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The University of California, Davis School of Law just reported its lowest acceptance rate in the last five admissions cycles, dropping from 33.16% in 2024 to 21.06% in 2025, according to the American Bar Association. As the school gets harder to get into, having a high LSAT score and a strong GPA matters, but they’re not enough to guarantee you a spot on their own.
I spoke with my team of law school admissions experts about what makes a successful UC Davis Law application, and I noticed a few trends. The school wants to see applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to public service and social justice and can show how their experiences have shaped their decision to pursue law.
In this guide, I break down everything you need to know about getting accepted into UC Davis Law, from the scores they’re looking for to what they want to read in your personal and optional statements. I also share two common mistakes I see students make in their applications and how to avoid them.
If you just need the application requirements, skip to the checklist.
In the most recent admissions cycle, UC Davis Schoo of Lawl's acceptance rate was 21.06%, according to the ABA. A total of 3,912 students applied, the school extended 824 offers, and 205 students matriculated.
Here's a look at UC Davis Law's admissions statistics from the past five admissions cycles:
UC Davis Law is moderately difficult to get into. With an acceptance rate of 21.06%, about 8 out of 10 applicants are rejected. Over the last five years, the acceptance rate averages 27.33%, with the most recent admissions cycle being the most selective.
Use our GPA and LSAT score slider to see how competitive your numbers are against UC Davis Law’s 2025 entering class:
These are the most recent LSAT score percentiles for UC Davis Law’s 2025 incoming class:
Here's the undergraduate GPA breakdown for UC Davis Law's 2025 incoming class:
UC Davis Law didn’t report a GRE median because only two of its 205 matriculants submitted GRE scores in the most recent admissions cycle.
UC Davis School of Law, also known as King Hall, is named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and its mission statement emphasizes educating socially responsible lawyers who uphold “high ethical standards” and help solve “the complex legal problems confronting our society.”
To demonstrate that you share these values, highlight experiences where you’ve supported underserved communities, advocated for others, or addressed social inequalities in your resume and personal statement. For example, if you’ve volunteered with immigrants, supported low-income families, or worked on environmental justice initiatives, explain the impact of your contributions and how they influenced your decision to pursue law.
For example, helping an immigrant family navigate a complicated legal process might have exposed you to barriers that inspired you to become an immigration attorney. Focus on a genuine turning point that shows how your experiences shaped your motivation to study law.
You can strengthen your application further by connecting these experiences to UC Davis Law's five legal clinics, including its Immigration Law Clinic, Civil Rights Clinic, and Water Justice Clinic. Mention the clinic that best aligns with your interests and explain how you hope to build on your previous experiences through its work.
The admissions committee at UC Davis Law explicitly states it looks for applicants who are “both brilliant and represent the full range of backgrounds and lived experiences.” The school lets applicants submit an optional Community Contribution Statement explaining how their background or experiences would bring a unique perspective to King Hall or help serve California's diverse communities.
Here’s a snapshot of the prompt:
You don’t need an extraordinary background or life story to bring a unique perspective to UC Davis Law. Think about your upbringing, personal responsibilities, or experiences that have shaped how you see the world. Even experiences that seem ordinary to you can offer valuable insights that other applicants may not have.
For example, if you grew up in a rural community, write about how it exposed you to challenges involving access to healthcare, education, or legal services. If you helped run a family business, write about how it taught you about the challenges small business owners face. You could also discuss how growing up in a military family, working throughout college, or pursuing an unconventional academic interest influenced your perspective.
Whatever experience you choose, go beyond describing your background. Use specific examples to explain how it shaped your values, challenged your assumptions, or changed the way you approach problems. The most important thing to highlight in this statement is how your perspective will contribute to the UC Davis Law community or the broader California community.
Keep your statement focused on the prompt and avoid repeating information from your personal statement, especially since UC Davis limits your personal statement and optional supplemental materials (including addenda) to a combined total of four double-spaced pages.
