Q and A

We are a mid-sized to small law school with approximately 180-200 J.D. students in each entering class. The Office of International Programs also enrolls approximately 25 LL.M./S.J.D. students each year. Be sure to view the JD entering class profile.

We have about 70 full-time faculty and 35 adjunct faculty members. This means we can offer a low student-to-faculty ratio, usually around 7:1. Find out more about our faculty.

Traditional first-year courses like Torts and Criminal Law may have as many as 70 students in a class. The class size in second- and third-year courses may range from 10-50, depending on the course. More than 70 percent of upper-division courses have a class size of 15 or fewer students.

No. The Indiana University Maurer School of Law has only a full-time program.

No. We only enroll new students in the fall semester (August).

Yes, there are options to pursue a joint or dual degree while enrolled at Indiana Law. The application processes for each degree program are separate. While there is no preferred order for submitting the applications, most applicants apply to the Law School first, and then apply for a graduate program within their first year of law school.

Indiana Law accepts applications for transfer from students who have completed one year of course work at another ABA-accredited law school. Transfer applicants should complete the general application and make sure to indicate their status as a transfer applicant. Get more information about the transfer application process.

Yes. There is a separate application for international applicants to complete. International applicants are citizens of countries other than the USA and have permanent residency outside of the USA. The application fee for international applicants is $85. If your first language is not English and your undergraduate degree was obtained outside of the United States, you must include results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with your application materials. TOEFL scores are valid for two (2) years and IELTS scores are valid for two (2) years.Please direct questions about the LLM program and its application process to William Schaad, Director of Graduate Admissions, at lgradadm@indiana.edu.

There is no ideal major to be a successful applicant. While many of our applicants are political science, history, psychology, or sociology majors, we have just as many applicants with every other major you could imagine. As you are selecting your major and your classes, keep in mind the skills that you will need to be successful in law school and as a lawyer: research skills, critical and analytical thinking, clear and concise writing. There are many majors and disciplines in which these are core skills and you should seek out as many opportunities as possible craft and hone these skills. When the admissions committee selects applicants for an incoming class, they want a diverse group of people and this includes their educational background. You should pursue whatever major is interesting to you and always keep in mind that law school is your goal: each research project or work experience should relate to the study and practice of law in some way.

This is one of the many myths about law school. It is simply not necessary — for bar admission or placement purposes — for a student to attend law school in the state where he or she intends to practice. Good law schools prepare students to practice in any state by providing a solid theoretical framework for understanding the law and the legal system. Historically, more than half of our graduates leave to practice outside of Indiana; we have alumni practicing in all 50 states and 31 foreign countries. For further information about placement, visit the Career Services Office.

The Health Professions and Prelaw Center (HPPLC) provides advising and other services for students who want to pursue careers in law, medicine, and other health professions. Students considering careers in these professions must excel academically and plan carefully. HPPLC works closely with IU students throughout their undergraduate years, and with IU alumni, to help them become thoughtful, well-prepared, competitive applicants to professional programs. Phone HPPLC at 812-855-1873 or fax 812-856-7302, or e-mail hpplc@indiana.edu.

For Fall 2025, the application fee is waived for all J.D. applicants, including Advanced Standing and Transfer applicants.

The J.D. application deadline is June 1 (May 1 for international applicants).

For Fall 2025, the application fee is waived for all J.D. applicants, including Advanced Standing and Transfer applicants.

• LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next score and transcript analysis from the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) (The LSAT or GRE, while welcomed, is not required for advanced standing JD applicants.)
• Two letters of recommendation that speak to your potential success as a law student and as a member of the legal profession
• A 2-3 page personal statement that provides insight about you, describes your motivation to attend law school, and/or highlights your interest in Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
• A resume that outlines your professional and volunteer experience, academic accomplishments, and other pertinent aspects of your background.
• Find out more about applying.

Yes, IU Maurer will consider JD-Next test scores. Our general policy is to consider all test scores when evaluating applications; however, the highest LSAT score will be assigned the most weight in making our decision given how we must report test scores to the American Bar Association.

