University of Chicago

IL · Private · East North Central

Acceptance rate: 10% (6,581 applicants)
Median LSAT: 174 (middle 50%: 171–176)
Median GPA: 3.97 (middle 50%: 3.87–4.00)
Tuition: $83,316 (per year)
Bar passage: 96.7% (+13.0 pts vs. state average)

Deadlines

Early Decision Chicago Law Scholars Regular Decision: Dec. 1, 2026
Early Decision Chicago Law Scholars Regular Decision: March 1, 2027

Essays

Personal statement (No limit; 2 to 4 pages generally enough)

The personal statement is an essential part of every application, and it is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee. It should demonstrate your contribution to the Law School community beyond academics and should demonstrate your ability to communicate your thoughts effectively.

Optional addenda (About 1 page or less each)

You may submit optional supplementary addenda to highlight topics you wish to bring to our attention that were not included in your personal statement or other application materials.

Doctoroff Business Leadership Program statement (250 words)

Submit a statement of interest that describes in 250 words or less why you want to participate in the Program and how earning the Doctoroff Business Leadership Program Certificate will help you achieve your career goals.

J.D./Ph.D. essay (1 page)

If you have obtained a PhD, are completing a PhD, or if you are concurrently applying to a PhD program, we invite you to submit a one-page optional essay explaining your research and academic interests, your professional goals, and how completing a JD would help you improve your research and achieve your professional goals.

Editor's notes

Finish your file early. UChicago reads applications in the order they become complete and decides on a rolling basis, and it says outright that applying well before March 1 is in your interest. Missing LSAT Writing is the classic delay, because your file isn't complete without it.
Write a personal statement, not a statement of purpose. The FAQ says you don't need to explain why law, and it lists the essays that fail: the résumé in prose, the story about someone else, the legal issue explained. Show them a person your classmates would want to argue with over lunch.
If you get an interview invitation, book it fast. Slots are first come, first served, and your file sits still until the interview is done. Be ready to talk about anything on your résumé and why UChicago.
Early Decision is binding, and you commit before you see your scholarship. If the money decides where you go, apply Regular Decision. UChicago College students and alumni should look hard at the Chicago Law Scholars Program, which pairs the same Dec. 1 deadline with a $150,000 scholarship.