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Admissions Policy
What is UM looking for in the students it admits?
At the University of Montana School of Law, we base our admissions decisions on several criteria that we use as indicators of good moral character and intellectual promise. Of course, we look to your general academic record as an undergraduate and your score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). But, our Admissions Committee also weighs such factors as your writing ability, the trend in your undergraduate grades, the quality of your work in difficult courses, your ability to overcome economic or other disadvantages, and your life experiences. We try to bring together a class of intellectually bright, engaging, and enthusiastic students who will enrich the academic life of the law school and the education of their classmates.
We limit each entering class to 84 students. For the class entering Fall 2011, the average LSAT score was 154 and the average undergraduate GPA was 3.42.
Each entering class consists of approximately 59 Montana residents and 25 nonresidents. As a state-supported law school, we limit the nonresident component of each class to approximately one-third. We also admit students only for the full-time study of law. We do not have an evening or part-time program. The criteria to determine residency are described in the Montana Board of Regents Policy & MCA 20-25-501.
The School of Law is committed to providing full opportunities for the study of law and entry into the legal profession of qualified members of groups (notably racial and ethnic minorities) who have been victims of discrimination. During the admissions process, we remain sensitive to the potential of such applicants. We also observe the non-discrimination policy of the Montana University System's Board of Regents and strive to enroll and graduate American Indian and other minority students at least in proportion to their representation in Montana's population.
What type of student comes
to The University of Montana School of Law?
Our students like to be actively involved—involved in their own education, involved in the life of the law school, and involved in the broader community. In first-year course sections with only 40 students and the small group law firm program, you cannot help but be involved in class discussions. In Trial Practice, you will take your turn conducting a jury trial and in Business Transactions you will negotiate and draft a purchase and sale agreement. With approximately 250 total students, you will find many opportunities to work on a legal journal (we have two), join a competitive team (we have at least five each year), or be a leader in one of our student clubs or organizations. In a small community like Missoula, you can make a difference through your involvement with The University of Montana Public Interest Law Coalition or the Volunteer Income Tax Association.
Aside from the shared trait of being involved,
our students cannot be stereotyped. About half of each class
consists of students who have been out of school from three
to 30 years. In fact, the average age of our entering class
for the last 10 years is 27. So whether you are coming right
from college, returning to school while raising a family
or starting a second career, you will find classmates in
the same situation. You may find yourself in class seated
next to a teacher, a forester, or a rancher. With the class entering in 2011 as typical, you will also find yourself in class with students from 19 states and Canada, representing 50 different undergraduate institutions and 39 different majors.
Application Instructions & Procedures
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First Year Applicants
- Baccalaureate Degree – Candidates must have received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to matriculation.
- Moral Character – Applicants must be of good moral character and must maintain good moral character as a condition of continuing enrollment.
- LSAT – Register for and take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Scores are valid for 5 years and February is the last test date for applications due March 15. Register at www.lsac.org.
- CAS – Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and follow the instructions to ensure a complete application. Go to www.lsac.org.
Check list:
- Electronic Application & $60.00 application fee;
- Original Transcripts – arrange for original transcripts from all institutions of higher education to be sent to the CAS;
- Two Personal Statements – Attach two personal statements to your electronic application:
- Explain your interest in the study and practice of law and in the University of Montana School of Law, and
- Describe an activity, event, or accomplishment and its relationship to the development of your personal qualities;
- Personal Resume; and
- Three Letters of Reference – Ideally, these should include one general reference letter and two academic reference letters. Applicants who graduated from and undergraduate program several years ago may substitute letters from employers or supervisors who can address the applicant’s abilities and intellectual promise for the study of law. A reference letter that is particularly helpful is one that discusses the applicant’s:
- Native intelligence (analytical powers, rigor of thought, critical faculty, reasoning ability);
- Independence of thought (originality, imagination, creative intelligence);
- Effectiveness of oral communication;
- Effectiveness of written communication;
- Industry and motivation (persistence, self-discipline, study techniques);
- Judgment and maturity (conscientiousness, common sense); and
- Leadership ability.
