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A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a short note, usually a half page to one page, that you send after being waitlisted or deferred to confirm a school is a top choice and share meaningful updates. A strong LOCI can improve your odds off a waitlist, though admit rates vary widely by school and year.
By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Every figure on this page was verified in August 2026 against the sources listed below.
A letter of continued interest, often abbreviated LOCI, is a brief message an applicant sends to a law school after being placed on a waitlist or deferred. Its job is to confirm that the school remains a top choice and to share concrete updates since you applied. A LOCI is not a new application, and it does not commit you to attend the way a binding decision would. It is a short, sincere signal of genuine interest backed by fresh information.
A LOCI should be short, usually a half page to one page, or roughly three to five tight paragraphs. Length is less important than substance: state clearly that the school is a top choice, add one or two meaningful updates, and reaffirm your fit. The table summarizes what belongs in each part.
SectionWhat to includeOpeningThank the committee and state that the school remains a top choiceUpdatesNew grades, work, awards, or projects since you appliedFitSpecific programs, clinics, or reasons the school matches your goalsCloseA brief, sincere restatement of interest and thanks
A LOCI works by giving an admissions committee two things it wants to see from waitlisted applicants: continued, genuine interest and evidence that you have kept moving forward. Schools admit from waitlists to shape class size and yield, so a candidate who signals they would likely enroll can be attractive. A LOCI does not overcome a large gap in credentials, but among similar candidates it can tip a decision. Waitlist admit rates differ sharply by school and cycle. Each school reports its own waitlist activity, including how many applicants it admits from the waitlist, in its ABA Standard 509 disclosure, and there is no single national waitlist admit rate, so check the disclosure for each school on your list.
Send a LOCI soon after you are waitlisted, once you have a real update or a clear statement of interest to offer. Follow any instructions in the waitlist notice, because some schools specify how and how often they want to hear from you. If several weeks pass and you have a genuine new development, a second brief update can be appropriate. Confirm each school's stated deadlines and preferences before sending. Each school sets its own waitlist response deadlines and contact preferences and publishes them on its admissions website, so confirm them there for every school on your list.
This hub gathers the practical pieces of a strong waitlist strategy. It covers what a letter of continued interest is and how it differs from a letter of intent, how long a LOCI should be, how to write one step by step, and sample letters you can model. It also addresses related documents applicants ask about, including letters of interest and statements of interest. Each topic is written to help you turn a waitlist spot into an admission.
Use a LOCI as one part of a broader waitlist plan rather than a single silver bullet. Keep applying your energy where it counts: strong updates, a clear first-choice signal to the one school you would definitely attend, and patience with each school's process. Track deadlines, keep every letter concise and sincere, and never send the same generic paragraph to multiple schools. A tailored, specific LOCI is far stronger than a long, generic one.
A letter of continued interest is a short note you send a law school after being waitlisted or deferred. It confirms the school is a top choice and shares meaningful updates since you applied, such as new grades or work. It signals genuine interest without binding you to attend, unlike a formal letter of intent.
To improve your odds off a law school waitlist, follow the school's instructions, send a concise letter of continued interest, and provide genuine updates like improved grades or new achievements. Signal that the school is a top choice, stay patient, and keep other options open. Waitlist admit rates vary widely by school and year.
Send a letter of continued interest soon after you are waitlisted, once you have a real update or a clear statement of interest to share. Follow any timing rules in the waitlist notice. If weeks pass and you have a genuine new development, one additional brief update is usually acceptable.
Verified August 2026.
August 21, 2026
August 21, 2026