Pepperdine does not provide a specific prompt or question for applicants to address in their personal statement. Instead, you are encouraged to write about something personal, relevant, and unique to you. This may include discussing a significant aspect of your background, a quality or trait that you believe defines you, a transformative experience or mentor, your motivations for pursuing law, or an interest that would allow you to make a distinctive contribution to the Pepperdine community. Write authentically and in your own voice.

We value clear and concise writing. The personal statement should be two to four pages, double-spaced in a 12-point font.

Optional Statements You may choose to respond to either or both prompts below to provide the Admissions Committee with additional information about yourself and the contribution you would make to our unique Pepperdine Caruso Law community.

#1 Christian Mission Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Pepperdine Caruso Law?s dedication to our Christian mission drives our deep desire to embody and imbue in our students the highest standards of ethics and morality. We are proud to have a strong Christian faculty that also includes several professors from other faiths. We welcome students of all faiths, as well as students who are not part of any faith tradition. Our complete mission and vision can be found here.

Please share with the Admissions Committee how you would contribute to the Christian mission as part of our unique Pepperdine Caruso Law community.

#2 Background, Life Experience, and Perspective

Pepperdine Caruso Law is a community of belonging with students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to creating a culture in which each person?s voice and convictions enhance our shared community.

Please share with the Admissions Committee how your background, life experiences, and perspective have shaped your courage, determination, and character and ability to contribute uniquely to the culture of the Pepperdine Caruso Law community.

OPTIONAL - Please use this space if you need to add supplemental information not already disclosed elsewhere in your application.

Please attach a résumé including record of employment, scholastic honors, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

The following information must be completed before your file can be evaluated.

If you answer "YES" to any of the four questions, attach a statement or an electronic attachment giving details and return it with this application.

Should your response to any of the four questions change at any time during the course of your application, after you have been placed on the wait list, or after you have been offered admission, you must immediately inform the Office of Admissions in writing and update your application accordingly.

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.

1. Have you ever been subject to any academic or disciplinary action while in college, law school, or any other educational setting, regardless of the outcome?

2. Have you ever been charged, cited, prosecuted, or convicted of any crime for an offense other than a minor traffic violation? Include any instance of drunk driving, whether a felony, misdemeanor or minor traffic violation, regardless of the outcome.

3. Have you ever been a party to or are you presently a party to any civil action or administrative proceeding? (This does not include divorce or dissolution.)

4. Do you know of any matter which might otherwise adversely affect your admission to this school or the Bar?

To be eligible to apply, you must plan to receive a bachelor?s degree from an accredited college or university before enrolling at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. Filing of Application Complete the Application for Admission. Ensure that each question has been answered completely, as failure to do so will delay the review of the application.

You must complete the following:

Character and Fitness Résume Personal Statement Optional Statements LSAT test scores through LSAC or GRE test scores through ETS Registration with the Credential Assembly Service. Your CAS must include your writing sample. Request your official transcript(s) and two letters of recommendation be sent directly to LSAC.

Application Deadlines Priority Deadline: February 1 Final Deadline: April 1

Standardized Tests Pepperdine Caruso Law accepts both the LSAT and the GRE as acceptable tests for admission consideration.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) Applicants are encouraged to take the LSAT early, but by no later than April of the year in which admission is sought. LSAT scores are valid for five years. Applications for the LSAT and information regarding testing centers are available at LSAC.org.

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Test Pepperdine only accepts official GRE score reports from ETS. Please indicate Pepperdine University as the recipient of your test scores and include our school code, 4371. Applicants are encouraged to take the GRE early but no later than April of the year in which admission is sought. GRE scores are valid for five years. Additional information regarding applying to Pepperdine with a GRE score can be found on our website here. GRE registration information and how to submit official score reports can be found on the ETS website.

Credential Assembly Service LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Reports are requested upon receipt of the application. All applicants must register with the CAS through LSAC.org. Once registered, an official transcript from each educational institution you have attended must be sent to LSAC. Information on sending your official transcripts to LSAC can be found on LSAC.org.

Internationally educated applicants must use the Credential Assembly Service. All international transcripts must be sent to LSAC.

Letters of Recommendation Pepperdine Caruso Law requires two letters of recommendation. Recommendations should be furnished by those individuals who can best assess your ability to succeed in law school. It is highly recommended that one letter be provided by a faculty member with whom you pursued your undergraduate studies. Pepperdine requires letters to be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. This service is included in the CAS registration. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined on LSAC's website, LSAC.org.

Application Review Process We admit students on a rolling basis, with decisions typically made between December and May. You will be notified of your decision via email. We do not have an admissions appeals process, but you may reapply in a subsequent year. Application files are maintained from previous years, so you should consider updating your personal statement and supplemental information. We recommend you submit at least one new letter of recommendation.

Accepting the Offer of Admission Admitted students who accept our offer must make a non-refundable seat deposit(s) to Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. Admitted JD students are required to make two non-refundable deposits. The first deposit of $500 is required by April 15. The second deposit of $500 is required by June 15. Applicants admitted after April 1 will be given a later first seat deposit deadline, and those admitted after June 1 will be given a later seat deposit deadline. Seat deposits are applied to the student's tuition in their first semester.

Official Undergraduate Transcript After accepting the offer of admission, incoming 1L students must have an official transcript from each college or university that granted a degree, showing the degree and conferral date, sent directly to Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. The transcripts must be on file by October 1st. All transcripts and documents become the property of Pepperdine University and are not returnable. A student's final admission to Pepperdine cannot be granted until such transcripts are on file.

Please note that transcripts sent to the School of Law via LSAC during the application process can fulfill this requirement only if the degree is posted on the transcript.

Qualification 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. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
An affirmative answer to any character and fitness question on our application requires a detailed written explanation.
All candidates for admission have an ongoing duty to disclose material changes to their application, especially those related to conduct matters (criminal or disciplinary), to the Dean of Admission prior to enrollment. Candidates agree that providing inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete information on the admission application, omitting information, or additional changed information provided can lead to the rescission of any offer of admission and/or scholarship, or for discipline, dismissal, or revocation of the degree if discovered at a later date. Additionally, such a violation during the admission process may lead to a referral to the LSAC for a finding of misconduct.

Scholarship Opportunities Faculty Scholars Award Full-tuition plus a $10,000 living stipend Criteria: Suggested minimum GPA 3.75 and minimum LSAT 165. A separate application and campus visit are required. You must submit the Faculty Scholars application with your complete Eapp and CAS report.

Dean's Merit Scholarship One-quarter to full tuition Criteria: Minimum GPA 3.3 and minimum LSAT 165. All applicants are immediately considered upon acceptance; no separate application is required.

Caruso Scholars Award and Dean's Excellence Scholarship