Frequently Asked Questions

What degrees are offered at Richmond Law?

Richmond Law offers three opportunities to obtain a Juris Doctor degree. 

• The Juris Doctor is a three-year, full-time program that combines sophisticated legal theory with numerous opportunities to put theory into practice.
• Two-Year JD for International Lawyers offers international lawyers with a first-degree in law from outside the United States an accelerated pathway to a U.S. Juris Doctor. 
• Transfer & Visiting students have the opportunity to join our second or third year students as full-time members of our community, obtaining credit or their law degree from Richmond Law.

How do I apply to Richmond Law?

Candidates must first create an account through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). All applications must be completed and submitted through LSAC. In preparation of the application process, we encourage candidates to join us for our Strategy Bootcamp to learn more about how to best prepare their application to Richmond Law. 

Admission requirements vary by program type. Details about each of our programs, including application timlines and requirements, can be found on the respective admissions pages:

• JD Admissions
• Two-Year JD for International Lawyers
• Transfer & Visiting

When is Richmond Law’s application deadline?

   For the Juris Doctor program:

• The Early Binding Decision deadline is December 1.
• Regular decision applications are recommended to be submitted by February 1 for fullest scholarship consideration. Applications submitted by March 1 will be considered for admission and scholarship on a space- and funding-available basis. 

   For the Two-Year JD for International Laywers program:

• Applications must be submitted through LSAC by March 1. Applications must be completed by April 1 for admission consideration. 

   For the Transfer & Visiting program:

• Applications must be submitted and completed through LSAC by July 15 for admission consideration. 

What does Richmond Law look for in an application? 

A successful Richmond Law student has a growth mindset and expresses perseverance and resilience in the face of obstacles and challenges. We encourage students to be self-reflective, and expect them to regularly engage in service to their community. We are looking to build a student body that embodies inclusivity, civility, engagement, and concern for others and the greater good. 

Our admissions process holistically assesses applications based on the strength of the undergraduate or graduate curriculum, academic trends, post-collegiate experiences and employment, achievement in extracurricular activities, military service, contributions to campus and community through service and leadership, and the personal qualities displayed throughout the application and admissions cycle.

Does Richmond Law give application fee waivers?

Richmond Law does not have an application fee for any program at the law school. CAS Report Fee Waivers may be requested and are approved on a case by case basis. 

Does Richmond Law have a part time program?

Richmond Law does not offer a part-time or an online program. Our program is a full-time program starting in the fall only.

How can I find the status of my application?

Once your application has been received by our office, you will receive an email notifying you that your application is either complete, or incomplete and missing specifc required material. All applications have access to their LSAC online status checker to continually monitor the status of their application. 

What is Richmond Law’s application review process?

The admissions committee begins reviewing applications on a rolling basis as soon as possible after the application opens. Application processing can vary depending on the volume of applications at any given time. We experience higher volumes around LSAT score release dates, the beginning of the calendar year, and our priority deadlines. 

When will I get my admissions decision?

Decisions are released on a rolling basis beginning in November. While we cannot guarantee an exact date for your application decision, once an application is under review we hope to release a decision within 8 weeks. If your application has been under review for more than 12 weeks, please contact the Admissions Office.

Who do I talk to about financial aid questions at Richmond Law?  

Admissions handles everything related to merit and need-based scholarships that are awarded at the time of admission - you are always welcome to connect with the Admissions team about specific questions that you may have about scholarships and loans. 

The university Office of Financial Aid processes loan information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid which is awarded in the spring semester of each academic year. Questions related to a student’s specific federal and private loans should be directed to their office. 

Can I come to campus?

We love having prospective students and guests come to visit our beautiful building and campus! You may register for a campus visit on our campus visit calendar. Admitted students can find information about specific admitted student campus visit opportunities through their Spider Portal. Unfortunately, we do not take drop in visits at this time. 

Can I meet with an Admissions Counselor? 

Our Admissions team is more than willing to connect with you during your visit to campus or virtally over Zoom! There are several opportunties to connect with our team depending on the information you’re looking for. 

Our Strategy Bootcamp is a three-part series that introduces students to Richmond Law, our application process, and tips for setting yourself up for success in the admissions cycle. You are welcome to attend one, two, or all three of these sessions; however, they are designed to build upon each other so you feel the most confident in your application process. 

If you would like to connect directly with a member of our team, please contact the Admissions Office to request a one-on-one meeting. 

You will also see Richmond Law on the road at law school fairs and forums across the country. Upcoming event dates and details can be found on our Events & Travel webpage, which is updated regularly to reflect our travel schedule. 

