Juris Doctor Application

The Juris Doctor program requires that, at minimum, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) has been earned prior to the start of your J.D. coursework. Applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Examination Record (GRE). If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Admissions Office. 

Regular Decision applications for the Juris Doctor at Richmond Law are non-binding and accepted for review on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to complete and submit their applications prior to February 1 for best consideration of admission and scholarships. Applications submitted and completed by March 1 will be fully considered for admission; consideration for merit scholarships will be made to the extent that funds remain available. Any application submitted after the March 1 deadline may be considered on a space and funding available basis. 

The Binding Early Decision application is best suited to applicants who are sure that Richmond Law is their top choice for law school and who are also prepared to begin law school at Richmond Law in August 2027, regardless of what their financial aid awards may be. All candidates are considered for merit-based aid awards during the admission process, and will notified of their aid offer upon admission. 

Due to the nature of binding early decision programs, once admitted to Richmond Law as an early decision applicant, all other law school applications must be withdrawn and the applicant may not initiate any new applications for admission during that cycle. Those who are not admitted early decision will be considered for admission under the Regular Decision process and timeline. 

Merit Scholarships

All applicants are considered for merit scholarships during the admission process; no separate application form is required. Awards are based upon a holistic assessment of merit that includes standardized test scores, academic achievement, and overall aptitude for the study of law. All merit scholarships are non-conditional and automatically applied at the start of each academic semester.

Need-Based Scholarships

Eligible candidates will be contacted by the Admissions Office to apply for need-based scholarship consideration. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a required component of this process, and candiates are encouraged to submit this application as soon as possible after October 1. 

Educational Loans

Students applying for federal loans must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after the application opens on October 1. We encourage applicants to submit the required documents no later than February 15 or as soon as possible thereafter. The University of Richmond School of Law FAFSA code is 003744. Please note that parental information is not required of considered on the FAFSA for law students. More information, including new requirements for federal loan consideration for professional programs, can be found on the Financial Aid Office website. Financial Aid counselors can be contacted at finaid@richmond.edu or (804) 289-8438.

Private Loans

The University of Richmond encourages students to thoroughly research private loan options, and does not recommend or endorse any private loan lender. There are many different private loan lenders and products available. ELMSelect is a resource that provides a historical list with information about private lenders used by University of Richmond students and families over the past two academic years. To find lenders Richmond students have used in the past two years that do not participate in ELMSelect, visit the ELMSelect website, click "University of Richmond" on the page header, and view "Helpful Links" in the drop-down menu. 

Unless otherwise noted, the following dates are applicable to the entering Fall 2027 JD application. 

August 15 - Richmond Law Application is Live

Candidates may begin working on their Richmond Law application through LSAC. Application submission will be available on September 1.

September 1 - Application Submission Start Date

Applications will begin to be accepted through LSAC and will continue through March. As soon as possible after the September 1 submission date, the Admissions Office will begin review of applications. 

October 1 - FAFSA Available

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid should be available - it is recommended to check this website for changes to availability dates. We recommend submitting this application as soon as possible so that the University of Richmond Financial Aid Office can process your loan information and provide results quickly in the spring semester. Our FAFSA code is 003744.

November 1-7 - Admissions Decisions 

By the first week of November, admissions decisions will be begin to be communicated on a rolling basis. Candidates should refer to their Application Status Checker for the most updated status of the application throughout the cycle.

December 1 - Early Decision Applications Due

Early Decision applications must be submitted and completed by December 1. Early decision candidates can expect to receive a decision by the end of the calendar year. Applications not complete by this date will be moved to the regular decision process. 

February 1 - Recommended Application Submission Deadline

Applications to Richmond Law are recommended to be completed and submitted prior to February 1 for fullest consideration of admission, merit-based, and need-based scholarships. 

March 1 - Priority Application Submission Deadline

Applications submitted and completed by March 1 will be fully considered for admission; consideration for scholarships will be made to the extent that funds remain available. Applications submitted and completed after March 1 will be considered on a space and scholarship available basis. Applications submitted and completed after July 1 may not be considered for admission and scholarships.

Electronic Application (EApp)

The JD application must be submitted electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The EApp consists of the application questions as well as the required and optional written material provided by the applicant. Richmond Law does not charge an application fee and therefore an application fee waiver is not required. 

Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report

CAS registration is required through LSAC. The CAS Report contains transcripts, letters of recommendation, LSAT scores, and the LSAT Writing Sample. Note that transcripts from ALL undergraduate, graduate, or technical schools (as a matriculated or non-matriculated student) must be submitted to CAS, whether or not a degree was earned. This includes any dual credits earned in high school, college-level summer school, all transfer credits, etc. 

Approved Standardized Tests

Richmond Law accepts the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for admission consideration. Applications may be submitted prior to receiving LSAT or GRE scores; however, this may result in a delay in the review process until official scores have been received. Applicants should take their first LSAT no later than February 2027 to meet the application deadline. Applicants should thoroughly review the GRE policy prior to considering this exam for admission to Richmond Law. No alternative standardized exams are accepted. 

An LSAT addendum must be included to discuss score discrepancies of more than eight (8) points, or optionally if there is context that you feel should be shared with the Admissions Committee related to your LSAT preparation or performance.

Letters of Recommendation

Two (2) letters of recommendation are required; up to three (3) 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. Applicants should use the Letter of Recommendation Service offered through their CAS registration. The submission of your application constitutes your waiver of any and all rights to review letters of recommendation retained by the law school.

Résumé

The résumé should be formatted appropriately and need not be limited to a single page. It should provide chronological information about your academic background, employment experience, scholastic accomplishments, publications, leadership and service experience, and extracurricular or charitable activities.

Personal Statement

The personal statement must not exceed a maximum of three (3) typed pages, double-spaced. A strong personal statement will discuss why the applicant is interested in pursuing a legal career 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). All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.

Character & Fitness 

Optional Supplemental Statement 

We encourage applicants to submit an optional statement discussing how the significant life experiences, challenges, or perspectives that have shaped you as a person have influenced your alignment with the mission and values of Richmond Law. This statement is not required, and no applicant will be penalized for choosing not to submit one. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.

Optional Addenda 

Additional written material may be useful to discuss grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for the Admissions Committee on any other topic relevant to the holistic review of the application. Addenda should be long enough to fully disclose and explain each topic. All written submissions should include headers or titles identifying each separate item.

Richmond Law seeks to admit highly qualified applicants who have demonstrated the potential to complete not only a rigorous course of legal study but also possess the promise of contributions to the law school, the legal profession, and the broader community. Using a holistic review process, the Admissions Committee seeks to admit a student body of wide-ranging backgrounds, education, and experience.  In so doing, the Committee seeks to bring a variety of skills and perspectives to the classroom and campus community.

In determining an applicant’s suitability for the program, the Admissions Committee reviews academic factors such as the candidate’s GPA, transcripts, undergraduate institution, and the quality of the applicant’s prior academic experience. Emphasis is also placed on the applicant’s capacity for law school study, as reflected through appropriate evaluative mechanisms, including but not limited to standardized tests and writing samples.  In addition, the Committee recognizes that other factors such as location, leadership qualities, challenges overcome, and work experience can contribute to an applicant’s likelihood for success in law school.  The Committee further acknowledges that such factors can affect the applicant’s ability to constructively impact the legal profession as well as the society at large.

Admission Decisions

The admissions committee does its best to make final decisions in a timely manner. The length of time needed to fully review an application and provide a decision varies greatly based on when a completed application was submitted and the complexity of the information provided. We highly recommend submission as early as possible in the fall semester; applications are read in order of submission. 

Offers of Admission & Deferral

Offers of Admission are good for the year in which the offer is made. An applicant who chooses not to enroll for the year in which the admission offer is made may reapply the following year by completing an updated application. Admission in one year does not, however, guarantee admission in subsequent years, and applicants are considered holistically each year.

Applicants may request a deferral of enrollment by emailing the Associate Dean of Admissions. Deferrals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and applicants must provide a statement explaining their reasons for requesting a deferral. Deferments may be granted for up to two years for military service, or other recognized paid service work such as Teach for America, Peace Corps, etc.

Applicants who are not granted deferral may reapply for admission in subsequent year(s) and will be considered with the applicant pool for that year.

The University of Richmond School of Law programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for Virginia licensure and certification requirements. Admission into any programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies, not controlled by or affiliated with the University of Richmond School of Law, and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.

The University of Richmond School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).  As such, the University of Richmond School of Law has determined that its JD program meets the legal education requirements for eligibility to sit for the bar in every U. S. jurisdiction.  In addition to legal education requirements, there are also character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission in every U.S. jurisdiction.  This disclosure is made pursuant 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v).