Law School Application Requirements: Complete Guide

---

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 10/04/23

‍

If you’re thinking about applying to several law schools and want to know exactly how to do so, read on to learn more about the law school application requirements and the different steps to take when applying to law school.  

‍

Narrowing down the law schools you want to attend the most can be challenging, and compiling a list of everything you need to apply to these schools can make the process even more complicated. 

To ease some of your stress and to make the beginning of your legal journey easier, this comprehensive guide will review basic requirements for applying to law school and specific requirements at the top 45 schools.

Basic Law School Requirements 

There are some law school prerequisites you must think about applying to law schools. The following are the main law school application requirements: 

• An undergraduate degree
• Admissions tests (LSAT or GRE)
• A personal statement
• Letters of recommendation
• Resume

In the next few sections, we’ll review these law school admissions requirements in more detail.

Undergraduate Degree

The first prerequisite for any law school is a baccalaureate degree. Law schools don’t require applicants to take specific course prerequisites. However, it’s worth noting that there are some dual degree programs that allow students to finish the final year of their undergraduate degree while also completing their first year of law school.

GPA Requirements

A wide range of GPAs are accepted across law schools. This GPA can be as low as 2.95 or as high as 4.0 for top-ranking schools. Make sure to look into the requirements and median accepted GPA for your specific school. Keep in mind that If you’re applying to law school, you’ll receive an entirely new GPA: your LSAC CAS GPA. Our Law School CAS GPA Calculator makes it easy to calculate your CAS GPA.

Admissions Tests 

Students must complete the LSAT or GRE, depending on their preferred law school, to be considered for admission. 

‍

LSAT

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a challenging exam known as the primary admission test accepted by U.S. law schools. For most schools, you have to write the LSAT. 

You will need to study hard in order to pass the LSAT. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but if you keep up good study habits and stick to a plan, you can manage your stress.

According to experts, applicants should aim to get at least 150 to be accepted into an accredited university, 160 or higher to be accepted into the top 25 universities, and 170 or higher to be accepted into the top 10 universities.

GRE 

You don’t have to take the GRE if you take the LSAT. You can choose to write either the LSAT or GRE when applying to schools that allow this option. To date, about 70 U.S. law schools accept the GRE.

The test you take depends on which school you’d like to go to. While only 70 schools accept the GRE, top-ranking schools like Yale and Harvard are part of this list, meaning you can still apply to top-ranking schools if you choose to write the GRE instead of the LSAT! 

Luckily, you don’t have to make this decision on your own; Juris Education offers GRE and LSAT consultations to help you decide which option is best for you and how to ace your chosen test.

Personal Statement

Your law school personal statement is a fantastic opportunity to let your fit, passion for law, and personality shine. Many top-ranked law schools ask for personal statements, including Columbia, UPenn, Harvard, and Cornell. 

To make this admission requirement less daunting, here’s a list of qualities law schools seek in personal statements:

• Passion: If you write about something you’re passionate about, you’re more likely to be engaging
• Originality: The admissions committee reads thousands of personal statements; you want to make sure yours stands out
• Structure: Your essay should follow a logical order
• Simplicity: You should not cram all your experiences or accomplishments into your essay – focus on one or two and specify how they relate to your desired law career
• Care: You shouldn’t have any typos or spelling and grammar mistakes; it should be obvious you wrote the essay carefully and accurately (and ensure you’re actually answering the question!)

What Should You Write In the Open-Ended Personal Statement? 

The personal statement is an opportunity for you to help the admissions committee get to know you better. You should expand on your application, not re-state it. Write something fresh and original. 

Consider writing about a significant aspect of your personality or character that you haven’t had the chance to explore yet in your application. You may also choose to write about something in your background or history that has shaped you in a unique way. 

Letters of Recommendation 

This law school prerequisite requires less effort on your side in terms of writing. Most law schools require you to submit letters of recommendation from people who can attest to your character. You should aim to have at least one letter written by an academic faculty member.

Recommendation letters should be:

• Extraordinary: Your letters should paint you as someone extraordinary!
• Personal: The person writing your letter must actually know you well and be able to speak to your character, your growth, and your accomplishments.
• Compelling: These letters must sell the committee on you! They should convince law schools you have the necessary skills and traits to be an excellent student and lawyer.

Extracurriculars

Another factor to consider before even applying to law school is participating in extracurriculars that will help make your application stand out.

