University of Cincinnati

Albany Law School Of Union University American University Appalachian School of Law Arizona State University Atlanta's John Marshall Law School Ave Maria School Of Law Barry University Baylor University Belmont University Boston College Boston University Brigham Young University Brooklyn Law School California Western School Of Law Campbell University Capital University Case Western Reserve University Catholic University Of America Chapman University Charleston School Of Law Cleveland State University Columbia University Cornell University Creighton University CUNY DePaul University Drake University Drexel University Duke University Duquesne University Elon University Emory University Florida A&M University Florida International University Florida State University Fordham University George Mason University Georgetown University George Washington University Georgia State University Gonzaga University Harvard University Hofstra University Howard University Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent) Indiana University - Bloomington Indiana University - Indianapolis Inter American University School of Law Lewis And Clark College Liberty University Lincoln Memorial Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University - Los Angeles Loyola University - Chicago Loyola University - New Orleans Marquette University Mercer University Michigan State University Mississippi College Mitchell Hamline New England Law | Boston New York Law School New York University North Carolina Central University Northeastern University Northern Illinois University Northern Kentucky University Northwestern University Nova Southeastern University Ohio Northern University Ohio State University Oklahoma City University Pace University Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law Pennsylvania State - Penn State Law Pepperdine University Pontifical Catholic University Quinnipiac University Regent University Roger Williams University Rutgers University Saint Louis University Samford University Santa Clara University Seattle University Seton Hall University Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Southern Methodist University Southern University South Texas College Of Law - Houston Southwestern Law School Stanford University Stetson University St. John's University St. Mary's University St. Thomas University (Florida) Suffolk University Syracuse University Temple University Texas A&M University Texas Southern University Texas Tech University Touro College Tulane University University of Akron University of Alabama University of Arizona University of Arkansas, Fayetteville University of Arkansas, Little Rock University of Baltimore University of Buffalo - SUNY University of California - Berkeley University of California - Davis University of California (Hastings) University of California - Irvine University of California - Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Cincinnati University of Colorado - Boulder University of Connecticut University of Dayton University of Denver University of Detroit Mercy University of Florida (Levin) University of Georgia University of Hawaii University of Houston University of Idaho University of Illinois - Chicago University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Louisville University of Maine University of Maryland University of Massachusetts Dartmouth University of Memphis University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Mississippi University of Missouri University of Missouri - Kansas City University of Montana University of Nebraska University of Nevada - Las Vegas University of New Hampshire University of New Mexico University of North Carolina University of North Dakota University of North Texas at Dallas University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Puerto Rico University of Richmond University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of South Carolina University of South Dakota University of Southern California University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) University of Tennessee University of Texas at Austin University of the District of Columbia University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) University of Toledo University of Tulsa University of Utah University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin University of Wyoming Vanderbilt University Vermont Law School Villanova University Wake Forest University Washburn University Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Wayne State University Western Michigan University (Cooley) Western New England University Western State College Of Law West Virginia University Widener University - Delaware Widener University - Pennsylvania (Commonwealth) Willamette University William & Mary Law School Yale University Yeshiva University (Cardozo)

Application requirements

Deadline

Jul 15, 2026

Recommendations

2 to 3

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

A thoughtfully crafted and well-written personal statement is the most effective means of communication with the Admissions Committee. Within this statement, applicants can offer a deeper understanding of their overall background and the driving motivations that will shape their journey at the College of Law. Furthermore, the personal statement serves as a testament to the applicant's writing prowess, showcasing their ability to articulate ideas effectively. You can find information on how to write an effective personal statement under the Admission Requirements section on the JD Program page.

Please choose one of the following prompts below:

Describe your specific interest in attending the University of Cincinnati College of Law and how you believe our institution will uniquely support your academic and career aspirations. In your response, please highlight any programs, faculty, or resources at Cincinnati Law that align with your goals and how you envision yourself contributing to the vibrant legal community on our campus.
Discuss a significant life experience or personal challenge that has shaped your interest in pursuing a legal education. How did you overcome this obstacle, and how has it influenced your vision for using the law to effect positive change?
Reflect on an instance where you observed an injustice or inequality in society. How did this experience motivate you to pursue a career in law? Describe the steps you have taken to prepare yourself for the challenges and responsibilities of advocating for justice and fairness.
In your opinion, what is the most pressing legal issue facing our society today? How do you plan to contribute to addressing this issue through your legal studies and eventual career? Provide specific examples of actions you have taken to educate yourself on the matter.
Law is a dynamic field with many different areas of specialization. Describe your current interests within the legal profession and why they appeal to you. How do you envision yourself making a meaningful impact in these areas, and what steps will you take to become a successful and dedicated practitioner in your chosen field?
Discuss any topic of your choice.

