A personal statement is required, and must not exceed three (3) typed pages, double-spaced. A strong personal statement will discuss why you are interested in pursuing a legal career or what your anticipated career goals & interests are at this time. We encourage you to provide information about yourself not otherwise found in your application and distinct from any other written statements or addenda to be submitted as part of this application. Appropriate formatting includes accessible fonts (eg. Aptos, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Tahoma, and Times New Roman), font colors, and 11pt font size or greater. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.

Richmond Law believes that a legal education is more than just learning the law. Our mission is to "educate lawyers to think critically, act ethically, advocate zealously, serve compassionately, and advance the broader social good of their communities;? and we believe that the diverse life experiences, viewpoints, and values inside and outside of the classroom of our students will enhance discussions, challenge students in their own perspective, and ultimately prepare them better for their legal career. In this optional statement of 500 words or less, please consider how the significant life experiences, challenges, or perspectives that have shaped you as a person have influenced your alignment with the mission and values of Richmond Law. This statement is not required and no applicant will be penalized for choosing not to submit one. Appropriate formatting includes accessible fonts (eg. Aptos, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Tahoma, and Times New Roman), font colors, and 11pt font size or greater. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.

Candidates may wish to address grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for the Admissions Committee on any other topic relevant to the holistic review of the application. An LSAT addendum must be included to discuss score discrepancies of more than eight (8) points. Please refrain from including information that may be found elsewhere in your application. Please ensure that any individual Character & Fitness addendum required to address each specific Character & Fitness topic have been attached in the appropriate section.

Addenda should be long enough to fully disclose and explain each topic. Appropriate formatting includes accessible fonts (eg. Aptos, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Tahoma, and Times New Roman), font colors, and 11pt font size or greater. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.

Your résumé should be formatted appropriately and need not be limited to a single page. It should provide chronological information about your academic background, employment experience, scholastic accomplishments, publications, and extracurricular or charitable activities. Appropriate formatting includes accessible fonts (eg. Aptos, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Tahoma, and Times New Roman), font colors, and 11pt font size or greater. Refrain from including any images, photos, graphics, scales, or star ratings.

1. If you answer "yes" to any of the character and fitness questions, you must submit a statement reciting, in detail, the facts and circumstances of each reported event. The statement should include dates, charges, exact name and location of courts (if any), findings, and final disposition of all matters. Proof of final disposition is preferred, when available. Your statement must be attached in order to submit your application. Failure to provide sufficient description and/or explanation of reported events may prompt the Admissions Committee to request additional information from you, thereby causing a delay in the processing of your application. 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.
2. Have you ever been academically dismissed, suspended, or placed on academic probation by any undergraduate or graduate school? If yes, you must provide the requested detailed explanation. Please note that if you were academically dismissed from a previous law school, your statement should also explain why your prior disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete our JD program or earn admission to the bar, and why your current circumstances are different.
3. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action, disciplinary charges, suspended, or dismissed for disciplinary matters while attending any undergraduate or graduate school? If yes, you must provide the requested detailed explanation.
4. Other than minor traffic violations, have you ever been arrested for any violation of the law? This would include arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. Note: You must disclose the information requested in this question even if you received a deferred prosecution, a suspended imposition of sentence, the conviction was stayed or vacated, or the record (including but not limited to proceedings in juvenile court, family court, or any court of general jurisdiction) was expunged. If yes, you must attach the requested detailed explanation.
5. Are there any criminal charges currently pending against you? If yes, you must attach the requested detailed explanation.
6. Are you now or have you ever been investigated or subject to discipline by any professional licensing board or body? If yes, you must provide the requested detailed explanation.

Richmond Law Admission Process & Application Review The admissions process at the University of Richmond School of Law seeks to admit highly qualified applicants who have demonstrated the potential to succeed not only in a rigorous course of legal study, but possess the promise of contributions to the law school, the legal profession, and the broader community. The wide-ranging backgrounds, educational environments, and experiences of our applicants build a student body that embodies inclusivity, civility, engagement, and concern for others and the greater good.

