Please provide a personal statement no longer than 2-4 pages double spaced (1 inch margins) on a topic of your choice.  This is your opportunity to discuss anything that you believe would be relevant for the admissions committee to consider when reviewing your application.

This section is optional.

Applicants may include a written statement regarding LSAT score and/or GPA.

Applicants are required to submit a recent resume.

The remaining questions require you to disclose whether you have a history of criminal or civil offenses or academic, work-related, or military disciplinary actions, whether those matters appear on your record or not. In other words, we want to know about any offenses you may have committed or admitted responsibility to. Just because a matter no longer appears on your public criminal record does not mean there is no private record of it. Pending matters must also be disclosed. Cooley Law School does not necessarily deny admission simply because an applicant has a history of criminal or civil offenses or disciplinary matters. In making admissions decisions, the Law School considers the nature, number, and date of offenses.

Full candor in the law school application process is required not only by Cooley Law School, but also by the state bar you will apply to for your license to practice law. Your law school application answers will be scrutinized and your entire history checked by bar authorities when you apply for admission to the bar, which you must do in order to practice law.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you are required to submit a Character and Fitness Summary Form where you will fully state the details of the incident(s), including dates and outcomes. You will also be required to provide official documentation pertaining to the reported incident(s). Official documentation may include but is not limited to police reports, a final register of actions, final dispositions, certificates of completion, or receipts of fines paid. If documents cannot be procured, you will be asked to provide verification in writing from the source that a particular record is not available. Current driving records may be required for incidents related to driving or loss of license. Official documentation can be submitted with your application or sent after the application has been submitted.

1. In your entire life as an adult OR a juvenile have you:

• • been convicted of, or
• • pleaded guilty or no contest or otherwise admitted responsibility to, or
• • agreed to deferred adjudication or adjournment in contemplation of dismissal of, or
• • conceded that a prosecuting authority had sufficient evidence to convict you of, or
• • had a criminal conviction expunged, set aside, sealed, or otherwise declared confidential

• for the violation of any law or ordinance other than a minor parking or traffic violation?

• A minor traffic or parking violation refers to an instance where only a citation was issued such as a speeding ticket. All careless and reckless driving offenses, or any misdemeanor traffic offenses involvingdrugs or alcohol*, or any offenses that result in thesuspension or revocation of your driver's license, areNOTconsidered minor andmust be disclosed.*

2. Are you currently a party to any proceeding that could result in fines, incarceration, probation, or civil forfeiture, other than minor traffic or parking violations? (Civil forfeiture means your property or money is taken because of a crime.)

• A minor traffic or parking violation refers to an instance where only a citation was issued such as a speeding ticket. All careless and reckless driving offenses, or anymisdemeanor traffic offenses involving drugs or alcohol, or any offenses that result in the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, are NOT considered minor and must be disclosed.

3. Have you been arrested in the last five years?

4. Has any academic institution after high school ever imposed on you:

• • academic probation or academic dismissal, or
• • formal or informal disciplinary action for behavior on or off campus, including warnings, grade reduction, probation, suspension, dismissal, or expulsion?

5. Has any employer, governmental or administrative agency, including the Armed Forces, ever:

• • taken disciplinary action against you, for dishonest, disorderly, or violent conduct?
• • discharged you, for dishonest, disorderly, or violent conduct?
• • did you leave with accusations pending for dishonest, disorderly, or violent conduct?

Applying to Cooley Law School

When to Apply

Cooley Law School enrolls both a Fall (September) and Spring (January) entering class. Fall entering students may enroll in a full-time daytime program at both the Lansing, Michigan and Tampa, Florida campus. Spring entering students may enroll in a part-time evening program in Tampa, Florida or a weekend blended program in Lansing, Michigan.

Application Components

• Application. A completed electronic application, submitted through LSAC.
• Personal Statement. Two to four pages double spaced. 12 point font.
• Resume.
• Impact Statement (optional). Applicants are invited to discuss any experiences or aspects of who you are that may enhance the legal community. This could include the impact law has made in your desire to attend law school or the impact you want to make in the legal field with your degree.
• Character & Fitness Summary Form and Official Documentation (required if you answered 'yes' to any of the questions in the Character & Fitness section): Applicants must provide a description of the events and charges in a Character & Fitness Summary Form. Each incident requires an individual Summary Form. Official documentation is required and can be attached at the end of the application or uploaded to your Application Status Online (ASO) portal after submission.

CAS Report Components

• LSAT Score and Writing Sample. LSAT scores are valid for five years.
• Transcripts. Official transcripts of all undergraduate, graduate, and professional institutions attended.
• Letter of Recommendation (optional). It is strongly encouraged to submit at least one letter of recommendation through LSAC.

Transfer Applicants

In addition to the components listed above, transfer applicants must provide:

• Official copy of law school transcripts.
• Letter of good standing. Must be sent directly to the Cooley Law School Admissions Office from the applicant's current institution.
• Personal statement explaining reasons for transfer.
• Course description and syllabi for courses taken in the last two years.
• Completed Transfer Credit Determination Form. The Admissions Office will provide this form after review of a completed application.

Prior Matriculation

In addition to the components listed above, applicants that have previously matriculated in a J.D. program must provide:

• Official copy of law school transcript.
• Letter of good standing. Must be sent directly to the Cooley Law School Admissions Office from the applicant's prior law school.
• Personal statement explaining the reasons for your desire to return to law school.

Applicants who were academically dismissed from a J.D. program are unable to apply to Cooley Law School. Effective May 2023, the faculty of Cooley Law School voted to terminate the restart policy. Any restart application will be denied.

Scholarship

Cooley Law School awards incoming merit based scholarships. All applicants are automatically reviewed for a scholarship and if awarded, will be notified in the decision letter.

Character & Fitness

To be admitted to Cooley Law School, you must meet certain character and fitness standards along with being academically eligible. The practice of law is a profession and a noble calling. The privilege of admission carries with it professional obligations of integrity, honesty, trust, and responsibility. Cooley Law School is committed to fostering the highest standards of ethics and responsibility in its students. The professionalism required of every student begins with the application for admission.

You will be asked a few questions about your past and recent conduct, and there may be things you have to tell us that you are not proud of. Both the law school and your state bar are more interested in your current character than in conduct you engaged in earlier. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you tell the truth and the whole truth in response to the questions you are asked on the application.

Applicants must complete an official Cooley Law School application, and every question on the application must be answered honestly and completely. Applicants are responsible for the accuracy and thoroughness of all information provided. Failure to disclose, concealment of information, or failure to fully disclose may result in denial of admission, revocation of admission, suspension or dismissal after matriculation, withdrawal of certification of graduation, or revocation of the degree.

Ask for clarification from the law school, not outside third parties.

Read more about Character & Fitness disclosures on our website.

This section is optional.

Cooley?s story is one of transformation, of people and of impact. In a world that needs minds ready to navigate the legal landscapes of tomorrow, our students emerge from law school confident and future-ready.

You are invited to discuss any experiences or aspects of who you are that may enhance the legal community. This could include the impact law has made in your desire to attend law school or the impact you want to make in the legal field with your degree.