How to Get into the University of Chicago Law School: GPA, LSAT Requirements, and Acceptance Rate
- Chicago Law School Overview
- About the University of Chicago Law School
- What Does the University of Chicago Law School Offer?
- Chicago Law Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
- Chicago Law Class of 2021 Post-Graduation Statistics
- Chicago Law School Application Requirements
- University of Chicago Law School FAQs
Chicago Law School Overview Introduction
The University of Chicago Law School currently has the third-highest ranking among US law schools according to U.S. News & World Report. Three attorneys general attended UChicago Law, along with other Cabinet officials and members of Congress. The school’s notable alumni and distinguished professors make it a top choice of many aspiring JDs. In addition, UChicago Law’s location in Chicago’s South Side presents students with numerous job opportunities and the chance to visit Navy Pier or attend a White Sox game during their studies.
UChicago Law received 6,514 applications in 2022 and accepted 776 students. Given the competitive application process, having test scores and grades within the ballpark of the school’s medians is essential to gaining acceptance. In addition, knowing some key facts about the school can help enrich your application and set you apart from other applicants.
In this blog post, we at Stratus share what you need to know to increase your chances of getting into UChicago Law.
About the University of Chicago Law School
History and ranking
UChicago Law is one of the University of Chicago’s eight schools. Founded in 1902, UChicago Law is one of the younger law schools in the T14. As mentioned earlier, U.S. News & World Report ranked UChicago Law number three in the publication’s 2023 Best Law Schools list.
Acceptance rate and class size
UChicago Law had an acceptance rate of 11.91% in 2022 and currently has 626 students enrolled, with around 200 students in each class. The school has smaller class sizes compared to many law schools in the T14, enabling students to more easily interact and be part of the campus community.
Post-graduate status
Roughly 98% of UChicago Law’s Class of 2021 passed the bar, and 97% of its 2021 graduates are employed in positions where doing so was required. About 60 UChicago Law graduates clerk each year, with two typically clerking on the Supreme Court. Of the school’s graduates who are clerking, about 90% clerk for a federal court.
Faculty
UChicago Law’s close to 200 faculty members include such distinguished professors as Judge Frank H. Easterbrook of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and international law professor Tom Ginsburg.
Alumni
Among its alumni, UChicago Law counts three former attorneys general, including John Ashcroft; three former solicitors general, such as Noel Francisco; more than 20 members of Congress, including Senator Amy Klobuchar; and dozens of judges, such as Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In addition, many activists, members of the media, and legal scholars have attended the school, among them Carol Ruth Silver, Jan Crawford, and Vincent Blasi.
What Does the University of Chicago Law School Offer?
First-year curriculum
First-year students at UChicago Law take courses on the following standard legal topics: civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, tort law, and property. Each class is divided into sections of roughly 30 students, and then two or three of these sections are grouped together for each of these five courses. Students also take a legal writing course with their own section. UChicago Law is on the quarter system, so students take these five courses over the first two quarters. Then in the third quarter, students take courses on legislation and transaction law, a constitutional law elective, and another elective. As is typical at other law schools, students must also complete a legal professions course before they graduate.
UChicago Law offers hundreds of different courses each year. Some have fewer than ten students while others have more than 100. Some revolve around lectures, with one end-of-semester exam determining the student’s grade, while others are seminars whose grades are based on papers and discussions. The lecture courses typically cover such standard legal areas as corporations, secured transactions, and bankruptcy, while seminars focus on more niche areas including public choice law and federal habeas corpus.
Writing and experiential requirements
Students must take two classes with a substantial writing component before graduation, in addition to completing eight hours of experiential coursework.
Clinics
UChicago Law has 11 clinics, and students can fulfill their experiential credit requirement by participating in them. Some clinics cover more traditional areas of the law, such as employment law and environmental law, while others deal with more specialized areas including Supreme Court litigation and exoneration. Through these clinics, students can work on important legal issues in Chicago or all over the world.
Student clubs
The more than 60 student organizations at UChicago Law address many different legal issues and social causes. Notable clubs on campus include the Education and Child Advocacy Society and the International Law Society. The clubs organize lectures, discussions, and social mixers for students to attend, providing them with opportunities to further explore their legal interests and connect with their classmates.
Journals
UChicago Law publishes four student journals, including the University of Chicago Law Review, and three faculty journals. Participating in the school’s journals gives students the chance to publish their own work, edit academic papers, and attend conferences and symposiums.
Centers
The school’s six centers, including the Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values and the Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics, focus on an array of different legal topics. These centers organize events, publish papers, and advocate for positions on related issues. Students can participate in these centers by assisting with events, conducting research, and completing externships.
Chicago Law School Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
UChicago Law received 6,514 applications in 2022 and made 776 offers of acceptance, with 190 students ultimately enrolling.
