Admissions Requirements

The LSAT is administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). The School of Law does not have a minimum score. We typically admit students within the same range from year to year, with some variation. Visit our J.D. Class Profile to review the range of scores for our most recent entering class.

• Learn about our LSAT Prep Workshops and Practice Test events.
• LSAC's LawHub is an excellent resource for prospective law school applicants. Learn more at LawHub.org.

The GRE is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The School of Law does not set minimum scores for any of the GRE General Test sections, nor do we place more weight on a particular test section score.

Considering taking the GRE? We recommend you review our GRE Frequently Asked Questions.

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum TOEFL score of 90 is required. The IELTS overall score band must be at least 7.0. Test scores must be dated within two years of prospective enrollment at the School of Law.

The Admissions Committee takes a broad view of undergraduate performance. We evaluate your transcript based on courses taken, increasing level of difficulty and academic rigor of the course of study.  While the academic reputation of the institution is considered, it is not weighed as heavily as the student’s academic performance. The Admissions Committee will accept addenda to your application that explain any anomalies in your academic performance. If you experienced an unexpected event that resulted in an inconsistent academic performance, consider providing a one-page explanation to the Admissions Committee.

Letters of recommendation help to complete the academic profile of each applicant. We highly encourage applicants ask faculty members to write these letters. Recommendations should stress your ability to think and write critically, analyze large volumes of text, and address your level of responsibility in the classroom. The Admissions Committee highly values letters from faculty members, former employers or colleagues who know you well.  

If you are returning to the academic environment after some time away, letters of recommendation from employers are acceptable. Encourage them to stress your academic ability as much as your professional skills.

Personal recommendations (e.g. letters from family, friends, members of the clergy, politicians, etc.) are strongly discouraged. Their comments are not useful in evaluating your academic qualifications.

The Admissions Committee uses the personal statement to learn about each applicant. We are particularly interested in knowing what motivates you to pursue a law degree. We are also interested in learning about your life experiences, family background, academic experiences and academic accomplishments that make you uniquely qualified to pursue a J.D. The personal statement should also be an excellent example of your writing skills. Ideally, your personal statement should be tailored to the School of Law.  It should not exceed two pages, double-spaced, 12-point font.

All applicants are required to submit a résumé listing employment, extracurricular and/or public-service activities, honors, awards, and special interests related to your academic career to date.

The nonrefundable application fee is $85. Applicants who are economically disadvantaged may request an application fee waiver. Please submit the request to law-admissions@buffalo.edu prior to completing the application. If you have been granted an LSAC fee waiver, UB School of Law's application fee is automatically waived.

Pursuant to policy established by the State University of New York (SUNY), the University at Buffalo School of Law does not make inquiries into the criminal records of applicants for purposes of admission.