FAQs

The University of Idaho College of Law’s application is available in mid-September. Applicants should begin the application process in the fall of their senior year of undergraduate school, or in the fall prior to when they expect to enroll in the College of Law.

Applicants are encouraged to apply no later than February 15. Review of applications and earliest decisions are made in November and December, with review of files continuing throughout the spring and into the summer.

Yes, the University of Idaho College of Law requires that all applicants have a valid LSAT score. A score less than three years old is preferred and considered valid. The LSAT is designed to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others.

Yes, you are encouraged to visit the College of Law. Please contact the Office of Admissions to schedule your personalized visit.

The College of Law only has one application. Applicants can select a preferred location, whether Boise or Moscow. While every effort is made to accommodate the applicant’s preferred location, there is not a guarantee.

Every effort will be made to notify applicants of a decision in a timely manner. Review of applications begins in November and continues until the class is full. Applicants who are placed on the waitlist may not receive a final decision until late July.

No. Our program is a full-time, day only program with fall semester admission only.

Applicants should take the LSAT when they are fully prepared for the test. The LSAT will be offered multiple times a year. If you are planning to start law school in August, applicants are encouraged to take the LSAT no later than the fall of the year in which they plan to apply. The College of Law will consider the February LSAT and even later test dates, but it is not advised to wait until then to take the test for the first time. Because the high score is considered, do not be reluctant to take the test more than once. For more information about the LSAT, please consult the Law School Admissions website: www.lsac.org.

A well-written personal statement is typically no more than two (2) pages, double-spaced, but it may be longer. Your personal statement is in lieu of a personal interview and is used to evaluate your writing skills. The personal statement should be a positive statement, do not use it to explain “negatives” in your file, that may be done in an addendum. There is no set topic for the personal statement. Include anything that you wish to tell us about yourself. Let us know who you are — your unique strengths, talents, leadership skills, experiences, motivations, and aspirations. It’s your chance to tell us why, beyond your academic qualifications, we should accept you. Spend time on your statement. If you’ve done many things and have an extensive work background, don’t try to cram all of it in. Instead, expand on a few experiences or facts in detail.

An addendum may be needed to address any “negatives” in your file. Negatives may include a low GPA, a “bad” semester, or a low LSAT score. An addendum is the place to explain any issues with your file, any educational or financial obstacles you have overcome. All applicants are encouraged to include a diversity statement. Diversity may include ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, first generation college student, single parent, etc. What do you bring to the class? 

The College of Law requires two (2) letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are helpful in fully assessing an applicant for admission. For someone coming straight from undergraduate or graduate school, at least one letter of recommendation should be from a faculty member. Letters from employers, clients, supervisor are helpful. Letters of recommendation should always come from someone who knows you, knows you well, and is willing to write a positive letter of recommendation.

Applicants should read the character and fitness questions on the application very carefully and respond candidly and honestly. Answering “YES” to a character and fitness question will not doom your application, the failure to be completely honest and forthright may. An applicant who responds in the affirmative should explain what happened, the outcome of the case, accept responsibility for the mistake, and tell the Admissions Committee the lessons learned from the experience. A minor character and fitness issue is not likely to result in rejection from law school. A pattern of behavior does cause concern for the Admissions Committee. Applicants with significant character and fitness issues are advised to be very clear about the event(s) and provide the Admissions Committee with as much information as possible. Each state has character and fitness standards for admission to the Bar. Applicants with significant issues should contact the jurisdiction in which they plan to practice law to see if the character and fitness issue will disqualify them from admission to the Bar.

Yes, a current resume is required. Be sure to tailor your resume to law school admissions, you are not applying for a job. Your resume should expand on and provide more details than the application allows with a focus on leadership roles, community service, and work/internship experience. A one-page resume is typically sufficient.

An applicant who was previously enrolled in a law school and left for personal or academic reasons may apply for admission to the College of Law. You will need to provide an official law school transcript, a letter of standing from the previous law school, a letter of recommendation from a professor at the previous law school, and a detailed explanation as to your reasons for leaving. If you were academically dismissed, you should explain what obstacles you encountered and how you have overcome them to be successful on your second attempt at law school.

