How to Apply
Application Requirements
To apply for admission to the JD program, you must:
- Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or be enrolled in a course of study that will result in the award of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university before you commence study at BU Law
- Have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the past five years
- Register with the Law school Admission Council Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
Please note that BU Law only accepts applications that have been submitted online via the Law school Admission Council (LSAC). LSAC will then send the electronic version to us.
Throughout the admissions process, please let us know if you have any updates to your application, such as a change of address or phone number. It is critical to keep all of your contact information up-to-date. We do not interview candidates for our JD program, but any and all applicants may schedule a telephone appointment with an admissions counselor. These are non-evaluative meetings for you to gather information and ask questions in an informal setting. To schedule an appointment, email bulawadm@bu.edu.
Application Checklist
We aim to provide a simple, straightforward process for applying to our JD program. Below is a list of the elements of a complete application. Make sure to note important dates and deadlines in order to stay on track throughout the process. Students applying to transfer from another law school should reference these additional instructions for transfer applicants.
Application Fee: An $85 non-refundable application fee is required of applicants. You may pay by credit card when applying electronically, or if you prefer, you may send a check or money order to the BU Law Admissions Office, payable to Boston University. You can find information on fee waivers here.
LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS): Register with the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Applications to the JD program must be submitted through LSAC.
Transcripts: Submit your transcripts through LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service.
Standardized Tests: Test scores are required from either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Letters of Recommendation: Submit at least two letters of recommendation through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.
Personal Statement: Submit a personal statement as part of your application.
Optional Essay: You may wish to include an optional essay.
Résumé: Submit a current résumé.
Additional Documents: Prepare any additional documents, including addenda or optional scholarship essays for the Public Interest Scholars Program or the ASPIRE Scholars Program.
Start Your Application
By electronically transmitting your application, you certify that the information provided is complete and accurate, and that you will notify the admissions committee of additional information or changes arising at any time prior to your matriculation at the School of Law (whether or not the committee has already acted on your application). Any false, misleading, or incomplete statements may result in denial of admission, rescinding of the offer of admission, disciplinary action by the School of Law (including dismissal), or revocation of any School of Law degrees.
Character and Fitness: Qualifications for Admission to the Bar
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every US jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
If you answer yes to any of the character and fitness questions on the BU Law application, you must provide a detailed explanation, including a summary of the allegations and any sentence or punishment imposed. The admissions committee may require copies of court documents in addition to your explanation. NOTE: Bar examiners may require other information that we are not permitted to seek under Massachusetts statutes. You should be aware that some state bar examiners may request a copy of your law school application as a part of their licensing procedures.
Acceptance into BU Law’s JD program does not guarantee you will be permitted to sit for a state’s bar examination or be admitted to practice in any particular state post-graduation.
Reapplying to BU Law
If you have previously applied to Boston University School of Law but are interested in reapplying as a 1L student, you must complete a new application online via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). You must pay the $85 application fee, submit a new law school report, and an updated résumé. Many applicants will also choose to update other documents in their file. The Admissions Office keeps the previous three years of applications on file and will supplement your current file with archived documents if reapplication occurs within this time frame.
Deferring Your Admission
Candidates who are admitted to the JD program and wish to defer their enrollment to a future academic year may be permitted to do so. Deferral requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have questions about the potential of deferring your admission, contact the Admissions Office at 617-353-3100 or bulawadm@bu.edu.
Information for Waitlisted Applicants
Some applicants will be placed on the waitlist rather than being immediately admitted or denied. The number of students admitted from the waitlist varies from year to year. Applicants who are accepted from the waitlist will be considered for merit scholarships if funds are available at the time of acceptance.
If you have been placed on the waitlist, while we can make no guarantees, there are several ways you may increase your chances of admission.
- Please let us know if BU Law is your first choice, such that you are ready to commit if admitted.
- You may submit spring semester grades showing an upward trend to LSAC so that an updated CAS report can be generated.
- You may retake the LSAT in June and we will receive your new score automatically from LSAC.
- You may also send an updated résumé or an additional letter of reference directly to our office.
While emailing us every day is excessive, keeping us apprised of your continued interest, especially as the summer progresses, can be helpful as we look to admit applicants who will be able to make a decision quickly. With this in mind, please be certain that your contact information is up-to-date. Email updates to waitlist@bu.edu.
Waitlist decisions tend to be made slowly over the course of the summer, so it is possible to receive an offer at any time, up until the beginning of classes. If at any point your plans change and you would no longer like to remain on the waitlist, please email us at waitlist@bu.edu.
Feel free to contact our office at 617-353-3100 or waitlist@bu.edu with any additional questions. Although we do not offer interviews, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor after April 1 by emailing bulawadm@bu.edu. Please include your LSAC number in all of your correspondence.