Northern Illinois University

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Application requirements

Deadline

Jul 31, 2026

Recommendations

1 to 4

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

Instructions

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.

Dean's Certificate of Character and Fitness to Practice Law: During law school, you may register with various state bar admissions boards, and you must register before you take a bar exam. The various bars have rules that specify the requirements for admission to those bars. Under these rules, the Dean of your law school may be asked to submit, on your behalf, an affidavit of good character and fitness for the practice of law.
Discrepancies Between the Law School Application and the Bar Exam Application: In the Character and Fitness portion of the bar exam application, the bar examiners will ask about past incidents involving your character and fitness. The questions on the bar application may be different in number or content than those on this law school application. The bar examiners may ask to view your law school application to compare the answers on the two applications. Discrepancies between your law school application and the bar application may result in serious consequences. Therefore, please disclose all incidents and carefully answer each question.
If in Doubt Answer "Yes": If you are unsure whether to answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions, please answer “yes,” and disclose all the details including a complete explanation of the circumstances on a separate sheet. Include in the explanation(s) the date and year, location, and the circumstances of the incident, and any fines and/or sanctions. Do not provide official documentation in lieu of a written explanation of circumstances.
Provide a Complete Explanation to Every "Yes" Answer: If you answer “yes" to any of the following questions, you must disclose all the details including a complete explanation of the circumstances on a separate sheet. Include in the explanation(s) the date and year, location, a detailed description of the circumstances of the incident, and a detailed description of the disposition or outcome, including, without limitation, any fines and/or sanctions, nolo contendere pleas, dismissals, expungements, sealed records, etc. Do not provide official documentation in lieu of a written explanation of circumstances.
Failure to Answer (Intended or Unintended) May Have Serious Consequences: If you fail to answer with candor or fail to notify our office with any changes, we may impose sanctions and possibly revoke your admission. Furthermore, you may be denied admission to the bar if you fail to disclose facts in this application.
A Continuing Obligation to Disclose: After you submit this application, you have a continuing obligation to update our office, in writing, with any changes or additions to your answers. This obligation continues throughout the application process and throughout law school.

Please type your full name if you acknowledge that you have read and understand the above instructions. Your typed name will serve as your signature.required (maximum characters 100)
Have you ever been subject to a dismissal, a suspension, probation, an accusation of misconduct, a probable cause hearing, the lowering of a grade, or any other academic or social sanction by a college, university, professional school, or professional association (including any sealed or expunged incidents)?
Have you ever, including when you were a juvenile, been arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any criminal offense other than parking violations or minor traffic violations? Minor traffic violations are those that resulted in a fine of $200 or less and did not (1) involve the use or possession of alcohol or drugs, or (2) result in the suspension of your driver’s license. Your answer to this question must include matters that have been sealed or expunged. Also, you should have available and be prepared if requested to submit copies of police and court records regarding any matter you disclose in reply to this question.
In a paid or volunteer employment setting after high school, including unpaid internships, have you ever been disciplined, discharged or permitted to resign because of allegations or findings of fraud, misrepresentation, dishonesty, theft, sexual misconduct, or acts of violence?
Have you been discharged or dismissed from the armed forces, other than by honorable discharge, or have you been sentenced in a court-martial proceeding (including any sealed or expunged incidents)?

Character and Fitness Reminder

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, please provide a complete explanation of the circumstances on a separate sheet included with this application. Include in the explanation(s) the date and year, location, a detailed description of the circumstances of the incident, and a detailed description of the disposition or outcome, including, without limitation, any fines and/or sanctions, nolo contendere pleas, dismissals, expungements, sealed records, etc. Do not provide official documentation in lieu of a written explanation of circumstances, but you may include such documentation in addition to your explanation.

NIU College of Law will take into account economic, physical or other hardships that have been overcome when making some admissions decisions. If you believe that you have overcome significant hardships and wish to have this information considered, please complete all of this section. Applicants should be prepared to verify this information upon request.

1. Have you ever received a Federal Pell Grant?

How much, if any, of your childhood was spent in a single-parent home? Please type corresponding response in below text box.

1-5 years

6-10 years

11 years or more

None

If your first parent/guardian is deceased, how old were you when they died?
If your second parent/guardian is deceased, how old were you when they died?
What was the approximate total income of all the persons living in your parents' household in the last tax year? (If your parents are separated or divorced, please provide information for the household where you lived most of the time before college, including any support provided by the absent parent. If your parents are deceased, please provide information for the last year in which you lived with them.) If the head of the household is claimed as a dependent on another person's income tax forms, please provide the requested information for that claimant.

Please type corresponding response in the below text box.

Under $15,000

$15,000-$24,999

$25,000-$34,999

$35,000-$44,999

$45,000-$59,999

$60,000-$79,999

$80,000-$99,999

$100,000-$149,999

$150,000 or more

Unknown

What was the approximate net worth of both your parents in the last tax year? If your parents are separated or divorced, please provide the combined net worth of both parents' households.

By net worth, we mean total assets (including home value, pension value, stocks and bonds, etc.) minus total liabilities (home mortgages and other debts). If the head of the household is claimed as a dependent on another person's income tax forms, please provide the requested information for that claimant.

Please type corresponding response in the below text box.

Under $50,000

$50,000-$99,999

$100,000-$199,999

$200,000-$399,999

$400,000-$799,999

$800,000 or more

Unknown

If the income level indicated above does not represent the approximate income level of your parents' household during this period, please explain: (maximum characters 1000)

Your optional financial need statement should not exceed one page in length and should not be used as an extension of your personal statement.