Boston University School of Law
About
Boston University School of Law is one of the nation’s top law schools with a history of excellence dating back to 1872. Our faculty are consistently recognized for exceptional teaching, preeminent scholarship, and transformative mentorship. With more than 25,000 alumni living in all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the world, our graduates have access to a vast global network that contributes to their professional success. The BU Law complex, comprised of the state-of-the-art Sumner M. Redstone Building and adjoining 17-story tower, is located in the heart of Boston overlooking the Charles River.
Introduction
Why BU Law?
Boston University School of Law is one of the nation’s top law schools with a history of excellence dating back to 1872. Our faculty are consistently recognized for exceptional teaching, preeminent scholarship, and transformative mentorship. With more than 25,000 alumni living in all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the world, our graduates have access to a vast global network that contributes to their professional success. The BU Law complex, comprised of the state-of-the-art Sumner M. Redstone Building and adjoining 17-story tower, is located in the heart of Boston overlooking the Charles River.
Academics
The coursework at BU Law is undoubtedly demanding. But the rewards are equally impactful. With celebrated, accomplished faculty members as guides, challenge yourself by selecting from more than 200 courses and seminars that may prepare you for a variety of areas of practice—one of the deepest law school curricula in the nation. U.S. News & World Report has ranked several of our programs among the best in the country, including Health Law (#5) and Intellectual Property (#11). You can also keep sharpening your expertise in one of four LLM programs, 16 dual degree offerings, or several certificate programs. Or gain international exposure in one of 20 study abroad programs in 18 locations around the world. In other words, BU Law offers no shortage of opportunities for you to grow—as a lawyer and a person.
Diversity at BU School of Law
Open to everyone since the ’70s. The 1870s.
Since our founding in 1872, Boston University School of Law has offered legal education to all qualified students without regard to race, gender, or religion. In fact, we were one of the first to do so long before most schools—which is why many of our students have gone on to become “firsts” in their fields.
A network of support
BU Law’s commitment to a diverse student body begins well before you arrive on campus and extends far beyond graduation.
- Before school: You’ll be connected with an upperclassman during the summer who can answer any questions you may have. Then you can choose to attend Be Yourself Orientation, a two-day series of welcome events for students of color, those that identify as LGBTQIA, and their allies prior to general orientation.
- As a student: You’ll find a well-developed system of support and mentorship to help you through your time in law school. Just a few of the people acting as resources for you include:
- Faculty: In addition to your faculty advisor, who will help guide you in academic and professional decisions, you’ll be matched with a faculty mentor with common personal or career-related interests. You may also have the opportunity to act as a research assistant for or co-author a paper with a professor whose particular academic pursuits align with yours.
- Administrators: Dean Onwuachi-Willig holds regular town halls, office hours, and other informal get-togethers as a platform for your voice. The Associate Dean for Equity, Justice & Engagement facilitates faculty hiring and training aligned with our institutional values for equitable educational experiences. The very accessible Student Affairs Office offers numerous resources, both academic and personal, to support law students. And BU Law’s designated Director for Student Diversity, Equity & Engagement, is dedicated to cultivating a community that welcomes diverse individuals and a wide range of beliefs, ideas, and opinions. Meet the Director of Diversity, Equity & Engagement.
- Upper-level students: BU Law is known for its exceptionally friendly community, and upper-level students are the driving force behind this reputation. Be it your official student advisor or an older student who, unprompted, emails you notes when you miss class, 2 and 3Ls look out for you, which not many law schools can say.
- Student organizations: BU Law has more than 30 student organizations—including twelve affinity groups—focused on personal issues, professional or special interests, and social pursuits. These groups often hold networking events with professionals in the community and alumni, which brings us to…
- Alumni: BU Law’s network of nearly 25,000 alumni practicing in various fields around the globe is the ultimate career resource. You’ll be paired with an alumni mentor as a 1L to immediately benefit from the guidance and career advice of someone practicing in a field, sector, or geographic location of interest to you.
- While job hunting: The Career Development & Public Service Office (CDO) will work closely with you to identify your career path and the steps you need to take to prepare for it. Your career advisor, an attorney who formerly practiced in the area of law in which you are interested, will introduce you to our robust recruiting programs, our vast alumni network, and the many other career resources available to you as a BU Law student.
- As an alum: Support doesn’t stop at graduation. Not only will you have a tremendous professional network of BU Law alumni, but the CDO also continues to support graduates in their career searches, and programs like Loan Repayment Assistance Program offer loan forgiveness for alumni practicing in the public sector.
Admissions
How to apply
Our admissions process is designed to be as personal as our programs, and we are one of the only programs to interview candidates. From the moment you apply, we will be in constant contact with you about your application, including providing an online application status checker, so that you know exactly where you are in the admissions process. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or if you require assistance with the application process.
Application Checklist
We aim to provide a simple, straightforward process for applying to our graduate programs. Just follow the steps outlined below to prepare your application. Make sure to note important dates and deadlines in order to stay on track throughout the process.
- Step #1: Register with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and complete the LLM and Other Law Programs application for BU Law so you can take advantage of LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Note that BU Law uses one application for all graduate and certificate programs; you will indicate the program to which you are applying on question #1. If you wish to apply to more than one program, please contact us. All applications to our graduate programs must be submitted through LSAC. If you experience technical difficulties in using LSAC’s online application service, please contact LSAC’s customer support team.
- Step #2: Submit your transcripts through LSAC’s CAS.
- Step #3: Send at least two letters of recommendation through the CAS.
- Step #4: Prepare your additional documents, including a personal statement and current résumé or curriculum vitae.
- Step #5: Deliver proof of English language proficiency. (Proof of English language proficiency is not required if: (i) your native language is English; or (ii) you received your undergraduate or first law degree in a country where the language of instruction and only official language are English.)
- Step #6: If you are applying to pursue the Master in the Study of Tax Law, you may need to submit a standardized test score. Applicants who have not previously completed a master’s degree program, who have not passed the CPA exam, and who have less than 3 years of related work experience are required to submit scores from one of the following tests: the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
- Step #7: Pay an $85 nonrefundable application fee.
Once you submit a completed application and the admissions committee has confirmed that you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be invited to interview with a program representative. Interviews are conducted by phone, via video conference, or if practical, in person. We view the interview as an important part of the evaluation process and remain one of the only law schools to offer interviews for applicants to our graduate programs.