The University of Tennessee College of Law seeks to admit students with a broad range of abilities, interests, and life experiences who will contribute to our collaborative community. An applicant?s personal statements provide the Admissions Committee with an opportunity to get a better sense of how an applicant will contribute to these goals.

A personal statement allows you to present information on your life experiences that have shaped and formed your view of the world around you, your motivation to join the legal profession, and/or any other pertinent information about you that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that is not available elsewhere in your application. This statement should be approximately two, double-spaced pages in length and composed by you.

We invite applicants to complete one optional statement from the list of prompts below. This optional statement should be approximately two, double-spaced pages in length, and composed by you:

1. Please describe any experience you have had in your own life in which you have overcome disadvantage or performed well in the face of challenges or adversity (for example, heavy work responsibilities, family responsibilities, health issues, economic hardship, experiences as a first-generation college student, etc.).
2. Civil dialogue and reasoned debate over contested ideas are core values both for the practice of law and in legal education. Please describe any experiences you may have had engaging with ideas with which you disagreed, and how such experiences have impacted you.
3. The College of Law is committed to achieving an expansive, inclusive, and collaborative law school community that brings a diverse range of ideas, experiences, and perspectives to our classrooms. Please describe how your lived experience informs who you are today and how it will contribute to our community.

You may submit multiple addenda to provide any additional information that you believe would help our Admissions Committee evaluate your application. For statements containing more than one topic, address each on separate pages and include a description header on each page.

A resume is needed to show experience and other relevant activities that you have participated in. You should not have high school work or activities, unless currently on-going.

The University of Tennessee College of Law seeks to admit students with a broad range of abilities, interests, and life experiences who will contribute to our collaborative community. An applicant?s personal statements provide the Admissions Committee with an opportunity to get a better sense of how an applicant will contribute to these goals.

1. 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.

Note: Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, character evaluations are conducted of all applicants for admission to a state bar. State requirements vary, and you should obtain information about qualifications for admission to the bar of the state where you intend to practice. Similarly, failure to provide complete and truthful answers to these questions may result in revocation of admission or other disciplinary action. In addition, state bar examiners will conduct background investigations prior to your admission to the bar. Therefore, you are advised to check transcripts and/or consult with school officials holding disciplinary records before answering these questions. If admitted, you are obligated to update this information provided in this section with any subsequent actions or conduct that takes place between the time of your admission and the end of your law school career.

2. Disciplinary Action:

Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on scholastic or disciplinary probation, expelled, requested to resign, allowed to resign in lieu of discipline, otherwise subjected to discipline, or requested to discontinue your studies by any college or university? Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation and any applicable documentation has been received.

3. Criminal Action:

Have you ever been cited for, arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any violation of any law including juvenile court? Note: Include matters that have been dismissed, expunged, subject to a diversion or deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. Omit traffic violations. If Yes, include a copy of the associated arrest report, complaint, indictment, citation, information, disposition, sentence, docket report, and appeal, if any.

Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation, and any applicable documentation has been received.

4. Alcohol or Drug Related Traffic Violation:

Have you ever been cited for, arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any alcohol or drug related traffic violation including being resolved in juvenile court? Note: Include matters that have been dismissed, expunged, subject to a diversion or deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. If Yes, include a copy of the associated arrest report, complaint, indictment, citation, information, disposition, sentence, docket report, and appeal, if any.

Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation, and any applicable documentation has been received.

5. Civil Action:

Have you ever been a named party to any civil action?

Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation, and any applicable documentation has been received.

6. Dishonorable Discharge:

Have you ever received less than an honorable discharge from any branch of the US armed forces? If yes, please supply a written explanation.

Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation, and any applicable documentation has been received.

7. Termination:

Have you ever been permitted by an employer to resign in lieu of termination? If yes, please supply a written explanation.

Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation, and any applicable documentation has been received.

8. Administrative Proceeding:

Have you been party to an administrative proceeding. For example, loss of licensure (including professional licenses or firearm licenses), or military proceedings. If yes, please provide documentation.

Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation, and any applicable documentation has been received.

9. Traffic Violation:

Have you been cited for, arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any moving traffic violation during the past ten years? Note: Include matters that have been dismissed, expunged, subject to a diversion or deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. Omit parking violations.

