University of Memphis

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Application requirements

Deadline

Apr 01, 2026

Recommendations

1 to 4

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

Lawyers are held to high ethical standards. Not surprisingly, then, bar applicants are also held to high ethical standards and must undergo a “character and fitness” review as part of the bar application process in every United States jurisdiction. Accordingly, the following questions seek information about events in your past that shed light on your character and fitness to be a lawyer.

Read the questions below very carefully. Answer fully and honestly. Please note that the questions ask whether an event happened, not whether it is reflected in your “record” or whether there is documentation of the event. If the honest answer to whether an event in question actually happened is yes, disclose it.

Even expunged or sealed matters MUST be disclosed, unless the expunged or sealed matter was resolved while you were a juvenile (i.e., 17 or younger).

If you are in doubt about whether a disclosure is required, we encourage you to err on the side of disclosure. The failure to make a required disclosure is itself viewed as an ethical lapse. The failure to make a required disclosure may lead to serious consequences, including denial of admission or, for those already enrolled, dismissal from law school.

Many states require you to submit a copy of your application for admission to law school along with your bar application as part of the character and fitness review. Accordingly, you should keep a copy of your law school application in your records.

If you answer yes to any of the following six (6) questions, you must provide relevant details of the incident, including, but not limited to, the date of the incident, the location of the incident, and the outcome of the incident. Failure to provide detailed information may result in the Admissions Office requesting additional information, which will ultimately delay the admission decision. Copies of relevant court or other documents should accompany the explanation.

As set forth in ABA Standard 504, “[i]n 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 (http://www.ncbex.org/).”

If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office at lawadmissions@memphis.edu or 901.678.5403

CERTIFICATION: By submitting this application electronically, I certify that the information provided by me in this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that falsifications, misrepresentations, or omissions on the application may be grounds for denial or, if I am accepted, for suspension or dismissal from the University of Memphis or revocation of a degree. I understand that I have a continuing duty to disclose any changes to any of the facts indicated in this application at any time after submission through my graduation from the University of Memphis School of Law. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the law school or other appropriate action.

Have you ever been subject to or are actions pending against you involving any disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, warning, probation, suspension, dismissal, or request for resignation for academic or other reasons at any of the post-secondary schools, colleges, universities, graduate, or professional schools (including law schools) you have attended? Include all such disciplinary actions by a social fraternity or sorority of which you were a member while enrolled at any post-secondary institution.
Have you ever been arrested, taken into custody, formally accused, indicted, charged, cited, or convicted (by plea agreement, no contest plea, or otherwise) in connection with the violation of a criminal law or ordinance in any jurisdiction? The foregoing includes:

A. All adult offenses and matters that have been expunged or otherwise removed from court records.

B. Any delinquent act if you were fourteen (14) or more years of age at the time of the alleged act and the conduct constituting the delinquent act, if committed by an adult, would be a serious felony as specified in T.C.A. 37-1-154(b)(2)* involving use of a weapon or bodily injury to the victim. *The conduct would specifically constitute ?first degree murder, second degree murder, rape, aggravated rape, rape of a child, aggravated robbery, especially aggravated robbery, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping or especially aggravated kidnapping.?

If you were charged or convicted as a juvenile with any of these serious acts, you must provide a detailed description of the incident, even if the juvenile court matter has been expunged, along with any documentation that may still be available, and the disposition of the case.

C. You must disclose all traffic violations UNLESS the traffic violation (1) did not result in a jail sentence, (2) did not result in suspension or revocation of your driver?s license, AND (3) did not result in a fine of $200 or more, including court costs and fees. However, any arrest, charge, or conviction for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs must be disclosed regardless of outcome or sanction imposed.

Have you ever been tried by a court martial or discharged, other than honorably, from any military organization?
Have you ever been disciplined, suspended, laid off, permitted to resign (in lieu of termination), or terminated from any job? Additionally, have you ever had any licensure or certification revoked or suspended in addition to or separate from any disciplinary action?
Have you ever been charged with fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, forgery, or other acts of dishonesty in any civil, criminal, administrative, or other proceeding?
Have you ever enrolled in or attended this or any other law school?

Instructions and Information for First-Year Applicants

Complete and submit the application form, all statements, and addenda electronically through LSAC. Other documents, such as court documents for admonitory action responses, may be scanned and sent via email to lawadmissions@memphis.edu. NOTE: Your name and LSAC account number must be on each page of all materials submitted.

Demographic Information: Please answer the questions in the Demographics section. In accordance with our race-blind admissions processes, this information will be masked during the application review process. However, it will be used post decision for reporting purposes.

Required Materials

Application and Fee: There is no application fee for the Fall 1st-Year application. The priority application deadline is April 1st. All applications submitted by the April 1st deadline will be given priority scholarship consideration.

LSAT and LSAC Credential Assembly Service

Register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and arrange to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The Credential Assembly Service, a service of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), provides a means to centralize and standardize undergraduate academic records to simplify the law school admission process. The Credential Assembly Service prepares a report for law schools that includes your LSAT score; undergraduate academic summary; a copy of your LSAT writing sample; copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and professional school transcripts; and copies of letters of recommendation. Upon receipt of the law school application, the admissions office will automatically request a CAS report for the applicant. Information about registration for the LSAT or Credential Assembly Service is available at http://www.lsac.org/ or at 215.968.1001.

