University of Maine

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Application requirements

Deadline

Jul 15, 2026

Recommendations

2 to 4

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

Because of the high ethical standards governing lawyers, the failure to disclose an act or event, such as the ones described below, is often more significant and leads to more serious consequences than the act or event itself. Failure to provide full and truthful answers may result in revocation of admission, referral to LSAC, disciplinary action by the School of Law, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission. You have a continuing obligation to disclose any violations from the list below throughout your law school enrollment. Because state requirements vary, we advise you to obtain information about qualifications for admission to the bar of the state in which you intend to practice. Acceptance to Maine Law does not guarantee that you meet the requirements for admission to any state's bar.

If you answer "Yes" to ANY of the following questions, you MUST provide a full and complete explanation in an attachment, clearly answering the question, including the ultimate disposition. Your file will remain incomplete if this addendum is not attached. Note: An affirmative answer to any of these questions will not automatically preclude your admission.

If you have any past or pending criminal charges, you must provide all court documents and police reports.

Should your response to any of these questions change while your application is pending or, if admitted, prior to matriculation, you must immediately inform the Admissions Office and update your application accordingly. Note also that you have a continuing duty to disclose any act or event relevant to the questions below that occurs up until your official graduation from Maine Law.

Have you ever been dropped, suspended, placed on disciplinary probation, or expelled, or have you withdrawn, requested to withdraw, or been allowed to withdraw in lieu of discipline from any school (excluding high school) or otherwise subjected to discipline by any such institution? Note: Academic probation does not need to be reported.
Have you ever been terminated, suspended, or disciplined, or have you resigned in lieu of termination, from any job or organization for any reason?
Have you ever had a professional license denied, suspended, or revoked, or are there now pending any charges, complaints, or grievances (formal or informal) concerning your conduct as a member of any profession or as a holder of public office?
Have you been cited or arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any moving traffic violation during the past ten years? You do not need to disclose citations, arrests, charges, or convictions for speeding unless you have more than five such incidents in the past two years. You do not need to disclose parking tickets.
Have you ever been cited for, arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any violation of any law, other than a violation that was resolved in juvenile court? (Moving traffic violations should be disclosed in response to the previous question.) You do not need to disclose any matters that have been sealed or expunged.
Are there any other criminal charges pending against you (not reported above) or is there an ongoing investigation that could lead to criminal charges being brought against you?

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.

The University of Maine School of Law JD Application

mainelaw.maine.edu

The University of Maine School of Law, located in the coastal city of Portland, is a small school with regional impact and global reach. Maine Law serves as a force for the common good, while preparing graduates for careers as leaders inside and outside of the traditional legal profession.

Eligibility to Apply

An applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution by the time they begin study or be enrolled in one of Maine Law's 3+3 programs. The applicant must have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within the past five years and have registered with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

All Applicants

All applicants should review the admissions section of the University of Maine School of Law website at https://mainelaw.maine.edu/admissions*.* The instructions provided below should also be reviewed prior to applying.

Admission decisions are based on your completed file, which must contain the following items:

Completed application;
The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, inclusive of the LSAT score(s), college transcript(s), analysis of college transcript(s), and graduate school transcript(s);
Letters of recommendation;
Resume;
Personal statement; and
Addenda (if applicable).

It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure their application file is complete. We will make every effort to notify applicants, via the primary e-mail address listed on the application, if their application is incomplete.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer student applicants must have successfully completed credits at an ABA-approved law school. No student will be admitted who is ineligible to return to the institution last attended without an affirmative showing that the prior disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete our program of legal education and be admitted to the bar. Transfer students must submit the following materials:

Letter of Good Standing from Dean or Dean's designee of the current law school;
Official law school transcript with class standing;
Completed application;
The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, inclusive of the the LSAT score(s), college transcript(s), analysis of college transcript(s), and graduate school transcript(s);
Letters of recommendation;
Resume;
Personal Statement; and
Addenda (if applicable).

