The Personal Statement prompt is "Tell us about a person or event that impacted/influenced your life." The statement must be 1-3 pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, and contain 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 list the prompt at the top of your personal statement for Committee review. Personal statements that do not follow the format requirements will be sent back for correction.

This section is optional.

Applicants may attach a response to one or more of the following questions in addition to the required Personal Statement. Addenda are also recommended to explain any discrepancies in the 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.

Provide a resume 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 submitting an addendum or making a quick note in the gap on the resume.  Do not include high school information or activities. Please note that resumes no more than 2 pages are recommended.

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 character and fitness standards that must be satisfied 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 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 may take additional steps to apprise entering students of the importance of accurate character and fitness disclosures for admission to the bar in each jurisdiction they intend to practice.

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? Please refer to your transcripts to determine this information.

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 disclosure of 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, hybrid evening, 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, but the application must be submitted by June 1. We also accept the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and JD-Next scores.

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. Resume

4. Two (2) letters of recommendation submitted through your LSAC CAS account (up to three letters are allowed)

5. Bachelor degree

6. CAS Report with

   • Letters of recommendation
   • All undergraduate transcripts
   • LSAT score, Graduate Record Exam (GRE)*, or JD-Next*
   • LSAC Writing Sample

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

*We will accept the GRE or JD-Next if the applicant does not have a valid LSAT score. Please note that all GRE scores from the last five (5) years must be submitted through the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Our school code for the GRE is 3095. JD-Next scores must be sent to us through Aspen Publishing.

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement prompt is "Tell us about a person or event that impacted/influenced your life." The statement must be 1-3 pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, and contain 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 list the prompt at the top of your personal statement for Committee review. Personal statements that do not follow the format requirements will be sent back for correction.

Resume

Provide a resume 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 submitting an addendum or making a quick note in the gap on the resume.  Do not include high school information or activities. Please note that resumes no more than 2 pages are recommended.

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. 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. Letters of recommendation from professors, teaching assistants and/or advisors who have had the opportunity to assess 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. 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. The application will remain incomplete and will not be reviewed until the applicant's file is complete.

Accelerated Honors Program (AHP)

The AHP program is two and a half years long, giving the student the ability to graduate in the fall semester of their third year and take the February bar exam. Thus, AHP students save a full semester of expenses and tuition and, most significantly, enter the job market six months ahead of the competition. 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 assess 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 or GPA.

Standardized Testing and LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Registrations

Applicants must register for the LSAT with LSAC, the GRE with ETS, or JD-Next with Aspen Publishing, and LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). LSAT, GRE, and JD-Next scores must be from administrations within five years prior to the year of enrollment. An application is not complete and will not be reviewed until an applicant's CAS report, including an LSAT score and LSAC Writing Sample, GRE, or JD-Next score has been received.  Please note that the last LSAT exam we will accept is the June 2027 LSAT, June 2027 GRE, or May 2027 JD-Next exam for enrollment in the Fall 2027 class.  Please list all scores on the application.

Please note that if an applicant indicates that they will take an exam in the future or are registered for a future test, we will mark the file as incomplete until that test score is released. It is an applicant's responsibility to notify our office if their plans regarding testing dates change. All scores from exams taken in the last five years must be submitted.

Transcript from Bachelor's Degree Granting Institution

Transcripts of all prior college and university coursework must be sent directly to LSAC. 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.

Please note that an official transcript with degree posted is required to be submitted to LSAC before the first day of classes for all students who do not provide the final transcript in their CAS report when they initially apply. Per ABA Standard 502, applicants who do not comply with the final transcript requirement may be administratively withdrawn from the Law School.

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

Notify the JD Admissions Office if there are any changes to your contact information (email address, phone, mailing address). Email is our primary form of communication. You can also update your contact information via your Applicant Status Online (ASO) portal.

Prior Law School Matriculation

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.  An applicant who will not have a bachelor's degree by the date of enrollment must furnish certification of undergraduate senior standing from the appropriate undergraduate college or university official, and must have approval to enroll in advance.

Demographics

Students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents are responsible for maintaining appropriate visa status. For visa requirements, contact the McGeorge Graduate and International Programs office at graduatelaw@pacific.edu 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 their first language must furnish TOEFL results through the CAS report.

Socioeconomic Questionnaire (optional)

The optional Socioeconomic Questionnaire helps the committee identify socioeconomic disadvantages or obstacles an applicant may or may not have experienced. Completion of the questionnaire is optional and will not adversely affect the candidacy of the applicant. If a questionnaire is submitted, it will be used as a supplemental piece in the evaluation process.

Optional Essays

Applicants may attach a response to one or more of the following questions in addition to the required Personal Statement. Addenda are also recommended to explain any discrepancies in the 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.

Character and Fitness Disclosures

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 character and fitness standards that must be satisfied 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 candidate reporting character and fitness issues as part of their application must also contact the Bar Associate in the state(s) they plan to practice confirming that the details they provided are sufficient to satisfy requirements for that jurisdiction.
4. Standard 504. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSIONS 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.nbcbex.org/)

• (b) The law school may take additional steps to apprise entering students of the importance of accurate character and fitness disclosures for admission to the bar in each jurisdiction they intend to practice.

5. 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. I understand I must notify the JD Admission Office if responses to the information requested on this application change prior to enrollemnt. Further, I understand that, if admitted, I have an ongoing duty to timely disclose any character and fitness conduct to the Office of student affairs.

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), 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.