All extracurriculars are important! They show you have good time management skills, want to help others, and are able to work as a team. So, ensure you join extracurriculars you will enjoy.

To boost your application, however, you should aim to join extracurriculars with the following qualities:

• They develop your legal skills
• They are service activities
• They have substantial time commitments
• They show leadership and teamwork
• You are a key member of the team (vice president, president, executive member, etc.)

Resume 

Your law school resume should be one to two pages long, typed in a standard font. The main sections you should include in your resume are: 

• Personal/biographical information 
• Education 
• Work experience 
• Extracurricular activities 

Depending on how many entries you’d have in each category, you can also consider adding sections for: 

• Honors/awards
• Research 
• Skills/interests 

All these law school requirements are the standard at most law schools. 

How to Apply

To apply to law school, you will be required to fill out an application form and submit your additional application materials online. Check the application process for each of your desired schools. 

Prepare for the law school application cycle with the help of our free Law School Admissions Checklist!

Application Requirements for Other Law Schools

The next 31 schools may not be the highest-ranked in the nation, but they’re still excellent choices for aspiring law students! Here are all their law school prerequisites:

Georgetown University

Georgetown University ranks 15th as the best law school and requires the following application materials: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.87
• LSAT, GRE, or GMAT scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 171
• A Personal Statement: No page restrictions, but two pages double-spaced is recommended
• A Resume: No page limit, but one to two pages long is recommended
• Letters of Recommendation: One letter is required, preferably from a professor
• Optional Responses: You can submit a 250-word response to one of five questions or a one-minute video 
• Optional Statement: Share how your experiences or perspectives have contributed to who you are as a future lawyer

The University of Minnesota

As the 16th-place law school, the University of Minnesota is a great option for aspiring law students. This school requires the following from its applicants:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.83
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 168
• A Personal Statement: Should be two pages, double-spaced, outlining personal goals and reasons for pursuing law
• A Resume: No page limit
• Letters of Recommendation: One to two letters from academic sources
• Optional Statement of Interest: Discuss why you chose Minnesota Law in particular
• Optional Addenda: Each addendum should be one page, double-spaced to highlight diversity or explain parts of your application, obstacles, or other important matters
• Optional Video Interview: All applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the pre-recorded video interview to introduce themselves to the committee

The University of Southern California (Gould)

Tied for 16th place is the University of Southern California. This school requires these materials:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.87
• LSAT/GRE Scores: the median accepted LSAT score is 168
• A Personal Statement: Two to three pages, double-spaced, discussing how your background led you to pursue law
• A Resume: Shouldn’t exceed two pages and listed chronologically
• Letters of Recommendation: Two to three letters are required, written by individuals who’ve evaluated your academic performance
• Optional Diversity Essay: Discussing your potential diversity contribution to USC
• Optional Addenda: A brief statement clarifying aspects of your application

University of Texas - Austin

Tying for 16th place is the University of Texas. Students are required to submit the following: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.84. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.20. 
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 170
• A Personal Statement: No more than two double-spaced pages addressing your decision to pursue legal education
• A Resume: No more than three pages
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required
• Optional Statement(s): Addressing information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and/or describing experiences you’ve had engaginw tih ideas you disagreed with
• Optional Addenda: Talk about economic, social, and/or personal background, their undergraduate performance, or their standardized test performance

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt is another 16th-place law school. Its application requirements are as follows: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.9
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 170
• A Personal Statement: Introduce yourself to the admissions committee
• Letters of Recommendation: At least two letters are required, preferably from academic faculty
• Optional Admissions Interview: All applicants are encouraged to schedule an in-person interview

The University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is the 20th best law school and requires these materials from applicants:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.87
• LSAT/GRE scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 168
• An Admission Essay: A brief personal statement
• A Resume: Detailing your education, employment, skills, honors, awards, and accomplishments
• Letters of Recommendation: At least two letters are required, preferably written by professors, employers, or others who can attest to your potential

Washington University in St. Louis

This law school is tied for the 20th best in the nation! Applicants must submit the following to apply to WashU’s JD program:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.94
• LSAT/ GRE scores: the median accepted LSAT score is 172
• A Personal Statement: Two to three double-spaced pages long
• A Resume: Highlights relevant experiences
• Letters of Recommendation: At least two are required, preferably from academic mentors
• Optional Addenda: Regarding diversity, financial need, experiences, and grades

