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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 7/17/24
If you’re considering applying to Case Western Law School, read on to find out more about the application process!
Case Western Reserve Law School has gained a stellar reputation for itself over the 125 years it’s been around. Over the century, Case Western has become nationally recognized for its welcoming and skilled faculty, innovative curriculum, and extensive practical training.
Think this reputable law school might be the right fit for you? This guide will tell you everything you need to know to be sure!
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Case Western Law School’s acceptance rate is 37.1%. With this acceptance rate, Case Western Law School is moderately selective, so ensure you have a strong application!
Here is a table of Case Western Law School’s acceptance rates for the last few years.
| Year | Number of Applicants | Number of Accepted Students | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,758 | 653 | 37.1% |
| 2023 | 1,299 | 509 | 39.2% |
| 2022 | 1,399 | 652 | 46.6% |
| 2021 | 1233 | 575 | 46.6% |
Case Western Law School has seen a reasonable acceptance rate in the latest admissions cycle, so applying in the next cycle could be your ticket in the door.
Case Western Law School is moderately selective to get into. To give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into this school, 1,758 people applied, while only 653 were accepted. Ensure you have a strong application to gain admission to this moderately selective school.
Case Western School of Law offers its students plenty of diverse programs. Here is a table that covers what those programs are and how long they are.
| JD Programs Offered | Length of Program | Key Information |
|---|---|---|
| Business Law | 3 | Focuses on courses like Business Associations, and Antitrust Bankruptcy. |
| Civil Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 | Along with core courses, students participate in clinics and judicial externships. |
| Criminal Law | 3 | After learning the foundation of criminal law, students will hone their legal skills in externship programs, mock trial teams, labs and law clinics. |
| Environmental Law | 3 | Has students address the legal and public policy issues affecting. |
| International Law | 3 | Offers students the opportunity to participate in global internships and externships. |
| Health Law | 3 | Teaches students to tackle the legal, ethical, and social justice issues in health care |
| Law, Technology & the Arts (Intellectual Property Law) | 3 | Offers courses in Commercialization & IP Management, Copyright Law, and Cyberspace Law. |
| Public Interest Law | 3 | Allows students to work in clinics, labs and on projects. |
Because of the variety of courses Case Western School of Law offers, it’d be a great school to consider attending.
Case Western Law School ranks 89th in the nation, but 15th for its Health Care Law program, and 13th for its International Law program.
So, while this school is considered to be lower-ranking, if you have an interest in these high-ranking programs, or would like to differentiate your resume with hands-on experience that’s sure to impress employers, Case Western might be the perfect school for you!
In our webinar on choosing a law school, our expert Marcelius offers this advice on rankings:
Marcelius Braxton
Admissions Counselor - UNC School of Law
You have to look at the specialized rankings. If you know you want to do a certain kind of law that’s really what you’re interested in, a school that might be ranked number eighty-seven but is ranked number thirteen in that specialization might be better for you than the school that’s ranked number thirty but isn’t listed on the specialization. So, you definitely want to look into the rankings.
Below are Case Western School of Law’s admission statistics to give you a better idea for what to aim for during your application process.
The median GPA for Case Western School of Law matriculants is 3.7. This means you should aim for a 3.7 median GPA or higher to be considered competitive in the applicant pool.
The median LSAT score for Case Western School of Law matriculants is 160. The lower 25th percentile score for matriculants is 156 and the upper 75th percentile score for matriculants is 162. Ensure that you aim for an LSAT score higher than the median to be considered a strong applicant.
To apply to Case Western Law School, you’ll need to submit the following application materials:
Your personal statement will give the admissions committee direct insight into who you are as a person, what your goals are, and what you hope to contribute to Case Western’s legal community.
Spend an adequate amount of time writing and revising this statement, as it can make or break your application! It not only tells the admission committee more about who you are, but also more about your writing skills! Make sure to wow them with your impeccable grammar, concise language, and easy to follow structure.
In our pre-law webinar, expert Marcelius offers this advice:
Marcelius Braxton
Admissions Counselor - UNC School of Law
You want this to be unique, you want to stand out, and you want to be able to articulate yourself in a short length… I should be able to read your personal statement and have an understanding of who you are, why you want to go to law school, and why you want to go to this specific law school, and you should be able to do that within a few pages.
You will also have to submit a resume with your application. This resume should include any relevant work or volunteer experience, extracurriculars, publications, awards, accomplishments, education, and qualifications you pursued or received throughout your undergrad.
In sharing more about the importance of extracurriculars, Jesse, a USC Gould grad and experienced admissions counselor, adds:
Jessse Wang
Admissions Counselor - University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Schools want to see leadership and commitment to meaningful activities. They don’t want dabblers—they want people who’ve invested time and energy into causes or organizations that they truly believe in.
Along with your GPA and LSAT/GRE scores, your letters of recommendation can further prove you have what it takes to join Case Western Law School.
You must submit two letters of recommendation, preferably by academic faculty that taught you and can attest to your academic skills and potential. Letters from employers will be accepted if you’ve been out of school for several years.
Ensure you ask professors you’ve created strong bonds with to write these letters so they don’t appear generic or vague. You want the admissions committee to know exactly what skills you possess and how they’ll help you excel in law school!
Here are some additional tips that Jesse suggests students keep in mind:
Jessse Wang
Admissions Counselor - University of Southern California Gould School of Law
A strong letter should include concrete examples of your abilities and readiness for law school’s rigors. It’s important to provide your recommenders with background information on your achievements and goals so they can write a letter that fits into your overall narrative.