How do I sign up for an event?

Check out out prospective student events calendar for a full listing of our in-person and virtual programs. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email along with important next steps and information for the upcoming program. 

What is your student to faculty ratio?

Our current student to faculty ratio is 5 to 1. 

What classes are in your curriculum?

So many courses! Though not every class is offered every semester, Richmond Law has extensive course offerings ranging from traditional legal theory to extensive experiential learning and community-based learning courses. Note that our current course listings are always changing depending on what classes are being offered each academic year. 

Can I concentrate my studies in a specific area of practice?

Absolutely! All students have the opportunity to select the externships, clinics, and elective courses relevant to their interests in law - and your career advisors, and faculty and peer mentors will help you figure out what opportunities most align with your goals along the way!

Richmond Law also offers J.D. Certificates of Concentration in Family Law and Intellectual Property - similar to earning a major in undergraduate programs. These programs have been approved by the National Cener for Family Law and Intellectual Property Institute respectively.

What dual degree options does Richmond Law have?

Richmond Law has partnered with both the University of Richmond Robins School of Business and Virginia Commonwealth University to offer 5 dual degree programs. Individual degree requirements and the recommended timeline for application submission can be found on the JD Admissions webpage. 

Does Richmond Law offer student organizations?

There are currently over 35 student organizations at Richmond Law, and we add new organizations every year! Students are encouraged to get involved starting their first year, and find opportunities for leadership and networking across co-curricular and identity based organizations. To find the most up to date listing of our student organizations, check out the Student Organizations website. 

Does Richmond Law offer pro bono opportunities?

The Carrico Center for Pro Bono & Public Service coordinates 13 unique pro bono programs in parternship with the broader Richmond community. Service is a hallmark of the Richmond Law student experience - our community collectively participates in over 12,000 pro bono hours each academic year. 

What health and well-being resources are available?

Richmond Law has a strong focus on the six dimensions of lawyer wellbeing, evident across the programming offered at the law school each academic year. And, though the focus and support of the UR Well initiative and the Well-Being Center, the University of Richmond was named the #1 School for Student Support and Counseling Services by Princeton Review in 2024!

The University’s Well-Being Center offers both in-person and virtual resources and services designed to enhance a student’s well-being. It houses all campus health care in one location and includes Health Promotion, Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and the Weinstein Center for Recreation.

What is Richmond like?

We love our city! Richmond Law is uniquely situated being one of 10 law schools in the country located in a city of over one milliion residents. And being the only law school in the capital of Virginia is a fact that is certainly beneficial for our students looking for a multitude of legal experiences.

There is so much to share, it would take up an entire website - so we went ahead and created one! Get to know RVA and all there is to love about it. 

Where can I learn more about the University’s policy against discrimination?

The University of Richmond prohibits discrimination and harassment against applicants, students, faculty or staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, military or veteran status or any classification protected by local, state, or federal law.

Read more about our Policy Prohibiting Discrimination.

How do I get in contact with the Admissions Team?

Our Admissions team is more than willing to connect with you, especially during your visit to campus or virtally over Zoom! There are several opportunties to connect with our team depending on the information you’re looking for. 

• For general questions, or if you would like to request a meeting with a member of our team, please email the general Admissions Office inbox.
  
  
• Interested in scheduling a group visit to the law school or collaborating with our team for an on-campus event? Please contact Zoe Davis, Assistant Director of Visitor Experience & Recruitment Management.
  
  
• Are you a Pre-Law Advisor or student organization interested in Richmond Law visiting your campus for an event or workshop? Contact Lauren Jordan, Director of Admissions. 
  
  
• If you have questions about your Application Status Checker or issues accessing your Spider Portal, contact Sara Titcomb, Assistant Director of Operations.

How do I get in contact with a current student?

Our Admissions Ambassadors are excited to meet you! You can find their contact information, as well as a few pieces of information about each of them on their individual profiles. Feel free to reach out to them via email with any questions that you have. 

Will you be coming to a fair near me? 

Spiders are everywhere! You will see Richmond Law on the road at law school fairs and forums across the country. Upcoming event dates and details can be found on our Events & Travel webpage, which is updated regularly to reflect our travel schedule. 

How can I set up a group visit?

We love to host larger groups for visit days! If your student organization or class is interested in visiting Richmond Law, please contact Zoe Davis, Assistant Director of Visitor Experience & Recruitment Management to discuss what dates and program opportunities are available.