Brigham Young University (Clark)

The 22nd-best law school in the nation is Brigham Young University. BYU is associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and requires applicants to submit these materials:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.92
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 168
• A Personal Statement: Two double-spaced pages long
• A Resume: One page long 
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required from professors
• Optional Essay: One page describing how your background will help you contribute to BYU Law

Ohio State University (Moritz)

Coming in 22nd place as well, Ohio State University requires the following application materials:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.86
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 164
• A Personal Statement: Generally one two to three pages, double-spaced
• A Resume: Generally one to three pages long
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required, preferably written by academic faculty
• Optional Essays: Includes a diversity essay, an essay on leadership potential/experience, and a commitment to public interest/service essay

The University of Florida (Levin)

Tied for 22nd in the nation, the University of Florida may not have made the top 20, but it’s known for producing successful lawyers. These are the application requirements:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.9
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 169
• A Personal Statement: Must not exceed four double-spaced pages describing who you are and why you want to pursue law
• A Resume: Should detail awards, work or volunteer experience, publications, and/or foreign language proficiency
• Letters of Recommendation: One to four letters are required, with at least one coming from someone who can directly attest to your academic abilities
• Optional “Why UF” Statement: Further explain why you chose UF 
• Diversity, Inclusion, and/or Need Statements: Up to two double-spaced pages explaining how you’d foster a more inclusive and diverse community
• Optional Addenda: Explains anything you want to elaborate on further in your application

The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina is also ranked 22nd in the nation. UNC asks prospective students to submit the following as part of their applications:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.77
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 166
• A Personal Statement: You must discuss why you want to become a legal professional, why you think you’re ready for the demands of the profession, and why you chose UNC – it shouldn’t exceed four pages
• A Resume: Can be up to three pages long
• Letters of Recommendation: Two to three letters are required; at least one should be from a professor
• Supplemental Application: Determines your residency for tuition purposes

Wake Forest University

The final law school that ranks 22nd in the nation is Wake Forest University. These are the application requirements: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.72
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 165
• A Personal Statement: Introduces you to the admissions committee
• Imagining Your Future Statement: Describes how you imagine your future at Wake Forest 
• A Resume: Details your accomplishments and experiences
• Letters of Recommendation: One to two letters are required, with at least one from an academic mentor
• Optional Statement: Further explaining your interest in Wake Forest Law
• Optional Addenda: Explains weaker parts of your application if needed

Boston University

Boston University is the 27th-best law school in the nation. These are the requirements to apply to its School of Law:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.84
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 170
• A Personal Statement: Two double-spaced pages discussing the experiences that contributed to your decision to study law
• A Resume: No required length
• Letters of Recommendation: At least two letters are required, ideally from academic mentors
• Optional Essay: Describing your experience with and knowledge of bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism
• Optional Scholarship Essay: Highlight your commitment to antiracism
• Optional Addenda: Approximately a paragraph or two giving context to certain aspects of your application

The University of Notre Dame

In 27th place as well, these are the University of Notre Dame’s application requirements:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.81
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT is 168
• A Personal Statement: Should be no more than two double-spaced pages 
• A Resume: Typically one to two pages long
• Letters of Recommendation: Two to four letters are required, but it’s suggested to only submit two written by academic instructors
• Optional “Why Notre Dame” Statement: Should be no more than two double-spaced pages
• Optional “Different Kind of Lawyer” Statement: Should be no longer than two double-spaced pages, explaining why you’re unique and what you hope to achieve in the future

Boston College

Boston College is the 29th best law school in the U.S. These are its application requirements: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.74
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 166
• A Personal Statement: Up to three pages, double-spaced
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required, with at least one from a professor
• Optional Addendum: Explain low LSAT scores or a low GPA if needed

Fordham University

Fordham University is another school that ranks 29th. To apply to this law school, students must submit the following:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.72
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 167
• A Personal Statement: Shouldn’t exceed two double-spaced pages
• A Resume: One page is preferred, but it may be longer if needed
• Letters of Recommendation: At least two letters are required, ideally from professors
• Optional Statement: Explains your interest in Fordham
• Optional Addenda: Explains weaknesses in your application if needed

Texas A&M University 

Texas A&M University is tied with Boston College and Fordham for 29th place. These are the university’s application requirements: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.93
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 164
• A Personal Statement: A typed, double-spaced personal statement not exceeding two pages – there’s no specific prompt or format 
• A Resume: Include details about your education, honor societies, military service, extracurriculars, service, honors/awards, publications, foreign language proficiencies, and any other achievements
  Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation, ideally from present/previous professors and supervisors 

