September 1, 2012 – J.D. applications become available
November 15, 2012 – Deadline for early decision applicants
January 1, 2013 – Transfer applications become available
April 1, 2013 – J.D. application deadline
May 11, 2013 – Transfer application deadline for those petitioning for journals
July 1, 2013 – Transfer application deadline (non-journal petitioning)
No. However, a score of 630 or higher on the pencil-and-paper test, a score of 267 or higher on the computer-based test, or a score of 109 or higher on the internet-based test is looked upon by the admissions committee positively. Earning these scores does not guarantee admission.
5. How are transfer admission decisions made?
The Admissions Committee is composed of Law School faculty and is dedicated to an objective, sensitive and efficient application review process.
The Committee will carefully analyze the entirety of every applicant's file. This includes a completed application, a personal statement and resume. A letter of good standing, official law school transcript and letter of recommendation from a law school professor should be sent directly to us (or LSAC) from the school/recommender. A completed LSDAS file of undergraduate work and test scores will also be evaluated. While decisions are made based on an overall assessment of all materials, the Admissions Committee is primarily concerned with an applicant's performance during the first year of law school.
The Committee will consider a variety of factors, such as work experience, career goals, extracurricular activities, ability in languages other than English, positions of leadership, community or public service, interest in interdisciplinary study, graduate school experience, racial and ethnic background, unusual life experiences, disability and economic disadvantage. The Committee also may consider factors that contribute to greater diversity in the student body, including but not limited to those set out in the University Equal Opportunity Policy.
for additional information. The difficulty or ease of petitioning tends to depend on the time one dedicates to the process and his or her comfort with the Bluebook. Applicants applying by the journal consideration deadline will be given two weeks for the petition process. All petitioners are evaluated blindly.
Transfer applicants have completed the equivalent of one year of full-time student at another law school.
No. Beginning fall of 2012, incoming students will be required to provide their own laptops for taking exams. Incoming students should visit the following link for additional information on technology purchases for Law School coursework and exams: http://www.law.umn.edu/prospective/student-laptop-program.html.
4. How do I apply for scholarships and what are the criteria for scholarship awards?
All admitted students are reviewed for scholarship award at the time of acceptance. No separate application for scholarship is required.
Scholarships range from $5,000 to full-tuition waivers, good for each of a student's three years.
Applicants are encouraged to pursue scholarships outside of the Law School. A suggested directory is found at
1. Can I visit the Law School?
The University of Minnesota Law School welcomes visits by admitted and prospective students. Admitted students are encouraged to visit the Admitted Student Website or contact the Office of Admissions directly to schedule a visit, and all visitors are encouraged to make an appointment two weeks in advance of their visit.
Prospective students are encouraged to attend one of our information sessions. Each session includes a presentation by a member of the admissions staff, a tour of the Law School guided by a current student, and an opportunity to sit in on a class (approximately 3 hours total).
To register for an information session, please visit
If you are unable to attend one of our information sessions, self-guided tours are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
1. How do I establish residency?
All residency decisions are made by the University of Minnesota Residency Office, not the Law School. Although all residency requests are reviewed by the Residency Office on a case-by-case basis, factors that have been known to help establish residency include:
- Employment and paying taxes in Minnesota
- Owning a home in Minnesota
- A Minnesota driver's license
- Having a spouse or partner also living and working in Minnesota
For questions regarding residency, please contact Kay Anderson in the UMN Residency Office at 612-625-6330 or
k-ande1@umn.edu.
1. What degrees does the Law School offer?
In addition to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, the Law School offers a Masters of Law for foreign lawyers (LL.M.) degree for lawyers outside the United States of America.
Also, numerous dual and joint degrees are offered including:
J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A., J.D./M.A., J.D./M.P.P., J.D./M.B.S., J.D./M.B.T., J.D./M.U.R.P., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D., J.D./M.D., J.D./M.P.H., and J.D./M.H.A.
For information on graduate and professional degrees that are offered at the University of Minnesota and can be pursued concurrently with a J.D., please visit http://www.grad.umn.edu.
1. Do you have on-campus housing for law students or other recommendations?
The only on-campus, University-owned housing for law students is married student housing. However, there are many affordable and convenient housing options for students. Some student apartments are located across the street or within a block or two of the Law School.
For descriptions of the various Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods surrounding the campus, please visit http://www.law.umn.edu/prospective/housing.html
Admitted students will receive a housing guide with detailed housing information and contact information for many local apartments and other housing options.
2. Please tell me more about your Career Center.
The University of Minnesota Law School Career Center is available to admitted students, current students and alumni. It is a full-service center, providing all the tools necessary for career development.
Some highlights of the Career Center:
- Through both fall and spring on-campus interview programs, students have access to local, regional, national, and international law firms, corporations, public agencies, and judicial clerkships.
- The Career Center sponsors a mentor program, linking first-year students with graduates in Minnesota and around the country.
- Graduates of Minnesota serve their clients, employers, and communities in all 50 states and over 40 countries around the world.
- The Career Center has extensive recruiting programs involving employers from all 50 states and around the world who participate in on-campus interviewing, job fairs, and professional affiliations.
- The Career Center sponsors more than 60 career seminars each year to assist students with career planning and implementation of job searches.
- The office also maintains its own library that contains a wide variety of materials to aid students in developing their career plans.
- Employment statistics of recent graduates are available upon request to the Career Center.
For more information and contact details, please visit the Career Center Web site at http://www.law.umn.edu/careers/index.html
1. What are my odds of admission through the Early Admissions Program?
The Admissions Committee considers all applicants on a holistic assessment of the entire application and required materials. Primary consideration is given to academic success (undergraduate GPA, ACT/SAT, coursework, etc.), while the committee also considers a variety of secondary or "soft" factors (personal statement, résumé, letters of recommendation, etc.). For the most recent profile information please visit http://www.law.umn.edu/prospective/profile.html. For more information on MLEAP, visit http://www.law.umn.edu/prospective/mleap.html.
5. Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
As a current undergraduate student, the Admissions Committee requires that letters be from University of Minnesota faculty and/or Pre-Law advisors. Recommenders should be able to adequately and thoughtfully comment on your ability and experience as a successful student, problem solver, work ethic, and ability to work in a team, among other character traits. Please, no more than three (3) recommendations total.
