Our Application Process
Here’s what you need to know about applying to our academic programs.
Questions?
The Office of Admissions is available Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for appointments by phone and video meetings.
Apply Through LSAC
Note: All admission decisions are final. Appeals will not be considered.
Admission to the J.D. Program
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The Juris Doctor Program
The J.D. Program at the University at Buffalo School of Law is a three-year, full-time program designed to prepare students for a successful legal career. To be eligible for the Juris Doctor program, applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or its international equivalent) and are required to take either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
What does our ideal J.D. candidate look like?
Our admission process is selective and based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria. In addition to your LSAT score and your undergraduate grade point average (GPA), the Admissions Committee considers other non-numerical factors in reaching decisions. These factors include:
- Achievement or activities that indicate a high level of probability of scholastic excellence and intellectual contributions while in law school;
- Achievements or activities emanating from work, life experience or community service that indicate a potential for contributing to the enrichment of the law school;
- Special factors in your academic background that may have affected your academic career, including discrimination based on race, creed, gender, disability or national origin, and economic or social impediments.
The School of Law is committed to a nondiscriminatory admission policy and philosophy. We welcome applications from all people without regard to race, age, gender, disability, religion, national origin, family status or sexual orientation.
The Application Review Process
The Admissions Committee uses a rolling admission process. Applications are put into review with the Admissions Committee as they become complete, and decisions are usually made within four to six weeks. It is essential to make sure you have submitted all required documents. Incomplete applications will not go into review with the Admissions Committee.
Applying Early Decision
If you have identified UB School of Law as a definite first choice, you may consider applying via our Early Decision process. If you apply Early Decision, you are committing to enrolling if admitted. Learn more about the Early Decision process with our Early Decision FAQ’s.
Applicants interested in Early Decision must submit a complete application by Nov. 15. The School of Law will complete the review process and render decisions by Dec. 15.
Successful Early Decision candidates must submit a seat deposit by the date noted within their offer letter. Additionally, they may not initiate any new law school applications, must decline any other law school acceptance(s), and must immediately withdraw any pending law school applications. Failure to honor these commitments will result in the UB School of Law revoking its offer of admission.
Applying Regular Decision
While we suggest applying by March 1, we welcome applications beyond this date and accept the June LSAT. All regular decision applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants opting to take the GRE in lieu of the LSAT should sit for the test no later than June 15 of the year they plan to matriculate.
Application Requirements
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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 between the 25th percentile and 75th percentile of our most recent entering three-year JD class.
- Learn about our LSAT Prep Workshops and Practice Test events.
It is important for you to perform to the best of your ability; thus, we encourage prospective applicants to prepare at least three months prior to taking the LSAT. To prepare, it is important to simulate the testing conditions you will have on the day of the exam.
NEED TO KNOW
The June LSAT is the latest score that can be considered for fall admission. Applicants opting to take the GRE in lieu of the LSAT should sit for the test no later than June 15 of the year they plan to matriculate. However, we strongly encourage you to take the LSAT or GRE early in the admissions cycle. The School of Law will accept LSAT/GRE scores from tests taken within the preceding five years.
It is important for you to perform to the best of your ability, thus we encourage prospective applicants to prepare at least three months prior to taking the LSAT or GRE. To prepare, it is important to simulate the testing conditions you will have on the day of the exam.
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 opting to take the GRE in lieu of the LSAT should sit for the test no later than June 15 of the year they plan to matriculate. However, we strongly recommend taking the GRE early in the admissions cycle. The School of Law will accept GRE scores from tests taken within the preceding five years.
To maximize your performance on the GRE, we encourage prospective applicants to prepare at least three months prior to the exam. To prepare, it is important to simulate the testing conditions you will have on the day of the exam.
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency by taking a test that assesses the applicant’s English language Proficiency. A variety of test options are available, including:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a minimum score of 80 is required.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS), a minimum overall score band must be at least 7.0.
Applicants are required to register for and provide scores from only one test, meeting the minimum score requirements. Test scores must be dated within two years of prospective enrollment at the School of Law.
Note
An exemption for this requirement is automatically granted to students who are citizens of, and who were educated in the English medium from Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, eSwatini (Swaziland), Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Waivers are submitted to the University’s Office of International Admissions. There is no guarantee that waiver requests will be approved. Please contact the Office of Admissions at law-admissions@buffalo.edu for more information about English proficiency waiver.
The Admissions Committee takes a broad view of law school 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.
NEED TO KNOW
Transcripts from ALL undergraduate and graduate institutions attended must be submitted to LSAC. Your application will not be released to us without all required transcripts. Failure to submit all of the transcripts will delay application processing.
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.
NEED TO KNOW
Two to three letters are recommended, but only one letter is required to complete your file. The Admissions Committee will accept up to four letters.
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.
Character and Fitness
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.
Important Note: Admission to the University at Buffalo School of Law is based on our judgment of your ability to successfully complete a course of legal study. However, neither admission to nor graduation from UB School of Law constitutes a judgment that you are eligible for admission to practice law; that is a decision for state bar authorities, not law schools. A criminal record can be an obstacle for bar admission. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are eligible for admission to the bar, and we encourage you to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which you intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Application Fee
A nonrefundable application fee of $85 is required. Individuals facing economic hardship can seek an application fee waiver by sending a request to law-admissions@buffalo.edu before submitting the application. The School of Law cannot waive LSAC fees, however. Explore LSAC’s Fee Waiver Programs and Services for eligibility criteria and application details.
Post-Admission
Successful applicants may be asked to declare their criminal history, including any prior felony conviction(s), post-admission, if and when they seek campus housing or apply to participate in certain other activities that require such checks (i.e. study abroad programs and experiential courses that involve working at outside organizations or in settings that require criminal background checks). Certain responses could, but not necessarily, impact ones' ability to pursue the aforementioned opportunities.