Law School Application Materials

Application Requirements

To meet the requirements to apply to Law School, you must know what each school requires. Please review the list below for the most common application materials.

Personal Statement

Personal statements are a persuasive essay intended to develop a full picture of who you are. They are vital to share a student’s story, highlight their suitability for a legal education, and provide evidence for how their presence can contribute to the campus community. It is recommended that students customize each personal statement to include specific Law School information by institution and discuss their appreciation for the law from the lens of each institution.

Help with Personal Statements is available at WSU’s Undergraduate Writing Center.

Law School Resume

Law School resumes are a way to highlight your abilities, critical thinking experience, team work, public speaking, achievements or awards and other skillsets to speak to your character. Including interests and hobbies is recommended to showcase your personality.  

Help with your Law School Resume is available at WSU’s Academic Success and Career Center.

Letters of Recommendation

The number of letters of recommendation vary by institution. Instructors are preferred authors as they are familiar with your academic work and capabilities. Select authors that can highlight your personal statement and resume content so the admissions team can envision how you will fit into their academic community. Attending office hours to develop relationships with your instructors is encouraged.

Law School Admissions Test

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and results range from 120-180. The LSAT is administered at a Prometric Test Center and the nearest location to WSU is in Spokane, WA. Please visit the LSAC website for rates and locations. The LSAT can be retaken, and the LSAC website and Credential Assembly Service (CAS) will provide all results for five years.

University and College Transcripts

Applicants are required to submit their official transcripts as part of the law school application process. Grades provide a clear and concise overview of an applicant’s academic history, making it easier for Law Schools to evaluate their academic performance and potential. 

NOTE: ALL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED (including community college and dual credit or Running Start credit).  Through your Credential Assembly Service account, LSAC will submit all transcripts to the law schools you apply to. They will also combine all the UNDERGRADUATE classes you took from all the institutions to make up your LSAC GPA.

Any graduate coursework you took will NOT be considered in the LSAC GPA but will be shared with the law schools.

Supplemental Materials

Some Law Schools will request additional information, and students will need to read all instructions of each institution carefully to ensure a complete application. Additional information may include Character and Fitness Disclosure to address academic probation, criminal charges, or legal issues / Diversity Statement / Why this Law School essay / Addenda (Brief explanations for LSAT score discrepancies, low undergraduate Grade Point Average explanation of mitigating circumstances).