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How to Get Into Emory Law School: Acceptance Rate + Requirements

August 25, 2023
8 min read
Contents

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Reviewed by:

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 03/03/23

If your motivation to become a lawyer stems from your desire to create a better future for your community and beyond, Emory Law School may be perfect for you! Read on to learn more!

Emory Law is future-focused; they plan to solve global problems, educate the next generation of leaders, and have a profound impact on the world. And, as a global leader in legal education, they have the means to do so! 

Emory Law School goes beyond the traditional law school education and offers unique learning experiences that prepare students for prosperous legal careers. They’ve made significant impacts in many spheres, including human rights law, health law, intellectual property law, and even humanitarian law.

Convinced Emory Law might be the perfect school for you to begin your legal journey? This guide will go into depth about how to apply to this esteemed school, its various rankings, tuition costs, and much more!

Emory law school
Source: Emory Law School

Emory Law School Acceptance Rate

Based on the Emory Law School acceptance rate of 26%, this school is moderately competitive. Although it is less selective than the T14 law schools, you’re still expected to demonstrate academic, personal, and professional excellence to secure a spot at Emory.

Emory School of Law Admissions Stats

Let’s begin with how to showcase your academic abilities. Your LSAT score and GPA are two crucial factors that will be considered in the decision process. 

Emory Law School LSAT

The LSAT was specifically designed to assess the skills necessary for success in law school. As such, it’s important you score within a competitive range to prove your preparedness to join Emory. The Emory Law School LSAT median of previous students is 166. 

Considering this score will place you around the 92nd percentile, achieving it will require significant preparation, a structured study plan, and practice. 

Emory Law School GPA

You’ll also have to impress the judges with your GPA. Past admitted students had GPAs of around 3.8.

Emory School of Law Requirements

Your GPA and LSAT, albeit crucial parts of your application, are not the only factors that will be considered. It’s essential you present yourself as a well-rounded candidate who excels in more than just your academics. To do so, you’ll be asked to submit these application materials:

Undergraduate Transcripts

To apply to law school, you’re required to complete an undergraduate degree at an accredited college. Emory has no preference over the type of major you pursue but urges its students to diversify their transcripts by choosing interesting and challenging electives that can help them develop a wider range of skills.

When deciding on a major, choose one that complements your legal studies and aligns with your interests and strengths. Any major that develops your critical thinking skills, writing, and communication can be advantageous for law school. 

The LSAT

As mentioned, all students must write the LSAT in order to apply to Emory Law. Unlike other law schools, however, Emory carefully considers your LSAT essay, as they seek students with strong writing abilities. So, spend a little extra time preparing for your LSAT essay to ensure it meets the admissions committee’s expectations. 

Letters of Recommendation

Emory Law School requires two letters of recommendation from all of its applicants, no more, no less! These letters will be best received if they come from professors. 

Choose your recommenders carefully, as you should have a close enough connection with them that they can adequately assess your intellectual abilities, analytical skills, and classroom performance. Aim for professors who have taught you in challenging courses and can provide specific examples of your capabilities.

A Personal Statement

As previously stated, Emory places great emphasis on their candidates’ writing abilities. In their experience, every employer looks for graduates with superior legal writing skills. As such, they not only devote substantial resources to teaching legal writing but expect their students to have existing skills to build off of.

Your personal statement should describe any skills or traits that you have had an opportunity to develop to an unusual level and discuss any significant activities or work experience that might enrich your study of law. 

You may choose to write about any topic you believe would be most helpful for the admissions committee to get to know you better. Ensure your statement does not exceed two pages, double-spaced! Emory is strict about this limit and warns students will be disadvantaged if they disregard it. 

A Resume

To learn about all of the impressive experiences you pursued during your undergrad, Emory requires a one-page resume. This resume should include your relevant work, volunteer, leadership, and extracurricular experiences

Volunteer work

Emory School of Law Rankings

Now that you know a little more about how to get into Emory Law, it may be beneficial to learn more about why you should apply to it! Emory shines in various legal areas. Here are some of its notable rankings:

  • 35th Best Law School
  • 23rd in Contracts/Commercial Law
  • 25th in Business/Corporate Law
  • 29th in Constitutional Law
  • 29th in Health Care Law
  • 31st in Intellectual Property Law
  • 35th in Trial Advocacy

Amongst these specialty rankings, Emory was ranked as the 24th Go-To Law School by the National Law Journal based on the percentage of its graduates that are employed at the largest 100 firms. This means Emory is an excellent school for all you BigLaw enthusiasts!

