JD Program Deadlines & Requirements

You will need the following to complete your application:

1. Completed application form
2. Personal statement
3. Resume
4. Two (2) letters of recommendation submitted through your LSAC CAS account. (Up to three letters are allowed)
5. Bachelor's degree
6. CAS Report with
   1. Letters of recommendation
   2. All undergraduate transcripts
   3. LSAT score, Graduate Record Exam (GRE)*, or JD-Next*
   4. LSAC Writing Sample
7. Email address (this is the primary form of communication from the law school)

*We will accept the GRE or JD-Next if the applicant does not have a valid LSAT score. Please note that all GRE scores from the last five (5) years must be submitted through the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Our school code for the GRE is 3095. JD-Next scores must be sent to us through Aspen Publishing.

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement prompt is "Tell us about a person or event that impacted/influenced your life." The statement must be 1-3 pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, and contain 1" margins. An applicant's personal statement is an opportunity to provide information that the applicant believes should be considered by the Admissions Committee. Please list the prompt at the top of your personal statement for Committee review. Personal statements that do not follow the format requirements will be sent back for correction.

Resume

Provide a Resume of full-time employment and other activities, starting with the most recent. Include dates, name(s) of employer(s), and position(s) held. List the hours worked per week and academic honors received since entering college. List extracurricular activities, hobbies and community service. Describe the nature and extent of employment during college and include volunteer work. Please include summers. Explain any periods of time after high school not accounted for by the preceding educational and employment history. However, all high school information should be omitted.

Letters of Recommendation

Provide a resume of full- and part-time employment and other activities, starting with the most recent. Include dates, name(s) of employer(s), and position(s) held. List the hours worked per week. List academic honors received since entering college. List extracurricular activities, hobbies, community service, leadership and/or volunteer work. Please include summers. Explain any periods of time after high school not accounted for by submitting an addendum or making a quick note in the gap on the resume.  Do not include high school information or activities. Please note that resumes no more than 2 pages are recommended.

Academic letters of recommendation (PREFERRED):

Academic letters of recommendation offer the most relevant assessment of the skills that are necessary for success in law school. Letters of recommendation from professors, teaching assistants and/or advisors who have had the opportunity to assess academic, time management, research, writing, and analytical skills are necessary and preferred.

Professional letters of recommendation:

Applicants who have been out of school for five or more years may submit letters of recommendation from individuals who have supervised, evaluated, analyzed and/or critiqued their work. When submitting professional letters of recommendation, keep in mind that the admissions office will be looking for an assessment of some of the same skills identified above: time management, research, writing, and analytical skills.

Please note that LSAC will not release an applicant's CAS report to McGeorge until they have received a minimum of two letters of recommendation. The application will remain incomplete and will not be reviewed until the applicant's file is complete.

Standardized Testing and LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Registrations

Applicants must register for the LSAT with LSAC, the GRE with ETS, or JD-Next with Aspen Publishing, and LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). LSAT, GRE, and JD-Next scores must be from administrations within five years prior to the year of enrollment. An application is not complete and will not be reviewed until an applicant's CAS report, including an LSAT score and LSAC Writing Sample, GRE, or JD-Next score has been received.  Please note that the last LSAT exam we will accept is the June 2027 LSAT, June 2027 GRE, or May 2027 JD-Next exam for enrollment in the Fall 2027 class.  Please list all scores on the application.

Please note that if an applicant indicates that they will take an exam in the future or are registered for a future test, we will mark the file as incomplete until that test score is released. It is an applicant's responsibility to notify our office if their plans regarding testing dates change. All scores from exams taken in the last five years must be submitted.

Transcripts

Transcripts of all prior college and university coursework must be sent directly to LSAC. Applicants whose undergraduate degrees are not from educational institutions within the United States, its territories, or Canada must use LSAC's Credential Assembly Service for international document authentication and evaluation.

Please note that an official transcript with degree posted is required to be submitted to LSAC before the first day of classes for all students who do not provide the final transcript in their CAS report when they initially apply. Per ABA Standard 502, applicants who do not comply with the final transcript requirement may be administratively withdrawn from the Law School.

