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Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 10/30/23
This ultimate guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to get into Stanford Law School, admissions requirements, writing the Stanford Law essays, and more.
Source: Stanford Law School
The prestigious Stanford Law School is one of the most sought-after institutions for future lawyers. If Stanford is your dream school, we'll outline the requirements, how to write Stanford Law essays, and how to maximize your chances of acceptance.
The Stanford Law School acceptance rate is 8.85%. Stanford Law received 4,270 applications and offered admission to 378 applicants in a recent admissions cycle.
Source: ABA-Required Disclosures
It’s very difficult to get into Stanford Law School. In comparison to the national average acceptance rate, which is 42.4%, Stanford Law’s acceptance rate is exceptionally low.
However, try not to get too hung up on the acceptance rate. A polished application will always boost your chances!
For more insight into your acceptance odds, check out our free admissions quiz below to discover your chances of getting into Stanford Law!
Alongside the traditional JD program, Stanford offers numerous law degree pathways at the graduate and doctorate levels to help you advance in your career:
Stanford Law also offers joint degrees, including JD/Master’s, JD/MD, and JD/PhD in 21 subject areas.
Stanford Law School is currently ranked #1 in Best Law Schools in the nation by U.S. News, tied with Yale. It also ranks #5 in Above the Law’s top 50 list.
Other Stanford Law rankings include:
Based on these rankings, it’s clear to see that Stanford is a top-notch law school!
To increase your chances of getting into such a prestigious school, it can be helpful to look at the median GPA and LSAT scores of enrolled students. You might also need law school admissions assistance, which our counselors can help you with. Check out some Stanford Law admission stats below.
Stanford Law School has a median GPA of 3.92 according to the GPA scores of first-year students in the 50th percentile. If your sights are set on Stanford Law, your GPA should be as close to 3.9 or 4.0 as possible for your best shot at acceptance.
Here is some more information regarding Stanford Law’s entering class’ GPA scores:
If you have a lower GPA, don’t lose heart. You may still stand a chance at getting in if you put together an incredible application.
The Stanford median LSAT score is approximately 173, based on the scores of the 50th percentile of incoming students. This means that to be a competitive applicant, you’ll need to study hard for the LSAT and achieve a similar or higher score.
Most of Stanford Law’s incoming class submitted LSAT scores for consideration:
According to Stanford Law’s most recent ABA information report, the 50th percentile scores of enrolled students for each GRE section are as follows:
If you’d like to compare the GRE and the LSAT, the ETS has an online tool to predict LSAT scores based on GRE scores. Using this tool, scoring 167 on each GRE section predicts a score of 173 (Stanford’s median score) on the LSAT.
You can apply to Stanford Law using the LSAC application. The Stanford Law admissions requirements are as follows:
Your application is considered complete once you've fulfilled all of these Stanford Law requirements.
You’ll need to submit at least two and no more than four recommendation letters with your application. Stanford prefers academic recommendations, or you can substitute them with professional recommendations if you've been out of school for a while.
Stanford highly appreciates school-specific recommendations; we suggest finding at least one recommendation meant directly for Stanford. This will show the admissions committee that you put extra effort into your application.
The Stanford Law personal statement is arguably your application's most critical qualitative element. The Stanford Law essay shows why you're an excellent candidate, demonstrates your motivations and passions, and provides an opportunity for admissions committees to learn more about you.
Stanford’s personal statement prompt for the next application cycle is:
“Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Law School.”
This may be a challenging prompt to answer because of its open-endedness.
Take a look at the tips below to help your writing be more concise, creative, and compelling.
Brainstorming is a great way to start gathering some creative ideas that can be used to tell your unique story. You might want to jot down answers to some big questions like:
Your answers can help you pull out relevant events in your life before law school that can make a compelling application narrative.
While you may not explicitly answer these questions in your personal statement, your writing should show the Stanford Law admissions committee:
Think about the traits you believe a good lawyer should possess. Are they fair? Compassionate? Knowledgeable? Whatever qualities you choose, try to identify experiences where you emulate them.
It's one thing to say you have a strong commitment to justice; it's another to show it. Remember, use your experiences to demonstrate qualities found in great lawyers!
There are many directions you can take a personal statement; there really is no "correct" way to write one. However, you should emphasize quality over quantity where you can; simply rehashing your resume with one experience after another doesn't make writing compelling.
Quality experiences can include “life-changing and impressive personal experiences such as military service, outstanding extracurricular accomplishments, meaningful employment, significant leadership and success coping with adversity.”
At the same time, try to have some chronology to your story: some applicants like to focus mainly on the past (their background, identity, and what inspired them to go to law school) or the present (their current projects, work, educational pursuits). Stellar personal statements mix past, present, and/or future!
