Requirements Checklist

Further Related Information

Application

Applications should be filed no later than March 15 for the following fall semester. The College of Law has a "rolling" admission process that begins in September, and applicants are urged to apply as early as possible. People who apply before January 1 often find they have a competitive advantage. Acceptance to the College of Law is valid only for the entering class for which application was made. However, applicants who, for good cause, discover they cannot enroll with their entering class may request a deferment, in writing, of their admission for one year. Deferment is granted on a case-by-case basis. If a deferment is granted, the applicant may enroll the following year after filing a new application for the year of entrance.

LSAT Score(s)

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day standardized test required for admission to the University of Illinois College of Law. It provides a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use as one of several factors in assessing applicants. The test is administered four times a year at hundreds of locations around the world.

To take the test, contact Law Services at Box 2001, Newtown, PA 18940; (215) 968-1001 or visit the Law School Admission Council's website at www.lsac.org. This site includes information about the test and gives the dates and places where the test will be administered. You may register for both the LSAT test and the Law School Data Assembly Service using the same online application form.

We encourage our applicants to take the LSAT by December for admission the following fall. However, taking the test earlier — in June or October — is often advised.

The College of Law will not accept test scores that are more than four years old from anticipated date of enrollment.

Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS)

The University of Illinois College of Law requires that all U.S. applicants register for the Law School Data Assembly Service (Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS)).

The Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS) provides a means of centralizing and standardizing undergraduate academic records to simplify the law school admission process. You must have an official transcript sent directly to Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS) from each college or university attended. The service will analyze the transcript(s) and send a summary to the College of Law. The report contains information that is important in the law school admission process. Your report will include:

  • An undergraduate academic summary
  • Copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and law/professional school transcripts
  • LSAT scores and writing sample copies
  • Copies of letters of recommendation processed by LSAC

If you meet certain criteria, you may qualify for an Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS) fee waiver.

Transcript

If admitted, a student will be asked to submit a final official transcript directly to the College of Law as evidence of graduation. The transcript sent to LSAC cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

Personal Statement

The personal statement requested as part of the application is an opportunity for applicants to introduce themselves to members of the Admissions Committee. The statement is a significant part of the application, as the Committee evaluates applicants in many areas beyond test scores and grade point averages. Applicants should feel free to discuss any of the following areas: education, background, significant obstacles that have been overcome, community involvement, strengths and weaknesses in certain courses or activities, personal and professional goals, significant achievements, and any other information that may be relevant to the admission decision, including information demonstrating the unique contribution an applicant can make to the College of Law. The personal statement should be no longer than two typed, double-spaced pages (approximately 600 words).

Résumé

A résumé is required with the application. The résumé should detail your educational background, honors and activities (including extracurricular involvement, volunteer experience, leadership positions, etc.), and work experience (including summer and permanent employment). References are not required as part of the résumé.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation should provide the Admissions Committee with an appraisal of an applicant's character, maturity, motivation, and scholarly ability. An applicant's most useful recommendations are from those individuals who can offer sound judgments about the prospective student's qualifications for the study of law. These letters are of particular value when they come from a former or current instructor. Applicants who have been away from their graduate or undergraduate institutions for some time may substitute recommendations from employers. Applicants often believe that their prospects for admission are greater if they solicit letters of recommendation from judges or public figures. Many of these recommenders, however, have only a passing knowledge of the applicant and submit recommendations of little value. Letters of recommendation should be sent through the LSAC letter of recommendation service.

Application Fee

There is a nonrefundable application fee of $75 for U.S. citizens, $85 for non U.S. citizens. The fee must be submitted with the application.

Additional Requirements for International Students

International students applying for admission to the J.D. program are required to meet additional admission requirements. The College of Law requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS) subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS) report. If we determine that you need to submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the JD Credential Assembly Service is 0058. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your Credit Assembly Service (CAS) (formerly LSDAS) law school report.

To use the JD CAS, log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.

Questions about the JD Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001, or LSACINFO@LSAC.org.

All applicants whose native language is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate degree at an English-speaking institution are required to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Currently, a minimum score of 600 or 250 on the computer-based score is required for admission. An official TOEFL score report must be included sent to LSAC to be included with your JD CAS report. Their code is 0058. TOEFL scores are valid for two years before the proposed term of entry.

If admitted, applicants from other countries must submit proof of adequate finances for their first year of study. Applicants should request and complete a Declaration and Certification of Finances Form, which is available from the College's Admissions Office. This form must be updated annually as a condition of renewal for the student's I-20 form. Applicants who do not provide satisfactory evidence of adequate finances will not be granted final admission.

International students who have received a law degree from a law school in another nation may apply for admission to pursue the LL.M. degree. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate and International Legal Studies at 217-333-6066 or e-mail at llm@law.uiuc.edu.

Policy of Inclusion

The College of Law fully subscribes to the principles of nondiscrimination. In admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in programs and activities, the College of Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran.

The University of Illinois has led the nation in access for students with disabilities. The physical structures of the campus are fully accessible, and services offered through the Division of Rehabilitation Education Services include a fully equipped physical therapy facility; medical and counseling service; services for the sensory impaired, including adaptive equipment; a prosthetic shop offering wheelchair repairs and the fabrication of adaptive devices; driver training; and the design or modification of mechanical or electronic equipment. For more information, contact the Division of Rehabilitation Education Services, 1207 South Oak, Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 333-1970.

While conviction of a crime does not necessarily bar access to the College of Law, applicants who have been convicted of crimes other than minor traffic violations may wish to consult the bar admission authorities where they intend to practice law. Prospective members of the bar must be deemed to possess high standards of character and moral fitness, and some criminal convictions may pose difficulties. General information about admission to the bar is available from the American Bar Association, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611.

Interviews

The Admissions Office does not interview applicants for the J.D. program. The College of Law does encourage applicants to visit the College to learn more about the school and the admission process. Please contact the College of Law Office of Admissions at (217) 244-6415 or admissions@law.uiuc.edu to arrange a visit.

Readmission

Applicants who have withdrawn from the University of Illinois College of Law in good standing who wish to apply for readmission must file a completed application. If the application is made within one year of withdrawal, the application fee will be waived.