University of Richmond

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Application requirements

Deadline

Jun 01, 2026

Recommendations

2 to 4

Updated for 2025-2026 application cycle

If you answer "yes" to any of the character and fitness questions, you must submit a statement reciting, in detail, the facts and circumstances of each reported event. The statement should include dates, charges, exact name and location of courts (if any), findings, and final disposition of all matters. Proof of final disposition is preferred, when available. Your statement must be attached in order to submit your application. Failure to provide sufficient description and/or explanation of reported events may prompt the Admissions Committee to request additional information from you, thereby causing a delay in the processing of your application.

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.

Have you ever been academically dismissed, suspended, or placed on academic probation by any undergraduate or graduate school? If yes, you must provide the requested detailed explanation. Please note that if you were academically dismissed from a previous law school, your statement should also explain why your prior disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete our JD program or earn admission to the bar, and why your current circumstances are different.
Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action, disciplinary charges, suspended, or dismissed for disciplinary matters while attending any undergraduate or graduate school? If yes, you must provide the requested detailed explanation.
Other than minor traffic violations, have you ever been arrested for any violation of the law? This would include arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. Note: You must disclose the information requested in this question even if you received a deferred prosecution, a suspended imposition of sentence, the conviction was stayed or vacated, or the record (including but not limited to proceedings in juvenile court, family court, or any court of general jurisdiction) was expunged. If yes, you must attach the requested detailed explanation.
Are there any criminal charges currently pending against you? If yes, you must attach the requested detailed explanation.
Are you now or have you ever been investigated or subject to discipline by any professional licensing board or body? If yes, you must provide the requested detailed explanation.

Fall 2026 JD entering class (August, 2026)

TIMELINE

September 1, 2025 - We will begin accepting applications for Fall 2026. All applicants must apply through LSAC.org.
December 1, 2025 - Early Decision applications must be received and completed by December 1, 2025. Early Decision admissions are binding. Additional information on the terms and requirements for this program can be found on the application. Applications not complete by this date will be moved to the regular decision process.
If admitted under the binding early decision option, you must certify that you will enroll at the University of Richmond School of Law and agree to the following: (1) Commit to attend the University of Richmond beginning in August 2026; and (2) within 7 days of being admitted to Richmond Law withdraw any pending applications at other law schools; and (3) not initiate applications to other law schools; and (4) understand that you are not permitted to enter into an Early Decision agreement with any other law school. Within 14 days of your admission to Richmond Law, you will pay a non-refundable seat deposit in the amount of $800, which will be credited to your Fall 2026 tuition and fees.
February 15, 2026 - Priority deadline for scholarship consideration. We will continue to award scholarships after that date as long as funds remain, but there may be a delay.
February 25, 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter - FAFSA should be on file; the FAFSA is available for submission in October. Our FAFSA code is 003744.
March 1, 2026 - Priority deadline for admission consideration. We will continue to accept applications thereafter until enrollment goals are met.

PARTS OF THE APPLICATION FILE

Application - J.D. applications MUST be submitted electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). In order to be considered, an application must be transmitted and your application file must be complete with all required sections, supporting documentation, and additional requirements. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, and may apply prior to receiving a reportable LSAT or GRE score.
Transcripts - Registration with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required. After you register for the CAS, you must request transcripts from ALL undergraduate, graduate, or technical schools you have attended (as a matriculated or non-matriculated student), whether or not a degree was earned. This includes any dual credits earned in high school, college-level summer school, all transfer credits, etc. Applicants are advised to wait until they have completed at least six (6) semesters of undergraduate work before requesting transcripts.
Please note that the J.D. program requires that, at minimum, a Bachelor?s degree or equivalent has been earned prior to the start of your J.D. coursework. No later than October 15 of the year of matriculation, you must ensure that the Law School has received your official transcript(s) verifying all previous academic credits undertaken and degree(s) conferred. If the Law School does not have your transcript(s), you will not be permitted to enroll in subsequent semesters until the official transcripts have been received.
LSAT - Students must register and take the exam through LSAC. While applications can be submitted prior to receiving LSAT scores, they will not be evaluated until an LSAT score is on file. Scores older than five (5) years from the anticipated year of matriculation will not be considered. All reportable LSAT scores will automatically be included in your CAS report.
GRE in lieu of LSAT Policy:
The University of Richmond School of Law will accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) under the following conditions:
I) GRE scores are considered only when an applicant does not have a reportable LSAT score.
1. An applicant must request an official GRE score report be submitted to the University of Richmond School of Law from ETS.
2. If an applicant has a reportable LSAT score on file at any time during the admissions process, the GRE score will not be considered as part of the process.
3. If an applicant has been admitted with a GRE score, receipt of a subsequent LSAT score will result in a reevaluation of the applicant's file, and the Admissions Committee may reconsider the admissions decision and/or any scholarship award offered.
II) Applicants must submit all GRE scores from the past five (5) years. Both total and individual section scores are required. The Admissions Committee will evaluate scores from all sections of the GRE. Scores older than five (5) years from the anticipated year of matriculation will not be considered.
III) Applicants are encouraged to take the LSAT, unless there is a specific reason to prefer the GRE. The GRE may be considered and weighted differently than the LSAT for purposes of admission and scholarship allocation. Applicants who choose to apply with only a GRE must submit a brief explanation of their decision to do so.
Letters of Recommendation - Applicants should use the Letter of Recommendation Service offered through the CAS. Two (2) letters are required; up to four (4) will be accepted. We encourage at least one (1) letter of recommendation from a faculty member who can address your academic and intellectual abilities, unless you completed your undergraduate work two (2) years prior to your application. Professional recommendations are also acceptable. Note: Letters of recommendation are held in confidence. The submission of your application constitutes your waiver of any and all rights to review letters of recommendation retained by this law school. Letters are used for law admissions purposes only.
Résumé - Your résumé is not limited to a single page, and should be formatted appropriately for a professional résumé or CV. It should provide chronological information about your academic background, employment experience, scholastic accomplishments, publications, and extracurricular or charitable activities.
Personal Statement - A personal statement is required. Your personal statement should be a maximum of three (3) pages, double-spaced, written in your own words on a topic of your choice that will provide additional insight into your experiences, qualifications and interests. While there is no required topic, a strong personal statement will discuss why the applicant is interested in pursuing a law degree or what your anticipated career goals & interests are at this time. We encourage you to provide information about yourself not otherwise found in your application and distinct from any other written statements or addenda to be submitted as part of this application (see below). Please note that everything in your personal statement must be entirely your own original work and may not be produced in any part with ChatGPT or any other artificial intelligence or large language model system. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.
Optional Supplemental Statement - Recognizing that applicants may have more to share beyond their required personal statement and other contents of their application file, we offer this option to submit a supplemental statement. This statement is not required and no applicant will be penalized for choosing not to submit one. Richmond Law believes that a legal education is more than just learning the law. Diverse life experiences, viewpoints, and values inside and outside of the classroom will enhance discussions, challenge students in their own perspective, and ultimately prepare them better for their legal career. Please consider sharing significant life experiences, challenges, perspectives, or identities that have shaped you as a person and may influence your contributions to our community and the legal profession. Note that any written submissions must be entirely your own original work and may not be produced in any part with ChatGPT or any other artificial intelligence or large language model system. If you choose to submit a supplemental statement, please include it in the appropriate "Attachments" section. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.
Addenda - An individual addendum must be submitted to address each specific topic regarding any criminal charges, academic dismissals or code of conduct violations, or character and fitness disclosures within your application. Brief optional addenda may also be useful to explain LSAT score discrepancies, grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for reviewers on any other topic you feel is relevant to their decision. Addenda should be long enough to fully disclose and explain each topic. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.
TOEFL Waiver for International Applicants - International applicants are expected to demonstrate fluency in the English language. Candidates with a native language other than English may be required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam. If necessary, all scores must be submitted through LSAC; paper copies of scores are not accepted. International applicants who have demonstrated their English fluency in their LSAT exam or completion of a degree at an institution where the primary language of instruction is English may receive a waiver of the English language testing requirement. If requested, applicants must submit a written statement indicating their level of proficiency and how they achieved it.

