Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent)

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Application requirements

Recommendations

1 to 2

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. 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.

Lawyers are held to the highest ethical standards. The failure to disclose an act or event such as the ones described below is often more significant, and leads to more serious consequences, than the act or event itself. Failure to provide truthful answers, or failure to inform the Office of Admissions of any changes in your answers, may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action by Chicago-Kent. Furthermore, you may be denied admission to practice by a state if your bar exam application contains facts asked for, but not disclosed in your application for admission. An affirmative response does not necessarily prejudice your admission to Chicago-Kent.

1. Have you ever been convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or received a period of supervision for, any offense other than a minor traffic or parking violation, or is any charge now pending against you concerning such an offense? (A "minor traffic violation" is a violation for which only a citation was issued, e.g., speeding. You must report any other traffic offense, including any offense in which acting under the influence of a drug or alcohol was an element of the offense.) You must disclose each instance, regardless of whether a conviction was reversed, set aside or vacated, or the record sealed or expunged. If yes, give details on an electronic attachment, including a description of the incident, the exact charge, and final resolution.

Have you ever been dropped, suspended, placed on academic or social probation or warning, or otherwise disciplined by any college or university, for any reason? If yes, give details on an electronic attachment.
Have you ever been suspended, placed on probation or warning, or otherwise disciplined by any professional organization or state agency charged with reviewing professional conduct or are any charges or proceedings that could culminate in such sanctions pending?

If yes, give details on an electronic attachment.

Admissions Policy

Admission to Chicago-Kent is competitive, with many more applicants than seats in the entering class. Students are admitted to the law school based on the information contained in their applications, their admissions test scores (LSAT or GRE), and their undergraduate records. Although the GPA and test scores are important criteria, other qualitative factors are considered. Particular emphasis is given to the nature and rigor of the undergraduate curriculum, writing ability, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation, particularly those from academic sources.

Where appropriate, the Admissions Committee will take into account a change in undergraduate majors; a significant improvement in undergraduate grades; the ability to overcome significant personal, economic, or societal obstacles; and demonstrated leadership ability. For applicants who have been out of school for five or more years, significant success in a rigorous graduate program and/or demonstrated excellence in another field may be viewed favorably in the admissions process. Each file is reviewed individually.

Applicants for admission to Chicago-Kent must have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to beginning classes at the law school in mid-August. Any applicant who will not have completed his/her degree before the date that he/she expects to start law school should notify the Office of Admissions, in writing, as soon as this fact is known.

Application Procedure

Please be certain to read each question carefully and make certain that you have completed every item on the application so that review of your application is not delayed. All materials submitted with, or in support of, an application become the property of Chicago-Kent and are not returnable.

It is your responsibility to make sure that all statements that you make on the application are accurate and complete. You are required to inform us, in writing, of any changes in the information you have provided. Any failure to supply accurate, complete, or updated information may result in a filing of applicant misconduct with LSAC, withdrawal of any offer of admission, or cancellation of registration, and may be a violation of the Chicago-Kent College of Law Code of Conduct. It may also jeopardize your eventual admission to the bar.

Information on sex, age, ethnic origin, and citizenship status that Chicago-Kent is legally required to collect in order to comply with applicable federal regulations pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended by Executive Order 11375 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 86, 45 C.F.R. is not mandatory. All information is confidential and will not be used to discriminate in admission to or participation in any of the educational programs or activities offered in the colleges of Illinois Institute of Technology.

An application is considered complete only when we have received all of the documents described below. There is no application fee.

1. Application for Admission

You should complete, electronically certify, and submit your application to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible after September 15, and preferably before the suggested application deadline. First-year applicants are considered only for the current year and only for entry in the fall semester. Students admitted to the fall entering class may elect to begin their studies early through the optional summer start program.

Priority Application Deadline: December 31

Applicants who submit all required application materials by December 31 will receive an admissions decision no later than February 15. Applicants may be admitted, denied admission, or placed on the waitlist for further consideration later in the application cycle.

Suggested Regular Application Deadline: March 15

Although the Admissions Committee will continue to consider applications throughout the spring and summer, we strongly suggest that you submit and complete your application file as early as possible in the admissions cycle and preferably before the suggested application deadline.

We will accept scores from the spring administrations of the LSAT, however your file will be reviewed later in our admissions cycle. We encourage applicants to take the test on one of the earlier dates.

2. Personal Statement

A personal statement is required of all applicants. The Admissions Committee believes that all relevant factors should be considered when evaluating each application. You may want to use the personal statement to elaborate on significant personal or professional accomplishments, to describe your reasons for pursuing a law degree, to discuss the social, physical, or economic obstacles you may have had to overcome, to explain a particular part of your transcript or application, or to provide supplemental information that will help the Admissions Committee evaluate your application. The statement should be written in your own words and should be approximately two to three typewritten pages in length, double-spaced.