Visiting Applicants

Visiting student applicants must be currently enrolled at an ABA-approved law school and have successfully completed a minimum of one year of law study. Visiting students must submit:

Letter of Good Standing from Dean or Dean's designee of current school;
Letter of Permission to Visit from Dean or Dean's designee;
Official law school transcript with class standing;
Personal Statement; and
Addenda (if applicable).

Dual Degree Applicants

Students interested in combining a second degree with their JD must complete and submit separate applications to both Maine Law and the respective graduate program granting the second degree. The application process and acceptance decisions are separate for each school, and admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other.

International Applicants

International applicants are required to apply as first-year students and must submit the same materials as all other prospective students. Maine Law requires foreign transcripts be submitted through the Credential Assembly Service. If any post-secondary work was completed outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, the CAS must be used for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is foreign work through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the Credential Assembly Service registration fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and incorporated into your Credential Assembly Service report. If you need to submit a TOEFL score*, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC?s TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 8395. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your International Credential Assembly Service Law School Report.

To use the Credential Assembly Service, log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts.

*TOEFL: All classes are conducted in English. Therefore, students must be proficient in reading, writing, speaking, and listening to English. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have their scores sent directly to LSAC to be included in the Credential Assembly Service report. For more information, contact TOEFL at www.toefl.org or TOEFL, PO Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541, 609.951.1100.

International applicants must also be prepared to verify financial ability if accepted.

Application Review Process

Early Action Admission Program

Applicants who apply through the non-binding Early Action Admission Program must take the LSAT no later than the November administration and submit an application for admission no later than December 1. Any application received after December 1 will be considered along with the Regular Decision Rolling Admission applications. To ensure your application is complete by December 1, we encourage you to register with the Credential Assembly Service by mid-October the year before desired entry. The Admissions Committee will provide a response on all completed Early Action applications no later than January 15.

Regular Decision Rolling Admission Program

The Admissions Committee begins to review applications as soon as they are complete. Decisions are released on a rolling basis. Applicants are notified of the Committee's decision by email as soon as possible after the decision is made. However, the applicant can check the status of an application via the status checker through LSAC. Because Maine Law is a rolling admissions program, we encourage you to apply as early as possible. Applications close July 15th.

Transfer and Visiting Student Admission

Transfer and visiting student applications are due by July 1st. The Admissions Committee begins to review applications as soon as they are completed. Applicants are notified of the Committee's decision by email as soon as possible after the decision is made.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted through the LSAC Electronic Application program at www.LSAC.org, via the online services tab. All Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registrants with LSAC online accounts will have free access to the current electronic JD applications for all ABA-approved law schools, including the "flow-as-you-go" common application information. This distribution of online applications allows you to electronically package your applications with the transcripts, letters of recommendation, and CAS Reports that are being processed and sent to law schools by LSAC. Applications submitted to LSAC for transmission to Maine Law will be considered postmarked the day they are submitted.

Registering for the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

All applicants must register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The CAS provides a means of centralizing and standardizing undergraduate academic records to simplify the admissions process. There is a registration fee for the Credential Assembly Service as well as a fee for each law school report you request. For CAS registration and fee information go to www.LSAC.org. Note: It may take several weeks from the date of request for us to receive your CAS report.

All applicants must take the LSAT. Information on the LSAT, test dates, and registration information is available from the Law School Admission Council at www.LSAC.org. To be considered for admission, you should take the LSAT no later than February of the year in which you are seeking admission. Applicants may take the LSAT more than once; Maine Law accepts the highest LSAT score. The LSAT must have been taken within the last five years to be valid.

Letters of Recommendation

The Admissions Committee requires at least two, but no more than four, letters of recommendation. There is no separate recommendation form. Letters of recommendation must be sent through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service (information available at www.LSAC.org). Please be sure Letters of Recommendation are assigned to Maine Law.

