Application Instructions and Procedures

First Year Applicants

• Baccalaureate Degree – Candidates must have received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to matriculation.
• Moral Character – Applicants must be of good moral character and must maintain good moral character as a condition of continuing enrollment.
• LSAT – Register for and take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Scores are valid for 5 years and February is the last test date for applications due March 15. Register at www.lsac.org.
• CAS – Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and follow the instructions to ensure a complete application. Register at www.lsac.org.
  Check list:
  • Electronic Application & $60.00 application fee. Fill out the online application and submit the $60 fee through LSAC.
  • Original Transcripts – Arrange for original transcripts from all institutions of higher education to be sent to the CAS.
  • Personal Statement – Applicants must attach to their electronic application one personal statement. The personal statement should provide information about yourself that you consider significant to our evaluation of your file. We are interested in learning about the qualities that you would bring to the legal profession, the law school classroom, and the community. You may wish to describe a significant experience in your life or to discuss your interest in or motivation for attending law school. A typical personal statement is 2-3 pages. It will be evaluated for writing ability as well as content. Do not treat your personal statement as a narrative of your resume.
  • Statement of Interest - It is recomended, but not required, that you sumbit a brief statement of interest explaining why you wish to attend the University of Montana School of Law.
  • Personal Resume.
  • Two Letters of Reference – Ideally, these should include one general reference letter and an academic reference letter. Applicants who graduated from an undergraduate program several years ago may substitute letters from employers or supervisors who can address the applicant’s abilities and intellectual promise for the study of law. A reference letter that is particularly helpful is one that discusses the applicant’s:
  • • • Native intelligence (analytical powers, rigor of thought, critical faculty, reasoning ability);
      • Independence of thought (originality, imagination, creative intelligence);
      • Effectiveness of oral communication;
      • Effectiveness of written communication;
      • Industry and motivation (persistence, self-discipline, study techniques);
      • Judgment and maturity (conscientiousness, common sense); and
      • Leadership ability.
• Deadline - Applications received by February 15 will be decided upon by March 15. The final application deadline is March 15 and those applications will be decided upon by April 15.
• Scholarships – All accepted applicants who complete the scholarship form and submit it with their application will be considered for available scholarships.
• Acceptance – Accepted applicants who wish to reserve a seat in the entering class must make an advance deposit of $300 by the deadline stated in the acceptance letter. The deposit will be credited toward total University fees at the time of registration. Accepted applicants who do not pay the deposit by the deadline, have declined our offer. If the Director of Admissions receives notice of cancellation prior to July 15, $150 of the deposit paid is refundable.