Rutgers University

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Application requirements

Recommendations

2 to 4

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

The American Bar Association Standards and Rules of Procedure require law schools to advise each applicant of the following:

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.

Every American jurisdiction in which you may practice law after graduation from law school requires each applicant for admission to the bar to meet character and fitness requirements as a condition of eligibility for admission. A character and fitness review will require truthful, accurate and complete reporting of all requested information related to past conduct that bar examiners may deem relevant to one's fitness to practice law, in most jurisdictions. This includes (but is not limited to) all criminal arrests, charges, plea agreements, convictions, or instances of being taken into custody, as a juvenile or adult; all traffic violations except minor parking citations; involvement as a party to civil litigation; acts of fraud, dishonesty, or lack of candor; educational discipline or misconduct; failure to pay financial obligations; and substance abuse. Many jurisdictions require disclosure of all criminal arrests, charge, plea agreements or convictions, as a juvenile or adult, even where the record has been expunged.

It should be noted, however, that while bar admission boards require a complete disclosure of requested information, in many instances past relevant conduct, particularly if isolated and/or not recent, has not resulted in denial or delay of admission to the bar in a particular jurisdiction of interest. (This is not to suggest or predict how any jurisdiction's bar admission board would respond to any applicant's particular conduct disclosures going forward.)

A failure to truthfully, accurately and completely respond to a character and fitness inquiry, however, is commonly deemed a character and fitness violation in and of itself, and may be more detrimental to bar admission prospects than the undisclosed or incorrectly disclosed underlying conduct.

You are encouraged, as you go through the law school application process and before you enter law school, to determine the character and fitness requirements of the jurisdiction(s) where you intend to practice law. If you are uncertain where you will practice law, you may wish to review the Standard NCBE Character and Fitness Application, titled Request for Preparation of a Character Report of the National Conference of Bar Examiners which is used by a number of bar admission authorities. Addresses for the agencies are available at www.ncbex.org .

If you answer "yes" to any of the following Character and Fitness questions, please submit a detailed statement with this application explaining the circumstances, including details of the offense and relevant dates. All state bar examiners will review a copy of your law school application. Full disclosure is critical. Please make sure all relevant information is provided. If your answer cannot fit within the character limit of the corresponding textbox, please submit an addendum in the Attachments section of this application.

Have you ever been dismissed, expelled, suspended, placed on academic probation, given an academic warning, or disciplined by any secondary school, college, university, graduate, or professional school (including law school) for academic or any other reasons?
Has your academic career (undergraduate and/or graduate) been interrupted for one or more terms?
Were you ever subject to any disciplinary action while you were in college? Include violations of the university code of student conduct or any student honor code that covers standards of behavior at your undergraduate and/or graduate institution.
Are there any criminal or disciplinary charges pending or expected to be brought against you?
Have you ever been cited for, charged with, taken into custody for, arrested for, indicted, tried for, pled guilty to, or convicted of, the violation of any law (other than a minor traffic violation) or been the subject of a juvenile delinquent or youthful offender proceeding or received a conditional discharge, adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, or pretrial diversionary program? (NOTE: driving while intoxicated or impaired, driving without insurance, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving while suspended are not considered minor traffic offenses for the purposes of this question).

The entry of an expungement or sealing order does not relieve you of the duty to disclose the matter on this statement. This includes any juvenile record. You may indicate the existence of such an order in your explanation. If yes, please include an official statement of charges and dispositions.

Have you ever been a named party (e.g., plaintiff/defendant) in any civil proceeding, regardless of the age of the matter or whether the final disposition was a dismissal or a settlement? This includes, but is not limited to, malpractice, negligence actions, intentional torts, landlord/tenant matters, contract matters, or domestic relations matters, including divorce, custody, visitation, support, petitions for protection from abuse, restraining orders and/or peace orders and expungement proceedings. Have you ever been a party, complainant or participant in or to an administrative, governmental, investigative, judicial, arbitration or disciplinary proceeding, including but not limited to workers' compensation, unemployment, pension, disability, licensing boards, welfare, child protection, Title IX proceedings, conservatorship, fee arbitration or attorney disciplinary/grievance proceedings? NOTE: Simple receipt of benefits does NOT trigger an affirmative response if no proceedings were held.
Have you ever been disciplined as a member of any licensed profession or occupation, including, but not limited to, being suspended from practice, reprimanded, censured, disqualified, revoked, permitted to resign, admonished, sanctioned or removed, or have any complaints or charges, formal or informal, ever been made or filed or proceeding instituted against you in such capacity?

