The goal of the admissions-review process is to identify and admit those men and women who have the potential to distinguish themselves as law students and, later, as Notre Dame lawyers. Although numbers such as LSAT score and grade-point average are important indicators of an applicant's potential for academic success, the Notre Dame Law School admissions process also places significant importance on personal attributes that speak to the applicant's potential to bring honor and a sense of ethics to the legal profession. The Law School is committed to enrolling a class of men and women who are diverse in their personal and professional backgrounds and who have articulated a high level of desire to enter the legal profession.

Successful applicants for admission, in addition to a strong academic record, may distinguish themselves in a number of ways including: spending some time away from formal education at work, in community service or on military duty; demonstrating a rising trend in academic performance versus solid but unexceptional work; managing employment while in school in response to financial pressures or other needs, which demonstrates personal responsibility; exhibiting significant personal achievement in extracurricular activities, which demonstrates leadership potential and a concern for others; listing unusual experiences or training, which promise to bring something different to the community; and, revealing an appreciation for the traditions and aspirations of Notre Dame's mission as a Catholic law school.