Apply J.D.

Our admissions process is designed to recruit and enroll an exceptional community of talented and committed students who will succeed in the classroom and in their careers. Our holistic review process seeks students with impressive past academic performance, who will bring a unique perspective to our classrooms. We value intelligence, integrity, leadership, and service and seek students who share these values. Every application to the College receives a careful and thorough review.

We welcome your application and look forward to learning more about you.

Application Fees

For the second year, the College of Law is waiving its application fee for the
Class of 2015!

• J.D. Online Application (Free)

Admissions Timeline

From early decision deadlines to notifications in the Spring, here’s a timeline for the admissions process.

September 15 - October 31	Online applications for Early Decision accepted. Applications must include signed copy of the Early Decision Agreement.
September 15 - March 15	Regular applications for Fall 2012 are accepted.
November 15	Deadline to submit all supporting documents for Early Decision Application.
December	Applicants seeking regular admission for Fall 2012 are encouraged to take LSAT test no later than this month.
December 15	College of Law will notify Early Decision applicants of initial decision.
January	First round of admission notifications mailed out.
January 13	Early Decision Deposit Due
April 20	Regular Decision First Deposit Due
June 1	Regular Decision Second Deposit Due

Application Requirements

All applicants must apply to the College of Law by submitting materials electronically through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) and must register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). We will only accept applications submitted through the LSAC Electronic Application. Please read the Application Instructions included with the LSAC Electronic Application and follow them carefully.

Application requirements include:

• Applicants must provide undergraduate and graduate school transcripts reflecting a complete history of academic performance at ANY and ALL undergraduate programs and/or any graduate schools, regardless of length of attendance at those schools. All transcripts must be submitted and processed through the CAS.

• All applicants (except those applying to iLEAP) are required to take the Law School Admission Test and submit a valid LSAT score. An LSAT score is considered valid if it was received within five years of the date of your application. You must submit all LSAT scores that you have received.

• We require a detailed résumé listing your educational history, extracurricular activities, community and volunteer activities, and all full- or part-time work experience.

• We require two letters of recommendation and will accept up to four. You must submit your letters of recommendation through the CAS Letter of Recommendation Service. In reviewing letters of recommendation, we look for insight into a candidate's academic promise, as well as personal qualities such as intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm, and commitment. Letters of recommendation should come from an expert in a relevant academic or professional field, and the author of the letter should have personal knowledge of the applicant.

• The personal statement is an important part of every application and is your opportunity to demonstrate what you will contribute to our community and in your future professional life. In general, a personal statement with a narrow focus on a personal attribute or experience is far more helpful to the Committee than either a broad statement about the law or a restatement of your résumé.

• The College of Law has an optional essay that invites you to discuss your specific interest in Illinois in 200 words or less by answering the following question: What do you believe the University of Illinois College of Law has to offer to you, and what do you believe you can offer the College of Law?

• All students 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 on the paper-based, 250 on the computer-based score, or 100 on the internet-based test is required for admission. TOEFL scores are valid for two years before the proposed term of entry.

Early Decision Program

The College of Law offers a binding Early Decision (ED) Program for applicants who have already determined that Illinois is their top choice for law school. Applicants may apply binding ED to only one law school and must immediately withdraw all pending applications upon acceptance by the ED law school.

• • ED applicants must take LSAT no later than October of the year in which they plan to apply. June test is preferred.
  • ED applications will be accepted beginning September 1 with an October 31 deadline.
  • Apply online to the College of Law through LSAC and select the early decision option under the "Applying For" section. Applicants will need to complete the supplemental Early Decision form when prompted by the site.
  • Applications must be complete with all supporting documents and Credit Assembly Service (formerly LSDAS) report received no later than November 15.
  • Illinois will notify ED applicants of initial decision no later than December 15. Decisions include:
    • Admit: Applicant withdraws all pending applications and pays deposit to Illinois.
    • Deny: No reconsideration during regular decision process.
    • Hold: Application will be re-evaluated during regular review period (after December 15). If admitted through regular process, applicant is released from enrollment commitment.
  • Admitted ED applicants will be considered for scholarship assistance at the time of their acceptance and without regard to their enrollment obligation.

• After selecting the Early Decision or Regular Decision box on the Application, applicants must also complete the corresponding Early Decision or Regular Decision Agreement form contained in the Application. All applicants must complete the Application regardless of whether they complete the Common Information Form through LSAC.

• Generally, applications are considered ready for review when all components of the Application have been received. If, however, an applicant submits all components of an Application in September but wishes to have the Application “held” until December in order to have the Admissions staff consider additional forthcoming information (a supplemental LSAT score, for example), the file will be considered complete as of the date the additional information is received in the Admissions Office.

• The admissions process involves a careful and extensive review of each applicant’s file. As such, the sole basis for an appeal of an adverse admissions decision would be significant information that was not available at the time the application was originally submitted.

  For the information to be significant, it must materially change the strength of the application. For example, winning a major award would be significant information, while an additional semester of grades would not.

  If an adverse admissions decision is appealed, the determination of whether the information is significant and was not available at the time of application submission shall reside solely with the assistant dean for Admissions and Financial Aid (Admissions Dean). If the admissions dean determines that the submitted information meets these criteria, the admissions dean may either (i) affirm the original decision (if the admissions dean concludes the information does not justify reconsideration of the original decision) or (ii) send the full file to the faculty members of the College of Law Admissions Committee (“Admissions Committee”) without further recommendation. Reversal of the original admissions decision may only be made by a majority vote of the faculty members of the Admissions Committee. Determinations made by the admissions dean and/or the faculty members of the Admissions Committee pursuant to this process are final.

  Appeals must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the adverse decision. A letter stating the rationale for the appeal along with any supporting documentation must be sent to:

  University of Illinois College of Law
  Office of Admissions
  504 East Pennsylvania Avenue
  Champaign, IL 61820
  

Character and Fitness

Applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness, and other qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

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