Note: Remember that personal statements for law school should reflect your genuine experiences, aspirations, and motivations. Ensure that your responses are specific, well-articulated, and showcase your unique qualities as an applicant.

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 www.ncbex.org. Acceptance by the University of Cincinnati College of Law does not guarantee certification by any state’s Board of Law Examiners.

As part of this screening, the College of Law must provide a report on each student's character and fitness. To enable the College to compile that report, you must provide detailed information concerning your past conduct. Your failure to disclose past conduct that bears on your character and fitness could result in revocation of your admission to the College, discipline under the College Honor Code, or a state's refusal to admit you to the practice of law.

Please respond to the following questions, keeping in mind that complete candor is an indication of good character and fitness to practice law. Your answers are confidential, except for the report to bar examiners, unless you authorize the College to release them. If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, (including questions six through eight which ask about tickets), you must provide a full response explaining the circumstances in the space provided below the question. Failure to do so will result in an incomplete application that will not be processed.

If your explanation to any of these questions exceeds the space provided, please upload your full response as an addendum in the Attachments section of the application.

Have you ever been disciplined, placed on probation, warned, suspended, asked to resign, or expelled by an educational institution? This includes any formal, or informal, proceedings that occurred as a resident in on-campus housing.
Have you ever had to discontinue or pause your college education or full-time employment for more than 30 days for any reason?
Have you ever been discharged, suspended, disciplined, or asked to resign by any employer?
Have you ever filed or been the subject of a petition for bankruptcy?
Have you been cited for, arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any violation of any law, including as a juvenile (except parking tickets)?

Note: This should include matters that have been expunged, dismissed, sealed, subject to a diversion program, or otherwise set aside even if you were advised by an attorney that these offenses are no longer subject to disclosure.

Do you have outstanding or unpaid fines, court costs, or tickets, including those for traffic or parking violations?
Have you ever been charged with any alcohol- or drug-related traffic violations, regardless of when they occurred? Note: This should include matters that have been expunged, dismissed, sealed, subject to a diversion program, or otherwise set aside even if you were advised by an attorney that these offenses are no longer subject to disclosure.
Have you ever been charged with any moving traffic violations that were not alcohol- or drug-related during the past ten years? Note: This should include matters that have been expunged, dismissed, sealed, subject to a diversion program, or otherwise set aside even if you were advised by an attorney that these offenses are no longer subject to disclosure.
Have you ever been suspended, censured, removed, denied a license for, had a license revoked, or been otherwise reprimanded or disqualified as a member of another profession, or as a holder of public office?
Are disciplinary actions or criminal charges currently pending against you?
Have you ever been subject to any discipline, court-martialed, or dishonorably discharged from the military?
Have you been summoned for a violation of any statute, regulation, or ordinance?
Have you been removed, resigned, or asked to resign as a guardian, executor, administrator, trustee, or other fiduciary?
Have you ever been in default on any debts, including student loans?

Default means you have failed to make payments as agreed for an extended period (typically 90 days), which may have led to serious consequences such as collections or credit reporting.

To your knowledge, have you either been denied a security clearance or have you had a security clearance previously granted to you revoked?
Have you ever been, or are you currently, a party to any civil action or administrative proceeding?

University of Cincinnati College of Law

Holistic Admission Review Policy

To be considered for admission, a candidate must have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university by the date of anticipated enrollment. A notice of acceptance may be issued before the undergraduate degree has been obtained, but such acceptance is conditional upon the applicant's actual receipt of the degree.

Admission to the College of Law is based upon a holistic evaluation of each application file. The Admission Committee carefully examines the applicant's undergraduate grade-point average and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score to assess their academic potential. Additionally, non-quantitative factors believed to be relevant to success in law school are taken into consideration. These factors encompass an applicant's academic performance, involvement in community service or significant extracurricular activities, employment experience, graduate work, thoughtful letters of recommendation, and a writing sample.