Arizona State University (O’Connor)

The 32nd best law school is Arizona State University. This law school’s application process involves submitting the following:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.85
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 167
• A Personal Statement: Should be no more than two pages, double-spaced
• A Resume: Should be no more than two pages
• Optional Letters of Recommendation: You may submit up to two letters
• Optional Inclusive Excellence Statement: Should be no more than one page, double-spaced
• Optional Addenda: Should be no more than one page, double-spaced
• Optional Elevator Pitch: A 30-second video summarizing yourself and demonstarting your communication skills

George Mason University (Scalia)

While George Mason ties for 32nd overall as a law school, it has the fourth-best part-time law program in the nation! Here are the application requirements to apply:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.83
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 166
• A Personal Statement: Shouldn’t exceed two pages, double-spaced
• A Resume: No page, format, or content limits 
• Letters of Recommendation: Only one letter is required and should be written by an academic faculty member
• A Mason Statement: A two-page statement explaining why you chose George Mason

The University of Utah (Quinney)

Tying for 32nd place as well is the University of Utah. This school requires the following application materials: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.87
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 163
• A Personal Statement: Should be no longer than two pages, double-spaced
• A Resume: Details relevant experience
• Letters of Recommendation: At least one letter is required, preferably from an academic source
• Optional Leadership Statement: Outlines your philosophy and experience with leadership
• Optional Life Perspective Statement: Outlines your unique perspectives and experiences
• Optional Addenda: Outlines optional explanations about your application materials

Emory University

Emory University is the country’s 35th-best law school. Here’s what it takes to gain admission to Emory:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.8
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 168
• A Personal Statement: Shouldn’t exceed two pages, double-spaced
• A Resume: One to two pages in length
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters, ideally from professors
• Optional Addendums: Provides clarification on parts of your application

George Washington University

Tied for 35th place is George Washington University. To complete the GW application, you must submit:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.84
• LSAT, GRE, or GMAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 168
• A Personal Statement: Shouldn’t exceed two double-spaced pages
• Letters of Recommendation: At least one letter is required and should be written by an academic faculty member
• Optional Identity Statement: Discuss characteristics and accomplishments that will contribute positively to the GW Law community
• Optional Addenda: Short statements explaining lower scores if needed

The University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is another law school that ranks 35th in the nation. This law school’s application requirements are:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.95
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT Score is 166
• A Personal Statement: Should be two pages, double-spaced
• A Resume: Details relevant work, volunteer, and academic experience
• Letters of Recommendation: One to two letters are required, with at least one from an academic mentor

University of California - Irvine

UC Irvine also ranks 35th and has the following prereqs for law school admissions:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.72
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 167
• A Personal Statement: Has a 750-word limit
• A Resume: Must be updated and include all relevant experience and accomplishments
• A “Why UCI Law” Statement: Has a 750-word limit
• Letters of Recommendation: Two or three letters are required, preferably from academic sources
• Optional Inclusive Excellence Essay: Has a 500-word limit
• Optional Addenda: Discuss low GPA or LSAT scores, with a 500-word limit

The University of Iowa

Also ranked 35th is the University of Iowa. To apply to this law school, students need the following:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.66
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 163
• A Personal Statement: Describing background and past experiences that have contributed to your decision to pursue law
• Letters of Recommendation: At least two letters are required, ideally written by professors

The University of Kansas 

Claiming the 40th spot is the University of Kansas School of Law. The school’s application requirements are as follows: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.73
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 158
• A Personal Statement: Your personal statement must be two to three pages long, double-spaced
• A Resume: Must include your educational/work/extracurricular experiences
• Letters of Recommendation: At least one letter should come from a professor (if you graduated less than three years ago) – you must provide at least two letters
• Optional Kansas Statement: Explain your interest/connection to Kansas or the University of Kansas 
• Optional Diversity Statement: Share the life experiences or personal characteristics that would contribute to the school’s diversity 
• Optional Addendum: Share additional information about your academic record if needed

The University of Wisconsin - Madison

The University of Wisconsin ranks 40th as well and has these admission requirements: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.73
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 165
• A Personal Statement: Express your interest in law 
• A Resume: Showcase your work and volunteer experience
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required, with at least one coming from an academic mentor
• Optional Addenda: Give context about parts of your application

