UC - Irvine > Requirements

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

Personal Statement

Required

Personal statement

Personal Statement Required

The Personal Statement is your opportunity to tell us how your unique life experiences could contribute to our law school community. We do not have a checklist of attributes; we would like for you to tell us what you believe is different and most important for us to know. For example, did a significant life experience, intellectual interest, extracurricular activity, or particular person prompt you to do something that changed or enriched your life? Have you met and overcome a significant obstacle or challenge? Has you taken action in response to political, philosophical, or personal concerns? If you served in the military, how did that experience affect you? Are there atypical paths that you have taken in terms of your education, work life or family life? Have your sexual identity, a disability, discrimination, or socioeconomic factors impacted you? This is your moment to provide information that will help us know you personally.

We will not accept revisions to your Personal Statement after you have submitted your application.

When drafting your personal statement you should use Microsoft Word and format all your documents to 8-1/2 x 11 inches, double spaced, with 12-point font and one-inch margins. Most importantly, please include your name, LSAC number, and statement type (e.g. Personal Statement, Why UC Irvine Law essay, etc.) in the top header of each page and abide by the word limit.

Please write a minimum of 350 words and a maximum of 750 words.

Inclusive Excellence Essay

Perspective statement

Inclusive Excellence Essay

Perspective statement

Embedded into the Law School's mission, UC Irvine Law is committed to inclusive excellence, celebrates all aspects of diversity, and strives for equity and inclusion. How do you define inclusive excellence and what experiences will you bring that contribute to this inclusive community?

When drafting this optional statement, you should use Microsoft Word and format all your documents to 8-1/2 x 11 inches, double spaced, with 12-point font and one-inch margins. Most importantly, please include your name, LSAC number, and statement type (e.g. Personal Statement, Why UC Irvine Law essay, etc.) in the top header of each page and abide by the word limit.

Please write a maximum of 750 words.

Why UC Irvine Law?

Required

Why x essay

Why UC Irvine Law? Required

We know that you have many options when applying to law school. Tell us why you are interested in attending UC Irvine Law. What do you believe we have to offer you and how would attending help you achieve your professional goals? What will you bring to the School of Law? How would your experiences and perspectives enhance and enrich the quality and breadth of our law school community?

We will not accept revisions to your Why UC Irvine essay after you have submitted your application.

When drafting this statement you should use Microsoft Word and format all your documents to 8-1/2 x 11 inches, double spaced, with 12-point font and one-inch margins. Most importantly, please include your name, LSAC number, and statement type (e.g. Personal Statement, Why UC Irvine Law essay, etc.) in the top header of each page and abide by the word limit.

Please write a minimum of 350 words and a maximum of 750 words.

Optional Essays

Addendum

We know that you may want to provide some additional information for the Admissions Committee to consider when reviewing your application. You may attach an optional statement, if desired. You are not required to provide the information below.

Optional Statement on Your Academic Record: If you believe that your academic record does not accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, tell us about this.
Optional Statement about Your Standardized Tests: If you believe that your results from standardized tests (LSAT, GRE, or SAT/ACT) do not accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, tell us about this.

**When responding to an optional statement prompt, you should use Microsoft Word and format all your documents to 8-1/2 x 11 inches, double spaced, with 12-point font and one-inch margins. Most importantly, please include your name, LSAC number, and statement type (e.g. Personal Statement, Why UC Irvine Law essay, etc.) in the top header of each page and abide by the word limit. If responding to more than one optional statement prompt; please begin each optional statement on a new page.

Please write a maximum of 500 words among either or both optional academic/standardized test statements (no more than 250 words per addendum).**

Resume

Required

Resume

Please submit your current résumé. It should include the following information:

Academic and non-academic honors, awards, scholarships, fellowships, prizes, publications, and/or memberships in honor societies.
Your extracurricular activities since you entered undergraduate school, the number of hours you spent on those activities, and the dates of those activities. If you have been out of undergraduate or graduate school more than two years, include any community activities in which you have participated.
Your employment after graduating from high school (either full-time or part-time), the number of hours, and the dates of employment.
Hobbies or special areas of interest or academic pursuits; interesting travels; other skills or talents

Conduct Information

Required

Character and fitness

Conduct Information Required

Character and fitness

Have you ever been convicted of, or is any charge now pending against you, for any crime other than a traffic violation?
Have you ever been dismissed, suspended, placed on probation or disciplined by any college, university, graduate, or professional school, or is any such charge pending against you, or expected to be brought against you?
Have you ever been subject to discipline by a professional organization or discharged from employment for conduct-related issues?

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