Pace > Requirements

Note: 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.

If your answer to any of the following questions is "yes", on a separate sheet of paper please explain any facts and circumstances you would like the Law School to consider about the incident. A "yes" answer will not necessarily preclude you from being admitted.

Have you ever been placed on probation or dismissed from any high school, college, university, graduate, or professional educational institution for academic reasons or otherwise?
Have you ever been placed on academic and/or disciplinary probation for actions arising from allegations of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or cheating during your high school, college, university, graduate, or professional coursework?
Are there any disciplinary charges pending against you?
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.

If your answer is yes, in your description of the facts and circumstances please include the name and locality of court charge or charges, disposition thereof and underlying facts including relevant dates.

Are there any criminal charges or proceedings pending against you now?
Have you ever been disciplined, reprimanded, suspended, or discharged from any job for conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or any violation of Federal or State laws or regulations?
Have you ever resigned or quit a job when you were under investigation or inquiry for conduct that could have been considered as involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or violation of Federal or State laws or regulations, or after receiving notice or being advised of possible investigation, inquiry, or disciplinary action for such conduct?

The Admissions Committee Requires the Following Documents:

Electronic Application Form and Certification Statement
Personal Statement: The Admissions Committee requires each applicant to submit a brief, typed, double-spaced personal statement, typically not to exceed 500 words, as part of the application. The statement should describe any personal attributes that you consider to be an asset and which will serve to your advantage in law school. We are particularly interested in aspects of your background that may not be evident from other parts of your application. For example, you may include experiences that have shaped the way you will contribute to our law school community and the legal profession, along with experiences that have prepared you to successfully undertake a rigorous program of law study. You may also provide a perspective on your career objectives and goals.
Resume: Please include a current resume with your application.
Official Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report, including transcripts of all college academic records
A Reportable Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score.
$75.00 Application Fee

Applicants will be notified of application updates by e-mail only.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (OPTIONAL)

You may submit up to two letters of recommendation to the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service that serves all member schools. This service is included in your Credential Assembly Service registration. Your letters will be copied and sent to us along with your LSAC Law School Report or as received. Therefore, we will receive any new letters for an applicant's file whenever a report update is produced. The Admissions Committee wishes to assure you that no additional weight is placed on appraisals for which the student has waived his or her right.

ADDENDUM(S):

Applicants may wish to include an addendum explanation of any inconsistencies in their application and provide answers to questions that they think the committee might raise when reviewing their application. Examples of items that applicants might consider including are a description of work experience and extracurricular or other voluntary activities; an explanation of distinct trends or discrepancies among grades; and a description of substantial time commitments while attending school.

HAUB SCHOLARS PROGRAM:

The Haub Scholars Program is a scholarship and mentorship program for students pursuing careers in environmental law, broadly defined. Made possible by a gift from the family of Elisabeth Haub, this is a highly-selective program for students with outstanding entrance credentials and a well-articulated passion for pursuing a career in environmental law. In addition to a full-tuition scholarship, Haub Scholars will have the opportunity to work closely with the faculty supervisor to develop their interests and to identify networking and job opportunities. Interested applicants should submit a 1-2 page statement of interest in the Haub Scholars Program in an addendum to their application to the law school.

ENTRANCE DATES AND DEADLINES

June 1, 2026 Priority Deadline for Fall Admission
June 1, 2026 Priority Deadline for Transfer/Visiting Students

First-year full-time students may enter the Law School in the fall or spring semester. Transfer and visiting students that have completed the first year of a law school approved by the American Bar Association or a state-approved law school may enter at the beginning of any semester after admission if all grades are available prior to the start of the semester.

ROLLING ADMISSIONS

While the Law School has no formal deadline for submission of applications, no assurance of consideration can be given to applicants who present incomplete applications after the priority deadlines, since the bulk of the decisions in the entering class will be made from those applications already completed. The Admissions Committee will begin to notify applicants of decisions at the beginning of the calendar year and will continue to do so until the school year commences.

GENERAL ADMISSION INFORMATION (JD)

A person who has attained the age of 18 years and who holds a bachelor's degree is eligible to apply for admission to the Law School as a candidate for the JD degree. Students who have earned degrees from most accredited institutions of collegiate rank automatically meet the requirements of the New York State Department of Education for consideration for admission to professional study in New York. At Pace, as at many law schools, the most important admissions criteria are the undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score. Reliance on these purely academic criteria is appropriate in making many decisions, particularly those involving candidates either clearly admissible, or clearly inadmissible. However, other factors can become important within the middle range of applications. For instance, the applicant's GPA may be interpreted by carefully evaluating his or her transcript. Judgment may be made regarding the strength of the curriculum undertaken or the quality of the institution at which undergraduate work was done. Class rank and the progression of grades may be significant. Where there has been an interval of some years between college graduation and application to law school, especially where the candidate presents a strong recent LSAT score, better law school performance may be predicted than undergraduate grades would suggest. Writing, grammar, and spelling skills are also extremely important. In addition, proven capacity for leadership, dedication to community service, excellence in a particular field, overcoming both economic and historical disadvantages, motivation, graduate study in another discipline, work experience, and extracurricular activities all receive careful consideration in appropriate cases.

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.