If you are still in undergraduate or graduate school, or if you graduated from college or a graduate degree program within the past three to five years, at least one recommendation should be an academic reference (i.e. professor). If you have been out of school longer than this and do not have access to an academic reference, your recommendation may come from a professional source. In all instances, the recommender should be able to address and have personal knowledge of issues that will be important to your success in law school, including analytical abilities, judgment, motivation, communication skills (written and verbal), critical thinking, and aptitude for the study of law, as well as any unique talents you may possess.

Transcripts

Official transcripts from each college or university you have attended must be submitted to LSAC for the CAS report.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

All applicants must submit a resume or CV.

Personal Statement, Character and Fitness Addendum, and Optional Statements

All applicants must submit a personal statement. The application form contains complete instructions regarding the personal statement. All statements should be in 12-point font and double-spaced. Length is not specified, but no more than two pages is preferred. The statement should be written in your own words without the use of artificial intelligence.
In addition to the personal statement, applicants must submit a Character and Fitness addendum explaining any "Yes" answer to a Character and Fitness question. If you have past or pending criminal charges, you will also be required to submit all court documents and police reports relating to your charges. If the applicant answered "Yes" to any Character and Fitness question, the application will not be considered complete until an addendum is included. If an addendum is not included before the application is submitted, please email the addendum to lawadmissions@maine.edu.
Applicants may also submit an optional statement explaining or highlighting elements in their application that are not readily apparent. The application form contains complete instructions regarding the optional statement.
We also encourage you to share how your life experience has impacted your life, inspired you, and/or molded your perspective on law and learning. This may include discrimination, personal or family hardship, a rich lived experience, your role as a parent, your socio-economic status, multi-cultural experiences, and more.
You may also write a brief addendum if you believe that Maine Law is a good fit for you.

Tuition Categories

Maine Resident (includes Canadian, Alaskan, and Military applicants).
New England Regional Program (NEHBE): Applicable to Vermont and Rhode Island residents.
Non-Maine Resident

Please see the Maine Law website for current tuition and fee rates.

Military Benefits for Veterans and Current Military Personnel

On March 22, 2014 the Governor of Maine signed into law L.D. 1768 - H.P. 1267, which renders all current members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces eligible for in-state tuition, regardless of residency status. If you are a veteran or currently serving in the Armed Forces, please include a DD 2-14 and a Certificate of Eligibility with your application. If you are currently serving in the Armed Forces, you must also provide a copy of your military ID.

Maine Resident Regulations

The regulations of the Board of Trustees of Maine governing residence are set forth below for your guidance:

A student applying for admission to a degree program is classified as eligible or not eligible for in-state tuition at the time of acceptance to the university. The decision, made by the Chief Financial Officer, or other officials designated by the campus (this authority is granted to all admissions directors), shall be made based on information and documentation furnished by the student and other information available to the university. No student is eligible for in-state tuition classification until he or she has become domiciled in Maine, in accordance with university guidelines, before such registration. If the student is enrolled full-time in an academic program, as defined by the university, it will be presumed that the student is in Maine for educational purposes, and that the student is not in Maine to establish a domicile. A residence established for the purpose of attending a UMS campus shall not by itself constitute a domicile. The burden will be on the student to prove that he or she has established a Maine domicile for other than educational purposes. An individual who has lived in the state of Maine, for other than educational purposes, one year prior to registration or application to a campus is considered an in-state student.

A student, or spouse of a student, who currently has continuous, permanent full-time employment in Maine before the student decides to apply for degree status at the university will be considered in-state for tuition purposes.

In-state tuition is not available to anyone who holds a nonimmigrant United States visa. If an individual is not a domicile of the United States, they cannot be a domicile of the state of Maine.

A student who attended an out-of-state educational institution at in-state tuition rates in the immediately preceding semester shall be presumed to be in Maine for educational purposes and not to establish a domicile. Again, the burden will be on the individual to prove that he or she has established a Maine domicile for other than educational purposes.

