Law School Application Materials
Application Requirements
To meet the requirements to apply to law school, you must research individual institutions. The list below provides information for 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.
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, teamwork, 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
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. The LSAT can be retaken five times, and the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) will retain your results for five years. Please visit the LSAC website for more information.
University and College Transcripts
Applicants are required to submit their official transcripts to 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 for credit earned including community college, dual credit, or running start credit are weighted into a LSAC GPA.
Supplemental Materials
Law schools may 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, legal issues, diversity statement, why this law school essay, or addenda (Addenda examples: brief explanations for LSAT score discrepancies, or low undergraduate grade point average explanation of mitigating circumstances).