Your law school application might not meet all the checkpoints it’s supposed to. For instance, your GPA might be lower than anticipated, or you may have large gaps in your resume.
Regardless of the specific application weakness, you can use an addendum to explain the reasoning for it.
Your addendum should be short and to the point - avoid using emotional language and stick to the facts.
Here’s what Tamar, a University of Michigan Law grad and American University Law professor, says to keep in mind about your overall application:
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Tamar Alexanian
University of Michigan Law grad and American University Law professor
Your resume, personal statement, diversity statement—all of it should add up to the same story, the same theme. When the admissions committee reads your file, you want them to think, ‘I know this person and what they stand for.’
If you’re gearing up to apply to Case Western in the near future, you can check your admissions chances through this tool! Use it to gain a clearer understanding of where you stand in the admissions arena.
94% of our students get into law school on their first try—find out how.
Case Western requires all of its prospective students to purchase an LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription. Through this portal, students will submit their undergraduate transcripts, LSAT scores, letters of recommendation, and other relevant application information.
Your remaining application materials will be submitted directly to Case Western Law through their online portal.
To get a better idea of how long the application process is, here are some important Case Western School of Law deadlines to keep in mind:
| Dates & Deadlines | Application Stage |
|---|---|
| September 1 | Regular and early decision applications open |
| April 1 | Regular Application Deadline |
| November 30 | Early decision agreement deadline |
| December 20 | Applicants notified of decision |
| January 1 - May 1 | Regular decisions sent out |
| Early May | Final decisions made |
Source: Case Reserve Western Law School
Ensure you apply to your desired program as early as possible to avoid any delays that could decrease your chances of securing a spot at Case Western Law!
The first-time bar passage rate for Case Western School of Law is 72.9%. Case Western School of Law has about an average bar passage rate compared to other law schools at 76.71%. Here’s a closer look at these stats:
| Category | Statistics |
|---|---|
| First-Time Test-Takers | 102 |
| Case Western Bar Passage Rate | 72.9% |
| State Bar Passage Average | 73.53% |
| National Bar Passage Average | 76.71% |
Want to learn more about the Case Western class? Here’s the recent class’ profile:
| Category | Statistics |
|---|---|
| First Year JD Students | 198 |
| Part-Time Students | 32 |
| Full-Time Students | 166 |
| Median LSAT Score | 160 |
| Median GPA | 3.70 |
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Here’s a breakdown of what a typical Case Western Law School student can expect to pay to attend this law school:
| Expense | Cleveland Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $62,700 | $62,700 |
| Student Activities Fee | $170 | $170 |
| Graduate Student Council Fee | $30 | $30 |
| RTA Transportation Fee | $130 | $130 |
| Health Insurance | $3,780 | $3,780 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,968 | $1,968 |
| Living Expenses | - | $22,468 |
| Meal Plan | $7,280 | $7,280 |
| Total | $76,058 | $98,526 |
Source: Case Western Reserve Law School
In total, the estimated cost of attending Case Western with all of the above expenses is $98,526 for a non-resident.
Case Western Law School offers financial aid and scholarships to students to help combat the high cost of law school. The school’s merit-based scholarships have been able to help two-thirds of each entering class. They also offer internal and external scholarships that students to apply to in addition to loans and fellowship programs.
Follow these tips to increase your chances of getting into Case Western Law:
When writing your personal statement and completing other parts of your application, keep Case Western’s values in mind. Case Western Law values leadership potential, intellect, and a dedication to law.
Ensure your application demonstrates that your values align with Case Western’s to prove that it is not only the perfect fit for you, but you are also the perfect fit for it!
Tiffanie, an admissions expert, offers the following advice in our personal statement webinar:
Tiffanie Alexander
Admissions Counselor - Wayne State University Law School
Talk about your motivation to attend that particular law school and align your personality, passions, and values with the schools’ missions. Highlight particular offerings that excite you and demonstrate your knowledge of the program.
While Case Western has no preference over the major you choose, they do appreciate when students have challenging majors. Maintaining high grades in these majors shows greater academic potential.
While you don’t have to join a STEM program in order to meet this criteria, ensure you don’t just choose a major because it’s easy! Focus on taking courses that challenge you to develop new skills and hone existing ones.
Another way to ensure you submit the most competitive application is to get expert admissions support! These counselors know the ins and outs of the admissions process and can help you with every component of your application!
Case Western prepares its grads well for their careers. Out of the 116 recent graduating class, 102 were employed within 10 months of graduation. Around 53% of these students were employed by law firms.
Read on to find the answers to any remaining questions about Case Western Law School.
Yes, you can transfer to Case Western Law School from another accredited law school. The main factor for admissions is prior law school performance in addition to undergraduate grades and your LSAT score.
Despite Case Western Law School ranking 89th in the nation, it is still an excellent law school that provides students with the support, education, experience, and connections to have successful legal careers.
You should aim to score a 160 on the LSAT to get into Case Western.
Case Western’s median GPA is 3.7. You should aim for a GPA in this range or higher to be considered competitive.
Yes, prospective students may write the GRE instead of the LSAT when applying to Case Western Law.
Choosing your perfect list of potential law schools can be overwhelming. But if Case Western Law’s extensive opportunities and resources pique your interest, consider this law school a possible contender!
If you’re intimidated by the competition or by the Case Western Law School acceptance rate, don’t worry. Remember to submit a well-rounded application, study hard for admission tests, and pay attention to their values. Good luck!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 7/17/24
