How to Apply

Who Is Eligible

The Yale Law School Launchpad Scholars Program, powered by Latham & Watkins, is for applicants who are planning to apply to law school in the fall of 2024, with the goal of enrolling in law school in the fall of 2025. The program is open to current college students as well as college graduates. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.3. There is no cost to apply to, or participate in, the program.

The program is open to everyone, but we especially welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including individuals who are (or will be) the first in their families to graduate from college, individuals from low-income backgrounds, members of racially and ethnically underrepresented groups, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and veterans or military service members.

Scholars will be selected based on their potential for academic excellence, leadership promise, engagement with their communities, and ability to work collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectives.

Yale Law School is committed to equal opportunity and accessibility to all candidates who show great academic and personal promise irrespective of citizenship status. These policies include undocumented students living in the U.S., whether they hold DACA status or not.

Key Application Dates

Application Materials

Applications for the program opened on March 6, 2023. The materials required for each round are as follows:

First Round Materials: Due by June 4, 2023

• Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
• Résumé
• Responses to two Short Answer Questions with an optional third Short Answer Question
• One Recommendation Form minimum and up to two Recommendation Forms maximum. (Your recommenders will be asked to complete an electronic version of the recommendation form.)

Second Round Materials: Due by July 12, 2023, for selected applicants

• 20-minute interview (interviews will be conducted from July 5–7, 2023)
• Diagnostic LSAT (The LSAT diagnostic is requested so that we can better understand applicants’ starting point with respect to testing. There is no minimum score requirement.)
• A draft weekly study schedule outlining anticipated commitments during the program