The Admissions Committee recognizes the paramount importance of personal narratives and diverse intellectual and lived experiences when evaluating candidates. The evaluation of the writing samples provides valuable insights into the applicant's communication skills, critical thinking ability, and potential for success in legal studies. It also grants the Committee a glimpse of the applicant's distinctive qualities, which are closely tied to their potential to make positive contributions to our vibrant and inclusive academic community.

By considering both quantitative and qualitative aspects of each applicant, the College of Law aims to curate a dynamic student body capable of excelling in their legal education and future careers. The holistic review process enables the Admission Committee to identify promising individuals who possess not only strong academic credentials but also the qualities necessary to make a positive impact in the legal profession and the community at large. Emphasizing these aspects ensures that the College of Law continues to foster an enriching learning environment that nurtures aspiring legal professionals and encourages their active engagement in society.

JD PROGRAM OPTIONS

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

The checklist below outlines the required materials for a complete application. You must use your current legal name at the time of application to the College of Law.

1. Online Application for Admission

All applicants must complete an electronic application for admission through the LSAC. Failure to complete the application in its entirety will delay the processing of your application. The application must be signed electronically by the applicant.

2. Application Fee

Application fees are waived automatically if you apply on or before February 1, 2026. After February 1, a nonrefundable $40 application fee must accompany the application.

The College of Law is committed to removing financial barriers in the application process. To this end, we strive to keep our application fee as low as possible. The College of Law will waive the application fee by request for any applicant who has been awarded a need-based fee waiver for the LSAT/Credential Assembly Service by LSAC. The College of Law will also consider other written need-based fee waiver requests on a case-by-case basis.

3. Standardized Test Score

Applicants must take the LSAT or the JD Next Exam. The College of Law does not accept the GRE.

LSAT

For the LSAT, it is recommended that applicants take the June, August, September, October, November, January, February, or April administration of the LSAT. Applicants are strongly encouraged to retake the LSAT if the initial score is significantly below the College's published LSAT median.

JD NEXT

For the JD NEXT exam, applicants must take the August 2025, November 2025, or January 2026 exam to be considered for Fall 2026 admission.

4. Two Letters of Recommendation

To complete the application process, two letters of recommendation are mandatory and must be submitted using the LSAC's Credential Assembly Letter of Recommendation Service. An ideal reference would be a college professor who possesses firsthand knowledge of the applicant's academic capabilities and work ethic, enabling them to craft a meaningful recommendation. For those individuals who have been out of college for an extended period or face challenges in contacting professors, obtaining references from employers, supervisors, or attorneys who can vouch for the applicant's qualifications for law study is acceptable.

5. Transcripts

Applicants for admission are required to register for LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. The applicant is responsible for sending official transcripts to LSAC for each undergraduate or graduate college or university attended. The Credential Assembly Service will analyze the applicant's transcripts, verify letters of recommendation, and send a Credential Assembly Service Law School Report to the College of Law.

6. Personal Statement

Please choose one of the following prompts below:

Describe your specific interest in attending the University of Cincinnati College of Law and how you believe our institution will uniquely support your academic and career aspirations. In your response, please highlight any programs, faculty, or resources at Cincinnati Law that align with your goals and how you envision yourself contributing to the vibrant legal community on our campus.
Discuss a significant life experience or personal challenge that has shaped your interest in pursuing a legal education. How did you overcome this obstacle, and how has it influenced your vision for using the law to effect positive change?
Reflect on an instance where you observed an injustice or inequality in society. How did this experience motivate you to pursue a career in law? Describe the steps you have taken to prepare yourself for the challenges and responsibilities of advocating for justice and fairness.
In your opinion, what is the most pressing legal issue facing our society today? How do you plan to contribute to addressing this issue through your legal studies and eventual career? Provide specific examples of actions you have taken to educate yourself on the matter.
Law is a dynamic field with many different areas of specialization. Describe your current interests within the legal profession and why they appeal to you. How do you envision yourself making a meaningful impact in these areas, and what steps will you take to become a successful and dedicated practitioner in your chosen field?
Discuss any topic of your choice.

7. Character and Fitness Disclosures

It is crucial to acknowledge that the information provided in the application pertaining to character and fitness may be incorporated into a future state bar application. The application will only be deemed complete once all Character and Fitness questions have been answered, and an accompanying explanation, detailing any responses marked "yes," has been submitted and received.

