{"id":138,"date":"2015-06-03T09:46:21","date_gmt":"2015-06-03T13:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/?page_id=138"},"modified":"2026-04-09T12:11:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:11:46","slug":"application-instructions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Apply"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Application Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>To apply for admission to the JD program, you must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>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<\/li>\n<li>Have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within the past five years<\/li>\n<li>Register with the Law School Admission Council Credential Assembly Service (CAS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"mailto:bulawadm@bu.edu\">bulawadm@bu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Application Checklist<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/dates-deadlines-fees\/\">dates and deadlines<\/a> in order to stay on track throughout the process. Students applying to transfer from another law school should reference these additional<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/transfer-students\/\">\u00a0instructions for transfer applicants.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Application Fee: <\/i><\/b>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/fee-waiver\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS): <\/i><\/b>Register with the Law School Admission Council&#8217;s (LSAC) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsac.org\/applying-law-school\/jd-application-process\/credential-assembly-service-cas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Credential Assembly Service<\/a> (CAS). Applications to the JD program must be submitted through LSAC.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Application Form: <\/i><\/b>The BU Law electronic application form can be found at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsac.org\/\">lsac.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Transcripts:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/transcripts\/\">Submit your transcripts<\/a> through LSAC&#8217;s Credential Assembly Service.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Standardized Tests: <\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/standardized-tests\/\">LSAT test scores <\/a>must be submitted through LSAC.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Letters of Recommendation: <\/strong><\/em>Submit at least two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/letters-of-recommendation\/\">letters of recommendation <\/a>through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Personal Statement:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Submit a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/personal-documents\/\">personal statement <\/a>as part of your application.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Optional Essay:<\/strong> <\/em>You may wish to include an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/personal-documents\/\">optional essay.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>R\u00e9sum\u00e9:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Submit a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/personal-documents\/\">current r\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Additional Documents:<\/strong> <\/em>Prepare any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/admissions-aid\/jd-admissions\/application-instructions\/personal-documents\/\">additional documents<\/a>, including addenda or optional scholarship essays for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/about\/offices\/financial-aid\/scholarships\/public-interest-scholarships\/\">Public Interest Scholars Program<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/about\/offices\/financial-aid\/scholarships\/aspire-antiracist-scholarship\/\">ASPIRE Scholars Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/lsacsso.b2clogin.com\/8a958e4e-8c1b-4522-9e31-9559a8021c38\/B2C_1A_Login\/oauth2\/v2.0\/authorize?client_id=fa06a2cb-f29c-4715-9bc7-10f1d4b49d78&amp;response_type=code&amp;redirect_uri=https:\/\/os.lsac.org\/Logon\/Access.aspx&amp;scope=openid&amp;nonce=lsac.aadb2c&amp;state=30eeb7bbc9994c02990895c69a506073&amp;prompt=login\">Start Your Application<\/a><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Character and Fitness: Qualifications for Admission to the Bar<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbex.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Conference of Bar Examiners<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Acceptance into BU Law&#8217;s JD program does not guarantee you will be permitted to sit for a state&#8217;s bar examination or be admitted to practice in any particular state post-graduation.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Reapplying to BU Law<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>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 r\u00e9sum\u00e9. 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.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Deferring Your Admission<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>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 <\/span><a href=\"mailto:bulawadm@bu.edu\" contenteditable=\"false\" title=\"mailto:bulawadm@bu.edu\"><span>bulawadm@bu.edu<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10500,"featured_media":0,"parent":135,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"bu-publication":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/138"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10500"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124320,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/138\/revisions\/124320"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}