Welcome to Rutgers Law School

Chartered in 1766, Rutgers University is one of the oldest and largest public institutions of higher learning in the nation. Rutgers Law School is proud to continue this standard of excellence. With a comprehensive curriculum enhanced by cutting-edge technology, Rutgers Law is noted for excellence in education. Its world-class faculty, which includes more than 100 full-time members, is internationally recognized for scholarship in fields as diverse as international law, health law, family and women?s rights law, state constitutional law, and legal history. Further information about Rutgers Law School, including its faculty, curriculum, academic centers and programs, student body and organizations, and admissions and other policies is available on our website: https://law.rutgers.edu

Please read these instructions and the information set forth on LSAC's website LSAC.org carefully before completing your application and all application forms.

General Information

Rutgers Law School operates two campuses, in Camden and Newark.

Rutgers Law's admission process involves a holistic review that considers a number of factors in evaluating whether a candidate would be suitable for admission and does not use numerical cutoffs. The process seeks to determine whether the person is likely to succeed in law school, would benefit from a legal education here, and could contribute to the dynamic Rutgers Law community. To make this determination, the law school considers the applicant's academic record, undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, choice of major, nature and difficulty of course selection, LSAT scores, extracurricular activities, personal statement, letters of recommendation, contributions to the community, professional experience, obstacles overcome, and all other supplemental materials. The Law School makes no distinction between full-time and part-time students, or between one campus and the other, in making its decision.

Upon acceptance and remittance of the required seat deposits, students may enroll in either the full-time (day) program or the part-time hybrid (evening) program. Subject to class sequencing and classroom space, the administration will endeavor to assist students needing part-time day schedules.

Admission decisions may be made on the basis of six semesters of full-time undergraduate work. All acceptance decisions are conditional on the premise that the candidates will successfully complete their course work and degree requirements before enrolling and that the quality of this work will be equal to that on which the admissions committee based its decision.

Minority Student Program (MSP): MSP is a post-admission program reflecting the faculty?s longstanding commitment to promote and enhance diversity in the educational community and the legal profession. Started on the Newark campus in 1968, the program provides academic support, mentoring, and internships to students who, regardless of race or ethnic origin, can demonstrate through a history of socio-economic, educational, or cultural experiences that they have been disadvantaged. Though admission to MSP is separate from and subsequent to admission to the law school, every applicant is invited to indicate their interest in the program on their application. MSP is offered at both campuses.

Summer Jump Start: To afford admitted first-year law students an accelerated class experience in one of their core 1L subjects, Rutgers Law School offers the Summer Jump Start Class Program at the Camden campus. In recent years, the 1L class offered in Jump Start has typically been Contracts, though the course as well as the instructor are subject to change. Benefits of the program include early acclimation to the rigors of law school while taking only one core 1L subject, formation of early study groups and classmate bonding, and a lighter load of 11 credits, rather than 15 credits in the fall semester. Many of our current top law students availed themselves of this opportunity. Registration for the class is on a first-come, first-served basis. This program is currently only available at the Camden campus. This is not a conditional-admission program; only admitted students may enroll in Summer Jump Start. Housing may be available.

3+3 Program: The 3+3 Program enables highly qualified students to complete both a bachelor's degree and a J.D. degree in six years, rather than the usual seven. The program is open to Rutgers undergraduates on all three campuses (Camden, New Brunswick and Newark), as well as select undergraduate schools outside the Rutgers system. For a complete list, please check our website. Students participating in this accelerated program complete their first year of law school courses during what would normally be their fourth year of undergraduate studies. To prepare for this fourth year, they must complete all undergraduate course requirements in General Education and in their chosen major, and compile at least 91 credits during their first three years of undergraduate study. The 30 credits required during the first year of law school count towards both degrees. Typically, the bachelor's degree is awarded after the first year of law school, and the J.D. is awarded after two more years of law school have been successfully completed and all requirements for graduating have been met. Applicants interested in this program are urged to meet with their pre-law advisor early in their undergraduate career to plan for this program. Interested applicants must take the LSAT and go through the regular law school application process.

Dual Degree Programs: Rutgers University, as the principal public research university of New Jersey, offers graduate and professional degree programs in virtually every major academic discipline, and the law faculty encourages interdisciplinary study coordinated with other graduate units of the University. Typically, each unit accepts 9 to 12 credits from course work taken at the other unit, enabling students to obtain the two degrees in less time than if they had been pursued individually. The following formal dual degree programs are currently offered:

J.D./M.B.A., with both Rutgers Business School (Newark/New Brunswick) and Rutgers Business School - Camden

J.D./M.A., in Criminal Justice, with the School of Criminal Justice

J.D./M.C.R.P., (Master of City and Regional Planning), with the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

J.D./M.S.W., with the School of Social Work

J.D./M.P.A., (Master of Public Administration), with the School of Public Affairs and Administration

J.D./M.P.A.P., (Master of Public Affairs and Politics), with the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

J.D./M.P.H., (Master of Public Health), with the Biomedical and Health Sciences School of Public Health in New Brunswick

J.D./M.S. or J.D./Ph.D., with the Division of Global Affairs

J.D./M.D., with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Moreover, it is possible, on a case-by-case basis, to coordinate a dual degree program of study with many of the more than 100 graduate programs offered by Rutgers at the masters or doctoral level.