To that end, applications to Richmond Law are reviewed holistically and on a rolling basis. Once an application goes under review, it is read by multiple members of the Admissions Committee who assess the factors included below to understand the fullest picture of the applicant as a whole person and to consider their potential to model the best of the profession as a member of the Richmond Law community.

The Admissions Committee considers not only standardized test scores and undergraduate grades, but also the strength of an applicant's undergraduate or graduate curriculum, academic trends, post-collegiate experiences and employment, achievement in extracurricular activities, military service, contributions to campus and community through service and leadership, and the personal qualities displayed throughout the application and admissions cycle. Race, ethnicity, and familial ties to the university or law school are not considered in context of admission. While race and ethnicity information is collected to fulfill state and federal reporting requirements, application reviewers do not have access to this data for the purposes of admission.

Important Admission & Financial Aid Deadlines Regular Decision applications to Richmond Law are recommended to be completed and submitted prior to February 1 for fullest consideration of admission and scholarships. Applications submitted and completed by March 1 will be fully considered for admission; consideration for merit scholarships will be made to the extent that funds remain available. Applications submitted and completed after March 1 will be considered on a space and scholarship available basis. Applications submitted and completed after July 1 may not be considered for admission and scholarships.

Binding Early Decision applications to Richmond Law must be completed and submitted prior to December 1. Applications not completed by December 1 will be considered under the Regular Decision process and timeline. Binding Early Decision applicants are fully considered for merit scholarships, which will be awarded at time of admission to those who quality. However, the Binding Early Decision option is best suited to individuals who are sure that Richmond Law is their top choice and who are also prepared to begin law school at Richmond Law in August 2027, regardless of what their financial aid awards may be.

Candidates are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the admission process; no separate scholarship application is required. To be considered for need-based scholarships and to qualify for federal loans, applicants should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after the FAFSA opens on October 1; the recommended FAFSA submission date is on or prior to February 15. The University of Richmond School of Law FAFSA code is 003744. Please note that parental information is not required or considered on the FAFSA for law students.

Completing the Application Unless otherwise noted, the following items are required components of the JD application:

JD applications must be submitted electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). In order to be considered, an application must be transmitted and your application file must be complete with all required sections, supporting documentation, and additional requirements. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, and may apply prior to receiving a reportable LSAT or GRE score. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report registration is required through LSAC. Request transcripts from ALL undergraduate, graduate, or technical schools (as a matriculated or non-matriculated student), whether or not a degree was earned. This includes any dual credits earned in high school, college-level summer school, all transfer credits, etc. Completion of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, at minimum, must be earned prior to the start of your J.D. coursework. Approved Standardized Tests, which are limited to the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE), must provide a valid and reliable test score. Applications may be submitted prior to receiving LSAT or GRE scores; however, this may result in a delay in the review process until official scores have been received. Applicants should take their first LSAT no later than February 2027. Applicants should thoroughly review the GRE policy prior to considering this exam for admission to Richmond Law. No alternative standardized exams are accepted. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation are required; up to three (3) will be accepted. We encourage at least one (1) letter of recommendation from a faculty member who can address your academic and intellectual abilities, unless you completed your undergraduate work two (2) years prior to your application. Professional recommendations are also acceptable. Applicants should use the Letter of Recommendation Service offered through their CAS registration. The submission of your application constitutes your waiver of any and all rights to review letters of recommendation retained by the law school. A Résumé should be formatted appropriately and need not be limited to a single page. It should provide chronological information about your academic background, employment experience, scholastic accomplishments, publications, leadership and service experience, and extracurricular or charitable activities. The Personal Statement must not exceed a maximum of three (3) typed pages, double-spaced. A strong personal statement will discuss why the applicant is interested in pursuing a legal career or what your anticipated career goals & interests are at this time. We encourage you to provide information about yourself not otherwise found in your application and distinct from any other written statements or addenda to be submitted as part of this application (see below). All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item. Optional Supplemental Statement - We encourage applicants to submit an optional statement discussing how the significant life experiences, challenges, or perspectives that have shaped you as a person have influenced your alignment with the mission and values of Richmond Law. This statement is not required, and no applicant will be penalized for choosing not to submit one. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item. Optional Addenda - An individual Character & Fitness addendum must be submitted to address each specific topic regarding any criminal charges, academic dismissals or code of conduct violations, or disclosures within your application. An LSAT addendum must be included to discuss score discrepancies of more than eight (8) points, or optionally if there is context that you feel should be shared with the Admissions Committee related to your LSAT preparation or performance. Additional optional addenda may also be useful to discuss grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for the Admissions Committee on any other topic relevant to the holistic review of the application. Addenda should be long enough to fully disclose and explain each topic. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.

