Explore Binding Admissions Programs
Programs
Binding programs offer unique advantages for prospective students. Maryland Carey Law is excited to offer two different binding programs. We encourage you to read the program descriptions carefully.
Carey Law Scholars Binding Program
The Carey Law Scholars Binding Program provides successful applicants with an expedited decision and a scholarship that covers 50% of your first-year tuition. The scholarship will then be renewable in the same monetary amount provided you maintain good standing. This program is highly competitive and is designed for applicants who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and who are certain that Maryland Carey Law is their first choice.
Carey Law Scholars Binding Program candidates who are not admitted through the binding program will be transferred to the nonbinding pool or waitlisted. Those students are no longer bound by the Binding Decision rules and may remain in the applicant pools of other schools and submit new applications to additional schools.
Binding Early Decision Program
Applicants who are certain that the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is their first-choice law school may apply under our Binding Early Decision Program. This program allows applicants to express their sincere interest in attending Maryland Carey Law as their priority institution. Merit scholarships are not available to students admitted through the Early Decision Program, thus applicants for whom merit scholarships are a consideration should not apply to this program but should instead apply through the regular admissions process. This program is available to all applicants but may be ideal for those applicants who qualify for in-state tuition.
Binding Early Decision candidates who are waitlisted are no longer bound by the Binding Early Decision rules and may, of course, remain in the applicant pools of other schools and submit new applications to additional schools.
Requirements
Candidates who wish to be considered under a binding program agree that they:
- Do not have applications pending at any other binding, early decision programs or similar binding decision programs
- Have researched and weighed all law school options and are certain that Maryland Carey Law is their first choice law school
If admitted through the Binding Early Decision program, candidates agree that they:
- Will submit a Binding Intent to Enroll to Maryland Carey Law within two weeks after their decision has been emailed.
- Will immediately withdraw all applications submitted to other schools and will provide evidence of having done so.
- Will not initiate new applications to any other school.
- Will enroll at Maryland Carey Law in August 2025 and understand that they are not eligible to defer admission.
Deadlines and Timeline
Candidates applying to a binding program must submit a completed application to Maryland Carey Law no later than February 1, 2025. Applicants who apply past the deadline will have their applications transferred into the regular decision applicant pool. Similarly, previously submitted applications which are missing any of the required components by February 1, 2025 will also be transferred into the regular decision pool.
The binding program will have rolling admission, however candidates who apply by the first day of the month will have a decision by the last day of that month, provided that any requests by the admissions committee, such as an interview request, are also fulfilled within that timeframe (i.e., if a completed application is received by 10/1, a decision will be rendered by 10/31; if a completed application is received on 10/2, a decision will be rendered by 11/30).
If you have any questions, please contact our Office of Admissions at admissions@law.umaryland.edu or (410) 706-3492.