3. Prioritize Academic Recommendations That Demonstrate Your Readiness for Law School
UC Davis Law requires you to submit at least two recommendation letters and strongly prefers recommendation letters from professors or individuals who can evaluate your academic ability.
I recommend asking professors who have directly observed your critical thinking, research abilities, and writing skills. I wouldn’t ask a professor who barely knows you just because you got an A in their class. For example, a professor who supervised a major research project or saw you consistently contribute to class discussions is a better choice, even if you got a B in their class.
Two common mistakes I’ve seen students make too many times are:
When asking for letters of recommendation, give your recommenders at least four to six weeks' notice so they have ample time to write you a quality letter. I also recommend giving them a deadline a couple of weeks before your actual application deadline. While you won’t be able to read the letters your recommenders write since they have to submit them directly through LSAC, you can track their submission status in your account. This gives you a buffer to follow up on missing letters and resolve any submission issues before your application is due.
Even if you had a close relationship with a professor, they may need a reminder of your academic accomplishments. Send them examples of your strongest work from their class, along with your resume and personal statement. Giving them a complete picture of your application narrative will help them write a more specific, compelling letter that demonstrates your readiness for law school.
If you've been out of school for several years, you can also request recommendations from employers or supervisors who can speak to your analytical abilities, work ethic, and other skills relevant to legal studies. The same advice above applies.
For more expert advice on securing strong letters of recommendation, watch our law school admissions webinar, featuring Tamar Alexanian, a Juris Education admissions counselor and University of Michigan Law School graduate, and Christina Aldime, Juris Education's Director of Advising and JD/M.B.A. graduate of Northwestern University.
A competitive UC Davis Law applicant should aim for an LSAT score of 167 or higher and a GPA of 3.87 or higher, which align with the 75th percentiles of the school's 2025 incoming class.
Applicants with scores closer to the medians of 165 and 3.70 can still be competitive, but should focus on strengthening their personal and optional statement, resume, and letters of recommendation to demonstrate what they would bring to UC Davis Law beyond their academic credentials.
Beyond these numbers, UC Davis Law looks for intellectual curiosity, maturity, and the ability to succeed in a collaborative learning environment. The admissions committee also considers the rigor of an applicant's undergraduate studies, significant work experience, and graduate education.
According to UC Davis’ 2025 incoming class profile:
The six most common undergraduate majors included:
These figures suggest that applicants can bring relevant intellectual preparation from many disciplines, rather than needing a traditional pre-law background.
How applicants manage responsibilities outside the classroom also matters. UC Davis specifically encourages applicants to report employment and other activities undertaken during the academic year, including the hours spent on them each week.
For example, an applicant who worked 20 hours per week while maintaining a demanding course load may demonstrate time management, persistence, and discipline, even if their employment had nothing to do with law.
With UC Davis Law only allowing you to submit four pages total for both your personal and optional statements, you need to be strategic about what to include and what to leave out. If you want help making those calls, my team of law school admissions experts offers one-on-one application guidance for every part of your UC Davis Law application. We’ll help you decide which experiences belong on your resume, which story should anchor your personal statement, and how to leverage the Community Contribution Statement to make the most impact.
To apply to UC Davis School of Law, submit the following materials through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
UC Davis opens JD applications on September 1 each year. For fall 2027 admission, the published deadlines are:
UC Davis uses rolling admissions, meaning the admissions committee reviews completed applications and issues decisions throughout the cycle. Although you can apply until June 1, UC Davis strongly recommends applying by March 15 because significantly fewer seats are available later in the cycle.
UC Davis School of Law is ranked 45th according to our ranking of the best law schools.
According to the ABA, UC Davis Law's first-time bar passage rate in 2025 was 93.24% (193 of 207 first-time test takers).
UC Davis Law doesn’t require interviews for JD admission. Applicants should use their written materials to communicate their qualifications and interest in the school.
UC Davis offers a three-year JD program, LLM study for law graduates, and combined-degree opportunities. The table below shows the main programs offered.
Co-Founder of Juris Education, Dartmouth College
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