Candidates concerned about the appropriateness of an application may call the Law School and speak with a counselor. Application to law school is not a passive process, and it requires investigation and care. Should you have any questions or require assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Pace University admits, and will continue to admit, students of any gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, color, or national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not, and will not, discriminate on the basis of gender, age, religion, disability, race, sexual orientation, color, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Inquiries regarding compliance with related federal regulations may be directed to Affirmative Action Officer, Pace University, Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038, 212.346.1310, or to the Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC 20201, 202.619.0257.

LSAC CREDENTIAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE (CAS)

Applicants are required to register with Law School Admissions Council "LSAC" regardless of which standardized test is taken to have academic transcripts processed and sent to the Law School. Application and registration forms for both the LSAT and Credential Assembly Service may be obtained from the Law School Admission Council, PO Box 2000, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940-0998; (215.968.1001); or LSAC.org; and from prelaw advisors at most undergraduate schools. The LSAT is administered by the Law School Admission Council several times per year-at various test centers throughout the United States, as well as in international locations. An applicant should take the LSAT no later than the July test date to guarantee equal consideration for admission the following fall. Applicants who have taken the test more than five years before the entrance date must retake the test. Each applicant who attended college in the US or Canada must arrange to have transcripts of his or her academic record (all undergraduate and any graduate-level studies) sent directly to LSAC in Newtown. The Law School will request a summary of the applicant's academic record, copies of college transcripts, and the LSAT scores. The Credential Assembly Service code number for the Pace Law School is 2644. Students who did not attend college in the US or Canada must register for the Credential Assembly Service and register for and take the LSAT. An official LSAT report will then be sent to the Law School.

STANDARDIZED TEST

It is important to note that most law schools require applicants to submit an LSAT score as part of the application process. Applicants to Pace Law may submit Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) scores, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results, or both. All scores must be no more than five years old from the date of projected enrollment at Pace Law. LSAT scores will be reported to the law school through Law School Admission Council (LSAC) credential assembly service. GRE results must be sent directly to our office from Educational Testing Service (ETS) using school code: 4020. Applicants submitting the GRE must also notify our office in writing by sending an email to: admissions@law.pace.edu. To register with ETS go online to http://www.ets.org.

APPLICANTS WITH INTERNATIONAL CREDENTIALS AND/OR NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS MUST NOTE:

Applicants who have completed most or all of their education outside the US or Canada must submit their transcripts to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service for the evaluation of international transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is international work through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution if the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the Credential Assembly Service registration fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into the LSAC Law School Report.

Questions about the Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001, or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.

Aside from the US, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia, applicants educated in non-English-speaking countries must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and submit the results before their applications can be reviewed. A minimum score of 250 on the written exam or 100 on the Internet exam is required. All other applicants with non immigrant visas, regardless of where they were educated, should contact the admissions office to determine if they too must take the TOEFL.

APPLICANTS WHO HAVE ATTENDED OTHER LAW SCHOOLS

Regardless of whether transfer credit is sought, applicants who have previously attended another US law school must provide, in addition to the application and fee, (1) a letter from the dean or registrar of the law school, which indicates whether or not the student withdrew in good academic standing and any conditions as to eligibility to return, and (2) an official transcript of the applicant's law school academic record reflecting all courses taken and grades.

TRANSFER STUDENTS WITH ADVANCED STANDING

Transfer students who have completed acceptable work at law schools approved by the American Bar Association or at state-approved law schools may be eligible for admission to the Law School with advanced standing. Transfer credit will be determined in accordance with Law School procedures. Note, we cannot transfer in more than 29 credits for students transferring in from a non-ABA approved US law school or from a foreign school, or for prior LLM or post-JD study at a foreign school. Transfer students with advanced standing must submit, in addition to the application and items (1) and (2) in the previous section, the following: a $65 application fee, a copy of your LSAC Law School Report, a personal statement that includes the reason(s) you wish to transfer, and one letter of recommendation from law faculty.

VISITING STUDENTS

A limited number of students who are matriculated at law schools approved by the American Bar Association or state-approved law schools may study at the Law School as visiting students. Such students must submit an application, fee, and personal statement that includes their reason(s) for requesting visiting student status, and a letter from the dean of the law school in which they are enrolled certifying that the student is a degree candidate in good standing, certifying that credit earned at the Law School will be counted toward the degree to be conferred upon the student, and stating any specific requirements that must be completed while attending Pace.

TWO YEAR JD FOR INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS

Graduates of a law school in a country outside the United States may apply for our Two-Year JD program based on credit hours earned in an LL.M. or other post-J.D. program. Applicants must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), present outstanding academic credentials (through LSAC) and proficient skills in the English language as demonstrated through the TOEFL exam.

REAPPLICATION PROCEDURES

If an applicant has applied previously, they must indicate this information on the application form. You must file a new application, application fee, and personal statement. A new LSAC Law School Report is required. All other requirements remain the same.

DEPOSIT

In order to reserve a place in the entering class, each accepted applicant must pay the Law School a nonrefundable deposit of $550, which will be applied against tuition for the first semester. A second nonrefundable deposit of $250 to confirm enrollment is due at a later date. The first deposits are required by April 15 for fall admission or two weeks after the letter of admission, whichever is later. The request for a deposit deadline extension while waiting for a financial aid award notice must be received by the specified deposit date.

DEFERRED ENTRANCE

Students who are admitted to the full- or part-time classes and wish to defer entry should contact the admissions office for further information. While all deferred requests are considered on an individual basis, deferrals will be granted only if there is no reservation that the student will meet the succeeding year's admission criteria.

Application requirements