Attach your personal statement. The statement must be no more than three pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font. An applicant's personal statement is an opportunity to provide information that the applicant believes should be considered. Please choose the following prompt and include the prompt at the top of the statement as your title:

• Tell us about a person or event that impacted your life.

This section is optional.

You may choose to attach a response to one or more of the following questions in addition to the required Personal Statement if you feel the information would be helpful to us when considering your application or submit an addendum to explain any discrepancies in your application.

1. Explain any discrepancies in your application materials including LSAT score, UGPA, and/or professional work history.
2. Tell us more about your interest in McGeorge School of Law. What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?
3. Discuss how your specific personal experiences, given your background (race, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQIA+ status, economic disadvantage, or otherwise) demonstrate an important quality of your character and/or one more unique abilities you can contribute to the law school.

Provide a résumé of full- and part-time employment and other activities, starting with the most recent. Include dates, name(s) of employer(s), and position(s) held. List the hours worked per week and academic honors received since entering college. List extracurricular activities, hobbies and community service. Describe the nature and extent of employment during college and include volunteer work. Please include summers. Explain any periods of time after high school not accounted for by the preceding educational and employment history. Do not include high school information or activities.

All questions must be answered. If you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor and had the charges subsequently expunged, you must still disclose the conviction. Disclose all convictions regardless of your age at the time. Please be aware that the Admissions Committee will evaluate your answers to these questions in the context of your entire application. An affirmative answer will not necessarily prejudice your application. For any questions where the answer is "Yes", please include a full descriptive statement that includes details leading up to the event, what happened, how it was resolved, and anything you may have learned moving forward.

A "No" response that proves inconsistent with entries on official transcripts raises issues of misconduct or irregularities in the admission process that may be referred to the Law School Admission Council under its policies.

Most states have standards of character and fitness to practice that must be satisfied by candidates applying for admission to the bar. Candidates with a record of involvement in criminal matters and civil matters must provide a full, descriptive statement including active dates, facts and disposition of the matter. Any candidates reporting character and fitness issues as part of their application must also contact the Bar Association in the state(s) they plan to practice to confirm that the details they provided are sufficient to satisfy character and fitness requirements for that jurisdiction.

Standard 504. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR:
(a) A law school shall include the following statement in its application for admission and on its website: 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.
(b) The law school shall, as soon after matriculation as is practicable, take additional steps to apprise entering students of the importance of determining the applicable character, fitness, and other requirements for admission to the bar in each jurisdiction in which they intend to seek 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.

1. Have you ever been expelled, dismissed, suspended, placed on probation, or otherwise subject to any academic and/or disciplinary sanction by any college, university, graduate, or professional school?

2. Have you ever received a citation for, been arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or pled guilty, no contest, nolo contendere, or otherwise accepted responsibility for a crime, or have you received a deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued, for any criminal charge other than a minor traffic violation? This would include any charges of driving under the influence or any other drug or alcohol related offenses.

3. Are there any criminal charges pending against you or are you presently under investigation for a crime of any kind? (This includes any charges of driving under the influence or other drug or alcohol related charges.)

4. Have you ever been determined by an educational institution to have committed sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, or intimate partner violence or is there a formal pending matter at an educational institution in which it is alleged that you committed sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, or intimate partner violence?

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 https://www.ncbex.org/.

(Refer to https://law.pacific.edu/law/jd-programs/deadlines-and-requirements for additional information.)

University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law offers full-time, part-time and Accelerated Honors full-time division programs leading to a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. First-year students begin their studies in the fall semester. There is no spring semester entry program for first-year students.

The number of seats available for each entering class is limited. Applications completed by February 1 are given priority review and will receive a decision by the first week of March. The deadline to submit the application is June 1. We will accept Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) June administration.

Pre-legal Education

Candidates for admission for the JD Program must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment at the School of Law. Associate degrees and paralegal certificates do not fulfill this requirement.

Application Requirements

1. Completed application form
2. Personal statement
3. Résumé
4. Two (2) letters of recommendation submitted through your LSAC CAS account (up to three letters are allowed.)
5. Bachelor's degree
6. CAS report with

• letters of recommendation
• all undergraduate transcripts
• LSAT score or Graduate Record Exam (GRE)*
• LSAC Writing Sample

1. Professional email address (this is the primary form of communication from the law school)

*We will accept the GRE if the applicant does not have a valid LSAT score. Please note that all scores from the last five (5) years must be submitted through the (Educational Testing Service (ETS). Our school code is 3905.

