Admissions

Application Procedures

6. Include resume, personal statement and letters of evaluation.

The Levin College of Law seeks students with a variety of interests, backgrounds and perspectives. In making admissions decisions, the college evaluates applicants based on demonstrated academic ability and potential, LSAT score(s), and other criteria. To fully evaluate an applicant's file, the committee requires that a resume and personal statement also be on file to consider the application complete. Letters of evaluation also are strongly encouraged.

Preparing your first case
This is your "first case" and it should be prepared carefully. Be mindful that at the core of this process, the Admissions Committee is focused on making an "academic" admission decision. Many other factors can contribute to the ultimate decision — community service, extra-curricular activities, work, and military service to name a few. Therefore, the basic task before each applicant is to make, support, and document your individual "academic case," and define your other factors. Your admissions case began when you graduated from high school and continues to the present, so build your case from that point forward.

The Levin College of Law seeks students with a variety of interests, backgrounds and perspectives. In making admissions decisions, the college evaluates applicants based on demonstrated academic ability and potential, LSAT score(s), and other criteria. To fully evaluate an applicant’s file, the committee requires that a resume and personal statement also be on file to consider the application complete. Letters of evaluation also are strongly encouraged.

RESUME - All applicants are required to submit a detailed resume, which should include specific, factual information about items such as education, honors and awards, extracurricular or community activities, publications, work history, military service and/or foreign language proficiencies.

PERSONAL STATEMENT - The Levin College of Law seeks to enroll a class with varied backgrounds and interests. Such diversity contributes to the learning environment of the law school, and historically has produced graduates who have served all segments of society and who have become leaders in many fields of law.

To better assess these qualities, the college requires each applicant to write a personal statement not to exceed four double-spaced pages in a font no smaller than 12 pt. This statement, written by the applicant, may include, but is not limited to, information regarding career goals, interests, unique abilities, life experiences, academic and non-academic activities and public service.

If applicable, applicants may describe disadvantages that may have adversely affected past performance or that were successfully overcome, such as poor academic performance, history of problems with standardized testing, linguistic barriers, or a personal or family history of cultural, educational or socioeconomic disadvantage. If you wish to discuss these unique issues you may do so in a one-page addendum or within your personal statement.

To summarize, your statement should provide information not found in any other part of your file. Although interviews are not part of the admissions process, personal statements can serve as "interviews on paper."

LETTERS OF EVALUATION - The Levin College of Law strongly encourages candidates to submit no more than four letters of evaluation for their file. Letters should evaluate the applicant’s academic performance, extra-curricular activities, community service, and/or employment. They should not be personal recommendations.

Candidates have two options for submitting letters:
• LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service — The college strongly recommends that letters be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service included in the LSDAS Registration subscription. To use this service, see the LSAT & LSDAS Information Book.
• Directly to the college — If applicants elect to submit letters directly to the law school, they should come in standard business letter format on letterhead accompanied by the UF Law cover form [94 kb PDF]. Packets from career planning offices are acceptable in lieu of individually submitted letters. (The college does not acknowledge receipt of letters.) Action on an application is taken once all required materials are received. Letters of evaluation are not required, therefore action will proceed with or without letters.

Primary Navigation