Most schools allow you to supplement your application with addenda that provide additional information. This is an opportunity for you to provide context for weak parts of your applications. There are many reasons you may need or want to include additional context, but the two most common relate to performance issues and character and fitness problems.

Performance-Related Addenda

Academic or LSAT addenda can be included if you want to share more information about the circumstances surrounding your undergraduate classroom performance or an LSAT score — for example, something in your life that affected your grades or LSAT score, such as health issues, work schedules, overextended social life, familial obligations, or technical issues on test day. Your goal with this addendum is to explain why your potential exceeds what an LSAT administration or semester’s GPA indicates.

Character and Fitness Addenda

An addendum is typically required if you answer “Yes” to any of the questions asked in the "character and fitness" or "academic history" sections of a school’s application. Make sure to read these questions closely and provide all required information and supporting documentation with the addendum. You want to ensure that you are transparent, thorough, and contrite as you describe the situation and all resulting consequences. If there are multiple incidents to disclose, avoid extensive disclosures. Clearly identify each incident and each disclosure separately.

This is also a good opportunity to do your future self a favor and begin collecting documentation about any events requiring disclosure. While a school may not require you to submit official documentation or court documents, the bar exam application will.

Tips for Writing Addenda

Unlike a personal statement, addenda are not integral to an admission officer getting to know you or how you see the world. Keep it simple. Addenda do not need to be lengthy; often, a paragraph or two will be plenty.

Remember, addenda will be viewed as another writing sample, just like a personal statement, so make sure to take time to carefully edit any addenda you attach to your application.