An addendum may accompany the personal statement. You may also submit an optional essay of no more than one page describing the reasons for your application to Chicago-Kent.

Applicants to the part-time day division must also submit a Part-time Day Supplemental Statement in addition to the personal statement. This statement may be submitted in section 1 of the Chicago-Kent online application.

3. Resume

A current resume or curriculum vitae is required and must be electronically attached to the application for admission. It should not exceed two pages in length. In addition to employment history, you may wish to include extra-curricular activities, scholarships, honors, and community service or volunteer activities.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation play a useful role in the selection process, and the Admissions Committee requires all applicants to submit at least one letter. You may submit a maximum of two letters of recommendation with your application. The most helpful letters are written by professors who have taught you in substantive, upper-level college or postgraduate courses and who can provide candid and thoughtful evaluations of your academic ability and potential for the study of law. We realize that some applicants, especially those who have been out of school for a number of years, may have difficulty finding an academic recommender. If that is the case, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you will be helpful.

Applicants must submit letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service that is included in your CAS registration.

Federal law gives students in attendance at Chicago-Kent the right to review letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf, unless that right is waived. While applicants are not required to make such a waiver, they are advised that some people may not be willing to provide a recommendation in its absence. The letter of recommendation forms have a place to mark your preference. Please mark them before giving them to your recommenders.

4. Credential Assembly Service (CAS)/Transcripts

All candidates, including those submitting GRE scores, must register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and have official transcripts sent directly to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. Further information can be obtained from the LSAC website.

International Transcripts

Applicants who have completed more than one year of postsecondary work outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada must have their academic records translated and evaluated, at their own expense, and sent to Chicago-Kent. Applicants must submit their transcripts through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. Applications will not be reviewed without a complete CAS report.

Applicants are exempted from this requirement if the total amount of work completed at all international institutions combined is the equivalent of one year or less of undergraduate study in the United States, its territories, or Canada. This exemption includes international work completed through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, where the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript.

Chicago-Kent may grant advanced standing to applicants who hold a first degree in law from a non-U.S. law school. Chicago-Kent may grant up to 29 credit hours based on the applicant's prior legal study. You may visit our website for additional information about advanced standing for foreign law graduates.

5. LSAT/GRE Test Scores

All applicants must submit the results of either an LSAT or GRE exam taken within the last five years.

Applicants who take the LSAT will have their test results reported as part of their Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report. Applicants who take the GRE must arrange for an official score report to be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to Chicago-Kent. The institution code for Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent's parent university) is 1318. No department code is required.

If an applicant has taken the LSAT, that score will be the primary test for admissions purposes and the GRE score (if provided) will be considered as supplemental information. If an applicant has only taken the GRE, the Admissions Committee will consider each individual section score with particular weight given to the quantitative score.

If an applicant takes the LSAT more than once, the Admissions Committee may consider the average score, the more recent score, or the higher score, depending on individual circumstances. Preference is typically given to the highest score earned. Unless otherwise instructed, we will forward your application to the Admissions Committee as soon as we have at least one official LSAT score on file.

If an applicant takes the GRE more than once, the Admissions Committee will consider each individual score with preference given to the highest score earned. Applicants who are applying with only a GRE score must submit the results of all GRE exams taken within the past five years.

Reapplication for Admission

Applicants who wish to reapply for admission must submit the current application form, an updated personal statement and all other required application materials. The LSAT/GRE need not be retaken if the test was taken within the last five years. However, applicants must have an active subscription with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service and purchase a new report, making certain that the report includes an analysis of all undergraduate credits earned.

Full-Time and Part-Time Divisions

Chicago-Kent offers full-time day, part-time day, and part-time evening divisions. Entrance requirements are the same for all divisions, and the full-time faculty teaches in all three. Enrollment in the part-time day division is limited, and seats are reserved primarily for students whose personal circumstances prevent them from attending the part-time evening division. Part-time day division students attend courses with students enrolled in the full-time day division.

You must indicate on your application the division for which you wish to be considered. In accordance with Law School policy, students who take more than 13 credits in a semester are not permitted to work more than 20 hours a week. Full-time students are discouraged from working in their first year. First-year students who find it necessary to work more than 20 hours per week must enroll in either the part-time day or evening division. Upper-level students who find it necessary to work more than 20 hours a week must limit their course load to no more than 13 credits.

Students may apply to transfer from one division to another after the end of their first academic year. Additional information about the full-time and part-time divisions is available on our website.

Decision Notification

Admissions decisions are announced in writing only and will be released both online through Applicant Status Online (ASO) and by e-mail after November 1. The Office of Admissions uses email as one of the primary methods of communicating with applicants. Please be sure to check your email regularly. Information about applicants is not released to third parties. Decisions are made continuously until the Admissions Committee has reviewed all completed applications. The Committee does not review applications that are incomplete.

