If you wish to apply for admission to the J.D. Program at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, please complete the application through the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). CAS registrants can access the electronic application at no additional charge beyond the CAS fee.
Important Dates and Deadlines
- September 1 - Applications accepted for the upcoming academic year.
- November 15 - Application deadline for the Early Decision Program.
- February 1 - Application deadline for Kennedy Scholar consideration.
- March 1 - Priority deadline to receive a decision by May 1 and to receive maximum consideration for merit-based scholarships. Also, deadline for international applicants.
- April 1 - Application opens for transfer applicants.
- May 15 - Final application deadline for: first-time applicants, reapplicants, and IU McKinney LLM transfer applicants. Incomplete files submitted by the deadline must become complete by June 1.
- June 15 - final application deadline for transfer applicants (non-LLM).
J.D. Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admittance to the McKinney J.D. program, you must:
- Have received a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from an approved college or university by the first day of the fall semester.
- Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- For GRE applicants, IU McKinney's GRE DI Code is 3977.
- Register for the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
- Forward your transcripts from any institution you have ever attended to LSAC.
- Submit two letters of recommendation to LSAC.
- Submit a completed Law School Application (including Statement of Motivations and Goals and resume) no later than May 15 of the year in which you seek admission. There is no application fee.
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, mental or physical handicap, age, gender, or sexual orientation in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This policy covers, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, educational services, programs, and activities.
Personal Statement
Many factors are important in assessing an applicant’s potential to distinguish themselves and engage in the educational process and the legal profession. Therefore, students will be asked to complete a Statement of Motivations and Goals in lieu of the personal statement.
The following questions aim to add context to your numerical indicators and aid us in matriculating students who will assist us in fulfilling our mission at the law school. Respond to each prompt. You may write up to 450 words per prompt when preparing your Statement of Motivations and Goals.
1. Identify an issue that you feel strongly about. Explain why this issue matters to you personally or socially, and discuss your beliefs and perspectives on it.
2. Why do you want to go to law school and why do you want to attend IU McKinney in particular?
J.D. Admissions Selection Process
When considering your application, the Admissions Committee will look first at your undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and LSAT or GRE score. A formula combining these factors (derived annually from a study comparing the UGPA and LSAT or GRE scores of current students with their subsequent law school performances) is used to predict your success in law school.
Additionally, admissions decisions are based on a combination of factors, including:
- The quality and strength of your undergraduate program
- Worthwhile community and extracurricular activities
- Employment during and after college
- Graduate work
- A written Statement of Motivations and Goals
- Letters of recommendation
Additional Application Materials
You may include up to three (3) optional statements of up to 500 words each as attachments to your application if there is additional information that you would like the admissions committee to consider. The optional statements are limited to the following topics: Statement of Academic Record, Statement of Socioeconomic Background, Statement of Responsibilities, or Statement of Interest Area.
These statements are optional. Failure to complete an optional statement will not negatively impact consideration of your application.
- Statement of Academic Record: If you think standardized tests, or your undergraduate transcript, serve as inaccurate or incomplete predictors of your actual classroom or professional performance, please tell us why.
- Statement of Responsibilities: Have you had experiences that shaped you into the person you are today (i.e., familial, educational, community) and how might those experiences inform your approach to law school and the legal profession?
- Statement of Interest Area: Are you interested in any particular area of law? Briefly explain why.
Reapplicants
Applicants who previously applied to IU McKinney should submit a new personal statement and at least one new letter of recommendation (unless LORs are over 2 years old). The applicant may also need to have an advising call with an admissions advisor to discuss ways to strengthen their application.
For more information or help with the application process, email us at lawadmit@iu.edu or call us at 317-274-2459.
