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First-Year Application Procedure

Fall 2013 Applicants

Application fee waived for 2013 first-year J.D. applicants

Although our March 15 suggested application deadline has passed, we are still accepting applications for the 2013 entering class. Chicago-Kent does not have a fixed application deadline, and we will continue to accept applications throughout the spring and summer.

arrowAccess the Chicago-Kent online application

Admission to the law school is highly competitive, with many more applicants than seats in the entering class. Students are admitted to the law school based on the information contained in their applications, their LSAT scores, and their undergraduate records. Although the GPA and LSAT are important criteria, other qualitative factors are considered. Particular emphasis is given to the nature and rigor of the undergraduate curriculum, writing ability, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation, particularly those from academic sources.

Where appropriate, the Admissions Committee will take into account a change in undergraduate majors; a significant improvement in undergraduate grades; the ability to overcome significant personal, economic, or societal obstacles; and demonstrated leadership ability. For applicants who have been out of school for five or more years, significant success in a rigorous graduate program and/or demonstrated excellence in another field may be viewed favorably in the admissions process. Each file is reviewed individually.

Applicants for admission to Chicago-Kent must have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to beginning classes at the law school in mid-August. Any applicant who will not have completed his/her degree before the date that he/she expects to start law school should notify the Office of Admissions, in writing, as soon as this fact is known.

Application Procedure

We recommend that you submit the Chicago-Kent online application, which is available through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). If you are not able to complete the application online, please contact the Office of Admissions at (312) 906-5020 or admissions@kentlaw.iit.edu to request a PDF of the application form.

Because each law school's application is different, please be certain to read each question carefully and make certain that you have completed every item on the application so that review of your application is not delayed. All materials submitted with, or in support of, an application become the property of Chicago-Kent and are not returnable.

It is your responsibility to make sure that all statements that you make on the application are accurate and complete. You are required to inform us, in writing, of any changes in the information you have provided. Any failure to supply accurate, complete, or updated information may result in a filing of applicant misconduct with LSAC, withdrawal of any offer of admission, or cancellation of registration, and may be a violation of the Chicago-Kent College of Law Code of Conduct. It may also jeopardize your eventual admission to the bar.

Information on sex, age, ethnic origin, and citizenship status is collected for compliance reports in connection with federal regulations pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended by Executive Order 11375 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 86, 45 C.F.R. and is not mandatory. All information is confidential and will not be used to discriminate in admission to or participation in any of the educational programs or activities offered in the colleges of Illinois Institute of Technology.

An application is considered complete only when we have received all of the documents described below. The application fee is waived for fall 2013 first-year applicants.

  • 01

    Application for Admission

    You should complete, electronically certify, and submit your application to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible after October 1, and preferably before March 15. Although the Admissions Committee will continue to consider applications throughout the spring and summer, we strongly suggest that you submit and complete your application file as early as possible in the admissions cycle. We will accept scores from the February administration of the LSAT, however your file will be reviewed later in our admissions cycle. We encourage applicants to take the test on one of the earlier dates. First-year applicants are considered only for the current year and only for entry in the fall semester.

    If you are applying for admission under the binding Early Decision Program, you must also read, sign, and submit the Early Decision Agreement. Early Decision applications will be accepted between October 1 and November 1, 2012. Because the Early Decision Program is binding, please be sure that you have carefully read and understand the terms of the program.

  • 02

    Personal Statement

    A personal statement is required of all applicants. Because we do not grant evaluative interviews, you should consider the personal statement to be your interview opportunity with the Admissions Committee. You may want to use the personal statement to explain a particular part of your transcript or application, to elaborate on significant personal or professional accomplishments, or to provide supplemental information that will help the Admissions Committee evaluate your application. The statement should be approximately two to three typewritten pages in length. A résumé may accompany the personal statement. You may also submit an optional essay of no more than one page describing the reasons for your application to Chicago-Kent.