Applicants interested in a dual degree must apply to the other graduate program separately and comply with its admissions procedures and requirements, which may include taking the GRE, GMAT, or MCAT. Students who do not seek another graduate degree may nevertheless enroll in other graduate-level courses in subjects related to law and, with prior approval, may apply up to six (6) credits to the J.D. degree.

Application Materials:

Application Fee: No application fee is required.
LSAT: Each candidate for admission must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) at the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Our admissions committee will consider all scores for LSATs taken within the last five (5) years. The June 2026 LSAT is the last testing date for Fall 2026 admission. Early testing is strongly recommended for priority seat reservation availability and scholarship consideration.
Transcripts: All acceptances are conditioned upon an admitted student completing his or her bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to the first day of class. Transcripts from all previous colleges or universities attended, including law and graduate schools, must be sent directly to LSAC. Please follow the instructions on the LSAC website for submission of your transcripts. LSAC will supply the data to all law schools that request it. Although LSAC does not evaluate graduate transcripts, copies are distributed by the service.
Recommendation Letters: Rutgers Law School requires two (2) letters of recommendation to be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. This service is included in your CAS registration. To use this service, follow the directions on the LSAC website for submitting and releasing recommendation letters. Candidates currently enrolled in college should have recommendations from at least one professor. If you have not been enrolled in college within the past three years, references may also be obtained from employment supervisors, commanding officers, or persons who have observed you in a working or professional capacity.
Personal Statement: Each candidate must complete a 2-4 page (double-spaced) essay presenting any information that may assist the admissions committee in rendering a decision. Your essay can include information about yourself, your motivation for attending law school, and how you plan to use your legal education. Our goal is to create an intellectually stimulating student body comprised of persons who have diverse backgrounds and who share a desire for academic excellence and accomplishment in the practice of law. In addition to outstanding academic ability, we seek evidence of qualities such as leadership ability, professional and/or military experience, technical or vocational training, extraordinary accomplishment or success in a previous career, or a history of overcoming disadvantage. If you possess any of the above qualities, or other qualities you wish the admissions committee to consider, please include this information in your statement.

Application Deadlines/ Financial Aid:

Binding Early Decision Program

Round 1

Submit and complete application by December 1
Receive decision by December 31 (or sooner)

Round 2

Submit and complete application by March 1
Receive decision by April 1 (if not sooner)

Regular Decision

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials as early as possible to ensure seat reservation ability and scholarship opportunities. The deadline to submit an application is July 1, 2026.

Financial Aid:

Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Applicants are also encouraged to apply for assistance as early as possible, preferably by February 1. However, because Rutgers participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program, financial aid, including all federal and GradPLUS loans, can be processed through the first day of class in August (or June for Jump Start). When completing the FAFSA, students should list Rutgers Law School as: RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY (Code #002629).

Financial aid personnel are available to answer questions at each law school location. Review the Financial Aid Steps on our website and contact our Office of Admissions with any financial aid questions.

2-Year Accelerated J.D. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers (FLP):

The Foreign-Trained Lawyers Program (FLP) allows candidates who have earned a law degree and were practicing attorneys in another country the opportunity to receive up to 28 credits of advanced standing. Upon completion of 58 credits at Rutgers Law School, you will receive a J.D. degree. With the J.D. degree you will be certified to take the bar in any U.S. jurisdiction. In general, candidates admitted into this program complete the first-year required curriculum and one year of upper-level courses. The program can be completed in two (2) years if you attend full-time, or three (3) years if you attend part-time. The application process is the same as for a first-year student. Please follow the instructions for submitting original international credentials found in the International Applicants/Foreign Credentials section on the LSAC website. Your international transcripts will be translated if necessary, evaluated, and sent with your CAS report to the law school. Please include any bar certifications you may have on your resume. You may not receive credit for LL.M. course work completed at another ABA accredited law school prior to matriculating at Rutgers Law School.

Non-Discrimination Policy:

Rutgers University Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment: This Policy discusses the university's prohibitions against discrimination and harassment based upon membership in enumerated protected classes as well as the prohibitions against retaliation based upon the exercise of rights pursuant to the Policy. The full Policy, including definitions of harassment and discrimination, and the process for reporting violations is set forth here.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual assault. While it is often thought of as a law that applies to athletic programs, Title IX is much broader than athletics and applies to many programs at Rutgers. Additional information on Title IX, including the process for filing a Title IX complaint, is available here.

The Student Code of Conduct can be found here.