Rule 3359-60-07 | School of law admission.
(A) Admission. Admission to all law school degree and certificate programs is at the discretion of the faculty and dean of the school of law. Admission decisions ordinarily will be made by an admissions committee or select members of the admissions committee designated by the whole committee or the dean, or by the dean in consultation with the committee. Prior to the beginning of each academic year, the dean assigns selected faculty members to serve on the admissions committee.
For all programs and certificates, the school of law admissions committee seeks students who will perform successfully in law school, enhance the environment of the school of law and ultimately use their legal education to benefit society. Thus, the committee strives to assemble a student body that is academically well prepared, highly motivated and diverse. Although an applicant's undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and score from the law school admission test (LSAT) or the graduate record examination (GRE) are important indicators of academic preparation and motivation, the admissions committee considers other factors as well. These other considerations include, but are not limited to: the nature and difficulty of the applicant's course of undergraduate study; ascending or descending grade trends; graduate work or degrees; extracurricular activities while in undergraduate or graduate school; the LSAT or GRE writing sample; work experience; community activities; achievements; personal obstacles that may have hindered realization of the applicant's full potential; recommendation letters; and the applicant's personal statement.
The university of Akron school of law is an equal educational institution. In assessing an applicant's academic promise, the admissions committee considers the extent to which the applicant has overcome disadvantages associated with obstacles in life, including membership in a historically disadvantaged racial or ethnic group. Committee members seek to recruit and enroll minority students.
The admissions committee begins to review applications as early as September for admission into the next spring, summer or fall entering class. Applications are reviewed and admission decisions are made on a continuing (rolling) basis. Applicants should therefore submit completed applications as early as possible.
Applicants may receive additional information by visiting the university of Akron school of law website and by reading admission publications. The most up-to-date information on admission requirements will be included on the law school website.
(B) General requirements and procedures for admission.
(1) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university (or the international equivalent) must be conferred prior to law school matriculation.
(2) Test scores from the LSAT or GRE. Test scores older than five years ordinarily will not be considered.
(3) All applicants must register for and submit applications and supporting documents through the law school admissions council (LSAC) by the deadlines stated on the school of law website.
(4) A complete application consists of the following:
(a) Registration with the LSAC credential assembly service (CAS).
(b) Completion of the LSAT or GRE.
(c) Submission of an electronic application through LSAC.
(d) Submission of transcripts to LSAC for processing.
(e) Submission of optional letters of recommendation to LSAC for processing.
(5) International applicants for whom English is not their first language must take the test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) or international English language testing system (IELTS) exam before their applications may be considered for admission. On a rare occasion and in the sole discretion of the admissions committee, the TOEFL/IELTS requirement may be waived if (a) the applicant has a college degree from an institution in which the primary language of instruction was English, or (b) the applicant can show other circumstances demonstrating proficiency in English.
(6) Letters of recommendation are optional, but strongly suggested.
(7) Students who are admitted to the school of law are required to pay a non-refundable seat deposit by the stated deadline. Admitted applicants receive additional details in the admit packet distributed to all students shortly after they are admitted.
(8) By the date stated on the admissions website, students who intend to enroll must arrange to send to the school of law a final, official transcript from each academic institution attended by the student.
(C) Orientation. All entering students are required to attend various orientation courses and activities. Details will be provided to admitted students after they are admitted.
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 3359
Prior Effective Dates: 11/4/1977, 8/30/1979, 1/30/1981, 12/31/1986, 5/22/1991, 11/24/2001, 1/31/2015