Applying to UC Irvine Law – First Year JD

An application will be considered complete and eligible for review by the Admissions Committee when the following items are received by the deadline dates specified in the Application Instructions:

• Complete application
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
• Credential Assembly Service Law School Report (CAS Report)
• Official score reports for all standardized test scores (LSAT or GRE)
• A minimum of two (no more than three) letters of recommendation (must be included in your CAS Report)
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement (750-word limit)
• "Why UC Irvine Law?" Essay (750-word limit)
• Character & Fitness/Conduct Statement, if applicable

If you have a pending standardized test score and wish to hold your application from going into review, you must submit a request in writing within one week after submitting your application to admissions@law.uci.edu. Similarly, if ETS has already sent us a valid GRE score, your file will be complete and will be forwarded to the committee unless an affirmative request is received from the applicant within one week after your application has been submitted. If the application is already in review or the request comes later than one week after the application was submitted, it will not be held for a future test score.

Application Deadlines - Fall 2026

Application Review Timeline

Beginning September 1, applications are accepted for admissions and are reviewed on a rolling basis, starting with Early Decision applications. You should complete the application process as early as possible, as an early application may yield an earlier decision.

• Binding Early Decision
  • Round 1: Notifications will be rendered no later than December 31, 2025. 
  • Round 2: Notifications will be rendered no later than February 15, 2026.
  • Early Decision applicants held over to the Regular Decision pool will receive an updated decision by April 15, 2026.
• Regular Decision: It is the goal of the Admissions Committee to render a decision to all Regular Decision applicants that submitted a completed application by the March 31, 2026 priority deadline by May 15, 2026 or earlier. For applicants whose application becomes complete after our priority deadline, the goal of the Admissions Committee is to render a decision by July 15, 2026 or earlier.

When submitting your application for admission, please strictly adhere to all application instructions. Detailed instructions regarding all application components are included with the application.

• Electronic Application
• Application Status Check
• No Application Fee
• Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
• Standardized Test
• Required Essays
• Letters of Recommendation
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Optional Essays

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION

The application is available through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website beginning September 1. After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirmation of our receipt of your Fall 2026 1L application.

APPLICANT STATUS CHECKER

Within 72 hours of submitting your application (3 business days), you will receive your login credentials for the Applicant Status Checker system. Please check all your folders and/or tabs for this email.

Applicant Status Checker >

NO APPLICATION FEE

There is no application fee to apply. Please do not contact the Admissions Office requesting a fee waiver, as it is unnecessary. Due to our limited resources, we are unable to grant CAS Report fee waivers.

CREDENITAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE (CAS)

All applicants must register for and utilize the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The CAS houses your transcript(s), letters of recommendation, and your LSAT score(s) and LSAT writing, as applicable. If you are applying through Regular Decision, your CAS Report may be received after the application priority or final deadline. 

• All Transcripts Required:
  • Transcripts from every college or university attended (study abroad transcripts from foreign universities are not required).
  • Missing transcripts may result in your file being marked Incomplete, delaying your CAS Report and application review.
  • Applicants are under a continuing obligation to provided updated transcripts to LSAC at all times. 
    • Current undergraduates must update their transcripts after each semester/quarter
    • Admitted students must submit final transcript showing degree conferral before matriculation (first day of Orientation)

STANDARDIZED TEST

All applicants must submit valid Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) score(s) received in the last five years as part of their application. This requirement cannot be waived for any circumstance. If either tests have been taken more than once, the Admission Committee will use your highest score when evaluating your file.

Applicants may submit either LSAT or GRE score(s), not both. If you have taken or plan to take the LSAT, GRE score(s) will not be accepted. Additionally, if admitted with a GRE score and later receive an LSAT score, your application may be reevaluated and make a new decision taking the LSAT into account.