Prior Law School Matriculation

If an applicant has attended or is currently attending another law school, they must furnish official transcripts from the school and a certification of good standing with class rank from the dean or other appropriate law school official.

Optional Essays: Diversity, Adversity Statements and Addenda

Applicants may attach a response to one or more of the following questions in addition to the required Personal Statement. Addenda are also recommended to explain any discrepancies in the application. These statements should be no more than two pages, double-spaced, 12-pt font, with 1" margins.

1. Explain any discrepancies in your application materials including LSAT score, UGPA, and/or professional work history.
2. Tell us more about your interest in McGeorge School of Law. What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?
3. Discuss how your specific personal experiences, given your background (race, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQIA+ status, economic disadvantage, or otherwise), demonstrate an important quality of your character and/or unique abilities you can contribute to the law school.

Character and Fitness Disclosures

1. All questions must be answered.
2. A "No" response that proves inconsistent with entries on official transcripts raises issues of misconduct or irregularities in the admission process that may be referred to the Law School Admission Council under its policies.
3. Most states have character and fitness standards that must be satisfied for admission to the bar. Candidates with a record of involvement in criminal matters and civil matters must provide a full, descriptive statement including active dates, facts, and disposition of the matter. Any candidate reporting character and fitness issues as part of their application must also contact the Bar Associate in the state(s) they plan to practice confirming that the details they provided are sufficient to satisfy requirements for that jurisdiction.
4. Standard 504. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR:

(a) A law school shall include the following statement in its application for admission and on its website: 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 (https://www.nbcbex.org/) 

Additional Application Requirements for Foreign Applicants

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

An applicant who did not complete their bachelor's degree from an English-language college or university, and for whom English is not their primary language is required to take the TOEFL. This requirement also applies to recent immigrants who have completed their education outside of the United States where English was not the language of instruction.

A minimum score of 600 for the paper-based test, 250 for the computer-based test, or 100 for the internet-based exam is required. Please note that acceptable scores must come directly from TOEFL and be submitted to LSAC. For additional information on TOEFL, visit http://www.ets.org/toefl.

Transcripts (International)

McGeorge requires that foreign transcripts be submitted directly to LSAC Credential Service which is included in the CAS subscription fee. A foreign credential evaluation will be finalized by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRO) and will be integrated into your CAS report.

Student Visa

Once an international applicant is admitted to the law school and has paid their first seat deposit, the Director of Graduate and International Programs will contact the student to obtain an I-20 application form, certification of finance, a notarized copy of their birth certificate, passport, and when applicable, marriage license. Once all of these items are received, the Director of Graduate and International Programs will process the student's SEVIS I-20. An I-20 form is one part of the requirement for an applicant to obtain a student visa.

Online Status

Once an applicant submits their application, they can check the status online through the Application Status Online. Login information for the Applicant Status Online is emailed to applicants when the application is submitted to the law school. The admissions committee will review files in the order that they were completed. Our admissions committee is devoted to reviewing each file in a holistic manner. Please allow four-to-12 weeks to receive an admission decision. Offers of admission will be sent via U.S. mail. Other admission decisions will be sent via email. Changes to an applicant's email or mailing address should be communicated to the Office of Admission immediately.
 

Other Applicants

• Transfer Applicants
• Visiting Applicants
• Questions regarding the Undocumented/DACA Admissions Policy
• Information for Students from Canada

Non-Discrimination Policy

The McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (45 CFR 86), and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, does not discriminate in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions, scholarships, loans, or other activities or programs on the basis of race, gender (identity and/or performance), sexual orientation or preference, national or ethnic origin, color, disability, marital status, age, or religious belief.

Inquiries regarding compliance with these statutes and regulations may be directed to the Office of the Dean, 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, California 95817, 916.739.7151, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, in San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Student records: Inquiries about the School's compliance with student access and privacy rights regarding educational records, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, may be directed to the Office of the Dean or to the Student and Family Educational Rights and Privacy office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.

Questions?

JD Admissions
Phone: 916.739.7105
Fax: 916.739.7301
Email: mcgeorge@pacific.edu

Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT
3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, CA 95817