Admissions Process

The admissions process at the University of Virginia School of Law is designed to build an extraordinary community of students who will thrive in a collegial and academically rigorous environment and go on to become responsible leaders, public servants, and successful members of the legal profession. To that end, we seek an entering class of forward-thinking students who exemplify the qualities of resilience, integrity, empathy, diligence, maturity and the ability to engage across differences.

At the most basic level, our goal is to understand each applicant as a person, and to evaluate the unique path that led them to apply to UVA. Our evaluation criteria are holistic and necessarily assess all components of the application. We consider intellectual aptitude and academic achievement, as well as individual life experiences, obstacles overcome, contributions through service and leadership, a unique worldview, demonstrations of strength of character, the nature and quality of any work experience, military service, and an applicant’s potential to contribute to and succeed at UVA Law.

Understanding each story will enable us to offer admission to students who will thrive at UVA Law and who will contribute to the experience of those around them. We are committed to welcoming, in the words of our University mission statement, “talented students from all walks of life,” and will continue to do our best to be a welcoming and inclusive community — one that values the unique gifts of our students and, above all, cares for them as individuals.

We do not consider an applicant’s race, financial need or family history with UVA as part of the admissions decision.