- Deadline –Early applications received by February 15 will receive a response by March 15 and applications received by March 15 will receive a response by April 15. The final application deadline for the class entering Fall 2012 is April 1, 2012.
- Scholarships – All accepted applicants will be considered for available scholarships based upon their application materials.
- Acceptance – Accepted applicants who wish to reserve a seat in the entering class must make an advance deposit of $300 by the deadline stated in their acceptance letter. The deposit will be credited toward total University fees at the time of registration. Accepted applicants who do not pay the deposit by the deadline, have declined our offer. If the Director of Admissions receives notice of cancellation prior to July 15, $150 of the deposit paid is refundable.
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International Students
- College Degree – In the United States, law programs awarding the Juris Doctor degree are graduate programs, requiring an undergraduate college degree as a condition of admission. All applicants must at a minimum have completed a four-year college bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree requiring four years of college study.
- Moral Character – Applicants must be of good moral character and must maintain good moral character as a condition of continuing enrollment.
- TOEFL Report – If you received your undergraduate degree from an institution in which English was not the instructional language, you must submit an Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report showing a minimum score of 600 on Paper, 250 on Computer, or 100 on Internet (Concordance Table). The University of Montana School of Law’s school code is N4489-00.
- LSAT – Register for and take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Scores are valid for 5 years and February is the last test date for applications due March 15. Register at www.lsac.org.
- CAS – Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and follow the instructions to ensure a complete application. Go to www.lsac.org.
Check list:
- Electronic Application & $60.00 application fee;
- Original Transcripts – arrange for original transcripts from all institutions of higher education to be sent to the CAS;
- Two Personal Statements – Attach two personal statements to you electronic application:
- Explain your interest in the study and practice of law and in the University of Montana School of Law, and
- Describe an activity, event, or accomplishment and its relationship to the development of your personal qualities;
- Personal Resume; and
- Three Letters of Reference – Ideally, these should include one general reference letter and two academic reference letters. Applicants who graduated from and undergraduate program several years ago may substitute letters from employers or supervisors who can address the applicant’s abilities and intellectual promise for the study of law. A reference letter that is particularly helpful is one that discusses the applicant’s:
- Native intelligence (analytical powers, rigor of thought, critical faculty, reasoning ability);
- Independence of thought (originality, imagination, creative intelligence);
- Effectiveness of oral communication;
- Effectiveness of written communication;
- Industry and motivation (persistence, self-discipline, study techniques);
- Judgment and maturity (conscientiousness, common sense); and
- Leadership ability.
- Statement of Financial Support – An original, current financial statement from the applicant’s bank/sponsor must certify that funding will be available to cover estimated expenses during the applicant’s first year at the University of Montana School of Law, including additional funds to cover expenses for a spouse and/or children.
- VISA Information – Admitted applicants must satisfy certain visa requirements before enrolling. Foreign nationals (except Canadians) need a passport issued by their own government and a VISA issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate to enter the United States. To obtain an F-1 (student VISA), applicants must first obtain Form I-20AB, which the University will issue upon acceptance for admission. Canadian students must have an I-20AB form and a copy of their financial statement for inspection at the U.S. port of entry. Refer to http://life.umt.edu/fsss/.
- Deadline – Early applications received by February 15 will receive a response by March 15 and applications received by March 15 will receive a response by April 15. The final application deadline for the class entering Fall 2012 is April 1, 2012.
- Scholarships – All accepted applicants will be considered for available scholarships based upon their application materials.
- Acceptance – Accepted applicants who wish to reserve a seat in the entering class must make an advance deposit of $300 by the deadline stated in their acceptance letter. The deposit will be credited toward total University fees at the time of registration. Accepted applicants who do not pay the deposit by the deadline, have declined our offer. If the Director of Admissions receives notice of cancellation prior to July 15, $150 of the deposit paid is refundable.
Transfer Applicants (2L Students)
- ABA Accredited Law School – The University of Montana School of Law will accept transfer applications only from students attending an ABA accredited law school.