Character & Fitness and Continuing Duty to Inform As part of the application process, applicants must disclose any information regarding events both before and during law school that may affect the applicant's character & fitness for bar licensure and to practice the law in every U.S. jurisdiction. Bar Examiners may ask for more detail or additional questions beyond those listed on this application. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction directly.

Once an application for admission has been submitted, an applicant has a continuing duty to inform the Admissions Office of any changes to the information included in the application. This duty to inform continues until the close of the admission cycle or, if matriculating, throughout your time as a student at the University of Richmond School of Law. The Bar's Character & Fitness Committee will compare your answers to its questions with those provided in your law school application. Inconsistencies between your law school application and your application to the Bar may cause difficulty and/or delay with bar admission.

Failure to make a complete disclosure when answering the character & fitness questions may also subject a student to disciplinary sanctions, including revocation of law school admission. Submission of any false, misleading, or incomplete answers and statements in the application could constitute a basis for denial of admission, revocation of an offer of admission, or denial of licensure to practice law. This includes, but is not limited to, any materials submitted in the initial application or supplemental information provided to the University of Richmond. In addition, the deliberate submission of inaccurate information may be reported to the Law School Admission Council for investigation of misconduct in the admissions process.

Use of Artificial Intelligence Richmond Law expects that application materials, including all written submissions, are substantially your own original work. While we do not prohibit the use of AI in all aspects of the preparation of your application, you should pay special attention to the accepted and prohibited uses of AI tools described below. If you use AI tools to complete your Richmond Law application materials, you must disclosing the tools used and the way you used them.

For the purpose of this application, AI tools include but are not limited to: natural language processing algorithms, machine learning algorithms, large language models, and generative AI. This includes services like Grammarly, ChatGPT, Claude, Co-Pilot, and others.

Not Permitted

Using generative AI to draft your personal statement, addenda, short answers, or other written components of the application in lieu of your own original work.

Using AI to substantially re-write your work.

Permitted

Using AI tools to develop and select a theme for your personal statement;

Using AI tools to check spelling, grammar, and word choice, including in your personal statement or other narrative submissions and short answer questions; and

Editing your original writing with AI tools to assist with length or clarity, while preserving your ideas, structure, and substantial content.

Policy Prohibiting Discrimination The University of Richmond's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination is designed to foster adherence to the University of Richmond's commitment to non-discrimination and to ensure compliance with applicable laws. This policy serves as the University's notice of nondiscrimination for purposes of compliance with Title VI and Title IX and fulfills the University's obligations under IRS Revenue Procedure 75-50 (as amended by Revenue Procedure 2019-22). The complete policy can be found at https://policy.richmond.edu/documents/policy-pdfs/Public/Governance/policy_prohibiting_discrimination.pdf

Admissions applications will be reviewed holistically. You are assured both by school policy and by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that the information will be confidential and accessible only to school officials and others with a legitimate educational interest in this information.

GDPR Statement In compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the University of Richmond has a legitimate interest in collecting information needed to evaluate an applicant?s personal, educational, and work background in order to make admissions decisions and otherwise process such applications. The University of Richmond General Data Protection Privacy Notice can be found at https://policy.richmond.edu/documents/policy-pdfs/Public/Information-Services/general_data_privacy_regulation_notice.pdf.