Personal Statement

The statement must be no more than three pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, and 1" margins. An applicant's personal statement is an opportunity to provide information that the applicant believes should be considered by the Admissions Committee. Please use the required prompt "Tell us about a person or event that impacted/influenced your life".

Résumé

Provide a résumé of full- and part-time employment and other activities, starting with the most recent. Include dates, name(s) of employer(s), and position(s) held. List the hours worked per week. List academic honors received since entering college. List extracurricular activities, hobbies, community service, leadership and/or volunteer work. Please include summers. Explain any periods of time after high school not accounted for by the preceding educational and employment history. Do not include high school information or activities.

Letters of Recommendation

In support of the law school application, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation directly to LSAC. Letters of recommendation cannot be submitted directly to the law school via US mail or email. We will accept a maximum of three letters of recommendation. DO NOT submit letters of recommendation from family members or family friends, unless they directly supervised your work. In addition, letters of recommendation from high school teachers assessing your work at that level are irrelevant to the law school application process.

Academic letters of recommendation (PREFERRED):

Academic letters of recommendation offer the most relevant assessment of the skills that are necessary for success in law school. Academic letters of recommendation from professors, teaching assistants and/or advisors who have had the opportunity to assess an applicant?s academic, time management, research, writing, and analytical skills are necessary and preferred.

Professional letters of recommendation:

Applicants who have been out of school for five or more years may submit letters of recommendation from individuals who have supervised, evaluated, analyzed and/or critiqued their work. However, academic letters of recommendation are still preferred if you can obtain one. When submitting professional letters of recommendation keep in mind that the admissions office will be looking for an assessment of some of the same skills identified above: time management, research, writing and analytical skills.

Please note that LSAC will not release an applicant's CAS report to McGeorge until they have received a minimum of two letters of recommendation. Furthermore, the application will remain incomplete and will not be reviewed until the applicant's file is complete.

Accelerated Honors Program (AHP)

By completing the degree in two and a half years, AHP students save a full semester of expenses and tuition and, most significantly, enter the job market six months ahead of the competition, thereby earning an extra six months of income. Full-time candidates who have either at least a 157 LSAT Score (and no lower than a 3.3 Undergraduate Grade Point Average) or at least a 3.5 Undergraduate Grade Point Average (and no lower than a 156 LSAT Score) qualify for an interview for admission to the program. The interview allows the law school to access the candidate's suitability for the rigors of the program and gives the candidate an opportunity to discuss how the program would fit their personal goals and career aspirations. We cannot consider applicants for the AHP program without a valid LSAT score.

LSAT and LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Registrations

Applicants must register with LSAC for the LSAT or the GRE through ETS, and LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Transcripts of all prior college and university coursework must be sent directly to LSAC. LSAT and GRE scores must be from administrations within five years prior to the year of enrollment. An application file is not complete and will not be reviewed until an applicant's law school report, including an LSAT score and LSAC Writing Sample or GRE, has been received. Please note that the last exam we will accept is the June 2026 LSAT for enrollment in the Fall 2026 class. Please list all LSAT scores on the application.

Please note: If an applicant marks that they will take an LSAT in the future or are registered for a future test, we will hold the file for that test score before it is reviewed. Applicants must list all LSAT scores from prior examinations. It is an applicant's responsibility to notify our office if their plans regarding LSAT testing change. If an applicant has not taken and does not plan to take the LSAT, they can submit a valid GRE score, taken in the last 5 years.

(Applicants whose undergraduate degrees are not from educational institutions within the United States, its territories, or Canada must use LSAC's Credential Assembly Service for international document authentication and evaluation.)

Transcript from Bachelor's Degree Granting Institution

Please note an official transcript with degree posted is required to be submitted directly to the McGeorge JD Admissions Office before the first day of orientation for all students who do not provide the final transcript in their CAS report. Admitted applicants who do not comply with the final transcript requirement may be administratively withdrawn from the Law School. (PER ABA STANDARD 502)

Biographical

You must provide your LSAC account number. Providing your Social Security number is optional. It is used for identification purposes only and is of assistance for accurate filing of application and financial aid materials.

Contact Information

Please provide notification to the JD Admissions Office of any changes of address to which communications should be sent either in writing or through the email address used your application. Email is our primary form of communication. Please be sure we always have your most up to date contact information.

Education

If an applicant has attended or is currently attending another law school, they must furnish official transcripts from the school and a certification of good standing with class rank from the dean or other appropriate law school official.

