FAQs: How to Apply
How do I begin the application process?
Before you begin the application process, you will need to set up an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). You will also need to register to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). LSAC provides a helpful checklist for law school applicants.
LSAC has also developed a campaign called DiscoverLaw.org, which provides information for racially and ethnically diverse students on career opportunities in the law and is a great resource for law school applicants. In addition, LSAC has a section for LGBT applicants that can be a valuable source of information.
Where do I obtain the application materials and submit my application?
The Law School utilizes a paperless admissions process and all applicants must apply through LSAC's electronic application. You will obtain all application materials from LSAC and submit them to the Law School electronically through the LSAC website. The Admissions Office does not send out any application forms and will not accept any paper copies of your application materials. Paper materials and updates will not be retained or reviewed and will be discarded.
The LSAC electronic application is fully accessible to the visually impaired. Disabled applicants in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process may complete the application by clicking here or contact the Admissions Office at 773-702-9484 or email admissions@law.uchicago.edu with their request.
What is the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)?
The Law School (and nearly all ABA-approved law schools) requires applicants to register with the CAS for transcript and letter of recommendation processing. We require a copy of your CAS law school report and all transcripts and letters of recommendation must be submitted through CAS. Please review the CAS website for more information about this service.
Is there a minimum LSAT or GPA requirement to apply?
Absolutely not. The Admissions Committee reads every application and gives each applicant serious consideration. While our applicant pool has strong numeric credentials, the non-quantitative components in an application are extremely important and there are no numeric cut-offs. Our admitted applicants have a wide range of GPAs and LSAT scores.
How many applications does the Law School receive?
We receive over 5,000 applications for an entering class of between 190-195.
What if I need to update my application?
The Admissions Committee strongly prefers that you submit all necessary information with your initial application. If it is necessary to update your application, you must email your updated information to the Admissions Office at admissions@law.uchicago.edu. Electronic updates will be uploaded to your file in our electronic database (but you will not see this update on your status checker). If you are sending an updated transcript or an additional letter of recommendation, you must send them through LSAC's CAS. After your online status checker indicates that your application is "Complete", you may no longer submit any additional materials for your file unless (1) additional materials are requested by the Admissions Committee, (2) your update pertains to the Character and Fitness sections of the application, or (3) your update is necessary to ensure that the information you have provided in your application remains truthful and complete.
Please do not send any paper materials or updates to the Admissions Office. Paper materials and updates will not be reviewed or retained and will be discarded.
Does the Law School grant interviews?
We do not conduct personal interviews of all applicants and the Committee will not grant requests for interviews. Occasionally, the Admissions Committee will request an interview from an applicant if the Committee determines it would be helpful to the evaluation of the applicant’s file.
Do you grant fee waivers?
The Law School is happy to honor fee waivers granted by LSAC. If you have received a fee waiver from LSAC, we will automatically waive the application fee. In addition, we will waive the application fee for the following individuals: (1) Teach for America participants and alumni, (2) those currently serving active duty in the U.S. military, U.S. military veterans, and members of the U.S. Reserves and National Guard, and (3) students currently enrolled at the University of Chicago. We typically do not grant individual requests for fee waivers.
How do I obtain my Teach for America, military-based, or University of Chicago current student fee waiver?
If your application fee is waived for one of these reasons, please print the certification letter from the LSAC electronic application, sign it, write on the letter the reason that your fee is waived, and mail the letter to the Admissions Office. If your fee waiver is waived because of your participation in Teach for America, please follow the instructions on this page to submit your Teach for America confirmation.
Who needs to submit the certification letter?
The certification letter is only required for applicants who pay the $75 application fee by check or money order instead of paying electronically. If paying by check or money order, you must print the certification letter from our application materials available from LSAC, sign the letter, include a check payable to the University of Chicago Law School, and mail it to the Admissions Office.
The certification letter is not required for applicants who pay their application fee electronically by credit card - you do not need to print it and send it to the Admissions Office.
What are the language requirements for international students?
The University requires that all applicants who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) subject to the exceptions below. The TOEFL or IELTS must have been taken within two years of the date of the application. Please review the Information for International Students to learn more about the required proficiency levels. Domestic applicants whose native language is not English and who have not attended schools where instruction is in English may also be required to submit an English language test scores.
The TOEFL or IELTS will not be necessary if the applicant studied in full-time status for a least one academic year, within five years previous to the date of his or her application, in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or English medium universities in Canada or South Africa. Students who have studied in English in other countries are not exempt from this requirement and must provide either TOEFL or IELTS scores with their applications.