First-year students are admitted for enrollment in the fall semester. Applications must be submitted by March 1 preceding the fall semester in which applicants wish to enroll, but applicants are strongly encouraged to file by the preceding November or December. Graduation from an approved college is a prerequisite for admission in the fall, but not for application to the program. Transfer applications for fall are due on or before July 1.
Application Form and Fee
Our application will be available online after September 1st. Please view our publication Law at Wisconsin to learn more about our Law School or you may request a print copy.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
All applicants are required to submit scores on a recently taken Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and must subscribe to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), sponsored by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). Applicants must take the LSAT no later than the February prior to the fall in which they seek admission, and no earlier than the October four years prior. Applicants should have an official report of their score sent to the Law School directly by LSAC, as part of the LSDAS report. Contact LSAC directly at (215) 968-1001 or go to http://www.lsac.org to register online for the LSAT and subscribe to the LSDAS.
The Applicant File
In deciding to accept an applicant for admission to the UW Law School, the Admissions Committee works with the written materials in the applicant's file. Interviews are not part of the admissions process, although we are happy to answer your questions, and we invite you to visit the Law School.
Your file will contain, at a minimum, the following items: your application form, the registrar's record of residence form, copies of your college transcripts (as reproduced by LSDAS), the LSDAS summary of college grades, the report of LSAT scores, your résumé, and two letters of recommendation -- speaking to your ability, intelligence, diligence, imagination, and similar qualities.
If you are an international student, you will also be required to submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score. Additional information regarding the TOEFL exam may be found at www.toefl.com.
The Admissions Committee carefully considers whatever information we receive in your personal statement, application form, and letters of recommendation. If there is something that we have not asked you, or something about which you would like to elaborate, feel free to add a separate addendum to the application.