CHARACTER & FITNESS

An applicant's character and fitness to practice law must be established as a prerequisite for licensure. In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Bar Examiners may ask for more detail or additional questions beyond those listed on this application. Any information discovered during this background investigation that negatively reflects on your character and fitness to practice law may be treated as just cause for further investigation. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction directly. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

As part of the application process, an applicant must disclose any information regarding events both before and during law school. It is important that this information be accurate and complete. The Bar's Character and Fitness Committee will compare your answers to its questions with those provided in your law school application. Inconsistencies between your law school application and your application to the Bar may cause difficulty and/or delay with bar admission. Failure to make a complete disclosure when answering the character and fitness questions may also subject a student to disciplinary sanctions, including revocation of law school admission.

MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS

The University of Richmond School of Law offers generous scholarship assistance. All applicants for admission are automatically considered for these scholarships; no separate application form is required. Awards are allocated based upon a holistic assessment of merit that includes LSAT or GRE scores, undergraduate academic achievement, and overall aptitude for the study of law. For further information on merit scholarships, contact the Law School Admissions Office at (804) 289-8189. For additional information on loans, visit our website at http://financialaid.richmond.edu or contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@richmond.edu or (804) 289-8438.

EDUCATIONAL LOANS/FAFSA

Students applying for federal loans must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available for submission online in October, and we would encourage you to submit the required documents no later than February 25 or as soon as possible thereafter. You can submit your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov; the University of Richmond School of Law FAFSA code is 003744. Please note that parental information is not required or considered on the FAFSA for law students.

CONTINUING DUTY TO INFORM US OF CHANGES TO YOUR APPLICATION

Once an application for admission has been submitted, an applicant has a continuing duty to inform the Admissions Office of any changes to the information included in the application. This duty to inform continues until the close of the admission cycle or, if matriculating, throughout your time as a student at the University of Richmond School of Law. Submission of any false, misleading, or incomplete answers and statements in the application could constitute a basis for denial of admission, revocation of an offer of admission, or denial of licensure to practice law. This includes, but is not limited to, any materials submitted in the initial application or supplemental information provided to the University of Richmond. In addition, the deliberate submission of inaccurate information may be reported to the Law School Admission Council for investigation of misconduct in the admissions process.

POLICY PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION

The University of Richmond's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination is designed to foster adherence to the University of Richmond's commitment to non-discrimination and to ensure compliance with applicable laws. This policy serves as the University's notice of nondiscrimination for purposes of compliance with Title VI and Title IX and fulfills the University's obligations under IRS Revenue Procedure 75-50 (as amended by Revenue Procedure 2019-22). The complete policy can be found at https://policy.richmond.edu/documents/policy-pdfs/Public/Governance/policy_prohibiting_discrimination.pdf

Admissions applications will be reviewed holistically. You are assured both by school policy and by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that the information will be confidential and accessible only to school officials and others with a legitimate educational interest in this information.

GDPR STATEMENT

In compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the University of Richmond has a legitimate interest in collecting information needed to evaluate an applicant?s personal, educational, and work background in order to make admissions decisions and otherwise process such applications. The University of Richmond General Data Protection Privacy Notice can be found at https://policy.richmond.edu/documents/policy-pdfs/Public/Information-Services/general_data_privacy_regulation_notice.pdf.