Updated September 2023
If you plan to apply to law school, you may be wondering, which law schools employ interviews as a part of their admissions process? We gathered all of the information we could find on which law schools interview 1L JD applicants, who they interview—can anyone sign up, is it by invitation only, must all admits be interviewed?—and their interview formats, which we have compiled for your reference below.
Please note: while this information is as up-to-date as possible, schools may begin interviewing, or change their interview procedures, at any time. Please email us at info@spiveyconsulting.com if you have updated information!
As you prepare for your interview, feel free to check out our two podcast episodes on law school admissions interviews:
For more personalized help with interviews, including mock interviews with one of our former admissions officers, feel free to reach out about working with us at info@spiveyconsulting.com.
List of Law Schools that Interview Applicants
*Note: School names in blue link to further information on interviews from the law schools' websites.
Yale Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for some applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Not required for admission
Harvard Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for all applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Required for admission
University of Chicago Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for all applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Required for admission
Columbia Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, limited applicants
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Not required for admission
NYU Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for waitlisted candidates or named scholarship applicants
- Interview Format: In-person or Zoom
- Details: Not required for admission; for waitlisted and named scholarship applicants only
UPenn Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for named scholarship applicants, JD/MBA applicants, and Early Decision applicants
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Not offered for regular admission; interviews are for named scholarships, including the Toll and Sadie Alexander, JD/MBA applicants, and some Early Decision applicants
University of Michigan Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for Darrow Scholarship finalists
- Interview Format: In-person or Zoom
- Details: Panel interview with staff and/or alumni; required for Darrow finalists
UC Berkeley Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship (BLOS) finalists
- Interview Format: In-person or Zoom
- Details: Panel interview; required for BLOS finalists
UVA Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for most applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom or phone call
- Details: Most admitted students are interviewed prior to admission
Duke Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Optional for all admitted students, for scholarship consideration
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Admitted students must complete an interview with financial aid to be considered for aid. Note that international applicants who did not complete their bachelor's degree in an English-speaking country should complete the separate InitialView interview.
Northwestern Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Encouraged for all applicants
- Interview Format: Kira (recorded interview platform)
- Details: Available to all applicants; recorded interview via the automated platform Kira; not required for admission
Cornell Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for most applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Kira (recorded interview platform)
- Details: Not required for admission
Georgetown Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for some applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Alumni interview or group interview with Dean Cornblatt
- Details: Not required for admission
UT Austin Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for most applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Recorded interview platform
- Details: Encouraged but not required for admission
UCLA Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for many waitlisted candidates and for Achievement Scholarship finalists
- Interview Format: In-person or Zoom
- Details: Required for Achievement Scholarship finalists
Vanderbilt Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: By applicant request, for applicants who submit before November 1
- Interview Format: In-person or Zoom alumni interview
- Details: All applicants are encouraged to interview, but not required for admission
WUSTL Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for all applicants being considered for admission
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Required for admission
USC Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for some applicants being considered for admission and/or named scholarships
- Interview Format: In person or Zoom
- Details: Not required for admission; named scholarship applicants' interviews are often in-person
University of Minnesota Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Encouraged for all applicants
- Interview Format: Kira (recorded interview platform)
- Details: Not required for admission, but all applicants are strongly encouraged to interview
Notre Dame Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only
- Interview Format: Virtual
- Details: Not required for admission
UC Law San Francisco Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Optional for all applicants
- Interview Format: Virtual
- Details: Applicants are encouraged to meet virtually with an admissions officer
George Mason Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only
- Interview Format: In-person or virtual
- Details: Not required for admission
Wake Forest Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: By applicant request
- Interview Format: In-person (on campus) or virtual
- Details: Not required for admission
University of Wisconsin Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only
- Interview Format: Virtual
- Details: Not required for admission
University of Colorado Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only
- Interview Format: Virtual
- Details: Not required for admission
Washington and Lee Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only, for waitlisted applicants
- Interview Format: In-person or virtual
- Details: Not required for admission; only for waitlisted applicants
Baylor Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Optional, available to all applicants
- Interview Format: In-person or Zoom
- Details: Not required for admission; applicants may sign up for an interview before or after submitting their application
University of Maryland Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom or phone call
- Details: Not required, but strongly encouraged if invited
University of Utah Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only for initial decision process; for candidates who are waitlisted, all are invited to interview
- Interview Format: Live via Zoom
- Details: Not required for admission but recommended
Villanova Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only
- Interview Format: In-person
- Details: Not required for admission
St. John’s University Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Optional, available to all applicants
- Interview Format: Recorded interview platform
- Details: Not required for admission
Lewis & Clark Law Interview Information:
- Interview Type: Invitation only
- Interview Format: In-person, virtual, or phone with an admissions officer or alum
- Details: Not required, but strongly encouraged if invited