Of UChicago Law’s total student body,
- 50.5% are men.
- 49.4% are women.
- 0.16% are non-binary.
- 0.16% are American Indian or Alaskan Native.
- 11.5% are Asian American.
- 6.9% are Black or African American.
- 16.8% are Latinx.
- 4.6% are multiracial.
- 1.3% are foreign nationals.
In terms of statistics, for the Class of 2025,
- For the LSAT, the 25th percentile was 169, the 75th percentile was 175, and the median was 173.
- UChicago Law has not published data on GRE scores.
- For GPA, the 25th percentile was 3.81, the 75th percentile was 3.97, and the median was 3.91.
Students in the Class of 2025 represent 35 states and 94 undergraduate institutions, and the average age at matriculation was 24.
Class of 2021 Post-Graduation Statistics
According to UChicago Law’s employment report, of the 213 graduates in the Class of 2021,
- 206 had jobs that required passing the bar.
- Five were working in positions where having a JD is helpful.
- Two were pursuing graduate degrees.
- None were unemployed.
Of the 58% of graduates working at law firms,
- 2% were at firms with ten or fewer attorneys.
- 1% were at firms with 11 to 25 attorneys.
- 2% were at firms with 26 to 50 attorneys.
- 3% were at firms with 51 to 100 attorneys.
- 4% were at firms with 251 to 500 attorneys.
- 88.5% were at firms with 500 or more attorneys.
Chicago Law Application Requirements
- Online application and application fee
- LSAT or GRE
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Undergraduate transcript
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Optional addenda
Chicago Law School Application Details
UChicago Law’s application typically opens on September 1. The early decision deadline is usually December 1, and those who apply for early decision should receive a response by late December. Applications from regular decision applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis from January through March. Scholarship applicants will start receiving decisions in early March. The final deadline to apply is typically March 1.
Proof of English language proficiency
Applicants who do not meet UChicago Law’s criteria for a waiver must take the TOEFL, iBT, or IELTS.
Resume
Make sure you customize your resume for your UChicago Law application. Use professional and consistent fonts and avoid small page margins. According to UChicago Law’s website, the resume may exceed one page, if necessary, to include all relevant details—but rarely are more than two pages needed to do so. As far as content, avoid jargon so the admissions committee can easily understand your accomplishments, and be sure to balance your work experience with law school–related skills. Your resume should include sections on your education, experience, and personal information.
Personal statement
UChicago Law’s personal statement is relatively open ended in terms of subject matter. On its website, the school advises you to write about a “unique personal attribute or experience” to share with the admissions committee. There is no required length for the personal statement, but a range of two to four pages reportedly is typical.
Letters of recommendation
UChicago Law requires a minimum of two recommendation letters but will accept up to four. The school strongly recommends that you submit at least one letter of recommendation from someone in an academic position. But if you are too far out of college, you can submit two letters from employers.
Optional addenda
Applicants have the option to submit addenda to highlight topics that were not covered in their application or personal statement. On the school’s website, UChicago Law notes that applicants can use the optional addenda to discuss such topics as how they will contribute to the diversity of school’s community or low grades or test scores.
University of Chicago Law School FAQs
What if I attended a low-ranked undergraduate institution?
As long as you attended an accredited college, its undergraduate ranking does not matter. What matters more is having a solid undergraduate GPA and competitive test scores.
If I take time off between college and law school to work, do I need to do legal work?
No. Any type of work between college and law school will count as work experience, including volunteer work, internships, a desk job, or a position in the service industry. However, you should be ready to discuss your work experience if asked about it during a law school interview.
Is UChicago Law looking for applicants with a particular undergraduate major?
No. UChicago Law accepts students from all academic backgrounds.
I have a low GPA but a difficult major. Will UChicago Law overlook that?
In general, no, because law schools typically focus on your overall GPA. If you had a tougher major, like a STEM major, they might be more flexible, but this will not excuse a low GPA.
Does it matter when I apply?
UChicago Law’s application process is rolling. So, if you are ready to apply early in the application cycle, you should do so because there are usually more slots available then. But in general, if you apply by December, you should be fine (after then, the spots tend to fill up quickly). So, it could be worth taking an extra month or two to perfect your application or improve your LSAT/GRE scores, but avoid lengthy delays in submitting your application.
Do I need to take time off between college and law school to work in order to gain a competitive edge?
Work experience does often improve your chances of acceptance, but a lack of experience is not a deal breaker. It is difficult to quantify how much work experience helps because there are many factors in the application process. So, if you have competitive test scores and a strong GPA and you are ready to apply, you should not feel obligated to take time off after college to work.
Are you considering applying to UChicago Law School? Whether you are looking for comprehensive law admissions consulting, hourly help, or perhaps interview prep, we at Stratus Admissions Counseling can help you! Sign up for a free consultation today!