Change of Tuition Status

To change tuition status:

A) A "Request for Change of Tuition Status" application must be filed with the Executive Director for Financial Resources on or before the campus's first day of classes for the summer session, fall or spring semester for which residency is requested. All applications shall be prospective.

B) If the Executive Director for Financial Resources' written decision, to be issued within 30 days of the first day of classes, is considered incorrect by the student, the student may appeal that decision in writing, within 30 days, in the following order to:

The Director of Admissions at Maine Law. After receiving a written decision from this level within 30 days, the student has 30 days to submit a written appeal to:
The Treasurer of the University System whose decision shall be final.

In the event the campus Chief Financial Officer, or other designated official, possesses facts or information indicating a student's change of status from in-state to out-of-state, the student shall be informed in writing of the change in status and will be given an opportunity to present facts in opposition to the change. The student may appeal the decision of the Executive Director for Financial Resources or other designated official as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Applications for "A Request for Change in Tuition Status" are available from the law school registrar. Completed applications should be returned to the Portland Business Office located at 128 Payson Smith.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

All admitted students are considered for merit-based scholarships. There is no additional application necessary. Priority consideration is given to applications completed by December 1.
You are welcome to submit a request for a need-based scholarship directly to lawadmissions@maine.edu. This statement should specify your individual circumstance that precludes you from attending law school without financial support.
The priority deadline for financial aid applications is January 15. Do not wait for an admission decision to apply for financial aid. To apply, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be filed electronically. Maine Law coordinates with the University of Southern Maine to process FAFSA applications. Applicants to Maine Law must use the University of Southern Maine code 009762 on the FAFSA.

Deposits

Once accepted, in order to hold your place in the class, the student must submit a non-refundable $500 deposit. The first non-refundable installation of $250 is required no later than April 15 (or by a specific date stated in the acceptance letter if after this date). The second non-refundable installation of $250 is required by June 1. These deposits will be credited toward tuition and fees.

Transfer and Visiting Student's deposit of $500 is due on or before August 1.

Changes

Promptly notify the Admissions Office at lawadmissions@maine.edu of any change in your contact information as well as any new facts that may change the response on any part of your application.

Communication About Your File

Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, we will share information about the status of your application file only with you, the applicant. If you expect to be out of the country or otherwise unavailable during the application process, it is advisable to designate an individual, typically a parent, partner, sibling, or spouse to communicate on your behalf with the Law School. To do so, please send a letter to the Admissions Office authorizing and naming your designate to work with our office on your behalf.

Bar Admission

Application Timeline

Maine Law only admits a new class for the fall semester of each year.

September 15: Applications open

December 1: Early Action Deadline

December 1: Priority deadline for merit-based scholarship consideration

January 15: Decisions for Early Action applicants issued

January 15: FAFSA priority deadline

April 15: First Deposit Due for Accepted Students

June 1: Second Deposit Due for Accepted Students

July 15: Application Deadline

August 1: Transfer & Visiting Student Deposit Due

QUESTIONS?

Direct all correspondence and inquiries to:

Admissions Office University of Maine School of Law 300 Fore Street Portland, ME 04101 lawadmissions@maine.edu 207.780.4341

You may also find useful information on our website at www.mainelaw.maine.edu

Questions about the LSAT or the CAS? Go to www.LSAC.org for more information.

For specific questions about your Credential Assembly Service profile, transcripts, policies and procedures, letters of recommendation, or Credential Assembly Service reports, use the LSAC Automated Telephone System at 800.575.5722 or go to www.LSAC.org.

For technical problems with Online Services, contact the LSAC Technical Support Staff at 800.575.5722 or go to www.LSAC.org and fill out the online support form.

For international applicants with questions about the Credential Assembly Service, contact LSAC at 800.575.5722, or e-mail LSACinfo@LSAC.org.