Note: Your application will not be considered for an admission decision until a written explanation, and any applicable documentation has been received.

2026 Regular Application Process

We recommend completing your application file as early as possible. File review begins as files are received in completion. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure all materials are submitted to LSAC, which at that point they will be sent to UT College of Law. You can check your admission status online through our website by clicking on "Check Application Status."

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING

The following items are required to complete your application file: a completed application, personal statement, resume, the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report, and two recommendations. NOTE: If you answer 'Yes' to any of the Character and Fitness questions, your application will not be considered complete without the appropriate documentation.

Required Personal Statement

A personal statement allows you to present information on your life experiences that have shaped and formed your view of the world around you, your motivation to join the legal profession, and/or any other pertinent information about you that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that is not available elsewhere in your application. This statement should be approximately two, double-spaced pages in length and composed by you.

Optional Statement

We invite applicants to complete one optional statement from the list of prompts below. This optional statement should be approximately two, double-spaced pages in length, and composed by you:

1. Please describe any experience you have had in your own life in which you have overcome disadvantage or performed well in the face of challenges or adversity (for example, heavy work responsibilities, family responsibilities, health issues, economic hardship, experiences as a first-generation college student, etc.).
2. Civil dialogue and reasoned debate over contested ideas are core values both for the practice of law and in legal education. Please describe any experiences you may have had engaging with ideas with which you disagreed, and how such experiences have impacted you.
3. The College of Law is committed to achieving an expansive, inclusive, and collaborative law school community that brings a diverse range of ideas, experiences, and perspectives to our classrooms. Please describe how your lived experience informs who you are today and how it will contribute to our community.

Two Required Recommendations

Two recommendations must be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. Please choose recommenders who have known you long enough and well enough to make a sound evaluation of your academic abilities and suitability for law school.

Required Resume

A resume is needed to show experience and other relevant activities in which you have participated.

The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law seeks to admit students with a broad range of abilities, interests, and life experiences who will contribute to our collaborative community. An applicant?s personal statements provide the Admissions Committee with an opportunity to get a better sense of how an applicant will contribute to these goals.

Character and Fitness

NOTE: If you answer 'Yes' to any of the Character and Fitness questions, your application will not be considered complete without the appropriate documentation.

Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, character evaluations are conducted of all applicants for admission to a state bar. State requirements vary, and you should obtain information about qualifications for admission to the bar of the state where you intend to practice. Similarly, failure to provide complete and truthful answers to these questions may result in revocation of admission or other disciplinary action. In addition, state bar examiners may conduct background investigations prior to your admission to the bar. Therefore, you are advised to check transcripts and/or consult with school officials holding disciplinary records before answering these questions. If admitted, you are obligated to update this information provided in this section with any subsequent actions or conduct that takes place between the time of your admission and the end of your law school career.

You will need to submit a statement explaining the date and nature of the offense and you will need to provide copies of the documents related to the disposition of the following matter(s):

-If you have ever been arrested, charged or convicted of any felony or misdemeanor, including any charges or convictions that were expunged, sealed, or occurred when you were a minor;

-If you have ever been subjected to disciplinary action by any educational institution, or there are charges pending that could result in such an action. Include probation, suspension, expulsion, or any other disciplinary action for academic, social, or other reasons;

-If you have ever been permitted by an employer to resign in lieu of termination;

-If you have been party to an administrative proceeding. For example, loss of licensure (including professional licenses or firearm licenses), or military proceedings.

Consult the College of Law website for additional information.

The LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report with Transcripts

Applicants must use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. Your report is requested upon receipt of your application for admission. Detailed information and instructions regarding this service can be found at LSAC.org. Undergraduate, graduate, and law/professional school transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted to the Credential Assembly Service.

Addenda

You may submit multiple addenda to provide any additional information that you believe would help our Admissions Committee evaluate your application. For statements containing more than one topic, address each on separate pages and include a description header on each page.

Foreign-Educated Applicants

Foreign-educated applicants must submit foreign transcripts through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. If postsecondary work was completed outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for evaluation of the transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. If we determine that you need to submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 0058. Questions and directions for registering for the service can be directed to 215.968.1001, or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.