LMU Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

Loyola publishes no topic question for the personal statement; the quoted prompt is the school's own framing of all three qualitative documents, which is the closest thing to a prompt on the page. The statement itself is listed only as '1. Personal Statement (required; maximum length, 3 pages).' Formatting for all three statements: 'Each statement should be typed, double-spaced and submitted electronically with the application. Required font size for these statements is 10pt or larger.' The page also relieves applicants of the optional statements when they are redundant: 'If the personal statement includes information on the student's background and identity, and/or their motivation to study law and enter the legal profession, the additional statements are not required. Optional statements should offer new information and should not repeat what is offered in the personal statement.'

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Called the 'background/identity statement' in the framing paragraph and 'Optional Statement on background and identity' in the numbered list; the three lines after the colon are the page's bullet list, reproduced verbatim one per line. Optional, and expressly unnecessary if the personal statement already covers background and identity. Formatting: typed, double-spaced, submitted electronically with the application, 10pt font or larger.

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Called the 'law interest statement' in the framing paragraph. It blends a why-Loyola prompt with a why-law prompt, which is why it is typed here as why_x_essay rather than optional_essay. Optional, and expressly unnecessary if the personal statement already covers the applicant's motivation to study law and enter the legal profession. Formatting: typed, double-spaced, submitted electronically with the application, 10pt font or larger.

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Headed 'Academic or Test Score Addendum' on the apply page. Two related invitations elsewhere: (a) the same page's test-score section says applicants 'with significant score differences (more than 3 points for the LSAT and more than 10 percentile points for the GRE) are encouraged to submit a brief, explanatory statement with their admissions materials,' and the Admissions General FAQ puts the LSAT threshold as 'a score differential of 4 points or more'; (b) the File Review Process FAQ frames addenda generally — 'Applicants may use an addendum to explain any circumstance in their application that they would like the Admissions Committee to consider (i.e., blemishes on an academic record, LSAT scores where there is a 4 point or more difference, other special circumstances about the applicant's candidacy.) This statement is not required and should only be submitted as needed.' Separately, and NOT optional: the application's Disclosures section requires answers to questions #1-10, and 'A written explanation (electronic attachment) must accompany any "yes" response for questions three through ten on the Character and Fitness section of the application. Applications with "yes" responses that do not provide written explanations are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.' Disclosure is required even for sealed or expunged records, and DUI is expressly not a minor traffic offense.

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Site wording: 'Only one letter of recommendation is required but we will accept an additional letter for a total of two per application. Letters of recommendation must be submitted via the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.' On who should write: 'Letters can comment on the applicant's intellectual capacity, analytical reasoning, communication skills, and character traits. Although academic letters are preferred, letters submitted by the candidate's employer or supervisor are accepted. Letters from family members or family friends are strongly discouraged.' Early Decision applicants must have at least one letter received by the December 1 deadline.

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Listed in the Application Requirements block as 'Résumé (optional, but strongly recommended)'. Site wording: 'Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a résumé. Résumés should not exceed two-typed pages and may include: education information (including honors and awards), employment history, extracurricular or community activities, student organizations and affinity groups, military service, publications, special achievements, etc. We recommend a traditional resume format with recent or most recent experience listed first.' The Admissions General FAQ likewise lists the resume as 'strongly encouraged' rather than required.

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An LSAC CAS report is required of every applicant, including GRE-only applicants: 'Applicants applying with only a GRE score must register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for the submission of their application materials. CAS Reports include official transcripts and LSAT scores.' Per the GRE FAQ, for a GRE-only applicant the school waives the LSAT requirement in the file once the GRE score arrives, 'which will then generate your CAS report.' Degree requirement: a candidate 'must have received or expect to receive a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university before classes begin (August 2026),' with final transcripts confirming conferral of all undergraduate and advanced degrees due before classes start in the fall. No JD credit is awarded for pre-admission coursework except for transfers from ABA-approved law schools. The apply page does not mention any English-proficiency test requirement for international applicants.

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Either test is accepted for both the full-time day and part-time evening programs, with no stated preference. Multiple scores: 'The Admissions Committee will use the highest score for test takers with multiple scores.' The GRE is only an option for applicants without an LSAT score — per the GRE FAQ, 'If you already have an LSAT score, we will use your LSAT score in the evaluation of your application,' and '(Note: You can only apply with the GRE if you do not have a LSAT score).' GRE applicants must email admissions@lls.edu, submit a GRE Certification Statement, and have ETS send all scores from the last five years using Loyola's ETS code 3692; for the 2026 cycle the oldest acceptable GRE is from September 15, 2020. The GRE FAQ adds that scores at or above the 80th percentile are considered competitive and that candidates below the 50th percentile in any section are advised to retake the GRE or sit for the LSAT. Timing: 'We strongly encourage prospective students to sit for either exam by January 2026... Applicants who take the exam after January may be at a competitive disadvantage... (If you plan to take a later exam, we will not review your file until this score is released.)' Last tests accepted — full-time day: April 2026 LSAT, April 15, 2026 GRE; part-time evening: June 2026 LSAT, June 1, 2026 GRE. Early Decision applicants must test by November 2025 and not register for any later test in the cycle. The apply page says nothing about JD-Next or about LSAT score validity for the LSAT itself (the five-year window is stated only for the GRE) — recorded as the page's silence, not as a policy either way.

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THE FEE IS FREE ONLY IF YOU APPLY BEFORE THE NEW YEAR, AND THE CUTOFF IS EARLIER THAN EVERY DEADLINE IN THIS FILE: 'The application fee is waived until December 31, 2026 for all applicants. There is a $75.00 fee beginning on January 1, 2027. The application fee will remain waived for alumni and current students (Undergraduate and Graduate programs) of Loyola Marymount University.' An applicant meeting the February 1 day priority deadline or the April 15 evening one pays $75 unless they file by December 31. Recorded as required true because the fee is real for most of the cycle. LMU alumni and current students are waived throughout. LSAC's own CAS charges are separate and Loyola does not address them.

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Invitation only, and not offered on request. File Review Process FAQ wording: 'Because of our large applicant pool, interviews are granted only at the Admissions Committee's request. Candidates are encouraged to include in writing any information they would like the Admissions Committee to consider.' The site does not say how many applicants are invited, what format the interview takes, or whether it is evaluative.

Verified 2026-08-31 · source page