JD Application Checklist

Deadline for Regular Decision applicants: February 15, 2017

Deadline for Early Decision applicants: November 15, 2016
(submit all necessary application materials to the Admissions Office in advance of that date: read more about the Early Decision option here. )

Please Note:
Qualifications for Admission to the Bar

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 following materials are necessary to complete an application:

• Valid LSAT score, taken between June 2011 and December 2016; scores from the February 2017 test are acceptable but may hinder chance of admission
• Current LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration
• Send all undergraduate transcripts directly from the undergraduate institution(s) to CAS.
• If international work is completed through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the credits for that work are clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript, you do not need to send the international transcript.
• Send all graduate transcripts directly from graduate institution(s) to CAS.
• Completed application form for the University of Michigan’s J.D. program. For advice about how to answer particular questions on our application, you may find it useful to check out the comment bubbles in the PDF application
• Application fee or waiver
  • $75 by check or money order, made payable to the University of Michigan and drawn on a U.S. bank, or by credit card if applying online through LSAC.
• One to three letters of recommendation
  • Send directly to Michigan Law School by the recommender or by a college placement office, or through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service
  • Each letter must be accompanied by a signed declaration of the applicant’s intent regarding access to the letter
  • Any targeted letter sent through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service should be designated for the fall term, regardless of whether an applicant requests consideration for the summer term
• Personal statement and any optional essays
• Certification that application is true and accurate. You may sign the certification on the application or, if you submit electronically, use the electronic certification option. (If you prefer, you may instead sign a hard copy of the Certification Letter and mail it directly to the Law School, even if you otherwise apply electronically through LSAC.)

The following timeline will help you track your application's progress:

Please be sure to check out our Online Status Check System to keep track of the progress of your application. 

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