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.

This section is optional.

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's innovative certificate program, Tech Edge J.D., will prepare students for high-tech law practice through a combination of experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, practical skills development, extra-curricular 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 the student to complete milestone experiences to help develop practical skills during 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, which will introduce students to careers in technology law and 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?

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?

This section is optional.

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)?

This section is optional.

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.