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Application requirements

Deadline

Feb 15, 2026

Recommendations

2 to 3

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

JD ADMISSIONS INFORMATION AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS - NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

Dear Applicant:

We are genuinely pleased that you have chosen to apply to the New York University School of Law. We know that applying to law school can be a challenge. We understand the limitations involved when describing oneself in writing and the effort the application process requires.

You can be confident that your efforts are worthwhile. In a highly selective admissions process such as ours, many factors can influence the eventual decision on each application. We encourage you to include whatever information you think we need to reach a thoughtful decision in your case.

We encourage you to consider participating in one of our many events designed to help you engage directly with members of our community and to learn more about the Law School. Applicants who participate in these events generally come to a better understanding of the Law School's atmosphere, intellectual climate, student-faculty interaction, and all of the other intangible elements that are so important in your decision as to which law school to attend.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,

Cassandra T. Williams

Assistant Dean for Admissions

GENERAL INFORMATION AND STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION

NYU Law strives to ensure that the students in each incoming class bring with them a diversity of experiences. All individuals, regardless of background, are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must be at least eighteen years old and hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its international equivalent to be eligible to enroll in the Juris Doctor (JD) program. Students matriculate in the fall semester on a full-time basis only.

When to Apply--Admission 2026

Early Decision (Binding)

File and complete application by November 15

Notification by late December

If you wish to be considered for Early Decision admission, your application, Early Decision Contract, and all supporting materials, must be complete by November 15. Applicants who wish to be considered for Early Decision admission must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October 2025.

Applicants who apply for Early Decision but do not meet the Early Decision deadline will automatically have their applications considered for regular admission.

Admission during Early Decision is binding on applicants. You must indicate your intention to apply for Early Decision on your application, and you must submit the Early Decision Contract which is a separate form. You may not apply for another binding early decision program. If admitted, you must commit to enroll at NYU School of Law and immediately withdraw all applications at other law schools regardless of your status. Failure to honor these commitments will result in New York University School of Law revoking its offer of admission. As an Early Decision applicant, you will be informed by early January whether your application has been accepted, denied, or held for further review. If your application is held, it will be considered again in the Regular Decision cycle.

Regular Decision

File and complete application by February 15

Notification by the end of April

Applicants who complete applications by February 15 will receive decisions - admit, deny, or waitlist - by the end of April. Your LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report must be complete and ready to be requested by our office no later than February 15.

If your application is not complete by February 15, we cannot guarantee a decision by a particular date.

Applicants who wish to be considered for Early Decision admission must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October 2025. All other applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than January 2026. The oldest LSAT score we will accept is from the June 2020 LSAT administration.

Final decisions for some of those placed on the waitlist may not be made until late summer.

Applicants who wish to be considered for the AnBryce Scholarship, Cybersecurity Service Scholarship, Furman Academic Scholarship, Furman Public Policy Scholarship, Latinx Rights Scholarship, Leadership Program in Law & Business Scholarship, Nordlicht Family Scholarship in Law and Social Entrepreneurship, and/or the Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarship Program are strongly encouraged to submit their JD application by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to have a complete CAS report ready to be requested by the admissions office by December 1, and no later than January 1. Applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 2025.

Standards for Admission

The admission process is highly selective and seeks to enroll individuals of exceptional ability.

The majority of applicants present credentials that suggest they would succeed academically. The Committee on Admissions selects those candidates it considers to have the very strongest combination of qualifications and the very greatest potential to contribute to the NYU School of Law community and the legal profession. The Committee bases its decisions on factors including, but not limited to: intellectual potential, academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, character, community involvement, and work experience. In selecting the class, the Committee on Admissions considers a candidate's ability to contribute to the classroom such that a range of perspectives are represented.

An applicant's undergraduate record and standardized test score(s), though important criteria, are not the sole determinants for admission. There are no combinations of grades and scores that assure admission or denial.

The Committee on Admissions makes decisions after considering all the information in an application. It reviews the undergraduate transcript closely, with attention to such factors as trends in the applicant's grades, class rank, the ratio of pass/fail to graded courses, the diversity and depth of course work, and the length of time since graduation. Factors other than undergraduate grades and standardized test scores may be particularly significant for applicants who have experienced educational or socioeconomic disadvantage. The Committee evaluates work experience and extracurricular and community activity for evidence of advancement, leadership, and capacity for assuming responsibility. A recommendation letter is particularly valuable when the writer provides substantive information about the applicant's abilities, activities, and personal qualities. Since the Committee does not interview candidates as part of its initial review, the personal statement provides an opportunity for the applicant to supplement the information provided in the application.

