Admissions FAQ

Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question here or elsewhere on our website, please feel free to .

When is the best time to apply?

Our application for first-year students opens October 1, and we encourage you to apply as early as is practicable. Of course, it would not behoove an applicant to submit a rushed and haphazard application. Take the time you need to make sure that what you are presenting to the Admissions Committee is thought-out and polished. That said, be aware of our deadlines and use them to set and hold yourself accountable to goals for submitting your application.

When should I take the LSAT?

For the current admissions cycle, you must take the LSAT no later than November 2023 in order to meet the Early Bird application deadline and no later than February 2024 to meet the regular application deadline. Bear in mind that LSAT scores are not released until several weeks after sitting for the test.

LSAT scores are valid and reportable during the testing year (June to May) in which the test was taken and for five testing years thereafter. Since a score remains valid beyond the testing year in which it is received, you may choose to take the LSAT in advance so that it does not delay completion of your application.

How should I prepare for the LSAT?

The best way to prepare for the LSAT is a matter of personal preference. Several companies offer courses or tutoring (for a fee, of course), or you can make use of self-study materials available for purchase or at your local library. LSAC has even partnered with Khan Academy to offer a suite of preparatory resources, some of which are free of charge. Brandeis Law does not offer LSAT prep, nor do we endorse any particular company or method.

However you choose to prepare, that you prepare and give yourself ample time to do so is nonnegotiable. We highly recommend that you commit at least three months to seriously preparing for the LSAT.

Should I take the LSAT more than once?

It is more common today than in the past that an applicant has taken the LSAT more than once. If you are dissatisfied with your LSAT score and believe that you can significantly increase your score, retaking the LSAT may be a reasonable option. Should you choose to do so, it is important that you give yourself enough time and opportunity to demonstrate significant improvement.

Law schools must report data based on applicants’ highest LSAT scores, and so we give special regard to your high score. That said, all of your scores (as well as score cancellations and test absences) from the past five testing years are included on your LSAT score report, and the Admissions Committee will consider all such information in reviewing an application.

LSAC sets limits on the repeating the LSAT, the most frequently applicable of which is that you may only take the LSAT three times in a single testing year. Bear in mind that if the last time you took the LSAT was not within the past five testing years, you will need to retake the LSAT, as scores that old are no longer valid and reportable.

If I apply by January 1 but take the LSAT later, will I meet the Early Bird application deadline?

No, if you do not have an LSAT score on file with our office by January 1, 2024, your file will not be complete and ready for review by that date and therefore will not have met the Early Bird application deadline. Likewise, applications submitted by April 1, 2024, that do not include an LSAT score will not have met the regular application deadline.

This also holds true for applicants who apply by either deadline and have at least one LSAT score on file but request that their applications be withheld from review until a future LSAT score is released. Withholding your file from review beyond a given deadline means that you have chosen not to meet that deadline. For example, if you apply in December with an LSAT score on file but request to withhold your application from review until your January LSAT score has been released, your application will not meet the Early Bird application deadline.

What LSAT score or GPA do I need to be admitted?

The Admissions Committee reviews applications holistically and considers all factors of an application in rendering a decision. As such, there is no set minimum required LSAT score or undergraduate GPA. That said, comparing your credentials to those of our recent incoming classes can offer a sense of how it will be regarded comparatively. Below are the LSAT and undergraduate GPA statistics for our Fall 2023 entering first-year class:

LSAT UGPA
75th Percentile (Upper Quartile) 158 3.83
50th Percentile (Median) 156 3.68
25th Percentile (Lower Quartile) 152 3.31

For more detailed statistical information on our recent incoming and graduating classes, please refer to our ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures.

What should my personal statement be about?

The personal statement is an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to learn more about you as an applicant. If you have trouble developing a topic, consider the path that has led to your decision to apply. Was there a moment when the idea of law school “clicked” for you? Are there challenges that you have overcome and that have made you the person you are today? Is there an accomplishment or experience that has shaped your worldview or your career goals? These questions might not ultimately be what you choose to discuss in your personal statement, but the answers might help get your gears turning.

The personal statement should share new information about you. A personal statement that simply restates an applicant’s résumé or other submitted materials adds little to the application as a whole. That does not mean that you should avoid discussing an experience that appears on your résumé, but if you do so, you should expand on that experience in a meaningful way.

Whatever topic you choose, your personal statement should be focused, coherent and well-written. Develop a single, centralizing theme and clearly organize your writing so that the Admissions Committee can follow your narrative. Your personal statement, just like the rest of your application materials, should be free from grammatical and spelling errors. Consider having others review your personal statement to catch any mistakes and offer their feedback.

How should I format my résumé?

Your résumé should be a clearly organized and visually appealing overview of your qualifications and experiences, especially but not exclusively your education and work history. Other appropriate information for a résumé includes extracurricular activities, awards and recognitions, military service, community involvement and other information that you believe would assist the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application. An objective statement is unnecessary and typically unhelpful.

Please note that our application asks for a résumé, not a curriculum vitae. The grand majority of applicants’ résumés can fit on a single page, especially those for current and recent undergraduates. For applicants with significant work histories, a second page may be reasonable, but résumés longer than two pages are not recommended. The pages of your résumé need not be double-spaced, so take advantage of the space and use it wisely.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?

Consider your audience and the purpose of your application when selecting sources for your letters of recommendation. Your recommenders should have significant direct experience with you and should be able to reflect positively on your academic and professional readiness for law school and a future legal career. The Admissions Committee looks to the letters of recommendation both for the insight of the authors and as a test of your judgment in choosing those authors.

For any applicant currently or recently enrolled in a full-time academic program, we strongly encourage at least one letter of recommendation to come from a faculty member who has taught the applicant in a traditional classroom setting. We understand that for some applicants who have been out of school for a substantial amount of time, it may not be feasible for them to request a letter from a former professor. For those applicants, professional letters of recommendation from direct supervisors or employers are perfectly appropriate.

You are strongly discouraged from submitting personal letters of recommendation, including those from friends, family members, religious leaders or others who cannot speak directly to your academic or professional credentials.

Should I include an addendum with my application?

Including an addendum with your application is up to you, and not everyone has reason to include one. The addendum is intended to address an aspect of your application that you feel calls for further explanation in order for the Admissions Committee to properly regard it. For instance, an addendum might explain an irregular fluctuation in your GPA or a notable gap in your education or work history. Your addendum should be brief and to the point, and it should not be treated as an additional personal statement. It should serve to provide helpful context and should not be written in such a way that it comes across as making excuses for your behavior or performance.

What character and fitness issues do I need to disclose?

The questions in the Character and Fitness section of our application require the disclosure of certain information that may be pertinent to your character and fitness to study and practice the law. This includes but is not limited to criminal history, employment discipline and academic discipline. We strive to present the questions as clearly as possible, but in the event of any uncertainty, the safest choice is to err on the side of disclosure.

Many jurisdictions, including Kentucky, require a copy of your law school application to accompany your petition for admission to the bar. Failure to answer character and fitness questions truthfully and completely could affect your eligibility for admission to the bar and could even place your JD in jeopardy. Withholding character and fitness information is often far more damaging to an applicant than the underlying issue itself.

Can I transfer credits from another school?

If you are applying to transfer from another ABA-accredited law school after successfully completing your first year of study, it is possible to receive credit for your previous JD coursework. For more information, please review our section on transfer students. No credit will be awarded toward the JD for any coursework completed prior to matriculating at an ABA-accredited law school.