J.D. Admissions FAQ

When can I visit Yale Law School?
You are welcome to visit the Law School anytime. You should look at our online events calendar to see if there are events or conferences you would like to attend (and to make sure classes are in session). Tours led by Yale Law School students take place most Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. More about visiting...

What is the application deadline?
All applications must be submitted no later than February 15.  See our step-by-step instructions...

Do I have to apply electronically?
Yes.  Applications must be submitted electronically through LSAC.  See our step-by-step instructions...

How will I know if you’ve received my application? How will I know when it is complete?
We will send you an email when we begin the initial processing of your application. Alternatively, you can log into your LSAC account to see if we have requested your LSDAS report. More about notification....

How do you weigh LSAT scores?
We do not use a formula or index to weigh various factors (like LSAT scores). We consider all of the information about an applicant, including multiple LSAT scores.  We do not average scores nor do we look at only your high score.  More about how we evaluate applications...

Will it hurt my chances if I take the February LSAT?
The February LSAT is the last test we will consider for admission for the fall. Taking the February LSAT will not hurt your chances of admission.

What are you looking for in the 250-word essay (Question 7)?
The 250-word essay can be about any topic: current events, something you studied in school, or a personal anecdote. Your choice of topic tells us something about you. We also look at your writing and editing skills and analytical abilities.

How do you consider undergraduate and graduate GPAs?
We do not have a GPA cutoff.  We take into account grade trends, the difficulty of your program, the breadth and depth of the classes you took, and any graduate work.  More about how we evaluate applications...

What are the average LSAT scores and GPAs of accepted students?
Please read How We Evaluate Applications for more information about the GPAs and LSAT scores of our applicants.

What is the first-year class profile?
See Entering Class Profile for the profile and fun facts about the Class of 2011.

What kind of majors are you looking for?
We accept students with a wide variety of majors, from political science to drama to biochemistry. More about how we evaluate applications...

Who should I ask for letters of recommendation?
We strongly prefer letters from people who know your academic work directly. Read more about letters of recommendation...

How many letters of recommendation should I submit?
Two letters are required. You may submit additional letters if you desire. Three letters is typical.

When are decisions made?
The majority of our decisions are sent out from mid-March to mid-April. Our goal is to have all decisions made by mid-April. If you are facing scholarship or deposit deadlines and have not yet received a decision from us, please email admissions.law@yale.edu with your name, LSAC number, a current phone number, and the school, type of deadline, and date.

Do you allow accepted students to defer admission?
We consider deferral requests on a case-by-case basis. More about deferrals...

Do you have a waitlist?
We keep a relatively small waitlist and the use of it varies from year to year. In the recent past, we've made anywhere from 0 to 10 offers over the summer. Admissions offers from the waitlist can be made as early as May and as late as registration day. More about notification...

If I am not accepted this year, can I reapply?
Yes, we welcome reapplications. More about reapplying....

How do I apply for a joint degree?
Joint degrees are most common with the Yale Graduate School and the School of Management, but students have also arranged joint programs with other departments like Forestry and Environmental Studies, Divinity, and Medicine. More about applying for a joint degree....