The Law School endeavors to foster an equitable and inclusive environment, and we are committed to bringing together students whose personal development align with the mission of our institution. We expect students, faculty, and staff to abide by community norms that embody this goal. Our holistic admissions review process allows us to select and enroll students who will positively enhance the vibrant community at NYU. We expect students to comply with all applicable rules, policies, and procedures of NYU, including but not limited to those set forth in the NYU Student Conduct Policy and Process as well as the community standards and general code of conduct found in Law School's Academic Policies Guide.

Timing of Decisions

A holistic approach to the review of applications requires an extraordinary amount of care, and thus a significant amount of time. There is no way to predict an exact date on which a candidate will receive a decision.

Candidates who apply under the binding Early Decision option (deadline November 15) will be notified (admit, deny, or hold) by early January.

Candidates who apply by our regular February 15 deadline will be notified by the end of April. Candidates may hear sooner than the end of April, but we cannot make such a guarantee.

The Committee on Admissions recognizes that some law schools have deposit deadlines as early as April 1 and will ask a candidate for a commitment before that candidate receives a decision from NYU School of Law. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to accelerate our process in these circumstances.

Rolling Notification, Not Rolling Admission

Applications are sent to the Committee on Admissions in the order in which they are completed, but decisions are not necessarily made in the order in which applications are first reviewed. Some applicants may receive a decision fairly quickly based on the overall and relative strength of the application.

In an applicant pool of over 10,500 applications, many candidates present strong qualifications. The Law School's admission process is both objective and comparative. The Committee follows an ongoing process of reviewing and rereviewing the vast majority of the applicant pool. Most candidates' applications require significant comparison with the applicant pool as a whole before a final decision can be reached. For many candidates, the Committee is not able to reach a decision until they have a clear picture of that year's entire applicant pool. As a result, many applicants will be placed on our Active Consideration List and will be reviewed again later in the spring. Applicants who are placed on Active Consideration will receive an email informing them of their application status.

As long as candidates take the LSAT or GRE by January and meet the February 15 deadline, they will be given full and complete consideration and will be at no competitive disadvantage in the admission process.

PARTS OF THE APPLICATION

Note: Please DO NOT send duplicate materials to NYU School of Law.

(1) Application Form

Please follow the directions carefully and include the requested information in the spaces provided. You may also upload various attachments to your application as outlined in the attachment section of the application. If any one of the attachments outlined does not apply to you, check the box within each section that states "this does not apply to me." Please do not submit attachments in lieu of completing the requested information in each section of the application. Label clearly all attachments at the top or header of the attachment.

Please note that the race and ethnicity data collected in questions 5-8 of the Additional Biographical section of the application form is not provided to admissions committee members for use in the application-selection process. This data is collected for alternative purposes including but not limited to government and accreditation reporting requirements.

(2) Standardized Test Score(s) and CAS Report

All applicants for admission to the JD program are required to take either the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the GRE. Scores for both exams are valid for five years. LSAC will send all valid LSAT scores to NYU regardless of whether an applicant submits a GRE score. Applicants who have both an LSAT and GRE score are not required to submit their GRE score.

All applicants are required to register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). After your application is received electronically, a request for your CAS report from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is automatically generated. The CAS report summarizes your undergraduate academic work and includes copies of your transcripts. If you have taken the LSAT, your LSAT score(s) and your LSAT writing sample(s) will be included in the CAS report. The LSAT writing sample is required for all applicants who submit a LSAT. GRE scores must be sent to NYU Law directly from ETS. The law school code for NYU School of Law for both LSAC and ETS is 2599.

(3) Recommendation Forms

Two recommendations are required to complete your application.

The Committee on Admissions requires the use of the LSAC Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service. Please DO NOT submit duplicate letters directly to NYU School of Law.

Note: The Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship; the Lindemann Family Public Service Scholarship; the Jacobson Public Service Scholarship for Women, Children, and Families; the Sinsheimer Service Scholarship; the Filomen M. D'Agostino Scholarship for Women and Children; and the Filomen M. D'Agostino Scholarship for Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and Criminal Justice applications require at least one recommendation that addresses the applicant's commitment to public service (see Scholarship section for details). The Tiffany and Jubin Niamehr Scholarship requires one letter of recommendation that addresses the applicant's commitment to combatting antisemitism.

(4) Application Fee or Waiver

When you transmit your application electronically, the fee, payable by credit card only, is $85. The application fee is not applied to tuition and is not refundable.