Emory School of Law Tuition

Law school is undoubtedly an investment in terms of time and money. Emory is no exception! Annual tuition alone costs $65,510. But this won’t be your only expense, especially if you’re living away from home! Here’s a breakdown of what your total budget estimate to attend Emory Law School during your first year should be:

Expense Type Cost
Fees $904
Living Expenses $22,186
Books $1,770
Health Insurance $4,370
Parking $708
Tuition $65,510
Total $95,448

Source: Emory Law School

To ensure students can afford their legal education, Emory offers scholarships and fellowships:

  • Woodruff Fellows Program: awarded to up to five students showing exceptional character, scholastic abilities, and leadership; covers the full cost of tuition plus a $3,000 stipend each year
  • Merit-based Scholarships: students are automatically considered
  • Philanthropic Scholarships: makes up dozens of scholarships that students are automatically considered for
  • JD Yellow Ribbon: for veterans; awards $5,500 per year to two JD students 

Students also have the option to apply for external scholarships to cover more of their tuition costs!

Emory School of Law Application Process & Deadlines

All applications must be completed through LSAC. Once you have gathered all of your application materials, you can submit them to LSAC and select Emory Law School as one of the schools you’d like your application to be sent out to. Here are the dates to keep in mind during the process:

What’s Due Due Date
Applications open August
Recommended Application Deadline March 1
Notification Period By April 1
Final Application Deadline May 1

Source: Emory Law School

Applications completed by March 1 will be reviewed fully, and those submitted after will be reviewed on a space-available basis until May 1. As such, you’re highly encouraged to submit your application as early as possible to give yourself the best chances of admission.

Emory Law School Bar Passage Rates

Emory Law School’s first-time bar passage rate is 91.5%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 79.4%! 

This rate only further substantiates Emory's academic quality and effectiveness in preparing students for the legal profession. It suggests that the school provides a strong legal education, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to not only pass the bar exam but succeed in their legal careers! 

lawyers

FAQs: Emory University School of Law

In case you still have some hesitations about Emory Law School, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about this school!

1. Is It Hard to Get Into Emory Law School?

Yes, getting into Emory Law School will be challenging. Not only will you have to score high on your LSAT, but you will also have to maintain a nearly perfect GPA and submit a well-rounded application. 

Emory is interested in more than just your academics. They look for students that demonstrate exceptional leadership, a commitment to law, and a dedication to service. 

2. What Is the Average LSAT Score for Emory Law?

The average LSAT score of past admitted Emory Law students is 166. Students should set this score, or higher, as their target score. 

3. What Is the Acceptance Rate for Emory Law?

Emory only admits around 26% of its applicants.

4. What GPA Do I Need for Emory Law?

Students should aim for a GPA of around 3.8 to fall within the competitive median of previously admitted students.

5. What Can I Do to Stand Out In My Application to Emory Law School?

To stand out in your application, highlight your strengths, unique experiences, and qualities that align with Emory Law School's values and programs. Share your academic achievements, leadership roles, community involvement, and work experiences. 

While your scores will be the most important factor in the admissions committee’s decision, you won’t want to overlook your personal statement! 

Use your statement to differentiate your application. It is the only material that allows your voice to shine through! Share any relevant details that you believe will make the admissions committee more inclined to admit you into their program. 

6. Are There Specific Undergraduate Courses or Majors That Emory Law Prefers?

Emory Law School does not have any specific undergraduate majors or courses that are preferred for admission. They value a diverse range of academic backgrounds and welcome applicants from various disciplines. 

They will place far more emphasis on your GPA than your major, so choose one that you’re interested in so you’re more likely to succeed in it!

Final Thoughts

At Emory, you’ll be able to pursue all of your legal passions, put your learning into practice, and make a real difference. With numerous reasons to apply to this school, the next step is crafting a compelling application that will ensure you stand out! Remember to show your excellence, be authentic, and demonstrate your commitment to law!

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