- What are your most recent incoming class statistics?
- Do you have a part-time or evening program?
- Is there a specific major required for admissions?
- Can I sit in on a first year class or visit the law school?
- Do you accept the February LSAT for admission?
- If I take the LSAT multiple times, will you take the highest score or the average of the scores?
- For how long is my LSAT score valid?
- How can I obtain an application for admission?
- When do you begin accepting applications? Is there a deadline?
- When is the best time to apply?
- Does Pitt Law offer fee waivers?
- Do you offer admissions interviews?
- Does Pitt Law grant admissions deferrals?
- What if I have questions regarding Character and Fitness?
- What are the requirements for transfer admission?
- Do you accept visiting students?
Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Do you have merit based scholarships?
- Is there a separate application to be considered for scholarship?
- If admitted, when will I receive scholarship information?
- Do you have a Public Interest Scholarship?
- What is financial aid?
- How do I apply for student loans?
- What is Pitt Law’s School code for the FAFSA?
- How much financial aid can I receive?
- Do you have any joint degree programs?
- Do you have any clinical programs?
- Do you offer any areas of concentration?
- What are your study abroad opportunities?
JD Program
What are your most recent incoming class statistics?
General statistics for the entering class can be found on the class profile.
Do you have a part-time or evening program?
No, at Pitt Law we only offer full-time day classes.
Is there a specific major required for admissions?
There is no specific major that is required for admission; however you must complete a baccalaureate degree which is regionally accredited. Students from all majors have been successful in their legal studies- so we encourage you to study something that is of interest to you and to be as academically successful as possible in your studies. We are often asked what you can do to help prepare yourself for law school. While there is not any academic coursework that you can take to prepare, you may want to consider taking courses that have a reading and writing emphasis as you complete your undergraduate studies.
Can I sit in on a first year class or visit the law school?
We would be thrilled to have you visit Pitt Law at any point! We offer a variety of visit options including Pitt Law Admissions 101 Information Sessions, Discover Pitt Law programs, individual tours and appointments, or even just sitting in on a class of your choice.
LSAT
Do you accept the February LSAT for admission?
Yes, the February LSAT is the latest LSAT you may take for fall entry.
If I take the LSAT multiple times, will you take the highest score or the average of the scores?
Pitt Law’s policy is to take the highest score earned on the LSAT.
For how long is my LSAT score valid?
According to the Law School Admission Council, LSAT scores are valid for five (5) years.
Applying
How can I obtain an application for admission?
Our application is available on-line.
When do you begin accepting applications? Is there a deadline?
JD Applications are accepted from September 1st through April 1st.
When is the best time to apply?
We encourage all applicants to apply early in the admissions cycle as we read applications and make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. While timing does play a role in the admissions process, it is still best to submit the strongest application possible.
Does Pitt Law offer fee waivers?
We do offer fee waivers- please contact our office at admitlaw@pitt.edu if you would like to request one.
Do you offer admissions interviews?
We do not offer admissions interviews; however you are always welcome to meet with a staff member from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Does Pitt Law grant admissions deferrals?
The admissions committee grants one-year deferrals on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the admissions office by e-mail or mail to request a deferral.
What if I have questions regarding Character and Fitness?
If you have any questions about the Character and Fitness section of the application please contact our office. Every state has different qualifications for admission to the bar. The American Bar Association (ABA) is another useful website if you have questions about a specific state’s bar requirements.
What are the requirements for transfer admission?
Students interested in applying for transfer admission must have completed one year of academic coursework at an ABA accredited law school.
Do you accept visiting students?
Yes, students currently enrolled in another ABA accredited law school are eligible to apply to be a visiting student. Visiting students must have completed two years of coursework at an ABA accredited law school.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Do you have merit based scholarships?
Our merit scholarships are awarded during the admissions process. For more detailed information on the scholarships we offer please visit our Scholarship webpage.
Is there a separate application to be considered for scholarship?
Our Dean’s, Tuition, and K. Leroy Irvis scholarships do not require a separate application. After a student is admitted, he/she will be automatically reviewed for these scholarships.
There are a handful of scholarships that require an application. If you fit the criteria for the scholarship, an application will be emailed after admittance. Some scholarships that require an application are the Public Interest Scholarship, Chief Justice Ralph J.Cappy Scholarship, K&L Gates Diversity Fellowship, Derrick A. Bell Scholarship in Law and Social Justice, and the Blue & Gold Dean's Scholarship . More detailed information on the application process for these scholarships can be found on our Scholarship webpage.
If admitted, when will I receive scholarship information?
Scholarship and financial aid information will be included with your letter of admissions.
Do you have a Public Interest Scholarship?
We offer a Public Interest Scholarship that all admitted students are invited to apply. The deadline for the Public Interest Scholarship is March 15th.
What is financial aid?
Financial aid consists of all scholarship and student loans that a student is eligible to receive for their studies.
How do I apply for student loans?
The federal student loan program is the most widely used student loans. To apply for and receive the federal student loans, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov. More detailed information on federal student loans and alternative student loans can be found on our Loans webpage.
What is Pitt Law’s School code for the FAFSA?
Pitt Law uses the same school code as the University of Pittsburgh, 008815.
How much financial aid can I receive?
Students can receive financial aid (scholarship and student loans) up to their total cost of attendance. As a state-related institution, Pitt Law has separate cost for Pennsylvania students and non-Pennsylvania students. To see the breakdown of the cost, please visit our Costs webpage.
Academics
Do you have any joint degree programs?
Pitt Law offers a variety of joint degree programs. If you are interested in a joint degree program, you will have to go through two separate admissions processes and we encourage you to work closely not only with our office but also the admissions office of the master's degree program you are considering.
Do you have any clinical programs?
Yes, there are six clinical programs at Pitt Law including our Taxpayer Clinic, Elder Law Clinic, Environmental Law Clinic, Family Law Clinic, Health Law Clinic, and Immigration Law Clinic.
Do you offer any areas of concentration?
Yes, following your first year, your academic schedule will be completely elective driven toward your interests and career goals. While many students choose to take a variety of courses across the curriculum, some students choose to concentrate in a specific area of law. We offer concentrations in International Law, Health Law, Civil Litigation, Intellectual Property Law, and Environmental and Energy Law, to name just a few. We also encourage you to explore our course offerings as you can tailor your classes to focus on many different areas of law in addition to our specific concentrations:
- The John P. Gismondi Civil Litigation Certificate Program
- Health Law Program
- Intellectual Property, Technology, and Innovation Law
- International and Comparative Law
- Environmental or Energy Law
- Public Policy Concentration
- Tax Law Program
What are your study abroad opportunities?
We have our Center for International Legal Education (CILE) which allows our students to study abroad almost anywhere in the world! Students interested in studying abroad work directly with CILE on coordinating their study abroad which can be for a summer, a semester, or a full academic year.