Applicants who have received an LSAC-approved LSAT or Credential Assembly Service fee waiver will have their NYU School of Law $85 application fee automatically waived.

Applicants who are alumni of Teach for America or the Peace Corps are eligible for an $85 application fee waiver. To qualify, applicants must have completed their 2-year commitment to Teach for America or the Peace Corps by the start of the fall semester. Further, Teach for America alumni must have completed TFA's pre-corps training institute and served as a teacher for two years in a low-income community through their Teach for America placement. Applicants who have completed less than 2 years by the start of law school or those who are just entering Teach for America or the Peace Corps are not eligible.

Applicants who were awarded the Truman Scholarship from the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation are eligible for a fee waiver for the NYU Law JD application.

The application fee will be waived for current NYU undergraduate students and individuals who have received an undergraduate degree from NYU.

The application fee also will be waived for those who have served or are serving in the United States military. (Participation in a foreign country's military does not qualify an applicant for a fee waiver from NYU School of Law.)

Teach for America, Peace Corps, Truman Scholarship, NYU undergraduate students/alumni, and US military participants should send their request for a fee waiver to law.moreinfo@nyu.edu. Applicants must have an account with the LSAC. To request an application fee waiver, please include your L number, a verification letter, and the basis for the waiver (Teach for America, Peace Corps, NYU undergraduate student/alumnus, or US military service).

(5) Personal Statement

While the Committee on Admissions does not use interviews as part of the regular selection process, we would like to give you the opportunity to include more information about yourself than the application form conveys. Because people and their interests vary, we leave the content and length of your statement to your discretion. You may wish to bring to our attention additional information that provides an understanding of your qualifications, goals, and potential to contribute to the NYU Law community.

(6) Resume

A resume is required to complete your application.

(7) Supplying Additional Information

New York University School of Law seeks to enroll a student body from a broad spectrum of society. The Committee on Admissions encourages you to provide any information that may be helpful to us in reaching a thoughtful decision on your application. While the choice as to whether and what information to submit to the Committee is entirely yours, any information you provide will be used to give the Committee a more complete understanding of your academic, professional, and personal background; to help the Committee reach an informed decision on your application; and to aid the Committee in selecting a student body with a range of experiences.

This is an opportunity to share with the Committee information about how your background will enable you to contribute to the NYU Law community. Information that has been helpful in the past includes, but is not limited to, meaningful leadership experience; significant community involvement; personal/family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage or unusual circumstances which may have affected academic performance and how you exceled despite those circumstances; and skills you have developed to overcome adversity. This list is not all-inclusive, but we offer it for you to think about as you consider whether such information might be relevant in your case, and to assure you that it is quite appropriate.

If you choose to provide additional information, please upload this information in the attachment section of the application and clearly identify your submission accordingly.

When you receive additional grades (such as first semester of senior year grades), you are required to submit an updated transcript to LSAC, which will, in turn, send us an updated CAS report.

Any information you submit, including material sent after your application is complete, will be considered by the Committee on Admissions if received before a final decision is reached on your application.

In completing this application, be sure that your statements are accurate, you answer all questions in the Character and Fitness section of the application, and you electronically certify the application by completing the Certification section of the application. Omission or misrepresentation may result in denial of admission, the rescinding of an offer of admission, dismissal from the Law School, or revoking any NYU School of Law degrees granted. Omission or misrepresentation also may result in notification of LSAC's Subcommittee on Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process. The Law School may seek to verify any information submitted by contacting recommenders, employers, or school officials.

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.

Questions or Concerns

We will try to notify you if any of the material necessary to complete your application has not been received by the Office of Admissions, and we will try to keep you informed about the status of your application. Please understand that it takes some time for the Committee to give each application thorough consideration.

Please note that we have an online status check function available for all applicants accessible at http://www.law.nyu.edu/jdadmissions.

Please keep a copy of your application and your personal statement. We will not return or give you copies of any part of your application or supporting material, nor will we forward any part of your application or supporting material to a third party.

The Office of Admissions does not release any information about an applicant's status to anyone except the applicant. This policy helps to protect the confidentiality of every applicant.

If an applicant is admitted to the Law School, the applicant's contact information, including email and phone number, will be shared with NYU community members such as Law School faculty, alumni, administrators, students, and student organizations, to facilitate the exchange of information about NYU Law. Applicants who do not wish their contact information to be shared with members of the NYU Law community should contact the Office of JD Admissions at law.moreinfo@nyu.edu.

