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Law School Acceptance Rates (2023)

August 9, 2023
5 min read
Contents

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Reviewed by:

David Merson

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

Reviewed: 08/08/23

Follow along for the 2022 law school acceptance rates. Here we'll go over how hard it is to get into law school and provide the admissions statistics of every law school in the U.S.

Applying for law school can be a very stressful and tedious process. However, with a lot of hard work and dedication, getting accepted and earning your JD can become a reality.

If you’re unsure which institution you’d like to attend, looking at law school acceptance rates is an excellent way to make an informed decision. You can determine if you can get into a specific law school and tailor your application accordingly. 

Below, we’ll cover the acceptance rates, GPAs, and LSAT scores of several top ABA-accredited law schools in the U.S. This information will give you a good overview of what law schools are looking for in an applicant. Let’s get started!

Law School Acceptance Rates in 2023

Below is a list of some competitive law schools in the U.S., the number of applicants, their acceptance rates, GPAs, and LSAT scores.

Law School Number of Applicants Acceptance Rates Average GPA LSAT Score
Yale University 4,202 6% 3.94 175
Stanford University 4,500 7% 3.92 173
University of Chicago 5,000 14% 3.91 173
Columbia University 7,972 12% 3.87 173
Harvard University 8,170 10% 3.92 174
University of Pennsylvania (Carey) 6,816 10% 3.90 172
New York University 8,874 15% 3.88 172
University of Virginia 6,031 13% 3.94 171
University of California-Berkely 6,722 13% 3.83 169
University of Michigan 6,253 14% 3.83 171
University of Southern California (Gould) 5,867 13% 3.87 168
Wake Forest University 1,808 55% 3.72 165
University of Florida 4,021 17% 3.90 169
University of Iowa 1417 41% 3.66 163
Vanderbilt University 6,884 14% 3.89 169

​​From the table above, you can see that these law schools are very competitive. However, with hard work and professional guidance, you'll have a significant advantage in reaching your goals.

Juris Education offers law school admissions consulting and tutoring to help applicants get into their dream law school. Our team is composed of professionals who have been a part of the admissions committees at some of the most prestigious law schools in the U.S. If you're interested, book a free consultation to get started.

How Hard Is It To Get Into Law School? 

Getting accepted into law school in the U.S. is extremely difficult. For context, the average acceptance rate for all law schools in the country is 41%. This means that less than half of applicants are getting admitted. With that being said, the top 15 law schools in America have an average acceptance rate of 11%.

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Into Law School

Here are some tips to help you increase your chances of getting into law school.

Juris education law school tips graphic

Boost Your GPA

One of the requirements for the law school application is a bachelor's degree. While there's no specific field of study you’re required to pursue, applicants must have a high GPA score upon graduation.

Some law schools may require a higher GPA score than others. For instance, if you apply to an Ivy League law school, you'll need at least a 3.9 GPA. In contrast, law schools with a lower rank may require a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. 

Nevertheless, achieving and maintaining such a high GPA score can be tough but beneficial. With the rise of law school applications, competition also increases. Ensure you're on top of your work and maintain that high GPA.

Get a Great LSAT Score

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is another requirement for law school applications. Its analytical and logical components are known to be tricky.

Many potential applicants hire private tutors, study, take courses, and purchase LSAT textbooks in hopes of passing the exam. As you can see, preparing for the LSAT is a challenging and lengthy process.

What makes the LSAT so challenging are the time limits combined with the trickiness of the exam’s logical and analytical components. The logical and analytical sections of the LSAT consist of tricky passages and questions designed to keep you on your toes. The best way to prepare for this exam is to review LSAT practice exams.

If you take the LSAT and don’t get a good score, you can retake the exam to improve your score. Ensure your implementing tips and strategies to help you ace the LSAT

Obtain Glowing Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are another key component of the law school application. Most law schools ask for two letters of recommendation, with at least one written by a professor, to gauge your academic performance and achievements. 

Developing a close, professional relationship with your professors is key to receiving glowing recommendation letters. Doing so allows them to get to know you better and can even open up research opportunities for you.

Securing letters of recommendation might be difficult for an individual if they're not used to building relationships with their professors. However, establishing these connections can be a great way to jump-start your legal career.

Write a Stellar Personal Statement

The personal statement and cover letter are great ways to sell yourself to the admissions committee and gain admissions by allowing you to discuss your interests, extracurriculars, and achievements in greater detail.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re drafting your personal statement:

  • Provide new information. You don't want to regurgitate what's already in your resume.
  • Tell a story. Talk about where you come from, your life experiences, and where you want to go.
  • Be selective with your examples. Think of an experience that changed your life forever. Ensure you write your personal statement around that and tie it to a theme.
  • Keep your writing clear and concise. The admissions committee must understand what you're trying to say. Avoid using overly complex or flowy language and exceeding the word count.
  • Revise, Revise, Revise. Ensure you check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. First impressions are everything.

Writing a law school personal statement can be complicated and overwhelming, but these effective tips will help you write an amazing personal statement.

Law School Admissions Statistics: FAQs

If you still have questions about law school acceptance rates, check out these frequently asked questions.

1. What Law School Is The Easiest To Get Into? 

Below is a table of law schools with high acceptance rates.

Law School Acceptance Rates Median GPA Median LSAT Score
Roger Williams University 63% 2.99 148
Mississippi College 62% 3.24 150
Oklahoma City University 59% 3.3 149

As you can see from the table, these law schools are relatively easy to get into and are not competitive compared to the rest.

2. What Law School Is The Hardest To Get Into?

Below is a table of the hardest law school to get into.

Law School Acceptance Rates Median GPA Median LSAT Score
Yale Law School 6% 3.94 175
Stanford Law School 7% 3.92 173
Harvard Law School 10% 3.92 174

As you can see from the table above, these law schools are extremely competitive and hard to get into.

Final Thoughts

Law school is one of the most demanding educational endeavors a person can embark on. If you're interested in applying, you must assess each law school's acceptance rate and their accepted applicants' average GPA and LSAT scores. 

It's also essential that you do your research on the schools you want to go to. Make sure they offer the things you're looking for and that getting into law school is attainable for you.

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