Submitting a Law School Addendum: What Applicants Should Know
Published December 8, 2025
Law school applications should tell a complete story, and context matters. If part of your academic background, standardized test score(s), or professional experience may be misinterpreted without additional explanation, an addendum can help the Admissions Committee evaluate your potential more accurately. These academic, testing, or professional addenda are optional and are submitted at the applicant’s discretion.
This is different from a Character and Fitness (C&F) addendum, which is required whenever there is a “yes” response to questions about academic or disciplinary issues, criminal history, or professional conduct. A C&F addendum is a mandatory disclosure that must provide complete and truthful information.
When optional addenda are used thoughtfully and appropriately, they can strengthen your application by giving the Committee a clearer understanding of your qualifications. Below are guidelines on when and how to submit an optional addendum.
When You Should Consider Writing an Addendum
1. Your LSAT Score Does Not Reflect Your Abilities
Submit an addendum if there is evidence that your test score(s) do not reflect your abilities, or if something specific interfered with your test-day performance.
Appropriate examples include:
- You were ill on the day of the exam or experienced a documented medical issue.
- A personal or family emergency occurred immediately before or during the test.
- You demonstrated significant improvement on a later test.
- You have academically outperformed your historical standardized test indicators.
In your addendum, briefly explain the circumstance and point to clearer indicators of your readiness, such as your academic record, writing abilities, and professional or research experience.
2. Your GPA Needs Additional Context
An academic addendum is helpful if certain parts of your transcript may raise red flags. The purpose is not to justify every grade but to offer concise, factual context.
Appropriate examples include:
- A semester impacted by illness, injury, or a family hardship.
- A transition period early in college that led to low grades, followed by a strong upward trend.
- Multiple withdrawals tied to a specific circumstance rather than academic disengagement.
- A gap in enrollment that requires explanation.
Share what happened, how it affected your academic performance, and what changed afterward. The information should make it easier for the Committee to understand your past and to, hopefully, feel confident in your readiness to pursue a rigorous legal education.
3. Discrepancies or Academic Interruptions
If your application shows inconsistent indicators, a short addendum can help the Committee interpret your record appropriately.
For example:
- A very strong GPA paired with an unusually low test score.
- A large LSAT score discrepancy.
- A semester of weak grades in an otherwise strong academic record.
- Professional, military, or family responsibilities that interrupted your education.
4. A Significant Gap or Oddities in Your Work History
If you have been out of school for more than a year and there is a gap in your work history, a brief addendum can help the Committee understand how you spent that time. Gaps are not necessarily bad. Many applicants take time to relocate, care for family members, travel, etc. An addendum is only necessary when the gap is lengthy enough that the Committee may wonder what occurred during that period.
Appropriate examples include:
- A year or more spent caring for a family member.
- A frequent shift in industries
- A period of unemployment due to relocation, layoffs, or industry changes.
- A period focused on personal recovery or navigating a major life transition.
- A break taken to pursue volunteer work, service programs, or travel.
Make it brief; your task is simply to clarify your timeline for the Committee.
When You Should Not Write an Addendum
Not every minor issue needs an explanation. You do not need an addendum for:
- A single B or C grade, or a poor grade already discussed in your personal or diversity statement.
- Normal grade or insignificant LSAT fluctuations that do not reflect a larger pattern or concern.
- Submitting additional writing samples or supplemental information unless the Committee requests them.
A helpful question to ask yourself is: Will this information help the Committee better understand my potential to succeed in law school? If the answer is no, you likely do not need an addendum.
Tips for Submitting a Strong Addendum
1. Be Clear and Direct
State the situation, describe its impact, and focus on what the Committee needs to understand. Long narratives or overly personal details are unnecessary.
2. Take Responsibility Where Appropriate
If time management, over-commitment, or choices you made contributed to the issue, a brief acknowledgment shows maturity and growth.
3. Be Accurate and Truthful
Your explanation must be accurate and supported by your record. The Committee will review your addendum alongside your other materials, so claims about improvement should match what appears on your transcript. If your grades did not stabilize or strengthen, stating otherwise will weaken your application.
5. Keep It Concise
Most addenda are one to two paragraphs. The goal is clarity, not length. Remember that any addendum you submit also serves as an additional writing sample.
Sample Addenda
Below are examples that reflect the tone, structure, and level of detail that are most helpful to the Committee.
During my first LSAT administration, I experienced significant delays due to issues with the remote proctor. The exam began nearly two hours late while I remained on camera waiting for the problem to be resolved. By the time the test started, I was extremely stressed and had difficulty focusing. I completed the exam, but I do not believe the resulting score reflects my preparation or ability. My subsequent score, taken under normal testing conditions, is a stronger indicator of my potential. I believe my strong academic record and leadership experience also demonstrate my readiness for law school.
During the fall semester of my sophomore year, my grades declined due to a family/medical hardship that required substantial time away from campus. During this period, my father was involved in a chemotherapy trial out of state, and I needed to travel frequently to support him and assist with logistics related to his care. As a result, I had limited time to devote to my coursework. Once his treatment schedule stabilized, my academic performance returned to its previous level, as reflected in my transcripts. I have maintained strong academic progress since that semester and am confident in my ability to meet the demands of law school.
My first semester of college was challenging due to the adjustment to a new academic environment and ineffective study habits. I struggled to balance my coursework with the increased independence and responsibility that came with living away from home for the first time. As the semester progressed, I realized that the strategies that had worked for me in high school were not sufficient for the rigor and pace of college-level work.
Beginning in my second semester, I sought out academic support resources, adopted new study routines, and developed stronger time-management skills. My grades improved each subsequent term, culminating in a strong junior and senior year. This upward trend more accurately reflects my abilities, and I now have established study strategies that support my academic success and readiness for the demands of law school.
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in May 2019, I worked in an entry-level sales position for two years, which provided valuable customer-facing and communication experience. In 2021, I relocated to Buffalo, but the pandemic made securing full-time employment in my field challenging. As my job search continued without success, I used this period to explore alternative career paths and began researching law schools more seriously.
As noted on my résumé, I ultimately accepted a position with a cooperative bakery in 2023, following a 16-month gap in employment. After ten months at the bakery, I was promoted to manager, a role I have held for two years. Working in a cooperative business environment has broadened my understanding of small-business operations and collaborative decision-making. This period allowed me to clarify my professional goals and reaffirm my interest in pursuing a legal education.
A thoughtful addendum can give the Committee the context it needs to understand your academic and professional record. The strongest addenda are factual, concise, and focused on what you learned and how you have matured.
If you have additional questions about addenda or other application components, please contact the Office of Admissions at law-admissions@buffalo.edu.
Submit this form to receive an application fee waiver.
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