Our Application Process
Here’s what you need to know about applying to our academic programs.
Questions?
The Office of Admissions is available Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for appointments by phone and video meetings.
Apply Through LSAC
Note: All admission decisions are final. Appeals will not be considered.
Admission to the Advanced Standing Two-Year J.D. Program
2-Year J.D.
Applicants to our Advanced Standing Two-Year J.D. Program are from all over the world, but those we accept have several things in common: they demonstrate superior achievement in law school and/or the legal profession, they possess excellent communication skills, and most importantly, they have a very clear sense of how a J.D. degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law is going to help them achieve their professional goals.
Our admission process is selective and based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria. In addition to your law school grade point average (GPA) and language proficiency test score (if necessary), the Admissions Committee considers other non-numerical factors in reaching decisions. These factors include:
- Achievement or activities that indicate a high level of probability of scholastic excellence and intellectual contributions while in law school;
- Achievements or activities emanating from work, life experience or community service that indicate a potential for contributing to the enrichment of the law school;
- Special factors in your academic background that may have affected your academic career, including discrimination based on race, creed, gender, disability or national origin, and economic or social impediments.
The School of Law is committed to a nondiscriminatory admission policy and philosophy. We welcome applications from all people without regard to race, age, gender, disability, religion, national origin, family status or sexual orientation.
Eligibility to Apply
You are eligible to apply to our Advanced Standing Two-Year J.D. Program if you hold a first degree in law that qualifies you to practice law in your home country. This degree must be from a regionally accredited college or university and obtained by the date of your intended enrollment. The LSAT is not required.
Note
Students must have completed their law study primarily in the classroom with professors, not online.
Two-Year JD candidates are not eligible for dual degrees.
How to Apply
You must apply via the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service. All supporting documents, including transcripts, recommendation letters and language proficiency test scores, are mailed or transmitted to LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Learn more about the J.D. Application Process.
The Application Review Process
The Admissions Committee uses a rolling admission process. Applications are put into review with the Admissions Committee as they become complete, and decisions are usually made within four weeks. It is essential to make sure you have submitted all required documents. Incomplete applications will not go into review with the Admissions Committee.
Application Requirements
The Admissions Committee takes a broad view of law school performance. We evaluate your transcript based on courses taken, increasing level of difficulty and academic rigor of the course of study. While the academic reputation of the institution is considered, it is not weighed as heavily as the student’s academic performance. The Admissions Committee will accept addenda to your application that explain any anomalies in your academic performance. If you experienced an unexpected event that resulted in an inconsistent academic performance, consider providing a one-page explanation to the Admissions Committee.
NEED TO KNOW
Applicants with non-U.S. academic documents must have them evaluated and, if necessary, translated by LSAC’s International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES).
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum TOEFL score of 90 is required. The IELTS overall score band must be at least 7.0. However, preference for applicants to the three-year and two-year JD programs will be given to candidates with scores at or above 100 on the TOEFL and 7.5 on IELTS. Test scores must be dated within two years of prospective enrollment at the School of Law.
Note
An exemption for this requirement is automatically granted to students who are citizens of, and who were educated in the English medium from Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, eSwatini (Swaziland), Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Waivers are submitted to the University’s Office of International Admissions. There is no guarantee that waiver requests will be approved. Please contact the Office of Admissions at law-admissions@buffalo.edu for more information about English proficiency waiver.
Letters of recommendation help to complete the academic profile of each applicant. We highly encourage applicants ask faculty members to write these letters. Recommendations should stress your ability to think and write critically, analyze large volumes of text, and address your level of responsibility in the classroom. The Admissions Committee highly values letters from faculty members, former employers or colleagues who know you well.
If you are returning to the academic environment after some time away, letters of recommendation from employers are acceptable. Encourage them to stress your academic ability as much as possible.
Personal recommendations (e.g. letters from family, friends, members of the clergy, politicians, etc.) are strongly discouraged. Their comments are not useful in evaluating your academic qualifications.
NEED TO KNOW
Two letters are required. Your application will not be completed or go into review until two letters have been received.
The Admissions Committee uses the personal statement to learn about each applicant. We are particularly interested in knowing what motivates you to pursue the Advanced Standing Two-Year J.D. We are also interested in learning about your life experiences, family background, academic experiences and academic accomplishments that make you especially qualified to pursue a degree at the School of Law. The personal statement should also demonstrate your ability to write well.
It is recommended that you have your personal statement proofread prior to submission. Ideally, your personal statement should be tailored to the School of Law. It should be 2 – 2 1/2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font. It should be at most 750 words.
All applicants are required to submit a résumé listing employment, extracurricular and/or public-service activities, honors, awards, and special interests related to your academic career to date.
Character and Fitness
Pursuant to policy established by the State University of New York (SUNY), the University at Buffalo School of Law does not make inquiries into the criminal records of applicants for purposes of admission.
Important Note
Admission to the University at Buffalo School of Law is based on our judgment of your ability to successfully complete a course of legal study. However, neither admission to nor graduation from UB School of Law constitutes a judgment that you are eligible for admission to practice law; that is a decision for state bar authorities, not law schools. A criminal record can be an obstacle for bar admission. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are eligible for admission to the bar, and we encourage you to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which you intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Application Fee
A nonrefundable application fee of $85 is required. Individuals facing economic hardship can seek an application fee waiver by sending a request to law-admissions@buffalo.edu before submitting the application. The School of Law cannot waive LSAC fees, however. Explore LSAC’s Fee Waiver Programs and Services for eligibility criteria and application details.
Post-Admission
Successful applicants may be asked to declare their criminal history, including any prior felony conviction(s), post-admission, if and when they seek campus housing or apply to participate in certain other activities that require such checks (i.e. study abroad programs and experiential courses that involve working at outside organizations or in settings that require criminal background checks). Certain responses could, but not necessarily, impact ones' ability to pursue the aforementioned opportunities.