Top Law Schools

The following materials are necessary to complete an application:

- Valid LSAT score, taken between June 2006 and December 2011 (scores from the February 2012 test are acceptable but may hinder chance of admission)
- Current Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration
- Send all undergraduate transcripts directly from the undergraduate institution(s) to CAS. If international work is completed through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the credits for that work are clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript, you do not need to send the international transcript. Send all graduate transcripts directly from graduate institution(s) to CAS.
- Completed application form for the University of Michigan’s J.D. program. For advice about how to answer particular questions on our application, you may find it useful to check out our PDF application
- Application fee or waiver
- $75 by check or money order, made payable to the University of Michigan and drawn on a U.S. bank, or by credit card if applying online through LSAC or CollegeNet.
- One to three letters of recommendation. Send directly to Michigan Law School by the recommender or by a college placement office, or through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Each letter must be accompanied by a signed declaration of the applicant’s intent regarding access to the letter. Any targeted letter sent through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service should be designated for the fall term, regardless of whether an applicant requests consideration for the summer term
- Personal statement and any optional essays
- Certification that application is true and accurate. You may sign the certification on the application or, if you submit electronically, sign the Certification Letter and mail it directly to the University of Michigan Law School or use the electronic certification option

The Early Decision program is designed for applicants who have considered their law school options carefully and are confident that the University of Michigan Law School is their clear first choice. In return for the Law School’s commitment to give an Early Decision applicant a decision by mid-December, the applicant must commit, at the time of application, to attend the Law School if admitted under the Early Decision program, and to withdraw and/or not initiate applications at other law schools. The Early Decision program at Michigan is limited to those applicants wishing to begin in the summer term: the Early Decision option will benefit summer-start candidates by enabling them to begin planning a few months earlier for the late May starting date.

spicyyoda17 wrote:Checking in - do you guys think they will drop again this year in the rankings?

One to three letters of recommendation. Send directly to Michigan Law School by the recommender or by a college placement office, or through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Each letter must be accompanied by a signed declaration of the applicant’s intent regarding access to the letter. Any targeted letter sent through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service should be designated for the fall term, regardless of whether an applicant requests consideration for the summer term

shifty_eyed wrote:

One to three letters of recommendation. Send directly to Michigan Law School by the recommender or by a college placement office, or through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Each letter must be accompanied by a signed declaration of the applicant’s intent regarding access to the letter. Any targeted letter sent through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service should be designated for the fall term, regardless of whether an applicant requests consideration for the summer term

Do you think applying as early as possible with only ONE recommendation letter vs a few weeks later with two would make a difference?

I figure I can apply ASAP with one that I already have, and then if I get waitlisted, I can send in the other LOR?

What do y'all think?

BuckinghamB wrote:

shifty_eyed wrote:

One to three letters of recommendation. Send directly to Michigan Law School by the recommender or by a college placement office, or through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Each letter must be accompanied by a signed declaration of the applicant’s intent regarding access to the letter. Any targeted letter sent through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service should be designated for the fall term, regardless of whether an applicant requests consideration for the summer term

Do you think applying as early as possible with only ONE recommendation letter vs a few weeks later with two would make a difference?

I figure I can apply ASAP with one that I already have, and then if I get waitlisted, I can send in the other LOR?

What do y'all think?

I had the exact same situation this past cycle, and I talked to an admissions officer about it. She said it would be better to get your application in earlier with one and then submit the second one later on if necessary. FWIW, I submitted with only one letter and was accepted before I even got a chance to send them my second one. I don't think it's a huge deal.