How to Get into the Duke University School of Law: GPA, LSAT Requirements, and Acceptance Rate
- Duke University School of Law Introduction
- About the Duke University School of Law
- What Does the Duke University School of Law Offer?
- Duke University School of Law Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
- Duke University School of Law Class of 2022 Post-Graduation Statistics
- Duke Law Application Requirements
- Duke University School of Law FAQs
Duke University School of Law Introduction
U.S. News World & Report ranked the Duke University School of Law 11th in its 2023 Best Law Schools list. Duke Law’s impressive alumni include former President Richard Nixon, former US Solicitor General Ken Starr, and prominent attorney Marc Elias. The school is located in Durham, North Carolina, not far from Charlotte and Raleigh. Duke Law’s distinguished alumni and well-known reputation make it a top choice of many law school applicants.
More than 6,000 people applied to be part of Duke Law’s Class of 2025. Given the competitive application process, having strong test scores and grades 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 Duke Law.
About the Duke University School of Law
History and ranking
Duke Law was founded in 1868 and is one of Duke University’s ten schools.
Acceptance rate and class size
With 225 students in its Class of 2025, Duke Law’s class size is among the smaller at T14 schools. This enables students to build closer relationships with both their own classmates and those in other classes.
Post-graduate status
Duke Law’s Class of 2022 had a first-time bar passage rate of 94%. The employment rate for Duke Law’s Class of 2022 is 99%. Additionally, 96% of those employed are in jobs that require passing the bar. Duke Law graduates have clerked in 49 states, and since 2010, 11 have received clerkships on the US Supreme Court.
Faculty
Duke Law’s esteemed faculty includes Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito; Sarah Bloom Raskin, former deputy secretary of the US Department of the Treasury; and Judge Scott Silliman of the US Court of Military Commission Review.
Alumni
In addition to those named earlier, Duke Law’s distinguished alumni include former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell; former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, the first Black female chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court; and former Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder.
What Does the Duke University School of Law Offer?
First-year curriculum
In their first year at Duke Law, students take courses in civil procedure, criminal law, constitutional law, tort law, and contracts, as well as legal analysis, research, and writing. In the second semester, students have the choice to take courses in property law, business associations, international law, and administrative law. If students do not choose the property law course as their elective in the first year, they must take it during their second year. Like other law schools, Duke Law requires its students to take a legal professions course before they graduate.
Duke Law offers hundreds of different courses, with class sizes ranging from ten to as many as 100 students. Many courses revolve around lectures, with one end-of-semester exam determining the student’s grade, while others are seminars whose grades are based on participation and papers. Lecture courses typically cover standard legal subjects such as employment law and administrative law, and seminars focus on more niche topics including sports law and art law.
Writing and experiential requirements
Duke Law requires students to complete six experiential credits and a writing project before they graduate. Students can fulfill the writing requirement through a seminar or an independent study.
Clinics
Duke Law’s 12 clinics cover traditional legal topics including environmental law and criminal law, but also more niche areas such as community enterprise.
Student clubs
Duke Law’s more than 60 student organizations focus on various legal issues and causes. Notable clubs on campus include the Women Law Students Association, the Sports & Entertainment Law Society, and the Duke Law Innocence Project. 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
Duke Law publishes seven journals, including the Duke Law Journal, the Duke Law & Technology Review, and the Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum. Participating in these journals gives students opportunities to publish their own work, edit academic papers, and attend conferences and symposiums.
Centers
Duke Law’s 18 centers and institutes, including the Duke Center on Law and Technology and the Center for Sports Law and Policy, focus on an array of legal topics. These centers organize events, publish papers, and advocate for positions on related issues. Students can participate by assisting with events, conducting research, and completing externships.
Duke University School of Law Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
Duke Law received 6,250 applications for its Class of 2025, with 225 students ultimately enrolling.
Of the Class of 2025,
- 54% are female.
- 44% are male.
- 1% are non-binary.
- 22% identify as LGBTQ+.