If you are completing your undergraduate degree and plan to begin law school immediately after graduation, we recommend that you take a test the summer before your senior year or during early fall of your senior year, when there may not be many other claims on your time. For further information about the LSAT and registration, please visit the Law School Admission Council website. For information about the GRE and registration, please visit the Educational Testing Service website. For information about JD-Next, please visit the JD-Next website.

Our general policy is to consider the highest LSAT or GRE score attained, although we will take note of all scores. In the case of a significant discrepancy between scores, (five points or more) applicants are advised to address it in an addendum to their application. It is always helpful for the admissions committee to be aware of any factors that may have adversely or positively affected one’s performance on a standardized exam.

Our general policy is to consider all test scores when evaluating applications; however, the highest LSAT score will be assigned the most weight in making our decision given how we must report test scores to the American Bar Association.

LSAT and GRE scores are valid for five (5) years.

Yes, so long as the exam is taken before July of the intended fall semester of enrollment.

The admissions committee does look at grade trends. We are more impressed by a rising undergraduate grade point average (GPA) than a falling one. If there are circumstances that negatively affected your GPA (such as illness, work schedule, etc.), please feel free to bring them to the committee's attention in an addendum to your application.

Only two. Additional letters of recommendation will not be accepted.

While preference is given to letters from faculty members who are familiar with your academic strengths, we gladly welcome letters from employers or individuals who know you professionally.

Your personal statement should be approximately 2-3 pages, double-spaced.

A compelling personal statement should provide insight about you, describes your motivation to attend law school, and/or highlights your interest in Indiana Law. It should be clearly written, well-organized, and highlight the special strengths and experiences that you would bring to our law school and the legal profession. These may include, but are not limited to, demonstrated evidence of leadership, creativity, commitment to justice, service to others, cross-cultural competency, and significant work or volunteer experience. Statements are evaluated for grammar, spelling, organization, clarity, and relevance.

If you believe that the admissions committee would benefit from an explanation about part of your application, you should submit an addendum. Addenda will usually explain problems with, or unusual aspects of, your application. Typical reasons for submitting an addendum include, but are not limited to: a poor semester of grades, an unusually low grade on a particular course, an unusual gap in college attendance, or an LSAT or GPA that isn’t indicative of your true abilities. You may also submit an addendum describing any significant adversity you have experienced which may have limited your educational opportunities or negatively affected your academic performance.

No. The large number of applications generally prohibits us from granting personal interviews. However, we strongly encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions to arrange a visit if your schedule allows. Please see our Visit webpage to schedule a visit.

We look for superior achievement in graduate studies. Like work experience, graduate studies show the admissions committee what your interests, skills, and abilities are. The graduate GPA is independent of the undergraduate GPA for reporting purposes. The two GPAs will not be averaged or combined for assessing abilities in the classroom.

No. Historically, more than half our entering class comes from out-of-state. Residence classifications are set forth by the IU Office of the Registrar. All determinations are also made by that office. A person cannot gain residency in the state of Indiana if they relocate to Indiana for the purpose of education and earning a degree.

Although you are generally encouraged to apply early to ensure that all your materials are received on time, this will not significantly affect your odds of being admitted. Since the admissions committee does not make decisions on a strictly rolling basis, a candidate who applies later in the admissions cycle will not necessarily be disadvantaged. Applying early also does not guarantee early receipt of a decision. Offers of admission are usually made between January and late April, and various factors will determine when you will actually hear from us. Thus, our general advice is to apply when you most feel prepared.

With our rolling admissions policy, we receive applications from August 15th through June 1. The admissions committee extends most offers of admission between December and April. In the past, we have admitted applicants as late as July or August, including those who may be on our wait list.

We do not require a seat deposit. As law school is the first step in your quest to become an attorney, we believe that your word is your bond. The candid responses of admitted students are used to determine the availability of positions for other applicants. When the Admissions Committee informs an applicant that they have been admitted to Indiana Law, that letter or email will include a confirmation form to be signed and returned by the stated deadline.

