Juris Doctor (Law)

As a law student, you’ll master essential legal skills, learn the fundamentals of statutory and case law, and explore new and emerging areas of practice. Your preparation begins with our simulation-based Legal Skills sequence of courses and culminates in real-world clinic, internship, and pro bono opportunities.
You'll develop a professional identity, becoming familiar with the practice of law as you improve your skills in interviewing and counseling, case planning, direct representation, and dealing with ethical issues that arise in practice.
The integration of knowledge, theory, ethics, and skills will prepare you to thrive in the changing legal profession.

UMass Law seeks students with varied backgrounds and experiences. We do not favor any particular pre-law course of study.

During the admissions process, we evaluate each applicant as an individual to assure that your abilities and potential are truly recognized. Since we believe that our future students are more than a set of numbers, we admit students based upon a thorough evaluation of all factors in your file. We give careful consideration to your:

professional experience

unusual achievements

special circumstances

honors

economic hardship

undergraduate degree

undergraduate school

graduate degree

graduate school

grade trends

To apply for admission to UMass Law, you must:

Have earned a bachelor's degree from an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education.

An LSAT, GRE or JD-Next score is required for all JD applicants. A valid reportable score must be received directly from LSAC, ETS or Aspen Publishing. Scores more than 5 years old are not acceptable for admission consideration. Applicants must submit all GRE test scores directly to UMass Law. UMass Law’s ETS code is 3392. JD-Next scores will be received directly from Aspen Publishing.

Register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

Official transcripts of an applicant's undergraduate, graduate, and professional schoolwork must be submitted to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), which will analyze the transcripts and provide copies to UMass Law as part of the CAS Report.