- 44% are people of color.
- 70% have post-college experience.
- 26% are first-generation or professional degree students.
- 10% have graduate degrees.
Students in the Class of 2025 represent 35 US states and territories and nine countries.
In terms of statistics,
- For the LSAT, the 25th percentile was 168, the median was 170, and the 75th percentile was 171.
- For undergraduate GPA, the 25th percentile was 3.73, the median was 3.85, and the 75th percentile was 3.94.
Note: Duke Law also accepts the GRE but has not released data on it.
Duke University School of Law Class of 2022 Post-Graduation Statistics
According to Duke Law’s employment report, of the 214 graduates in the Class of 2022,
- 212 were employed.
- 204 had jobs that require passing the bar.
- Six were working in positions where having a JD is helpful.
- One had deferred their employment start date.
- One was seeking a job.
Of the graduates working at law firms,
- 132 were at firms with 501 or more attorneys.
- 11 were at firms with 251 to 500 attorneys.
- Seven were at firms with 101 to 250 attorneys.
- Two were at firms with 51 to 100 attorneys.
- One was at a firm with 26 to 50 attorneys.
- One was at a firm with 11 to 25 attorneys.
- Two were at firms with one to ten attorneys.
Duke Law Application Requirements
- Online application
- LSAT or GRE
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Official undergraduate/graduate transcripts
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Optional essays
Duke Law Application Details
Application
Duke Law typically accepts applications from early September through mid-February. The early decision Round 1 application deadline is at the beginning of November, while the Round 2 deadline is in early January.
Resume
Make sure you customize your resume for your Duke Law application. Use professional and consistent fonts, avoid small page margins, and do not exceed one page. 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—and Duke Law’s website also advises that your resume should note “any prior Duke affiliation.”
Letters of recommendation
Duke Law requires applicants to submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation, but the school will accept a maximum of four. On its website, Duke Law states that at least one letter needs to come from an academic source unless you have been out of school “for long enough that an academic reference is not available.” A second letter should be from someone who can speak to your “interpersonal skills, leadership, and involvement,” such as a supervisor from professional or volunteer positions.
Personal statement
Duke Law’s personal statement serves as your introduction to the admissions committee. The school wants you to share details on significant experiences that are not included on your resume or transcript as well as your personal and career goals.
Optional essays
You can also submit up to two optional essays. The first covers your interest in attending law school in general and Duke Law specifically. (If your personal statement does not address your interest in law school, Duke Law recommends that you submit this essay.) The other optional essay covers how you could contribute to the diversity and intellectual community at Duke Law.
Duke University School of Law FAQs
What if I attended a low-ranked undergraduate institution?
As long as your college is accredited, its undergraduate ranking does not matter. Duke Law is more interested in your undergraduate GPA.
If I take time off between college and law school to work, do I need to do legal work?
No. Duke Law values all types of work experience, such as internships, a desk job, service industry work, and volunteer work.
Is Duke Law looking for applicants with a particular undergraduate major?
No. Duke Law accepts students from all backgrounds.
I have a low GPA but a difficult major. Will Duke Law overlook that?
Generally, no. Law schools are primarily interested in your overall undergraduate GPA. They allow some flexibility for applicants with particularly tough majors, such as a STEM major, but this will not excuse a low GPA.
Does it matter when I apply?
Applying early decision will typically improve your chances of gaining admission, but it is binding. For regular decision, Duke Law follows a rolling admissions process, so it might help you to apply earlier because that is when the most spots are available. After December, spots tend to fill up quickly. If you think you can improve your LSAT/GRE score by taking it again in the fall, remember that substantially increasing your score will help your chances a lot more than applying a few weeks earlier, 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?
Although having work experience could help your chances, a lack of work experience is not a deal breaker. It is difficult to quantify how much work experience helps because there are so many factors in the application process. If you have stats that make you a competitive applicant and you want to enroll right after you finish college, do not feel that you must take time off to work.
Are you considering applying to Duke Law? 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!