Although some law schools, such as Yale Law School, say there’s no need to make your personal statement school-specific, there is no statement like that on Stanford’s website.
Ensure you do your research on Stanford Law: your penultimate or final paragraph can be a great place to show how Stanford will help you further your career and how you hope to contribute and explore if accepted.
In addition to the personal statement, you have the chance to write an optional essay responding to the following prompt:
“At Stanford Law School, we value the ability to communicate constructively across differences – even when the stakes are high or the differences significant. Please discuss a time when you encountered a viewpoint that contrasted with your own and explain how you responded. Would you do anything different if the same thing happened today?”
For this essay, it’s important to be genuine in your answer. Reflect on your past experiences and think deeply about how they have shaped you. Be honest about things you may have done or said in the past and discuss how you’ve changed. Stanford wants to see that you are open to self-reflection and growth.
A quality that every good lawyer should have is the ability to see other perspectives and put themselves in others’ shoes. This prompt provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate empathy, humility, self-awareness, and a willingness to learn.
You’ll also have the option to write some additional short essays. If you want to maximize your chances of getting into Stanford Law, you should take advantage of this opportunity! It will help the admissions committee know more about your personality and interests.
Stanford Law tends to change its optional essay topics annually. The recent prompts are:
1. You are given the chance to travel back in time. Think of your destination. Where, when, and why?
2. You're given the opportunity to teach a one-day class to your fellow students at Stanford Law School. Based on your particular skills and talents, what would you teach?
3. The library in the town where you grew up has been destroyed. Choose three books to contribute to rebuilding the library's collection.
4. Music has a way of setting the tone and mood for any occasion. With this in mind, pick three songs or musical works to be playing in the background as the Admissions Committee reviews your materials.
If you’re having trouble approaching these short essays, here are some tips to help you out:
The total tuition cost for a year at Stanford Law School comes to $74,475. However, including personal expenses, fees, and other costs, law students at Stanford can expect to pay more than $116,000 per year.
For more information about Stanford Law School’s tuition and fees, take a look at this cost breakdown:
Source: Stanford Law School
Stanford also offers medical insurance who students who require it, although it is waivable. If you would like to use the insurance, the annual cost comes to $7,620.
If you’re concerned about being able to afford the cost of Stanford Law, then you can take advantage of Stanford’s financial aid options. You can apply for several programs, including:
You also have the option to get a job on Stanford’s campus to help pay for your schooling.
The final application deadline for Stanford Law School is February 15, 2024. You’ll need to make sure all your application materials are in order well before that date. Be sure that you apply through LSAC and register for the CAS.
These are the important dates you should know regarding Stanford Law School’s application deadlines:
Source: Stanford Law
Stanford Law School’s first-time bar passage rate is 96.70%. This is exceptionally high and speaks to why Stanford is ranked as the best law school in the U.S.!
If you’re overwhelmed by all the work it’s going to take to apply, don’t worry. Here are some tips to increase your chances of admission to Stanford Law School.
If you're seeking expert guidance, law school admissions consulting can provide personalized support to help strengthen your application. Make sure to follow these tips to get into Stanford Law School, and you’ll find the application process more manageable!
In Stanford Law School’s own words, they are a school that is “characterized by excellence.” This means that they value academic achievement and a passion for learning very highly.
However, Stanford does use a holistic admissions process, meaning that they’ll take all aspects of your application into account.
These FAQs can provide more information about the school and how to get into Stanford Law School.
While there is no exact GPA that you need to gain admission to Stanford Law, you should shoot for an undergraduate GPA close to 3.9 - 4.0 for a stronger profile.
While there’s no surefire way to guarantee your acceptance, a high GPA, solid test scores, and a well-written personal statement can help you gain admission to Stanford Law.
While there are no exact LSAT score cutoffs, you should aim for an LSAT score between 170-175 to be a more competitive applicant.
Yes, Stanford Law accepts GRE scores; however, you'll also need to submit your LSAT scores if you've taken the GRE and the LSAT.
Beyond academic excellence, good writing skills, passion, and displaying your motivation for attending law school can help improve your chances.
Yes, Stanford Law has rolling admissions. While the admissions committee reviews applications as they receive them, some applications are held until they can review all applicants. The second review occurs in April, although some students may be admitted as late as the summer before the cycle starts.
Even if Stanford Law is one of your “reach” schools, admission is within your grasp. While admission is competitive, there are ways to ensure your application reaches the top of the pile.
Remember to spend extra time on your personal statement, complete the Stanford law essays, and ensure your application is polished to perfection. Good luck with your Stanford Law application!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
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