Northeastern University

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Application requirements

Recommendations

1 to 2

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

Your essay(s) should be in your own words, one page, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and in 12-point font, with a label at the top of the page indicating which prompt(s) you are answering.

Prompt 1:

Over the past few years, most law schools have come to recognize the importance of hands-on legal experience. At Northeastern, we have been incorporating practice directly into the curriculum since 1968. Ranked #1 in Practical Training by the National Jurist, our signature Cooperative Legal Education Program (co-op) guarantees you nearly a year of full-time work experience in the areas of law that interest you, anywhere in the world.

What field(s) of law would you like to pursue on co-op and why?

Prompt 2:

Northeastern is a nationally recognized leader in public interest law with a strong reputation for producing accomplished leaders in the field. The success of our graduates in part reflects our social justice mission.

What specific social justice issue are you most passionate about, and how have your professional or personal experiences influenced your interests?

Prompt 3:

At Northeastern University, diversity is about excellence and inclusion. It’s about the way in which we engage with the world, the opportunity to learn from new perspectives, a core value for the University, an essential element of contemporary life, an expression of cultural pride, and a reflection of our campus, community, and global partners.

Northeastern University School of Law, in keeping with the mission of Northeastern University, is committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of faculty, students, and staff that welcomes and respects all persons, regardless of race, gender, age, creed, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family structure, first-generation status, socio-economic status, or ability status. We strive to develop an open and respectful environment that draws on talent from every sector of society and engages the global community. We are dedicated to the integration of multiple, divergent perspectives, and to the principle that a diverse and inclusive community not only supports innovation and creativity, but also creates and promotes cultural understanding throughout Northeastern’s community. With these guiding principles, the School of Law aspires to promote a thriving society built on equal opportunity and social justice.

How has your background shaped who you are today or your future aspirations, and how will your presence enhance the Northeastern community?

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.

Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, the failure to disclose an act or event can lead to more serious consequences than the act or event itself. Failure to provide truthful answers, or failure to inform the Office of Admissions in a timely manner of any changes to your answers in advance of matriculation or during school enrollment, may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action, including dismissal, by the School of Law, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek bar admission.

Note: Bar examiners, both in Massachusetts and other jurisdictions, may require additional information pertaining to character and fitness history that Northeastern Law is not permitted to seek under state law. Acceptance into Northeastern 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 your preferred jurisdiction.

Have you ever been convicted of, pled guilty or no contest to, any felony or is any felony charge currently pending against you?
Within the past five years, have you been convicted of, or released from incarceration for, a misdemeanor (or its equivalent in the applicable jurisdiction), other than for a first offense for drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray, or disturbance of the peace?
Have you ever been subject to academic or behavioral proceedings, probation, discipline or other sanction, or are any such charges pending against you, by any college, university or professional school?
Have you ever been separated from any branch of the armed forces of the United States, the Peace Corps, Teach For America, City Year, or any other service organization under conditions other than honorable?
Have you ever been discharged, suspended, laid off, permitted to resign (in lieu of termination), or terminated from any job?
Have you ever been the subject of any charges, complaints or grievances (formal or informal), alleging that you engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, including any now pending?

General Information

Thank you for your interest in Northeastern University School of Law. We look forward to reviewing your application. If you have questions about the admissions process or your application, please call us at (617) 373-2395 or email us at lawadmissions@northeastern.edu.

Applicants may choose among three types of admission options.

Early Decision - December 1st application deadline

Choose Early Decision if Northeastern is your number one choice and you are committed to attending if admitted. You are confident that Northeastern is the right academic, social and financial fit. A binding early decision plan is one under which an applicant and a law school mutually agree at the initial point of application that the applicant will be given an admission decision at a date earlier than usual. The applicant must commit to enroll, withdraw all pending applications at other law schools and not initiate new applications if admitted via binding early decision. You must sign the early decision contract in order to apply.

Applicants for whom financial aid will be an important factor in their enrollment decision should carefully consider whether to apply as an Early Decision candidate, as candidates will be unable to compare offers from other law schools.

Early Action - December 1st application deadline

Choose Early Action if Northeastern is a top choice and you want to hear from us in February instead of waiting for the Regular Decision date in April.

Regular Decision - March 1st application deadline

Choose Regular Decision if you want the option to take the LSAT in February, or if you are currently a college student and would like us to review information from the first semester of your senior year. Applications submitted after the March 1st deadline will be evaluated; however, decisions may not be rendered until late summer.

Table 1

Application Components

A complete application for first-year admission includes the following:

Electronic application submitted via LSAC.org
Résumé
Personal statement
LSAT and/or GRE score report(s) from the last five years
CAS report that includes LSAT results, letter(s) of recommendation (one letter required; two allowed) and all required transcripts
Optional essay(s)
Optional addendum

LSAT and GRE Scores

All applicants must submit a valid LSAT or GRE score; scores are valid for five years and score reports for all tests taken within that five year period must be submitted. If an applicant has score reports for both exams, the applicant may choose to report LSAT scores only. If an applicant has both LSAT and GRE scores, we are required to report the highest LSAT to the American Bar Association.

The CAS report summarizes undergraduate academic work and includes copies of all transcripts and letter(s) of recommendation. If an applicant has taken the LSAT, the LSAT score(s) and LSAT writing sample(s) will be included in the CAS report. GRE score reports must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) using the code 3446 (Northeastern University School of Law). Northeastern Law will not receive score reports sent to other Northeastern program codes.

Personal Information and Demographics

If you are an international student, please list your name as it appears on your passport.

If you are a citizen of both the United States and another country, please select "US Citizen."

Northeastern values diversity in all its forms and questions regarding ethnicity, race, LGBTQIA+ status and first-generation status are optional. Applicants may select "Decline to respond."

To ensure compliance with American Bar Association (ABA) reporting requirements, our law school includes an optional question on applicants' ethnic identity. This information is treated with confidentiality and has no impact on the admission decision-making process or your application file. We value fairness and inclusivity in our admissions process and thank you for your cooperation in providing this optional information to meet ABA standards.

Character and Fitness

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Contact information for all relevant agencies in the United States is available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Certification

By submitting this application electronically, you certify that to the best of your knowledge and belief the information provided in this application is accurate and complete, and you agree to notify the School of Law of any substantive changes in this information in a timely manner. Any misrepresentation or delay in notification may be cause for denial or revocation of admission or subsequent dismissal from the School of Law.

Policy on Equal Opportunity

The Northeastern University Policy on Equal Opportunity strictly prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy or pregnancy related condition) gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, veteran or disability status. This policy and all related bias-incident complaints are overseen by the Office for University Equity & Compliance (OUEC) located at 125 Richards Hall.