Character and Fitness
Pursuant to policy established by the State University of New York (SUNY), the University at Buffalo School of Law does not make inquiries into the criminal records of applicants for purposes of admission.
Important Note: Admission to the University at Buffalo School of Law is based on our judgment of your ability to successfully complete a course of legal study. However, neither admission to nor graduation from UB School of Law constitutes a judgment that you are eligible for admission to practice law; that is a decision for state bar authorities, not law schools. A criminal record can be an obstacle for bar admission. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are eligible for admission to the bar, and we encourage you to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which you intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Post-Admission: Successful applicants may be asked to declare their criminal history, including any prior felony conviction(s), post-admission, if and when they seek campus housing or apply to participate in certain other activities that require such checks (i.e. study abroad programs and experiential courses that involve working at outside organizations or in settings that require criminal background checks). Certain responses could, but not necessarily, impact ones' ability to pursue the aforementioned opportunities.