Washington and Lee University

Another law school that ranks 40th is Washington and Lee University. Here’s what it takes to get into this school:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.66
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 164
• A Personal Statement: Should focus on what makes you unique
• Letters of Recommendation: One to four letters are required – at least one should come from a professor
• Optional Ethical Dilemma Essay: You’ll write about an ethical dilemma in 500 words or less

The University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign

The 43rd-best law school is the University of Illinois. This law school expects all its applicants to submit the following to be considered for admission:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.71
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 166
• A Personal Statement: Should focus on a personal attribute or experience
• A Resume: List your educational history, extracurricular activities, community and volunteer activities, and work experience
• Letters of Recommendation: Two to four letters are required, preferably from an expert in a relevant academic or professional field

Villanova University (Widger) 

Tied for 43rd best law school is Villanova University. The school requires applicants to submit the following materials: 

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.76
• An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 163
• A Personal Statement: Must not exceed three pages – you can write about any topic
• A Resume: No format or length requirements listed
• Letters of Recommendation: One letter is required but two to four letters are strongly encouraged
• Optional Essays: Candidates are encouraged to write an essay (no longer than 2 pages) expressing their qualifications, talents, perspectives, and goals

Indiana University - Bloomington (Maurer)

The 45th-best law school is Indiana University. This law school requires its prospective students to submit the following:

• Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.81
• LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 164
• A Personal Statement: Should be two to three pages long and explain your motivation to join Indiana University
• A Resume: Outline your professional and volunteer experience, accomplishments, and other important information
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required, ideally written by professors
• Optional Addenda: Explain the circumstances surrounding low scores or a low GPA

Ensure you take note of the application requirements, set a target LSAT score, and begin preparing your application as early as possible! 

Try out our Law School Admissions Predictor to learn your odds of getting accepted into your target schools!

FAQs: Law School Application Requirements

For any remaining questions about admission requirements for law schools, read on to find your answers:

1. What Are the Requirements for Law School in the U.S.?

Requirements for law school often include completing an undergraduate degree with a high GPA, LSAT or GRE scores, a personal statement, a resume, and several letters of recommendation from academic sources. 

2. What Is the Easiest Law School to Get Into?

Law schools with lower rankings are generally the easiest to get into. These law schools typically have a high acceptance rate and lower GPA and LSAT requirements, such as the Southern University Law Center. This law school has a 59.7% acceptance rate, a median LSAT score of 146, and a median GPA of 3.16. 

3. What Is the Hardest Law School to Get Into?

Yale School of Law is the hardest law school to get into, with a 6% acceptance rate. 

4. How Long Should My Personal Statement Be?

Most law schools ask applicants to limit their personal statements to two to four pages. 

5. Do Law Schools Ask for Resumes?

Most law schools ask for resumes to learn about your experience, skills, and abilities.

6. Do I Need Work Experience for Law School? 

Many law schools tend to prefer applicants with work experience, but it’s only one component of your application. Candidates with extensive volunteer and extracurricular experiences may be able to use these to make up for lack of work experience. In short, work experience isn’t necessarily a requirement to go to law school. 

7. What GPA is Required for Law School? 

Although most law schools don’t list cutoffs, the GPAs of admitted students at the country’s top law schools tend to be at or higher than 3.7. 

8. Are There Prerequisite Courses for Law School? 

There are no required courses you must take to apply to law school. 

9. Do You Have to Go to College Before Law School? 

Yes, law schools require applicants to complete college before enrolling. 

10. Do You Need a Bachelor to Go to Law School? 

Yes, you need a bachelor’s degree to attend law school. 

11. Which Test Should I Take to Get Into Law School? 

Depending on the school you’re applying to, you can take the LSAT or GRE. Which test you take is ultimately up to you and which schools you’re applying to. 

12. Is It Hard to Get Into Law School? 

This depends on the school you’re applying to, but it is generally difficult to get into law school. You’ll need a strong application that exceeds all the requirements.

13. Can You Go To Law School With Any Degree? 

While you need a bachelor’s degree for law school, you can take almost any major. Choose a major that suits your skills and interests to ensure that your grades are top-notch. 

Final Thoughts

After going over this comprehensive guide of general and the top 45 law school application requirements, you should know exactly what you need to apply to your top choices! Good luck!