After an applicant's file has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee, a decision is made to admit, deny admission, or place the applicant on the waitlist for further consideration later in the admissions process. Applicants are advised of the decision, including placement on the waitlist. Candidates whose qualifications place them in the middle of the applicant pool are more likely to receive a waitlist decision.

Admission is subject to approval by the dean, pursuant to policies established by the faculty of the law school, and the officers and trustees of Illinois Institute of Technology.

Deposits

Each applicant who is accepted is required to submit a $750 nonrefundable tuition deposit. The deposit may be paid in two installments and is due on the dates stated in the acceptance letter. Applicants who submit the deposit in full by the first deposit deadline may pay a discounted total deposit of $600. These deposits guarantee a place in the entering class and are applied to the first semester's tuition. Applicants who miss a deposit deadline risk losing their seats in the entering class as well as any scholarship offers that may have been made to them.

A medical form and final official transcripts are required of all entering students.

Bar Examination Requirements

Admission to Chicago-Kent is independent of, and does not guarantee, admission to any state bar. For students interested in the bar admission requirements of the State of Illinois, that information is available on the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar website.

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to assisting students with financing their education and making informed responsible decisions. A variety of loans are available to help students in achieving their goals. Chicago-Kent determines all applicants' needs through a uniform system of analysis. Information about financing law school and the financial aid application process is available on our website.

Chicago-Kent sends financial aid application information to all students who have been admitted to the entering class. It is important to remember that applying for federal and private loans is a separate procedure from applying for admission. In order to receive timely financial aid award information, we suggest that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be submitted as soon as possible after October 1. For information about the FAFSA, visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Scholarship Assistance

Chicago-Kent College of Law provides a range of scholarships to reward academic performance and to help reduce financial need. All new first-year students are automatically reviewed for available merit scholarships as part of the admissions process and are not required to submit financial aid documents unless specifically seeking student loans or consideration for need-based scholarships.

Students selected to receive merit scholarship awards are typically notified in the letter of acceptance. Awards range from first-year grants to renewable full- and partial-tuition scholarships, and are based on factors that include academic achievement, test scores, leadership ability, and potential contributions to the law school community.

Admitted first-year full- and part-time J.D. applicants with significant financial need may apply for need-based scholarship assistance. Awards are extended as three (or four) year scholarships and are renewable annually as long as the recipient is enrolled in classes at Chicago-Kent. Award determinations will be made based on the information submitted on the FAFSA and on the need-based scholarship application and will also consider merit scholarship aid the applicant is receiving.

The Chicago-Kent Honors Scholars Program provides renewable scholarships of full tuition and special seminars to a select group of students who demonstrate exceptional academic and leadership ability. Additional information about the Honors Scholars Program is available on our website.

Equal Opportunity

As a member of the Association of American Law Schools and in conformity with its bylaws, the faculty of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law has adopted the following policy: Chicago-Kent College of Law provides equality of opportunity in legal education for all persons, including applicants for admission, enrolled students, and graduates, without discrimination or segregation on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Students with Disabilities

Chicago-Kent ensures equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities. The law school building is fully accessible, and on an individual basis we provide reasonable accommodations to all students with permanent or temporary disabilities. Applicants are not required to indicate whether they have a disability. Applicants who do wish to have a disability taken into account in the admissions process should provide information regarding their disability and explain why it should be considered as a factor. All information will be treated as confidential.

Some applicants have disabilities that may require accommodations if the applicant enrolls at Chicago-Kent. In these cases, applicants may indicate the disability in their application or inform the law school once they are admitted. All students who are admitted to Chicago-Kent are advised to contact the Illinois Tech Center for Disability Resources if they have a disability that may require accommodations. For additional information, visit www.iit.edu/cdr.

Useful Links

Academic Calendar

The current Chicago-Kent College of Law Academic Calendar is available online at https://kentlaw.iit.edu/law/about/directories/office-academic-affairs/academic-calendars.

ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures

The American Bar Association requires law schools to publish consumer information to assist prospective students. You may visit the Chicago-Kent website for current consumer information.

Housing Information

Housing in Chicago is plentiful and relatively affordable for a large city, and the law school is easily accessible by public transportation from most areas of Chicago and its suburbs. You may visit our website for detailed housing information.

Tuition & Fees

Information about tuition and fees for the JD program for the current academic year is available on our website.

Rights Reserved

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology reserves the right to change without notice any statement in this application or its instructions concerning, but not limited to, rules, policies, tuition, fees, curriculum, and courses. Changes will be duly published.

Contact Information

Chicago-Kent College of Law
Illinois Institute of Technology
565 West Adams Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661-3691
312.906.5000; 312.906.5230 TDD
Office of Admissions
312.906.5020

Contact information for other law school departments is available in the Departmental Directory.