final year of earning, a bachelors degree from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. Applicants must also have a valid Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score and maintain an active Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Credential Assembly Service (CAS) account.

Application Deadlines

Priority Deadline: March 1, 2027

Applications submitted by the priority deadline will receive full consideration for admission and scholarship opportunities.

Submission Deadline: July 31, 2027

Applications submitted after March 1 will continue to be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement

The College of Law expects applicants to complete their application materials personally and not with outside assistance such as generative artificial intelligence tools. Personal completion will put application materials in the best position for review and consideration by the College.

Application Process

To be considered for admission, applicants must complete the following requirements:

Application Form: Submit a completed NIU College of Law application through LSAC. All application materials must be submitted electronically through LSAC. Please complete all portions of the application carefully. Review your legal name, contact information, and other responses for accuracy before submission. Do not enter responses in all capital letters.

Personal Statement: Submit a personal statement with your application. Within the personal statement, discuss how your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences have motivated you to pursue a legal education. The personal statement should be approximately two pages in length and double-spaced.

Standardized Tests: Submit either an LSAT score or a GRE score. Applicants who elect to apply using the GRE must arrange for official GRE scores to be sent directly to NIU College of Law from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). If an applicant has both an LSAT score and a GRE score, the LSAT score will be the primary test used for admissions review. GRE scores may be considered as supplemental information.

Credential Assembly Service (CAS): Register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) of LSAC. The CAS report includes LSAT scores and official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.

Letters of Recommendation: Submit at least one letter of recommendation through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Applicants may submit up to four letters of recommendation. The Admissions Committee strongly recommends that at least one letter come from a college or university faculty member whenever possible.

Optional Addenda: Applicants may submit addenda addressing aspects of their academic background, standardized test performance, personal circumstances, or life experiences that they believe will assist the Admissions Committee in evaluating their application. Addenda should not exceed two pages and should not be used as an extension of the personal statement.

Optional Resume: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a resume detailing employment, internships, externships, leadership activities, community service, military service, and other significant experiences.

Application Completion

Applications are considered complete and ready for review once all required materials have been received by NIU College of Law, including at least one letter of recommendation. Applicants are responsible for monitoring the status of their application and ensuring that all required materials are submitted in a timely manner.

International Applicants

Applicants who earned a degree outside the United States must submit all international transcripts through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) of LSAC. Additional documentation, including proof of English language proficiency, may be required based on the educational background of the applicant. For more information regarding international applicant requirements, please visit LSAC.org.

Previous Law School Enrollment

Applicants who have previously enrolled in a J.D. program at any law school must submit a law school transcript through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and arrange for a letter from the law school regarding academic standing and enrollment history to be sent directly to NIU College of Law. This requirement applies to all applicants who have attended law school, regardless of the length of attendance, academic standing, or reason for withdrawal, separation, dismissal, or transfer. All correspondence may be sent to law-admit@niu.edu.