Application materials and all supporting documents submitted in connection with an application for admitted students who enroll at New York University School of Law become part of the student's record and are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

For applicants in the European Union please see the Data Privacy Notice for Prospective Students in the E.U.

REAPPLICATION TO THE JD PROGRAM

To reapply you must:

Complete the fall 2026 application (including a personal statement and two letters of recommendation).
Pay the $85 application fee or submit a valid fee waiver.
Register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) provides its service to applicants for five years requiring a $45 per report fee to have the CAS report sent to NYU School of Law. For more information, contact LSAC.org.
Send updated transcripts to LSAC for all academic work - undergraduate, graduate, and/or professional - undertaken since your last application.
All reapplicants to the JD program are required to take either the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the GRE. LSAC will send all valid LSAT scores to NYU regardless of whether an applicant submits a GRE score. Applicants who have both an LSAT and GRE score are not required to submit their GRE score. GRE scores must be sent directly to NYU from ETS. The school code for NYU School of Law is 2599.

INTERNATIONALLY-EDUCATED APPLICANTS

International transcripts must be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for the evaluation of international transcripts if:

All post-secondary work was completed outside of the US (including its territories) or Canada, OR
An applicant was directly enrolled at an institution located outside of the US (including its territories) or Canada and the total amount of work completed at all such institutions combined is the equivalent of more than one year of post-secondary study in the US (including its territories) or Canada. Please note that if an applicant has completed one year or less of post-secondary study at an institution located outside of the US (including its territories) or Canada, and the work was not completed through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution where the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript, then the applicant may have an official copy of that transcript sent directly to NYU School of Law, Office of JD Admissions, at law.moreinfo@nyu.edu or at 139 MacDougal Street, New York, New York 10012.

Please visit LSAC.org for details.

ADVANCED STANDING APPLICANTS

If you wish to apply for admission with advanced standing after having completed at least one year in another ABA accredited law school, you may apply online for transfer or third-year visiting/nonmatriculated admission. DO NOT complete this application.

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS

Admission decisions are made without regard to an applicant's financial resources, and financial aid applications are reviewed only for students who have been admitted.

Similarly, applicants are reviewed for all scholarship programs only after being admitted. Applicants should follow the application procedures described below in order to be considered for scholarships. Admitted students must complete the NYU Law Financial Aid Application in order to be considered for any Law School scholarship including merit-based and need-based scholarships and/or to apply for some loan programs.

All applicants for financial aid should file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as early in the year as possible. The Title IV (FAFSA) code number for NYU is 002785.

DEAN'S SCHOLARSHIPS

Each year, in addition to the scholarship programs listed in the scholarship section of the application, Dean's Scholarship Awards, which are grants in amounts up to full tuition, are awarded to students on the basis of outstanding academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, prior community engagement, and/or financial need. The majority of our scholarships are Dean's awards.

All students admitted to NYU School of Law are considered for Dean's Scholarships through the financial aid process. Admitted students must complete the NYU Law Financial Aid Application in order to be considered for Dean's Scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

NYU offers a variety of scholarships in amounts up to full tuition. Offering more than financial support, they provide fully integrated academic and professional programs. If you wish to apply for the AnBryce Scholarship, the Cybersecurity Service Scholarship, the Furman Academic Scholars Program, the Furman Public Policy Scholarship, the Latinx Rights Scholarship, the Leadership Program in Law and Business, the Nordlicht Family Scholarship in Law and Social Entrepreneurship, or the Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarship Program, you are required to complete the scholarship section of the application.

Applicants who wish to be considered for any of the programmatic scholarships are strongly encouraged to submit their JD application by the priority programmatic scholarship deadline of December 1, and no later than January 1. Applicants for the programmatic scholarships are strongly encouraged to have a complete CAS report ready to be requested by the admissions office by December 1, and no later than January 1.

Please note that each of these scholarship programs requires that you submit additional information including, for example, an additional essay or letter of recommendation. All applicants to scholarship programs must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 2025. For detailed information on the application requirements for each of the scholarship programs listed, please visit http://www.law.nyu.edu/financialaid/jdscholarships.

NONDISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY

New York University is committed to maintaining an environment that encourages and fosters appropriate conduct among all persons and respect for individual values. Accordingly, the University is committed to enforcing its Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedures at all levels in order to create an environment free from discrimination, harassment, retaliation and/or sexual assault. Discrimination or harassment based on race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or on any other legally prohibited basis is unlawful and undermines the character and purpose of the University. Such discrimination or harassment violates University policy and will not be tolerated.

The information, policies, and academic and scholarship programs described in this publication may be subject to change.