J.D. Admission and Application Information

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for admission to the Juris Doctor program at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or expect to graduate during the current academic year. The Admissions Committee at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law makes admissions decisions on a rolling basis. The Committee evaluates the academic potential of applicants through a thorough assessment of their academic record, professional and educational experiences, as well as their talents and skills. In addition, the Committee identifies candidates who will enhance the professional development of their peers and will contribute positively to the law school community as a whole.

Application Deadline

So long as space remains in the first-year class, we will continue to process applications and to extend offers of admission. While we do not close our application process on a particular date, applications received late in the summer may be disadvantaged in the admission process. The priority application deadline for first-year JD applicants for fall admission is April 1, 2013. Applications received and completed by this date receive priority consideration.

Application Fees and Deposits

The application fee is $70 and may be paid online by credit card through the LSAC or by check or U.S. money order payable to the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. All fees and deposits are non-refundable. All checks must be drawn on a bank that has a branch in the United States. We also accept American Express, Thomas Cook, and Barclay's traveler's checks. Postal money orders from other countries are not acceptable. Please do not send cash.

First-Year J.D. Application Checklist

A completed application for a first-year JD applicant consists of the following:

The application form submitted online through LSAC.
- If you require a paper application, please contact us at admissions@law.umaryland.edu
A nonrefundable $70 application fee submitted online by credit card through LSAC.
You must submit the following materials through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (LSDAS) (LSAC will compile these documents and will deliver them in the form of a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report to the law school):
- LSAT score from exam taken no later than June 2013 for fall 2013 admission. LSAT scores are valid for five years. The School of Law will only accept valid LSAT scores — scores earned prior to June 2007 will not be accepted.
- Two letters of recommendation. Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). References should include instructors under whom you have studied or with whom you have worked closely during college or graduate study. If you have not had recent contact with such persons, you may submit letters of recommendation from employers. Please do not submit letters of recommendation from personal friends and relatives.
- LSAC Evaluations: We do not require LSAC Evaluations, but will accept them in addition to the two required letters of recommendation.
- All undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Applicants must request undergraduate and graduate transcripts and have them submitted directly to the LSAC.
Personal Statement: Applicants are required to submit a personal statement. We recommend that you use the personal statement to present to the Admissions Committee information and perspectives regarding your background, experience, special circumstances and interests that you believe will help the Committee understand your unique story. In addition, the statement should address why you are interested in obtaining a law degree and, more specifically, in attending the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. The personal statement should be no longer than 2 to 3 pages double-spaced and must by typed. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form.
Résumé: Submit a complete résumé or curriculum vitae detailing your education, employment, skills, honors, awards and accomplishments. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form.
Diversity Statement (Optional): The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is committed to promoting diversity in legal education and in the profession as a whole. Toward that end, the Admissions Committee invites applicants to submit a statement explaining how you would contribute meaningfully to the diversity of the law school. The qualities of students we seek may be reflected in background characteristics such as geographic origin, age, cultural and language, racial, social, disability and economic barriers overcome; and other special characteristics that demonstrate the capacity for making a special contribution to the community. Limit the length of the statement to approximately 250 words. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Please submit your FAFSA form as soon as possible after January 1st. Our FAFSA-priority deadline is March 1. Submit this form online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ using the code for the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus: 002104
Application for In-State Status Classification (Maryland Residents Only): Applicants claiming Maryland residency must complete an application for In-State Status Classification. Please print, complete, sign and submit the form and send it to the Office of Admissions by mail, fax or email.

Attachments

Please upload your personal statement, résumé or curriculum vitae, diversity statement (optional), information about a prior law school that you have attended, and any other addenda through the "Attachments" tab when completing the application form through LSAC.

Application for in-state Status Classification

If you are claiming Maryland residency you must submit an application for an In-State Status Classification as soon as possible after you complete your application. This application can be found on the "Forms" tab when completing the application form through LSAC or here.

Please print, complete, and submit this form to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible upon completing the application for admission. This form requires your signature and date. Please sign and date it before submitting it to the law school.

You may mail, fax or scan and then email the form directly to:
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Attn: Office of Admissions
500 West Baltimore Street, Suite 130
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 706-3492 (phone)
(410) 706-1793(fax)
admissions@law.umaryland.edu

Disclosure Policy: Character and Fitness for Bar Admission

Just as lawyers are held to high ethical standards, so are University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law students. One ethical duty is to fully and accurately disclose the information sought in our applications. The failure to provide honest and accurate information in the application is a very serious matter and may result in a delay, rescission or denial of admission to the School of Law and/or a denial of admission to the bar. Applicants have a continuing duty throughout the application, admission and enrollment process to inform the Admissions Office of any changes in the information provided in the application to ensure that it remains complete and accurate. Applicants are encouraged to read the rules of admission to the bar of the state where they intend to practice law. These rules will provide an understanding of the qualifications for admission to the bar, including those related to the character and fitness of applicants to practice law in that state. The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides information on each state's requirements regarding character, fitness and other qualifications.

Responding to Character and Fitness Questions in the Application
Please carefully read and respond to the seven questions in the application that relate to your Character and Fitness for Admission to the Bar. The questions posed ask you to disclose any incidents involving misconduct in an employment or academic setting, felony convictions, convictions of misdemeanors involving drugs or alcohol, and any pending criminal charges, among other questions. The failure to provide honest and accurate answers to these questions may delay your application decision and/or result in disciplinary action from the law school.

If your answer to any character and fitness question is "yes," you must submit a statement with this application explaining the circumstances in full. There is no need to submit a separate document for each question. You can address more than one character and fitness question in one statement. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Because facility with written and spoken English is necessary in order to successfully participate in our academic experience, applicants for whom English is a second language or not their primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Please contact the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org) and request that they send your TOEFL score directly to LSAC (institution code number 0058, department code 03). The Educational Testing Service will provide your score to LSAC for inclusion in your LSAC report which will be submitted to the law school. TOEFL scores are only valid for two years, and we will not accept outdated scores. Request for Waiver of TOEFL: If you believe that you are proficient in English and that the TOEFL requirement should be waived in your case, please submit a brief statement describing your English language instruction and proficiency. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form.

Applicants with Disabilities

The School's admissions policies fully comply with the ADA and other applicable laws and regulations. Consistent with the School's commitment to diversity, the life experiences and backgrounds of applicants with disabilities may be viewed positively in admissions decisions. Applicants should use the personal statement to emphasize these factors.

Signature and Date

Please type your name and date the application. By signing the application and transmitting it electronically, You certify that the information in the application is complete, accurate and honestly presented. You also certify that any information submitted on your behalf is authentic, including letters of recommendation, academic transcripts and certifications. You understand and agree that any inaccurate, misleading or omitted information will be cause for an investigation of misconduct in the admissions process, rescission of any offer of admission, or cause for disciplinary action, dismissal or revocation of degree if discovered at a later date. You further agree to abide by the rules, policies, and regulations of the University of Maryland if you are admitted as a student.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this application or about the admissions process, please contact the Office of Admissions at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law at (410) 706-3492 or admissions@law.umaryland.edu. Be sure to notify the Office of Admissions promptly of any change in your address as well as any new facts that may change the responses to any part of your application.

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Office of Admissions
500 West Baltimore Street, Suite 130
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 706-3492 (phone)
(410) 706-1793(fax)
admissions@law.umaryland.edu

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, financial status or veterans status. The University is required by federal regulatory agencies to supply admissions and enrollment information by racial, ethnic and gender categories. Provision of the information is voluntary and will not be used to determine eligibility for admission.