Offers of admission are for that year and that year only. Accepted applicants may request a one-year deferment. Deferment decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Accepted applicants interested in requesting a deferment should e-mail their request with a brief explanation to lawadmit@uidaho.edu. The request will be reviewed, and the applicant will be notified of the decision. If a deferral is granted, a letter and contract will be sent to the applicant. Once the applicant signs and returns the contract, and pays the required $500.00 seat confirmation fee, the deferment will be secure. A deferment is for the offer of admission only and does not guarantee a scholarship award. Deferred applicants are eligible for scholarship consideration when they enroll in the College of Law.

To apply for federal financial aid, you must submit a FAFSA. To be considered for priority, you must submit a FAFSA and list the University of Idaho (federal code 001626). Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for federal aid. See our Financial Aid website for more details.

Your application to Idaho Law is your application for scholarship consideration. The key factors in scholarship consideration are the high LSAT score and the cumulative undergraduate GPA. Scholarships awarded to entering students are renewable for each of the three years of law school provided the student remains in good academic standing.

Visit the Gaining Idaho State Residency page for more information.

Students from member WRGP states/territories retain eligibility for in-state tuition throughout their time at Idaho Law.

Yes, all applicants to the College of Law are required to take the LSAT and register with LSAC. Applicants are responsible for having a transcript from every college or university attended sent directly to Law Services. All letters of recommendation should be sent to LSAC. LSAC will then compile the candidate’s information and send a CAS Report to each law school. A complete CAS Report typically includes the LSAT scores, a copy of the LSAT writing sample, transcripts from all colleges or universities, and letters of recommendation. You can register with CAS by visiting LSAC at www.lsac.org.

The CAS Report will show all test scores. For admission purposes the University of Idaho College of Law will use the high LSAT score. If there is a significant difference in multiple scores, an addendum may be helpful to explain the change in the scores.

LSAT scores are valid for five (5) years. The University of Idaho College of Law prefers that a score be within three years.

Applicants are required to have a transcript from every college or university attended, including courses taken as dual enrollment while in high school, sent to LSAC. Applicants should have a transcript sent or updated to show as many grades as possible. Many applicants will have a transcript sent in the fall semester of their senior year and may want to update their transcript once fall semester grades are on the college transcript. The College of Law requires that all entering students provide a final transcript showing that a degree has been earned. For most applicants the final transcript cannot be provided until June, following graduation, and before enrolling in law school in the fall.

Yes. Once your application is received, your file will be set up and your application status will be considered as "Incomplete." A complete file includes the application, the personal statement, two (2) letters of recommendation, a current resume, a complete CAS Report including a valid LSAT score, the LSAT writing sample, and transcripts from every college or university attended. Once all required items are received in the Admissions Office, your status will be updated to "Complete." A complete file is considered ready for review by the Admissions Committee. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare for the LSAT. While the high score is used for decision purposes, all scores are reported to the law school on the CAS Report. One way to practice for the LSAT is to take sample tests under timed conditions. Previously administered LSATs may be purchased from LSAC. There are many ways to prepare for the LSAT. Commercial prep courses are one popular option. LSAC provides anyone with the opportunity to enroll in the Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep course. A commercial prep course seeks to build the skills and confidence needed to succeed on test day.

The College of Law offers students the option of two locations, downtown Boise near the state capitol complex including the courts, the legislature, and other state agencies or in Moscow, home of the University of Idaho, and a traditional college town with easy access to the great outdoors.

The College of Law adheres to the ABA standards related to working while in law school. However, first year law students are strongly advised to not work, to first focus on their course work and adjusting to the demands of law school. Second and third-year law students may not work more than 20 hours per week while enrolled in law school.

While there is limited on-campus housing available in Moscow, most students prefer to live off-campus. In both Moscow and Boise there are many housing options for law students. The Admissions Office will provide information on housing options in both locations and is happy to assist students in the search for both housing and roommates.

Yes, the University of Idaho College of Law, founded in 1909, is fully accredited by the American Bar Association.