Please tell us specifically why you wish to attend law school, and in particular Santa Clara Law School. Feel free to include information about your special interests, life experiences, accomplishments, goals, or other information you believe would be helpful to the Admission Committee. Please limit your statement to no more than 3 pages, double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman Font.

At Santa Clara Law, we are guided by the value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. We believe that each individual brings a unique perspective, shaped by their background and life experiences. Our commitment to cura personalis includes a commitment to care for all students in their full humanity to advance the common good. If you wish, please use this space to discuss how your unique background, life experiences, characteristics, and insights will help to contribute to our law school community.

Santa Clara Law welcomes applications to its Public Interest J.D. Certificate. This innovative program will prepare students for service as lawyers in both government and nonprofit sectors through a combination of coursework, mentorship, practical skills development, extra-curricular activities, and work experience. Students in the Public Interest JD program will attend a special orientation session in the summer before the 1L year. If you wish to be considered for this program, you must respond to the questions below.

1. Are you interested in applying to the Public Interest JD Program? Please note, applicants are able to opt-in to either the Public Interest J.D. program or the Tech Edge J.D. program, but not both.

Santa Clara Law's innovative Tech Edge J.D. certificate program will prepare students for technology law practice through experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, practical skills development, extracurricular activities, and work experience. Students will explore career options for lawyers working in technology industries and create a personalized career plan. The certificate program will require students to complete milestone experiences to develop practical skills throughout the law school journey. A technical undergraduate degree is not required. Students in the Tech Edge J.D. will attend a special orientation session in the summer before the 1L year, with introductions to careers in technology law and a focus on career planning. If you want to be considered for this program, you must submit an additional statement at the time of applying to law school.

1. Are you interested in applying for the Tech Edge J.D. program? Please note, applicants are able to opt-in to either the Tech Edge J.D. program or the Public Interest J.D. program, but not both.

If there is additional relevant information that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider, please attach here.

Please attach an electronic copy of your resume to this 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.

Failure to truthfully, accurately and completely respond to these questions may be deemed a character and fitness violation and may result in denial or revocation of admission and referral to LSAC's Subcommittee on Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process.

Should any character and fitness issues arise after you have submitted your application, which would change your original responses, you have an ongoing duty to notify the Admissions Office. Failure to do so may be deemed a character and fitness violation and may result in denial or revocation of admission and referral to LSAC's Subcommittee on Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process.

If you answer "Yes" to questions 1-3, you must attach an addendum including the date, a full explanation and the final disposition of each event.

1. Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled, or requested or advised to resign from any post-secondary school, college, university, trade, or professional school (including any law school)?

2. Have you ever been charged, arrested or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony? As used herein, a conviction includes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or a verdict or finding of guilt, regardless of whether sentence is imposed by the court.This includes any charge, arrest or conviction that may have been dropped or expunged.

3. Have you ever attended Santa Clara Law or any other law school? If yes, you must provide a letter from the dean or other authorized official verifying your good standing, together with an official transcript from any law school previously attended.

4. Are you currently in default on any federal student loan(s)?

Please attach a copy of the certificate of completion of the CCPLS program or a letter from your program director verifying your participation in the program.

Instructions: Santa Clara University School of Law We review applications and award admissions scholarships on a rolling basis. Admissions scholarships are merit-based. To support the timely review of your application and to ensure maximum consideration for scholarships, we recommend applying as early as possible. Please keep in mind that applications are only considered complete when we have received your CAS report and all outstanding test scores have been received. Important dates are included below:

Early Review Deadline: November 30 Completed applications submitted and received by November 30th will receive an admissions decision on or by January 15th.

Priority Deadline: February 15

Completed applications submitted and received by February 15th will receive full consideration for admission and scholarship awards. To maximize your chances of being considered for admission to our Cohort Certificate Programs (the Public Interest J.D. program and the Tech Edge J.D. program), submit a completed application by February 15th.

Final LSAT Score Accepted: April 2026

We may consider June scores on a case-by-case basis. Contact LawAdmissions@scu.edu to inquire. Application Checklist Integrity Standard Santa Clara University believes that an ethical use of AI should enhance, not substitute, human potential, dignity, and critical thinking. Before submitting your application you will be prompted to certify that you have followed all of our integrity standards.

LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) All applicants to the School of Law, including those submitting GRE scores, must register for LSAC's Credential Assembly Service and submit all undergraduate transcripts directly to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). LSAC will not send your CAS report until they have received transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you attended. If you have completed graduate work, you must submit these transcripts to LSAC as well. Your file will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed until we receive your CAS report. We must receive your CAS report no later than November 30 for Early Review.

Standardized Tests All applicants are required to take either the LSAT or the GRE.

LSAT Takers Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and submit the LSAT writing sample. We recommend that applicants take the LSAT by October for Early Review. If you are registered for a future LSAT test, we will consider your application incomplete and will not review you application until your future score is received. If you would like us to review your application with your existing score, please contact lawadmissions@scu.edu. If you register for a future LSAT test date while your application is under review and would like us to hold your application, please contact lawadmissions@scu.edu. We will accept scores through April, but keep in mind that files are submitted for review on a rolling basis as they become complete. For more information about LSAT registration dates and deadlines, click here.

GRE Takers We will accept GRE scores from tests taken within five years of the date of your application. Please submit all test scores earned within the last five years. Once we receive your GRE scores, we will grant an LSAT waiver so LSAC is able to release your CAS Report. During our application review we are able to evaluate GRE applicants by using ETS's GRE Comparison Tool for Law Schools to provide an estimated LSAT score. We use this estimated LSAT score to make admissions decisions and award merit based scholarships. Our GRE school code is 3943.

Applicants with both LSAT and GRE scores Please note, if you have taken the LSAT within the last five years, those scores will automatically be reported to us. Any valid GRE scores submitted in addition to LSAT scores will also be considered as part of our holistic review process.

English Proficiency

Who must demonstrate English Proficiency? All international applicants are required to demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency. Who is an international applicant? Students on non-immigrant visa statuses (for example F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, H-4, L-2, E-2, R-1, TD) are considered international applicants. Naturalized Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, students with DACA or other protected immigration statues, undocumented students, refugees and asylees are not considered international applicants and do not need to demonstrate proficiency. If you are unsure about whether you are considered an "international applicant" contact LawAdmissions@scu.edu. How can I demonstrate English Proficiency? The English Proficiency requirements are managed at the university level and are outlined at this link. All international applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency. For the law school, you can demonstrate proficiency in one of two ways:
Earned a degree in Australia, Anglophone Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States within the last 4 years where the sole instruction was English, OR Proficiency exams: TOEFL iBT - required score of 90 or higher - report the score directly to LSAC (code 8395) IELTS - required score of 6.5 or higher - report the score directly to LSAC (code 8395) Duolingo - required score of 120 or higher - report the score to Santa Clara directly (the reporting institution is "Santa Clara University Graduate Programs - Graduate"). Personal Statement At Santa Clara Law, we offer all applications a holistic review. However, please note that the Admissions Committee does not conduct interviews as part of the admission process. The personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself, what motivates you, why you wish to undertake the study of law, and how the program at Santa Clara Law will help you in your future professional and/or academic pursuits. Your statement should be no more than three pages double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font. Please attach your personal statement in the "Attachments" section of the application.

Resume Your resume is required. Please attach your resume in the "Attachments" section of the application.

Addenda If there is additional information not addressed in the application that you believe the Admission Committee should have when considering your application, please feel free to attach an addendum.

Letters of Recommendation Letters of recommendation can be helpful but are not required. You may want to consider submitting letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references. If you wish to submit letters, please complete the procedures outlined in the CAS report instructions. We will accept up to three letters. Please be aware that since we do not require letters of recommendation, your application will be sent to the committee for review when all other sections are completed.

Character and Fitness Disclosures In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. We strongly encourage you to determine the requirements of any jurisdiction in which you are planning to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Santa Clara Law has its own character and fitness questions. You must respond to all character and fitness questions in this application. If you answer "Yes" to questions 1-3, you must submit a statement that includes the date, a detailed explanation, and the final disposition of each event. If you answer "Yes" to question 4, you may not be eligible to receive federal financial aid as an incoming student, and you will need to work with the U.S. Department of Education to rehabilitate your student loan(s). Failure to truthfully, accurately, and completely respond to these questions may be deemed a character and fitness violation and may result in denial or revocation of admission and referral to LSAC's Subcommittee on Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process.

