Application Procedure

J.D. Application Deadlines

The Law School admits one entering class each year for courses beginning in late August. The application deadline is April 1, but applicants are encouraged to submit all required materials as early as September 1, since applications are considered on a rolling basis. Late applications will be considered upon written petition. The Admissions Committee acts only on complete applications that contain all of the required components.

Early Action Option

If an applicant wishes to be considered for Early Action, an application and all supporting materials must be postmarked or submitted online by November 15. An LSDAS report including two letters of recommendation (see below) needs to be ready for distribution by November 20. Applicants who meet these criteria are automatically considered for early action. The Admissions Committee will mail decisions (admit, deny, or waitlist) by January 15. The evaluation process and criteria are the same for Early Action as for regular deadline applicants.

Early Decision Option

Candidates who have researched law programs and have determined that the University of Minnesota is the best choice may submit an application to the Early Decision Program. Applicants to the University of Minnesota’s Binding Early Decision Program commit themselves to matriculating at Minnesota if admitted pursuant to the Early Decision Program. An applicant to the Early Decision Program may not be an Early Decision candidate at any other school during the same admissions cycle. An Early Decision applicant may apply to other law schools on a non-binding basis, but once admitted to the University of Minnesota as an Early Decision candidate, the applicant must notify the other programs and immediately withdraw all other law school applications. No new law school applications may be initiated. The University of Minnesota reserves the right to provide other law schools with the names of applicants admitted to the University of Minnesota under the binding Early Decision Program. The application deadline for Early Decision is November 15. The Admissions Committee will mail decisions (admit or deny) by December 1.

Application Components and Procedure:

Law School Admission Test

Applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT score is considered current for four years. The LSAT requirement will not be waived for any applicant. Foreign students also must have completed a post-secondary degree at an English-speaking institution OR must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For more information, visit www.toefl.org

Registration with Law School Data Assembly Service

All applicants must first register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). The service will act as a repository for academic transcripts, testing scores, and letters of recommendation. LSDAS will summarize your transcripts and send them to each law school to which you apply.

Register with the LSDAS online at www.lsac.org, or contact:

Application Form

The application form is available electronically on the University of Minnesota Law School application page, or on the Law School Admissions Council Web site at www.lsac.org. The form must be completed in its entirety, signed, and submitted to the University of Minnesota Law School Admissions Office. We strongly recommend that applicants submit their applications online.

Application Fee

All applicants must submit a $75 nonrefundable credentials examination fee with the application form. For electronic applications, the fee may be paid by credit card. For all other applications, please include a check or money order (drawn on a U.S. bank) payable to the University of Minnesota Law School.

Applicants who cannot afford to pay the fee may request a fee waiver by obtaining a fee waiver request form from the admissions office and sending the form to the University of Minnesota Law School. If possible, include a letter from a financial aid officer or a copy of recent tax returns to support the financial need.

Transcripts

Once registered with LSDAS, applicants then must contact every previous college or university attended (even if a degree was not earned), and request that the institution send a transcript directly to LSDAS.

Universities and other educational institutions should send transcripts to:

For in-progress undergraduate degrees, applicants must submit a final, official transcript from their undergraduate institution upon graduation, indicating proof of degree. This transcript should be sent directly from the undergraduate institution to the University of Minnesota Law School Admissions Office. The transcript must be received by the Admissions Office prior to the first day of orientation in August.

International Applicants or Foreign Transcripts

If postsecondary work is completed in a location other than the United States, a U.S. Territory or Canada, the University of Minnesota Law School requires that foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC J.D. Credential Assembly Service (JDCAS). This service is included in the LSDAS subscription fee. To use the JDCAS, simply log in to your LSAC online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service.

Please note: Most U.S. students who study abroad as part of exchange programs sponsored by U.S. or Canadian institutions do not need to submit a foreign transcript to JDCAS.

Since more time is usually needed to obtain foreign transcripts, be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form and send it promptly to each institution. This form can be printed from the JDCAS Web site. Questions about the J.D. Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215-968-1001, or lsacinfo@lsac.org.

A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the evaluation will be incorporated into your LSDAS report.

Unless you have received a formal education at an English-speaking institution, you will also need to submit a TOEFL score. The Law School requires no minimum TOEFL score for admission. You must contact the Educational Testing Service and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC, using the code for the JD Credential Assembly Service (0058). Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your LSDAS law school report.

Other required materials

Personal Statement

The varied backgrounds and exceptional talents of our students contribute tremendously to the quality of the education at the University of Minnesota Law School. Through the personal statement, the Admissions Committee seeks insight into the abilities, motivation and experiences of an applicant, as well as an assessment of writing ability. An applicant's personal statement also should explain why he or she wishes to obtain a law degree at the University of Minnesota.

Résumé

Applicants should include a detailed résumé with their application. The résumé should contain work history during college and since college graduation, including paid and unpaid employment. Please indicate whether the employment was during an academic term.

Resumes should also include:

• Any academic or professional honors, prizes or recognition received
• Name and location of each employer, dates of employment and hours worked per week
• Brief description of each job's duties, and reason for leaving
• Extracurricular activities and community service, including the extent of involvement in and contribution to such activities
• Hobbies and other special interests, abilities, or accomplishments.

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required with an application. The letter of recommendation form may be photocopied as many times as necessary.

The letters should be from persons in an academic setting who are personally familiar with an applicant’s work and can attest to his or her ability to enter a competitive professional program. If an applicant has been out of college for more than two years, letters from an employer may be submitted instead. Letters from family friends or personal acquaintances are discouraged.

The Law School recommends that letters be submitted through the LSAC letter of recommendation service, which is included in your LSDAS registration subscription. To use this service, follow the directions outlined at www.lsac.org.

References who wish to write about your qualifications for the University of Minnesota Law School specifically may send a letter directly to the U of M Admissions Office (address above) accompanied by the form located with the application form. Such letters must be sent directly by the author of the letter to the Law School; letters sent by applicants will not be accepted, even if presented in a sealed envelope.