• LSAT Requirements
  • Scores(s) Submission: Result(s) are sent directly to UC Irvine Law from LSAC as part of your CAS Report. If you have taken the LSAT and have or will have a valid reported score on file, it cannot be waived from your application. 
  • Registration: Register for the LSAT via the LSAC website.
  • Early Decision (ED) - Round 1:
    • Deadline for Complete Application: November 15, 2025
    • Last LSAT accepted for ED Round 1: October 2025
  • Early Decision (ED) - Round 2:
    • Deadline for Complete Application: February 1, 2026
    • Last LSAT accepted for ED Round 2: January 2026
  • Regular Decision: Applicants should take the LSAT by February 2026 to ensure the best opportunity to participate in UCI Law's Admitted Student Weekend program, if you are admitted. Although later test results are permitted, waiting for these results may delay review of your application.
    • Priority Application Deadline: March 31, 2026
    • Final Application Deadline: May 1, 2026
    • Last LSAT accepted for Regular Decision: April 2026
• GRE Requirements
  
  • Score(s) Submission: You may submit GRE score(s) only if you have not taken the LSAT and you do not have a valid LSAT score on file. Via ETS, you must select UC Irvine Law to receive all valid GRE score(s) from the last five years, using graduate school code 4859. 
  • The GRE will not be accepted from Early Decision applicants.
  • Registration: Register for the GRE via the ETS website.
  • Regular Decision: Applicants should take the GRE by October 2025 to ensure the best opportunity to participate in UCI Law's Admitted Student Weekend program, if you are admitted. Although later test results are permitted, waiting for these results may delay review of your application.
    • The GRE must be taken no later than April 20, 2026 to be considered for Fall 2026 admission.

REQUIRED ESSAYS

Applicants must submit two separate essays:

1. Personal Statement
2. "Why UC Irvine Law?" Essay

Each essay has a strict word limit of 750. Applicants should respond using Microsoft Word and format all your documents to 8-1/2 x 11 inches, double spaced, with 12-point font and one-inch margins. Most importantly, please include your name, LSAC number, and statement type (e.g. Personal Statement, "Why UC Irvine Law?" essay, etc.) at the top of each page. 

Revisions will not be accepted once statements have been submitted. Additional instructions and information regarding the required essays are included in the application instructions.  

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (LOR)

Two (2) letters of recommendation are required, with an option to submit a third. The letters should be completed by someone who may evaluate your academic performance (e.g., college professor) or your professional performance (e.g., current, or former supervisor, client, or co-worker). The Committee discourages purely personal references. Please be sure to designate UC Irvine School of Law as a recipient of these letters through your CAS Report.

RESUME OR CURRICULUM VITAE

Applicants must submit a resume illustrating their work history, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, as well as any awards and/or honors. The Admissions Committee encourages resumes to be professionally formatted with all sections listed in chronological order and the most recent first. Although there is not a page limit, most resumes received are between 1-2 pages.

OPTIONAL ESSAYS

Applicants are welcome to submit one or both of the following optional essays:

• Inclusive Excellence Essay: UC Irvine Law is deeply committed to fostering inclusive excellence. Please describe how you will contribute to that commitment within our law school community. Maximum word count allowed is 500.
• Addendum: Applicants may submit an optional addendum to provide additional context about their candidacy. This may include an explanation of standardized test performance and/or (2) academic history (e.g., undergraduate GPA). You may address one or both topics, however, maximum word count allowed is 500.

An affirmative answer to any of the character and fitness questions on our application requires detailed written explanation and supporting documentation that needs to be included in the application. If an applicant answers in the affirmative to these questions and does not provide the required statement(s), the application will be considered Incomplete and will not be reviewed. All applicants have an ongoing duty to disclose changes to their application, especially as they relate to conduct matters (criminal or disciplinary), to our office by sending an email to admissions@law.uci.edu. 

Applicants educated abroad (excluding study abroad from a domestic institution) must utilize the LSAC CAS Authentication & Evaluation Service. Internationally educated applicants may apply and be admitted to UC Irvine Law so long as the Authentication & Evaluation Service indicate the degree is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree that is earned in the United States. The Admissions Office will not discuss concerns regarding the validity of transcripts, United States degree equivalency, or accreditation acceptability until the LSAC Report is received with the application.