    Applicants who want significant personal information considered in the review process, especially information regarding membership in a minority or disadvantaged group; information about financial, social, physical, or educational obstacles they have overcome; or a detailed history of standardized test results, may include this information in their personal statement or in an addendum. Native American applicants may indicate their tribal affiliation and enrollment number on the application form and/or attach a heritage statement that describes their background and affiliation with an American Indian or Alaskan Native community.

    Applicants to the part-time day division must also submit a Part-time Day Supplemental Statement in addition to the personal statement. This statement may be submitted in section 1 of the Chicago-Kent online application.

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  • 03

    Letters of Recommendation

    Letters of recommendation play a useful role in the selection process, and the Admissions Committee requires all applicants to submit at least one letter. You may submit a maximum of four letters of recommendation with your application. The most helpful letters are written by professors who have taught you in substantive, upper-level college or postgraduate courses and who can provide candid and thoughtful evaluations of your academic ability and potential for the study of law. We realize that some applicants, especially those who have been out of school for a number of years, may have difficulty finding an academic recommender. If that is the case, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you will be helpful.

    We recommend that your letters be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service that is included in your CAS registration. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined on LSAC's website. If you choose not to use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, you may use the Chicago-Kent College of Law Letter of Recommendation Form. You do not need to use the Chicago-Kent form if you use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.

    Federal law gives students in attendance at Chicago-Kent the right to review letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf unless that right is waived. While applicants are not required to make such a waiver, they are advised that some people may not be willing to provide a recommendation in its absence. The letter of recommendation forms have a place to mark your preference. Please mark them before giving them to your recommenders. Any additional letters submitted on your behalf must contain a statement regarding your waiver preference.

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  • 04

    LSAT/Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

    All candidates must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), register with CAS, and have official transcripts sent directly to LSAC from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. Further information can be obtained from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website. If an applicant takes the LSAT more than once, the Admissions Committee may consider the average score, the more recent score, or the higher score, depending on individual circumstances. Preference is typically given to the highest score earned. Unless otherwise instructed, we will forward your application to the Admissions Committee as soon as we have at least one official LSAT score on file.

    Applicants who have completed more than one year of postsecondary work outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada must have their academic records translated and evaluated, at their own expense, and sent to Chicago-Kent. Applicants may either submit their transcripts through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service or may submit a detailed, course-by-course evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Applicants are exempted from this requirement if the total amount of work completed at all international institutions combined is the equivalent of one year or less of undergraduate study in the United States, its territories, or Canada. This exemption includes international work completed through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, where the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript.

    Information about the LSAC Credential Assembly Service is available from the Law School Admission Council. The cost for authentication and evaluation of international documents is included in the CAS subscription fee. Upon receipt of the international transcripts by LSAC, an International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and will be incorporated into the applicant's law school report.

    Applicants who do not use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service for the evaluation of their international transcripts must submit a detailed, course-by-course evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Applicants must submit a detailed report that identifies each educational credential, provides its U.S. equivalent, and provides credit and grade equivalents for each academic subject studied. The report must be mailed directly to Chicago-Kent from the credential evaluation service. Applications will not be reviewed without an original, detailed credential evaluation.

    Chicago-Kent may grant advanced standing to applicants who hold a first degree in law from a non-U.S. law school. Chicago-Kent may grant up to 29 credit hours based on the applicant's prior legal study. For further information, please see the International JD Applicants webpage.

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Reapplication for Admission

Applicants who wish to reapply for admission must submit the current application form and an updated personal statement. The LSAT need not be retaken if the test was taken within the last five years. However, applicants must re-register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service, making certain that the report includes an analysis of all undergraduate credits earned. Upon written request to the Office of Admissions, other materials previously submitted for review may be considered. The Office of Admissions retains application files for two years

Rights Reserved

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology reserves the right to change without notice any statement in this application or its instructions concerning, but not limited to, rules, policies, tuition, fees, curriculum, and courses. Changes will be duly published.

Questions

If you have questions about the admissions process, we encourage you to visit our online virtual admissions office, Ask Admissions. You may also contact the Office of Admissions by phone at 312.906.5020 or by email.