Should any character and fitness issues arise after you have submitted your application, which would change your original responses, you have an ongoing duty to notify the Admissions Office. Failure to do so may be deemed a character and fitness violation and may result in denial or revocation of admission and referral to LSAC's Subcommittee on Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process.

Prior Law School Matriculation and Letter of Good Standing If you have attended Santa Clara Law or any other law school, you must submit a letter of good standing and a law school transcript. Students who have been academically disqualified from a prior law school are not eligible to apply as incoming 1L or transfer students.

Legacy in Admissions Pursuant to AB1780, Santa Clara Law is prohibited from considering an applicant familial relationships to donors or alumni. You are not prohibited from revealing this information if relevant to your knowledge of our institution or your understanding of our mission, but the relationship itself will not be taken into consideration in the evaluation of your application.

Tech Edge J.D. Cohort Certificate Program Santa Clara Law School's Tech Edge J.D. Cohort Certificate program will prepare students for law practice in technology industries through a combination of experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, practical skills development, extracurricular activities, and work experience. Students need not have a background in technology or a STEM undergraduate degree to apply. The Tech Edge J.D. is unique because:

Students will explore career options for lawyers working in technology industries and create a personalized career plan; Students will complete milestone experiences to help develop practical skills during the law school journey; Students will attend a special orientation session in the summer before their 1L year, which will introduce the students to careers in technology law and focus on career planning; and Students will be assigned at least one attorney mentor and one faculty or staff advisor to help them navigate through their law school careers. For more information about the Tech Edge J.D. and application requirements, visit our web page at https://law.scu.edu/techedge/. Admission to the program is limited. Interested applicants will be required to submit two additional statements at the time they submit their law school application. Please be advised that these additional statements are heavily weighted in considering the application. Applicants will not be able to transfer into or apply to this program after being accepted into the law school.

Please note, applicants are able to opt-in to either the Tech Edge J.D. program or the Public Interest J.D. program, but not both.

Public Interest J.D. Cohort Certificate Program Santa Clara Law welcomes applications for the Public Interest J.D. Certificate. This innovative program will prepare students for service as lawyers in both government and nonprofit sectors through a combination of course work, mentorship, practical skills development, extra-curricular activities, and work experience. Highlights of the certificate program include the following: Students will explore career options for public interest lawyering and create a personalized career plan; Students will complete milestone experiences that will both provide practical experience and help build a career portfolio during the law school journey; Students will attend a special orientation session in the summer before their 1L year, which will introduce students to public interest law; Students will be assigned at least one attorney mentor and one faculty or staff advisor to help them realize the greatest possible value from their law school experience. For more information about the Public Interest J.D., visit our web page at https://law.scu.edu/pijd/. Admission to the certificate program is limited. Interested applicants will be required to submit two additional essays when they submit their law school applications. Please be advised that those essays will be weighted heavily in evaluating the application. Applicants to the Public Interest J.D. program may be contacted for a virtual interview. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by February 15.

Please note, applicants are able to opt-in to either the Tech Edge J.D. program or the Public Interest J.D. program, but not both.

Financial Aid If you wish to be considered for federal financial aid, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applications may be submitted online (https://studentaid.gov/) beginning October 1. We recommend that you submit your FAFSA by March 1. You do not have to wait for an admission decision before completing your FAFSA. Santa Clara's school code is 001326.

All applications are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship at the time of admission.

Decision Timeline Files are submitted for review on a rolling basis as they become complete, but decision times may vary. Completed applications submitted by November 30 will be reviewed and given a decision by January 15.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Santa Clara University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of a person's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religious creed, disability, medical condition as defined by California law, marital status, citizenship status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other status protected by law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, or employment-related policies, programs, and activities; or other University-administered policies, programs, and activities. The University condemns and will not tolerate such harassment or discrimination against any employee, student, visitor, or guest on the basis of any status protected by university policy or law and upholds a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence and sexual misconduct.

Contacts:

Santa Clara University Law Admissions Office: lawadmissions@scu.edu

Santa Clara Law Financial Aid: lawfinancialaid@scu.edu

Law School Admission Council: http://www.lsac.org/

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation for the admissions process, please contact LSAC or the Admissions Office at lawadmissions@scu.edu or 408-554-5048 (and/or TTY California Relay 800-735-2929).