• UC Irvine Law's Early Decision program is binding.
• If admitted through the Early Decision program, you must commit to matriculating at UC Irvine Law and submit a non-refundable $750 seat deposit by the date(s) indicated with your admission letter. You must also withdraw all your applications to other schools and refrain from initiating any new applications.
• You may not be an Early Decision candidate at more than one law school.
• Early Decision applicants must have at least one valid LSAT score. Applicants applying with a GRE are not eligible to apply for admission through the Early Decision program.
• All applicants must sign and return their Early Decision Certificate in PDF directly to the Office of Admissions at admissions@law.uci.edu. There is a separate Early Decision Round 1 Certification and a Early Decision Round 2 Certification. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the Early Decision Certification is received in our office and in a format that is readable by the Early Decision Round 1 and Round 2 application deadlines.
• No deferrals will be granted to applicants admitted under Binding Early Decision for any reason.

Round 1

• Applications be must received and marked as "Complete" by November 15, 2025. 
• To ensure all required materials are received by the deadline, we recommend submitting your application by November 1, 2025.
• October 2025 is the last LSAT administration accepted for ED Round 1.
• Round 1 Binding Early Decision notifications will be sent no later than December 31, 2025.

Round 2

• Applications be must received and marked as "Complete" by February 1, 2026.
• To ensure all required materials are received by the deadline, we recommend submitting your application by January 15, 2026.
• January 2026 is the last LSAT administration accepted for ED Round 2.
• Round 2 Binding Early Decision notifications will be sent no later than February 15, 2026.

The UC Irvine Law Early Decision option allows you to receive a decision of either "Admit" or "Held for Regular Decision". If you choose to apply for ED Round 1 and are not admitted, your application will move to Regular Decision and you may not request to move to ED Round 2. If you apply ED Round 1 but are unable to complete your application by the November 15 deadline, you may request your application be considered for ED Round 2 by submitting a request in writing to our office at admissions@law.uci.edu by November 15, 2025. Your request must include the ED Round 2 Certification. If you do not submit this request and your ED Round 2 certification by the deadline, your application will be moved to Regular Decision. No exceptions will be granted. If you apply ED Round 2 and are unable to complete your application by the February 1 deadline, your application will be moved to Regular Decision and your application is no longer be binding.

Applicants who receive an offer of admission through our Binding Early Decision process are guaranteed a scholarship of $30,000/year renewable for the duration of your law school education (six (6) semesters) at UCI provided you maintain good academic standing.

For applicants who receive a decision of “Review for Regular Decision”, and subsequently receive an offer of admission, eligibility will be evaluated by the Scholarship Committee for UC Irvine Law scholarship funds. These scholarships may be higher or lower than those granted in the ED process.

Every student admitted to our JD program is considered for UC Irvine Law Scholarship. The scholarship will be offered to those whose academic records demonstrate exceptional promise for outstanding law school performance. It is renewed up to three years (six semesters) of full-time enrollment, and the student is to remain in good academic standing at the end of each year.

While timing is not dispositive regarding scholarships, since our scholarship budget is finite, awards may become limited as we move through the application cycle. Therefore, it's in an applicant’s best interest to apply by the priority deadline to maximize their potential scholarship award.

UC Irvine Law provides need-based grants to JD students to supplement other aid to decrease the potential debt burden incurred by students who have experienced or are experiencing extreme financial hardship. Students who wish to be considered for these need-based grants must submit the Free Application for FAFSA or the California Dream Application by the March 2, 2026, deadline.

Eligibility is determined by using the information submitted to the FAFSA or the California Dream Application. Eligibility is determined before the first year, and awards are automatically renewed for up to three years (six semesters), provided full-time enrollment is maintained. Initial eligibility for need-based aid is subject to verification.

As an expression of the law school's commitment to supporting students interested in the public sector admitted JD students may be considered for the Public Service Scholarship (PSS) by submitting a separate application demonstrating their history of public service and dedication to entering a career in public interest law after graduation. The PSS is offered to a few incoming students and is renewable for the 2L and 3L years. This scholarship requires the student to remain in good academic standing at the end of each year, work both their 1L and 2L summers in the public interest and work at least three years in public interest law after graduation.