GRE

Applicants who elect to take the GRE must instruct ETS to send The University of Memphis School of Law all GRE test scores from the preceding five-year period. Applicants who have already taken the GRE can log into their ETS account and select The University of Memphis School of Law as a recipient of GRE results using the school code:1087. Please note: All applicants who have taken the LSAT are considered LSAT applicants even if GRE scores are submitted.

Personal Statement

Each applicant is required to submit a personal statement. This statement provides you the opportunity to describe your background and any unique experiences, characteristics, or circumstances you want the admissions committee to consider. You should explain your desire to study law, why you believe you will be a successful law student, and what you plan to do with your law degree. You are encouraged to explain your interest in attending our law school and may discuss any information not otherwise apparent from your application. Limit your personal statement to no more than 1,000 words.

Supplemental Essay (Optional): If you feel you have additional relevant information to share that will provide the admissions committee a more in-depth understanding of your background, interests, and goals, we encourage you to provide a supplemental essay using the prompts provided.

NOTE: If you want to include relevant information explaining a low undergraduate grade point average, low LSAT score, or low GRE score we encourage you to submit an addendum separate from your personal statement.

Transcripts

Applicants must submit all undergraduate and graduate transcripts to LSAC. Do not submit transcripts directly to the University of Memphis Law Admissions office. Only your first undergraduate degree will be used in your admission index as calculated by LSAC, but all transcripts must be submitted to LSAC.

Undergraduate: You must submit transcripts for college-level work completed at any two or four-year institution of higher learning, or through an online or distance learning program if the hours earned apply toward your undergraduate degree.

Graduate: If you have earned a graduate degree or credit hours toward a graduate degree, you must submit transcripts from all graduate institutions to LSAC to be included in your law school report. While your graduate grade point average is not used in calculating your admission index, the admissions committee will review your graduate level academic record.

Letters of Recommendation

One letter of recommendation is required and up to four letters of recommendation or evaluations are recommended. Letters of recommendation or evaluations should be submitted directly to LSAC to be included in your CAS report. Recommendations or evaluations should be from professors, instructors, or other professionals who can provide relevant information on your intellectual ability, academic performance, potential for success in law school, and character. Letters from social acquaintances and personal or family friends, which provide only minimal or no information about your academic abilities, are not considered to be helpful. If you have been out of school for a number of years, your recommendations or evaluations may come from employers, supervisors, clients, or someone who can address the above characteristics.

Resume

Submit an updated resume.

Explanation of Admonitory Action (if applicable)

If the answer to any item in the Admonitory Action section of the application is "Yes," the applicant is required to provide a full and detailed explanation. Copies of relevant court or other official documents should accompany the application. Instructions for completing the admonitory action section are on the application. NOTE: You must notify the School of Law Associate Dean of any criminal charges or arrests that occur between enrollment and graduation at the University of Memphis School of Law.

Residency

All applicants must complete the Residency section of the application. For residency classification information, contact the Law Admissions Office at 901.678.5403.

Optional Materials

The following optional materials must be completed and received by the April 1st deadline to be considered as a part of your application.

Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law (TIP) (Optional): Applicants who have previously completed the TIP program are not eligible to reapply without prior approval from the TIP Director.

TIP is only for Tennessee residents and qualifying border-county residents (Crittenden County, AR; DeSoto, Marshall, Tunica, and Tate Counties, MS) who are not admitted through the standard admissions process but demonstrate strong potential for law school success. Each summer, the University of Memphis School of Law offers the Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law (TIP), a competitive, five-week, admission-by-performance program.

The TIP program seeks applicants who demonstrate academic ability, will have obtained a baccalaureate degree prior to program commencement, and demonstrate one of the following backgrounds/experiences: (1) first-generation college graduate and/or (2) socioeconomic disadvantage. Applying to TIP does not disqualify you from consideration for regular admission and TIP is offered at no tuition cost.

If you wish to be considered for TIP, you must answer the TIP application questions and address your eligibility in your personal statement. You may also discuss the way(s) in which your background may inspire or motivate your interest in the study of law.

Additional Information (Optional): You may submit an addendum addressing your LSAT score or undergraduate grade point average.

College and University Security Information Act

Pursuant to the requirements of the College and University Security Information Act, Tenn. Code Ann. Section 49-7-2200, an annual report of security information and statistics is available upon request. Contact the Assistant Dean of Students, Office of Judicial Affairs, the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, 901.678.2298, to obtain any or all of the information. All other Student-Right-To-Know information is available online at http://www.memphis.edu/registrar/.

Statement of Procedure

All credentials become the property of the University and cannot be forwarded or returned. Credentials will be maintained in active files for a 12-month period. After this period, credentials will be relegated to inactive status and must be submitted again before an admissions decision can be made.

The University of Memphis is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, first professional, master's, educational specialist's, and doctor's degrees.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law does not discriminate in admissions or employment on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). The ABA may be contacted at: Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, 321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60654-7598, telephone: 312.988.6738; e-mail legaled@americanbar.org; or website http://www.americanbar.org/aba.html. The AALS may be contacted at 1201 Connecticut Ave, N.W. Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036-2717, telephone: 202.296.8851; http://www.aals.org/; or aals@aals.org.