Juris Doctor Admissions

Our application for fall 2025 will open on September 1. The priority application deadline is March 15 but we will continue to accept applications until July 31. The Admissions Committee will begin reviewing applications in late fall and release decisions on a rolling basis. Most applicants will receive a decision within six weeks of submitting a completed application.

Application and Fee
Our application for fall 2025 will be available online through LSAC on September 1. Please note that WNE Law has waived the application fee for all 2025 applicants. For details about obtaining an LSAT or CAS fee waiver, please see are available at www.lsac.org.

Please note that the application form collects data regarding gender identity, citizenship status, and race and ethnicity but this information will not be taken into consideration during the admissions process. This information will only be used for reporting purposes at the end of the admissions process. WNE Law encourages all academically accomplished students interested in pursuing a legal career to apply for admission.

LSAT, CAS, and Prior Academic Work
All applicants are required to take the LSAT or JD-Next. Scores for both exams remain valid for five years.

If taking the LSAT, the last test administration that we will be able to accept for fall 2025 enrollment is the June 2025 administration. For more information about the LSAT and to find preparation resources, please see www.lsac.org. 

JD-Next is an eight-week asynchronous course that culminates in a four-hour exam. It is designed to help students develop the essential reading and analysis skills necessary to excel in law school. If taking JD-Next, please contact jd.next@aspenpublishing.com to arrange sending your score report. The last test administration that we will be able to accept for fall 2025 enrollment is the July 2025 administration. Please note that all other application materials must be received by the deadline of July 31.

You will also be required to register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) through LSAC. Through CAS, you will submit all postsecondary transcripts for review. The Admissions Committee considers undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate studies as part of their review of your application. Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree at the time of matriculation to the JD program.

Letters of Recommendation
All applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from academic or professional contacts. We will accept a maximum of four letters of recommendation. If you are a current student or recent graduate, at least one letter should come from a faculty member. We recommend that applicants seek out contacts who know them well and can speak their intellectual and professional attributes, ability to reason, and ability to write clearly and persuasively. Unless they are familiar with your professional or academic abilities, recommendations from family, friends, or politicians are not helpful.

Letters of recommendation may be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation service (included with your CAS registration). Alternatively, letters may be submitted directly from the recommender to the Office of Admissions. If submitted directly, please include the following form: LOR COVER SHEET

Personal Statement
Each applicant must submit a personal statement. The purpose of the personal statement is to allow the Admissions Committee to assess your writing ability and learn more about you. Applicants must submit a statement that discusses their interest in law school and what they hope to do with their legal education in the future. This statement should not exceed 1,000 words.

Résumé
All applicants must submit a current résumé. The Admissions Committee does consider work experience and extra-curricular activities when assessing the application of each candidate.

Character and Fitness
The application form includes a series of questions regarding character and fitness. Any applicant who answers one of the character and fitness questions on the application in the affirmative must include an addendum fully explaining their response, including any and all attendant circumstances. We recommend that applicants explain how they have grown or changed from this experience.

Optional Addenda
The application includes several optional essay questions. We encourage applicants to submit one or more optional addenda if they wish to convey additional information to the Admissions Committee. As provided in the specific prompts, the contents of optional addenda may include, for example, clarification of your educational record or obstacles you have overcome in the pursuit of higher education. Applicants may also submit a diversity statement, explaining to the Admissions Committee what background, experience, and perspective they will bring to the classroom experience at the School of Law.

TOEFL/IELTS
Applicants who have completed their secondary education in a language other than English are encouraged, but not required, to submit official score reports for either TOEFL or IELTS exams. Please note that we do not have a minimum required score.

Interviews
Please note that we do not conduct interviews as part of the admissions process. However, prospective students are invited to contact the Office of Admissions and schedule a visit for informational purposes. 

Western New England University School of Law will evaluate transfer applications from a student who is in good academic standing at an ABA or state-accredited law school and who has typically completed one full year of law study. Transfer and visiting student applications are accepted for spring semester admission with a deadline of November 15. Transfer and visiting student applications are accepted for fall semester admission with a deadline of July 15.

Students who have been previously dismissed from another law school and are applying as entering students should abide by the regular deadlines listed in the "When to Apply" section.

All applicants who have previously attended another law school must submit to the Office of Admissions: 

• All materials listed in the "How to Apply" section;
• Letter of Standing from the Dean of the law school where you are currently attending or previously attended;
• Official transcripts from all law schools attended;
• Addendum explaining your decision to apply to WNE Law and, if applicable, the circumstances surrounding your dismissal.
• If you wish to attend as a visiting student, written permission is also required from the Dean of your law school stating that credit will be given for courses taken at Western New England University School of Law.

For Transfer Applicants:

The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will evaluate and determine the number of credits accepted from another law school. No more than 32 academic credits will be accepted for transfer from an ABA-approved law school and no more than 29 academic credits will be accepted for transfer from a state-accredited law school. If students are granted transfer credits from another law school, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will inform students in their letter of acceptance. Transfer credits are determined on a case-by-case basis. Typically, criteria for transfer credit consideration includes, but is not limited to, the course grade, the grading criteria at the law school attended, the course description, the number of course hours attempted and earned, and the comparable courses taught at Western New England University School of Law.

Transfer applicants are eligible for scholarships and will be automatically considered on a case-by-case basis during the application review process.

The School of Law's decision to admit an applicant is contingent upon the truthfulness of the information contained in their application, including material submitted on the applicant's behalf. Discovery of false information subsequent to admission is grounds for immediate dismissal at any point in the applicant's course of study. Such dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned. Applicants and students are subject to the provisions of the Academic Standards and the Student Honor Code, available on request.

There are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to any state bar after graduation from law school. Admission to law school in no way guarantees admission to the bar in any state. State bar examiners will review all aspects of an applicant's history. Therefore, prior to enrolling, if an applicant has any concerns regarding state bar admission, they should contact the Board of Bar Examiners of the state(s) in which they might practice to determine those requirements. Each state has a bar admissions office, such as the Board of Bar Examiners in Massachusetts, the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee in Connecticut, and the Board of Law Examiners in New York. The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides the address and website of each state's bar admissions office. Applicants should consult the bar admission office in the jurisdiction in which they intend to apply for admission as to the specific forms and requirements for that particular jurisdiction.

1. What does it mean to be waitlisted?

Being waitlisted means that while your application was strong, the school cannot offer you admission at this time due to limited space. You are in a pool of applicants who may be admitted if spots open up. The waitlist consists of a diverse group of applicants, each with varying strengths and experiences. It’s important to recognize that being waitlisted is a common part of the admissions process, and it doesn’t reflect poorly on your application.

2. How many applicants are waitlisted?

The number of applicants on the waitlist can vary each year based on the overall applicant pool and available spots in the incoming class.

3. What can I do to improve my chances of being admitted from the waitlist?

4. Is there a specific timeline for when I will hear back about my waitlist status?

The timeline can vary. Review of waitlisted applications will begin in June and continue through August. We assure you that we will inform you quickly should your admission status change.

5. Will I be notified if I am taken off the waitlist?

Yes, if you are admitted from the waitlist, you will receive an official notification via email from the Office of Admissions.

6. Can I contact the Office of Admissions for updates?

Yes, you can contact the admissions team for updates regarding your waitlist status. Here are some guidelines to consider when reaching out:

8. What do I do if I am denied admission off the waitlist?

9. How does being waitlisted affect my future applications?

Being waitlisted does not negatively impact future applications. If you choose to reapply, make sure to address any areas for improvement in your application.

10. Where can I find more information about the waitlist process?

For more information or specific inquiries, contact the Office of Admissions directly.