UNT Dallas

College of Law

Admissions

UNT Dallas College of Law seeks well-qualified students who are committed to the ethical practice of law and to representing an array of clients, including those underserved by the legal profession. 

Admissions considerations

Undergraduate study considerations

Applicants must earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate institution and must have completed the degree requirements by the time they start law school. Applicants do not have to have a specialized undergraduate major, but the College of Law will evaluate the courses you took to determine your eligibility based on the following:

  • The level of course work completed as an undergraduate
  • Performance in courses involving critical and analytical thinking
  • Demonstrated written and oral communication abilities
  • Trends in grades you received throughout college

LSAT and GPA considerations

Applicants with a 150 LSAT or higher and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher are especially encouraged to apply. However, applicants with lower scores may still apply and may be considered for conditional admission, as we have no minimum requirement for LSAT score or UGPA. We view these numbers together so that a relatively higher LSAT can offset a lower UGPA, and a higher UGPA can offset a lower LSAT.

General considerations

In evaluating candidates for admission, we will be mindful of the guidance contained in the Law School Admission Council’s Statement of Good Admission and Financial Aid Practices.  In particular, the College notes the following:

  • “The LSAT is designed to measure some, but certainly not all, of the mental and academic skills that are needed for successful law study. Within limits, it provides a reasonable assessment of these factors. LSAT scores provide at best a partial measure of an applicant’s ability and should be considered in relation to the total range of information available about a prospective law student. Thus, the LSAT score should be used as only one of several criteria for evaluation and should not be given undue weight.”
  • “Undergraduate grades are a significant indicator of potential success in law school. In addition to being one measure of academic ability, a strong scholastic record may indicate perseverance, organization, and motivation, all important factors which have few direct measures. There are, of course, measures of intellectual ability other than the cumulative grade-point average. Unusual creativity, exceptional research skills, analytical prowess, and other factors may not be reflected on a candidate’s college transcript. In evaluating the academic record, law schools may choose to consider factors such as grade inflation, the age of the grades, discrepancies among the applicant’s grades, the quality of the college attended, difficulty of coursework, and time commitments while attending college.”
  • “Admission of applicants from a wide variety of academic, cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds, and the resulting diversity, enhances and enriches the educational experience of all students and faculty.”

When should I apply?

Fall 2013 – The application form will be available in Spring 2013

How do I apply?

  1. Register with Credential Assembly Service
  2. Take the LSAT – You should do this within 3 years of applying to the College of Law and no later than in February of the year in which you are applying to start law school.
  3. Apply to the UNT Dallas College of Law – (application available Spring 2013) The application requires you to answer questions regarding your character and fitness to study and practice law. Every state also has character and fitness rules for admission to the legal profession. The college’s questions may overlap with those of various states, so you are encouraged to consult the rules for any state in which you are interested in practicing law.  The application will include submission of an essay.  The essay, which should not exceed 3 single-spaced typed pages, allows you to provide additional information about yourself. You may include any information you feel is relevant, but we especially encourage you to highlight experiences or attributes that demonstrate your ability and commitment to studying law, such as:
    • Work experience
    • Maturity
    • Overcoming adversity
    • Leadership
    • Civic-mindedness
  4. Provide 2 letters of recommendation to CAS – Include people who are the most knowledgeable with your work ethic, character and potential to study and practice law.

Additional information may be requested.  We may contact you for follow-up information regarding any of the above items. For example, we may request to meet with applicants who answer affirmatively to the applications' character and fitness questions.

Have questions or need more information? Contact a staff member for details.