8. Résumé

All applicants are required to submit a current resume. For law school applications, the resume should focus on academic and employment accomplishments. Additionally, it is advantageous to highlight any leadership roles, professional responsibilities, and volunteer experiences you have undertaken.

9. Applicants with International Degrees (if applicable)

The University of Cincinnati College of Law requires the submission of international transcripts through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. If applicants have completed any postsecondary education outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, they must use this service for the evaluation of their international transcripts. The only exception to this requirement is for applicants who completed international work through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and this work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. The Credential Assembly Service registration fee includes this evaluation service, which will be conducted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). The evaluation will then be incorporated into the applicant's Credential Assembly Service Law School Report.

To utilize the Credential Assembly Service, log in to your online account and follow the registration instructions. Make sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. Please note that additional time is usually required to receive international transcripts. For any inquiries regarding the Credential Assembly Service, please contact LSAC at 1.800.336.3982 or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.

Documentation of English proficiency is required for all applicants whose native language is not English. The following exams and minimum scores are accepted as proof of English proficiency:

TOEFL: minimum score of 80 iBT
- In-person and at-home (online) exam scores accepted. TOEFL Essentials and My Best Test scores are not accepted.
IELTS: minimum score of 6.5 overall band
- In-person and at-home (online) exam scores accepted. One Skill Retake is not accepted.
Duolingo (DET): minimum score of 110
PTE: minimum score of 54

UC only accepts official scores sent directly from the testing agency to the LSAC or the University of Cincinnati College of Law, preferably via electronic sending methods. Self-reported scores will not complete your application nor will scores that are below the minimum qualifying scores listed above.

Applicants should contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request their TOEFL score to be sent to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The applicant's TOEFL score will be included in the international credential evaluation document, which will be a part of the Credential Assembly Service Law School Report sent from LSAC to the College of Law. Moreover, the English proficiency requirement is also met for applicants with degrees (e.g. a Bachelor's or Master's) earned in English from accredited universities and colleges in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking countries.

10. Prior Law School Information (if applicable)

If you have previously attended any law school, it is mandatory to provide an addendum detailing the name of the institution, the dates of attendance, and the reasons for your departure. Furthermore, along with your completed application, you must include a letter of good standing and a transcript from the respective law school.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The University of Cincinnati is fundamentally committed to ensuring equal opportunity for all by providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The university reaffirms its policy that discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, military status (including veteran status), national origin, parental status (including status as a nursing mother and status as a foster parent), pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law (collectively, ?protected class?) are prohibited in any of its activities, programs, admissions, or employment.

The University does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on these bases and takes steps to ensure that students, employees, and third parties are not subject to a hostile environment in University programs or activities. A complete Notice of Nondiscrimination can be found at http://www.uc.edu/about/policies/non-discrimination.html.

Notice of Privacy

Learn more about the University of Cincinnati's Privacy Statement.

Application Timeline

To ensure sufficient time for processing and reviewing all applications, we encourage applicants to complete their files as early as possible. Applications submitted for Fall 2026 between September 1, 2025, and March 15, 2026, will be given priority consideration.

Important Dates:

September 1, 2025: Application Cycle Opens
February 1, 2026: First Choice Application Deadline
March 15, 2026: Recommended Application Deadline
July 15, 2026: Final Application Deadline

To maximize the opportunities for scholarship awards, fellowship considerations, and participation in Admitted Student Open Houses, we strongly advise applicants to submit their applications by the First Choice Application Deadline of February 1, 2026.

We understand that circumstances may vary, and we will continue to accept and review applications until the Final Application Deadline on July 15, 2026. However, it is important to note that early submission is highly recommended, as spaces may be limited, and the competition for admission might become more intense as the deadline approaches. Take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your potential and secure your place in the application pool by submitting early.

Notification of Admission Decisions

The Admissions Committee is committed to providing timely and thorough evaluations of all applications to ensure a fair and efficient admissions process. The Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, starting from late October and continuing until the final application deadline. Typically, every applicant can expect to receive a decision (acceptance, waitlist, or denial) within four to six weeks after their application is completed. In preparation for any potential openings during the spring and summer, a waiting list will be established. This allows the opportunity to fill vacancies that may arise with qualified candidates from the waiting list.