All applicants must to the J.D. program must apply using our electronic application accessible via your JD Account at LSAC.org. Detailed instructions on completing the application can be found with the electronic application.
You must complete the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no earlier than five years prior to enrollment and must register with the Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
We suggest submission of up to three letters of recommendation or evaluations from individuals who know you and your capabilities well. We encourage and prefer use of the Law School Admission Council's Letter of Recommendation Service, which is included in the subscription to CAS.
While you must apply electronically, PDF copies of our application form questions are available upon request.
October 15
We begin processing applications
November 15
We begin reviewing applications
December 15
We begin announcing admissions and merit-based scholarships
Although Tulane Law does not have a strict deadline, applicants are encouraged to submit applications between September 15 and March 1. Later applications will be considered, but space and scholarship opportunities may be limited. Applicants planning to submit LSAT scores from a test administration date later than March 1 are encouraged to submit their application prior to receipt of their score so that their application will be placed into review as soon as possible. So long as space remains in the incoming class, Tulane continues to receive and process applications and to make offers of admission. Tulane will consider scores from March, April, and June for fall matriculation for any remaining space in the class, but July scores may only be used for the next year's application cycle.
Beginning in November, complete applications are reviewed, but not necessarily in the order in which they were received. Most admission decisions are made and announced between December 1 and April 1, but files are reviewed, and additional decisions made until the class is filled. Decisions may be deferred on some applications until late spring. Some applicants may be placed on a waiting list and offered a place in the class if one becomes available during the summer prior to the first day of class.
Candidates accepted before March 15 are not required to make a commitment to enroll before May 1. Candidates admitted through the regular admission process after March 15 are given a minimum of two weeks within which to decide. A second commitment deposit is due on June 1.
Every complete application is read in its entirety, and all information an applicant or her recommenders provide to the Committee on Admission is considered, although information collected from any demographic questions on race/ethnicity identification will be inaccessible to reviewers of an applicant file, nor will the information be accessible to those reviewers, or decision-makers, during the admissions cycle in any form.
We look closely at candidates' LSAT scores and undergraduate grade point averages; these tend, in combination, to predict success in the first year at Tulane. In addition, we review each candidate's personal essays, descriptions of work and other activities in and out of college, letters of recommendation (encouraged, but not required), and all other information brought to our attention.
All applicants will be required to submit a current resume. Instructions for this document can be found with the electronic application. Additionally, we require candidates to write at least one personal essay. Up to two additional essays may be submitted. Please select from the topics below.
We recognize that some applicants might feel compelled to respond to Essay Prompt #1 because it sounds like the “personal statement” many other law schools require. Similarly, some applicants will feel compelled to submit a response to Essay Prompt #8 because they think that they need to express a strong interest in Tulane to receive the most favorable admission consideration. Rest assured that our Admissions Committee does not prefer the submission of any one of these essays over the others, and all are weighted equally. You should feel entirely comfortable skipping #1 or #8 if there is another prompt (or up to three other prompts) that you prefer.
Submit the essay(s) that best convey(s) the information about yourself that you would like Tulane to consider when evaluating your potential success in law school. Submit the essay(s) that enable(s) you to present a strong representation of you as an individual today, and the future law student and lawyer that you will become.
Any essay you submit should reflect solely your own work. Although neither a minimum nor a maximum, a suggested length is 2 to 3 double-spaced pages per essay in at least an 11-point font.
Avoid using your essay(s) to explain problems with your academic, LSAT, or conduct record, but do ensure that these matters are addressed—preferably in the optional “GPA/LSAT Explanation” question which can be submitted in addition to the maximum number of personal essays allowed. Candidates answering affirmatively to any of the questions in the "Character/Fitness" section will be required to submit a further explanation, but that is also a separate written response in addition to any personal essay.
Respond to at least one but no more than three of the following essay prompts:
Essay Prompt 1
Submit a personal story about an experience (or experiences) that has/have significantly shaped your life, values, or aspirations. While optional, we encourage you to “write your own question(s)” : At the top of your essay, before your first paragraph, you can let us know what question (or questions) this essay submission answers about you and your potential contributions to our law school community as reflected in your retelling of this story.
Essay Prompt 2
Describe a significant challenge or issue your community has faced and how you creatively addressed or contributed to finding solutions. How did your life experiences, background, and unique perspectives shape your approach to tackling this problem? Provide specific examples of your actions and their impact on the community. In answering this prompt, definite the word “community” as you personally see fit.
Essay Prompt 3
Describe a situation where you took a stand for a cause or principle you strongly believed was right, even when it was challenging or unpopular. How did your personal values and life history motivate you to advocate for this cause? Share the actions you took and the results you achieved through your advocacy.
Essay Prompt 4
Reflect on an experience where you demonstrated empathy and understanding towards someone with different perspectives, beliefs, or backgrounds. How did your ability to empathize and see the world from their viewpoint contribute to resolving a conflict or fostering a positive relationship? Provide specific instances of how you practiced empathy in your interactions.
Essay Prompt 5
Share an experience in which you successfully built meaningful connections with people who had vastly different views, values, or backgrounds from your own. How did you approach these relationships, and how did they shape your own beliefs or actions? Discuss how these connections have enriched your perspective.
Essay Prompt 6
Describe a situation where you effectively managed your time to support the needs of others while juggling various other responsibilities such as education, extracurricular activities, or employment. How did your organizational skills and commitment to serve others enable you to make a meaningful impact on causes you care about or the lives of those you hold dear? Explain the steps and strategies you have implemented to optimize your time management.
Essay Prompt 7
Share an experience, challenge, issue, or situation in which your own background and/or identity has played a significant role. How has your background and/or identity influenced your perspective and action? Feel free to share ways in which your background and/or identity might inform your interest in the legal profession.
Essay Prompt 8
If you have a particularly strong reason you wish to study law at Tulane, in New Orleans, or in our region of the country/world, what experiences, challenges, issues, or aspirations inform this connection? Whether you were raised in the vibrant city of New Orleans, have previously attended Tulane University, have deep ties to the State of Louisiana, or find one of the law school's areas of academic excellence to be a match with your interests, how will attending Tulane Law support your personal growth, academic pursuits, or career aspirations?
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Applicants from the European Economic Area (the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway): please see the Tulane University Privacy Policy for Data Protected by the European Union General Data Protection Regulation for information about how Tulane University processes personal information and your rights.
Applicants from the European Economic Area (the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway): please see the Tulane University Privacy Policy for Data Protected by the European Union General Data Protection Regulation for information about how Tulane University processes personal information and your rights.