Degree

Applicants must complete their bachelor's degree prior to enrollment at McGeorge School of Law. An applicant who will not have a bachelor's degree by the date of enrollment at the School of Law must furnish certification of undergraduate senior standing from the appropriate undergraduate college or university official, and must have approval from McGeorge in advance.

Demographics

Citizenship: Students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents are responsible for maintaining appropriate visa status. For required documentation from the School of Law, contact the JD Admissions Office at McGeorge after receiving an offer of admission.

An applicant whose bachelor's degree is not from an English-language college or university and for whom English was not the first language must furnish TOEFL results. See instructions for LSAT and LSAC Credential Assembly Service.

Socioeconomic Questionnaire (optional)

We seek to identify students whose ability to overcome disadvantages or obstacles promises success in law school and in the profession. To this end, applicants are invited to complete the optional socioeconomic questionnaire included with the application. Completion of the questionnaire is optional and will not adversely affect an applicant?s candidacy. If a questionnaire is submitted, it will be used to augment the other factors considered during the evaluation process.

Optional Essays

You may choose to attach a response to one or more of the following questions in addition to the required Personal Statement if you feel the information would be helpful to us when considering your application or submit an addendum to explain any discrepancies in your application. These statements should be no more than two pages, double-spaced, 12-pt font, with 1" margins.

1. Explain any discrepancies in your application materials including LSAT score, UGPA, and/or professional work history
   

2. Tell us more about your interest in McGeorge School of Law.  What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?
   

3. Discuss how your specific personal experiences, given your background (race, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQIA+ status, economic disadvantage, or otherwise) demonstrate an important quality of your character and/or unique abilities you can contribute to the law school.
   

Standardized Testing

Please note: If you mark that you will take an LSAT in the future or register for a test, we will hold your file for that test score before it is reviewed. You must list all LSAT scores from prior examinations. It is your responsibility to notify our office if your plans regarding LSAT testing change. If you have not taken and do not plan to take the LSAT, you can submit a valid GRE score, taken in the last 5 years.

Character and Fitness

1. All questions must be answered.
2. A "No" response that proves inconsistent with entries on official transcripts raises issues of misconduct or irregularities in the admission process that may be referred to the Law School Admission Council under its policies.
3. Most states have standards of character and fitness to practice that must be satisfied by candidates applying for admission to the bar. Candidates with a record of involvement in criminal matters and civil matters must provide a full, descriptive statement including active dates, facts and disposition of the matter. Any candidates reporting character and fitness issues as part of their application must also contact the Bar Association in the state(s) they plan to practice confirming that the details they provided are sufficient to satisfy character and fitness requirements for that jurisdiction.
4. Standard 504. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR:
   (a) A law school shall include the following statement in its application for admission and on its website: 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 (https://www.ncbex.org/).
   (b) The law school shall, as soon after matriculation as is practicable, take additional steps to apprise entering students of the importance of determining the applicable character, fitness, and other requirements for admission to the bar in each jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission to the bar.
5. 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.
6. By signing this application or by submitting this application electronically, I certify that all information I submit in this application and in support of this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that knowingly providing false, misleading, or incomplete information may be grounds for denial of admission or, if discovered after admission, for dismissal from the School of Law. I understand that I must notify the JD Admissions Office if responses to the information requested on this application change prior to enrollment and beyond. I further understand that, if admitted to the School of Law, I have a continuing duty to timely disclose to the Administration information regarding any conduct that would have required disclosure in this application.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT COMPLETE UNTIL ALL REQUIRED AND REQUESTED INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law has made a report relating to crime statistics available to its community. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in buildings or on property owned or controlled by McGeorge School of Law; and on public property or within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report contains institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Director of Public Safety's office at (916) 739-7187, or by accessing the following website: https://www.pacific.edu/student-life/safety-wellness/public-safety/crime-reports-information.

Non-Discrimination Policy

University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (45 CFR 86), and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, does not discriminate in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions, scholarships, loans, or other activities or programs on the basis of race, gender (identity and/or performance), sexual orientation or preference, national or ethnic origin, color, disability, marital status, age, or religious belief.

Inquiries regarding compliance with these statutes and regulations may be directed to the Office of the Dean, 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, California 95817, 916.739.7151, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, in San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Student records: Inquiries about the School's compliance with student access and privacy rights regarding educational records, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, may be directed to the Office of the Dean or to the Student and Family Educational Rights and Privacy office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.

McGeorge School of Law maintains a long-standing policy of not discriminating in any of its activities on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, age, color, or religious belief.