- Admission - Admission is on a space-available basis, bearing in mind the class sizes established for the law school. Transfer applicants will be evaluated on the same criteria as applied to entering students, with the additional consideration of the applicant’s academic performance in the law school previously attended and the quality of the law school previously attended.
- 60 Credit Requirement – Transfer students must complete at least 60 credit hours of law study in residence to earn a University of Montana law degree. Admitted transfer applicants must meet with the Director of Admissions to complete a Transfer Credit Evaluation form. Every effort will be made to transfer credit from the same or similar courses. Transfer credits will be considered in calculating a student’s grade point average and class rank. Courses and credit hours will be evaluated on a case by case basis to ensure all required courses have been, or will be, completed prior to graduation.
- CAS – Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and follow the instructions to ensure a complete application. Go to www.lsac.org. Check list:
- Electronic Application & $60.00 application fee;
- Two Personal Statements – Attach two personal statements to you electronic application
- Explain your interest in the study and practice of law and in the University of Montana School of Law, and
- Describe an activity, event, or accomplishment and its relationship to the development of your personal qualities; and
- Personal Resume.
- Letter of Good Standing- Transfer applicants must provide a letter from an official of the school previously attended confirming that the applicant is in good standing and eligible to continue at that school.
- Official Transcript – Transfer applicants must also submit an official transcript of first-year law school courses verifying the average in all law studies for which the student has registered and received a grade is equivalent to that required for graduation from the institution attended.
- Deadline – The deadline to apply for transfer is June 1. No decisions will be made with regard to transfer applications until the applicant’s complete first year law school transcript is received.
Visiting Applicants (3L Students)
- Visitors – On a space-available basis, the School of Law will accept third year law students (visiting students) who apply to complete all or part of their final year of law study at the University of Montana, transferring credit to their ABA accredited parent law schools to fulfill the requirements for the Juris Doctor degree.
- Admission – Applicants will be evaluated primarily on the basis of their academic performance at their parent law school and their purpose for undertaking part or all of their third year of law study at the University of Montana School of Law.
- CAS – Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and follow the instructions to ensure a complete application. Go to www.lsac.org.
Check list:
- Electronic Application & $60.00 application fee;
- One Personal Statement – attach a personal statement of no more than 800 words describing your interest in studying law at the University of Montana School of Law; and
- Personal Resume
- Notification from Parent School – Visiting applicants must submit official notification from the parent law school approving the student’s visiting status and confirming that the applicant is in good standing and is eligible to continue the study of law at the parent law school.
- Official Transcript – Visiting applicants must also submit an official transcript of the first two years of law school courses verifying the average in all law studies for which the student has registered and received a grade is equivalent to that required for graduation from the institution attended.
- Deadline – The deadline to apply as a visiting student is June 1. No decisions will be made with regard to visiting applications until the applicant’s complete first and second year law school transcripts are received.
- Financial Aid – Visiting law students must arrange for financial aid through their home institution. The University of Montana financial aid office will cooperate with the disbursal of the home institution’s aid through a consortium agreement. Visiting students pay tuition to the University of Montana and financial aid is based on UM’s expenses.
- Course Restrictions – Visiting students may not enroll in required courses except with permission of the instructor. Limited enrollment elective courses will be open first to continuing Montana students.
- PDF Application – for your review only, do NOT fill out and return to UMSL. Applications will only be considered if submitted through LSAC.
Acceptance
Accepted applicants who wish to reserve a seat in the entering class are required to make an advance deposit of $300 by the deadline stated in their acceptance letter. For those applicants who enroll, the deposit will be credited toward total University fees at the time of registration. Applicants who fail to make the deposit within the time specified in their acceptance letter forfeit their place in the entering class. If the Admissions Director receives notice of cancellation by July 15, $150 of the deposit paid is refundable.
Lori Freeman, Class of 1990
Director of Admissions and Career Services
The University of Montana School of Law
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812
406.243.2698 (phone)
406.243.6601 (fax)
The provisions of the admissions portion of this web site are informational in character and do not constitute an irrevocable contract between the applicant or student and the School of Law. The School of Law reserves the right to make any changes, including, but not limited to, requirements for admission, continuance, and graduation.
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