Requests for deferment are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. All requests must be made in writing and include specific reasons for wishing to defer. Barring rare exceptions, deferment requests are generally granted for only one year. If a request is denied and an admitted applicant chooses not to enroll, he/she is welcome to re-apply in the future. Applicants who defer will be required to enter into a binding agreement to enroll at the law school the following year.

Yes, Indiana Law offers an early decision program for those applicants who are confident that the Indiana University Maurer School of Law is their first choice for their legal education. An early decision application must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by October 15. All supporting application materials including test scores, must be submitted by November 1^st. (we will extend the deadline into the first week of November for those taking the October LSAT). Early decision notifications will be made in early November. During the early decision process, your application may be accepted, denied, or held for later review. If your file is held for later review, you will no longer be bound by the early decision agreement. Get more information on applying.

This program allows junior undergraduate students enrolled at Indiana University-Bloomington to apply for admission to Maurer prior to their senior year without taking the LSAT. This program is open to IU-Bloomington juniors who have an outstanding undergraduate GPA and have identified the Indiana University Maurer School of Law as their first choice for obtaining a legal education. Get more information about the Direct Admit program.

We have instituted a flat-fee arrangement that is guaranteed not to change for all three years you are in law school. Get more information about financial aid, tuition, and costs.

All applicants receive consideration for scholarship awards. More than 75 percent of our entering class receives a scholarship. These awards range from a few thousand dollars per year up to full tuition. Scholarships are primarily merit-based and are awarded to students who show the greatest promise for the study of law. Scholarship awards are typically made with initial admission offers and cover three academic years. Indiana Law will not give additional awards after matriculation. In addition to scholarships awarded by the Law School, IU participates in most federal loan programs. Approximately 85 percent of our students receive some sort of financial assistance. Get more information about scholarships and federal loan programs

At Indiana Law there are Areas of Focus: a set of recommended courses tailored to a particular area of interest. While not required, Areas of Focus help students choose the courses that will both deepen and broaden knowledge in a particular field of practice. In addition, many students build their own courses of study by taking classes from a number of different areas.

During the first year, students take an innovative course, The Legal Profession. The curriculum develops in conjunction with the work of the Center on the Global Legal Profession. Once students acclimate to law school, they begin to work with the Career Services Office to identify interests and strengths. CSO provides students resources to find summer placements, internships, and jobs.

Yes! There are a number of clinics, externship programs, and non-credit projects. We also hold the annual Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition, and students also participate in several regional and national moot court competitions. Besides our projects, there are many other volunteer opportunities available to students through the Access to Justice Program.

Yes! There are five journals and three centers at Indiana Law. Explore our journals and read more about our research centers.

We do not provide housing for students. Indiana University does have graduate and professional student housing. Graduate Professional Student Government (GPSG) has an excellent resource page for housing in Bloomington. A very high percentage of Indiana Law students live in the neighborhood immediately surrounding the law school on the southwest corner of the IU Bloomington campus. There are several property management companies in Bloomington that rent or lease a variety of properties from efficiencies to multiple bedroom houses. There are also a variety of apartment complexes around Bloomington that are on the city bus lines. Admitted applicants will have access to a listing of private housing resources.

There are no designated parking areas for Indiana Law students in the immediate vicinity of the law school. Many students live within walking/biking distance to limit the use of their cars. IU and Bloomington have a robust network of bike paths and routes, as well as outstanding public transportation systems (free for student, staff and faculty use). Check out transportation options on the IU Parking Services website.

Bloomington, Indiana is an idyllic college town of approximately 80,000 located among beautiful state parks and lakes an hour south of Indianapolis. It is a large town with characteristics of an urban center including a variety of museums and galleries, restaurants and eateries, and performance venues.For further information about all of the things to do here — both on and off campus — see Visit Bloomington and Bloomington's city government; Indiana University news; athletics; and recreational sports as well as performances through the IU Auditorium, IU Theater/Dance, and the IU Jacobs School of Music.