Information for Applicants

Preparation for the Study of Law

Each entering class includes a diverse range of undergraduate majors and we generally do not prefer certain majors over others, but we do value a well-rounded education that has exposed applicants to the humanities and sciences, with a particular emphasis on writing and reasoning skills, as well as foreign languages. For more information, please consult the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, prepared by the Law School Admission Council (“LSAC”) and the American Bar Association. This book includes information about pre-law preparation, applying to law schools, and the study of law, as well as information about most U.S. law schools. It is available in many college bookstores and also online at www.lsac.org.

Application Procedure and Admissions Policy

Admission to the Law School is based on a careful review of each application by one or more members of the Admissions Committee. While we do have a very strong applicant pool numerically, the non-numerical factors in an application are also extremely important. Our admitted students have a wide range of GPAs and LSAT scores.

Completing the Application. Applicants must submit their applications electronically through the LSAC Electronic Application, available at www.lsac.org. The application fee is $75 and may be paid electronically by credit card or by check or money order made payable to the University of Chicago Law School. Applications can be submitted starting September 1.

Early and Regular Decision. Applicants may choose to apply for Early Decision or Regular Decision.

• Early Decision. Applicants who wish to be considered for Early Decision must submit their applications and all supporting materials by December 1, and will be notified of the Admissions Committee's decision by the end of December. If admitted, Early Decision applicants must commit to enrolling at the Law School and must withdraw all applications at other law schools. Some Early Decision applicants who are not admitted during the Early Decision cycle may be reevaluated during the Regular Decision cycle.
• Regular Decision. Applicants who wish to be considered for Regular Decision must submit their applications by February 1. Applications received for Regular Decision will be considered on a rolling basis once all required materials have been received. Any applications received after February 1 will be considered on a space-available basis. We consider applications in the order that they are completed.

The LSAT. Applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and submit all current LSAT scores before their applications will be considered. An LSAT score is deemed current if it has been earned within five years of the date that the application is submitted to the Law School. The LSAT is administered four times a year in many locations throughout the world. Early Decision applicants must take the LSAT no later than the late September/early October administration. For information about the LSAT, contact LSAC at 215/968-1001 or www.lsac.org.

Letters of Recommendation. We require two letters of recommendation, but will accept up to four. We prefer that at least one recommendation be academic, but we realize that academic recommendations can be difficult to procure for applicants who have been out of school for several years. We require applicants to submit their letters through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service Letter of Recommendation Service.

Personal Statement and Résumé. Applicants must submit a personal statement and résumé in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the application instructions.

The Credential Assembly Service. All applicants are required to register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (“CAS”) for processing undergraduate and graduate transcripts, as well as letters of recommendation. For information about the CAS, please contact the LSAC at 215/968-1001 or www.lsac.org. For more information and guidance on the required application materials, please visit www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective.

Financial Aid. The Law School provides generous financial aid in the form of loans and scholarships to our students. Applicants who wish to have financial need factored into their evaluation for scholarship aid must complete the Need Access Application online at www.needaccess.org. For questions about Need Access, contact the Access Group at 800-282-1550. Please visit http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/financialaid for applicable deadlines.

Interviews. The Admissions Committee may invite applicants to interview, but does not grant requests for interviews.

Visits. We encourage all prospective applicants to visit the Law School. In the fall, we conduct information sessions for prospective applicants and have student-led tours throughout the academic year on Mondays and Fridays; please call ahead for the schedule (773-702-9484) and check our website (www.law.uchicago.edu) for more details.

Applicants with Disabilities. Disabled applicants in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should contact the Admissions Office at 773-702-9484 or by emailing admissions@law.uchicago.edu with their request. Applicants with disabilities should contact the Dean of Students as soon as possible after their admission in order to coordinate accommodations at the University.

Transfer Applications

Students in good standing at other law schools may apply for transfer to the Law School for their second and third years of law school. Transfers must spend two academic years in residence at the Law School to qualify for the J.D. degree. In making transfer decisions, the Admissions Committee relies heavily on first-year grades and the quality of the student cohort at the law school attended. Transfer students are eligible to participate in all activities of the Law School, including law journals and clinics. They are also eligible for honors at graduation based on their two years of academic work at the Law School. Transfer applicants must apply electronically using the LSAC electronic application. Please visit our website at www.law.uchicago.edu/prospectives/transfer for more information on transferring to the Law School and for an outline of the application process and relevant deadlines.