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Students may apply to be part of the Fall 2015 entering J.D. Class on September 2, 2014.

The Admissions Committee makes admissions decisions on a rolling basis and recommends applying as early in the process as possible.

The University of Nebraska College of Law does not participate in a binding Early Action/Early Decision program.

Admissions Policy

In making admission decisions, the Admissions Committee attempts to identify as best it can those applicants who have the ability to compete successfully in a rigorous academic environment, to contribute to a diverse intellectual community, and to engage successfully in the career of their choice in an increasingly diverse society. Because these characteristics are not always captured by an applicant’s LSAT score or overall grade point average, the Committee considers any upward or downward trend in the applicant’s academic performance over time, the quality of the applicant’s undergraduate institution, the applicant’s major and activities, letters of recommendation, personal statement, educational or economic disadvantages the applicant has overcome to obtain an undergraduate education, status as the first generation in a family to graduate from college or university or attend law school, commitment of future service to underserved communities, and any other information other than race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin supplied by the applicant.

Neither the Committee nor the College seeks to obtain any particular number or percentage of diverse candidates, but they do seek a diverse mix of students to ensure that the College has a sufficient range of background and experience in its student body to permit a deep, broad, and vigorous intellectual environment. As this description indicates, the admissions process is flexible, no particular factor in itself determines admission or non-admission, and the Committee has sufficient discretion to consider each applicant individually on the basis of the entire file.

Juris Doctor Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed all requirements for a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution before they begin their first year of study in the College of Law. There are no required undergraduate courses or majors as a prerequisite to admission.

All states assess the character and fitness of applicants for admission to the bar. Applicants who believe past conduct might affect their admission to the bar in a state in which they intend to practice should contact the appropriate board of bar examiners. A directory of state bar examiners can be found here: http://www.ncbex.org/

Applicants must register for Credential Assembly Service (CAS) through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) at http://www.lsac.org/. Registering for the CAS should be done prior to application. Once a prospective student applies for admission and completes all necessary components of the CAS, the University of Nebraska College of Law will request an applicant’s law school report from LSAC. This report will include an applicant’s LSAT scores, summary of academic work, copies of all postsecondary transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is the applicant’s opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee why he or she wants to study law and set forth any information that would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in evaluating the application. The University of Nebraska College of Law does not conduct face-to-face interviews; therefore, the personal statement is the applicant’s best opportunity to convey information that he or she might discuss in an interview.

LSAT Score

Official LSAT scores are part of the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and will be included in the applicant’s law school report. All candidates must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). In order to meet the March 1 application deadline, candidates must take the test no later than the February administration. The College of Law will look at all LSAT scores included in the law school report including the average score. If the applicant has a higher score the second time and a reason to discount the first score, the Admissions Committee may place more emphasis on the higher score.

Transcripts

Official transcripts from postsecondary institutions will be sent to LSAC as part of the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Copies of these transcripts will be included in the applicant’s law school report.

Two Letters of Recommendation

Recommended: Submit online through CAS Letter of Recommendation Service. This service is included as part of the applicants Credential Assembly Service fee through LSAC. Letters submitted using this service will be included in the applicants Law School Report sent to the College of Law.

lternative: Applicants who do not wish to use the CAS Letter of Recommendation Service may use this College of Law Recommendation Form. Forms and letters should be mailed to the College of Law. Recommendation letters are most helpful when they come from professors or employers who can discuss the applicant’s analytical abilities, writing skills, interpersonal skills, character, sense of responsibility and judgment.

Under federal law, students enrolled in an institution of postsecondary education have a right to review letter of recommendation submitted on their behalf and maintained by the institution. Applicants may waive their right to access to letters of recommendation, but are not required to do so. The waiver of right of access is included on both the LSDAS Letter of Recommendation Form and the College of Law Letter of Recommendation Form.

Application Fee

The $50 fee must be paid online at the time of application using a credit card.

Applicants with demonstrated financial need may apply for a fee waiver through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) fee waiver program. The University of Nebraska College of Law will waive the $50.00 application fee for applicants who were granted a fee waiver through LSAC.