Accelerated Admissions for Univ. of Utah Undergraduates
The S.J. Quinney College of Law offers admission advantage for University of Utah students who meet specific criteria and plan to enroll in law school the fall semester after they graduate. This special program provides accelerated application review and removes some of the standard requirements of law school application.
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Why Utah Law?
Accelerated Admissions Links
Law school is the first step towards a becoming a lawyer—a unique career that empowers you to make change in the world. Lawyers work in a wide variety of areas, including for businesses, courts, nonprofits, governments and more. They have a versatile degree that can be tailored to practice many areas of law, such as litigation, environmental law, family law, business law, public interest law, and more.
The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law is one of the top law schools in the nation. Our students love our welcoming, tight-knit community. They build strong relationships with their professors and classmates, and have access to a range of resources that help them succeed in law school and launch fulfilling legal careers.
The JD is a three-year, full-time, in-person program. Classes include lectures, small-group seminars, and experiential education—real-world learning through practice. Students can choose from seven optional certificates of specialization, which focus on specific areas of law. After graduating, students must pass a bar exam that qualifies them to begin practicing law.
How does accelerated JD admission work?
Per ABA Standard 503-3, University of Utah graduates who meet eligibility requirements can apply to Utah Law’s JD program without taking the LSAT entrance exam. To qualify, students must:
- Be ready to begin law school the fall semester immediately after they earn their undergraduate degree.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher, as calculated by LSAC. Preference is given to applicants with GPA of 3.9 or higher.
- Have an ACT or SAT score that places them in the top 15% of test takers.
- Have NOT taken, or do not plan to take, the LSAT exam.
Students applying in 2025 must submit their applications by June 20, 2025. They will receive an admissions decision by July 15, 2025, and begin law school in August 2025.
How do I apply?
To be considered for admission through this special program, students must complete the following application requirements:
Applicants must register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transcripts from each U.S. college or university ever attended are sent to the CAS, regardless of credits being transferred or applied toward degree requirements.
A complete CAS Report includes:
- CAS Banner/Summary Page (produced by CAS when the applicant requests the CAS Report)
- Official Transcripts
- Letter(s) of Recommendation
You may apply before you receive your undergraduate degree. However, before you matriculate, you must provide official transcripts showing that you have been awarded a baccalaureate degree from a college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or be the foreign equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree.
You are required to have one (1) but may have up to three (3) letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf. Letters of recommendation should come from people who know you well and have had the opportunity to observe you, preferably, in an academic or professional setting. Letters must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. To use this service, follow the instructions outlined on LSAC's "Letters of Recommendation" webpage.
The statement(s) you are submitting as part of your application are viewed as a document(s) demonstrating your writing ability. As noted in the application certification, you may use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in drafting the content of your statements. If you elect to use AI in drafting the content of your statements, you must disclose this and acknowledge the statements in which you used AI. The statements must be written in the following format: one (1) inch margins, double spaced, and a font size no smaller the 10-pt. The statement length limits are indicated in the prompts for each statement.
Candidates are required to submit a personal statement of no more than (2) two pages in length. The Admission Committee's goal is to assemble an intellectually stimulating community of students composed of individuals who have varied backgrounds and perspectives. In addition to outstanding academic ability, we seek students whose life experiences, backgrounds, and interests will enhance our educational community. This includes, but is not limited to, qualities such as leadership, maturity, organization, knowledge of other languages and cultures, sincere commitment to community service, a history of overcoming disadvantage, extraordinary accomplishment, or success in a previous career. The subject matter of your personal statement is up to you. The personal statement should let the Admission Committee know more about you as a person and should address the above qualities if that information is not presented in other areas of your application. Issues addressed in your personal statement may include the background, experiences, and events (positive or negative) that have affected you. You may address the perspectives and experiences you will bring to classroom discussions and the law school community or your motivations for seeking a legal education.
The S.J. Quinney College of Law requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the Credential Assembly Service. If you completed any postsecondary academic work outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the Credential Assembly Service registration fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and will be incorporated into your Credential Assembly Service Law School Report. To use the Credential Assembly Service for your international documents, follow the online instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Questions about foreign transcripts and the Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001 or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.
- Addendum
- Life Perspective Statement
- Leadership Statement