How to Get into the University of Michigan Law School: GPA, LSAT Requirements, and Acceptance Rate
- University of Michigan Law School Introduction
- About the University of Michigan Law School
- What Does the University of Michigan Law School Offer?
- Michigan Law Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
- Michigan Law Class of 2021 Post-Graduation Statistics
- Michigan Law Application Details
- University of Michigan Law School FAQs
University of Michigan Law School Introduction
U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the University of Michigan Law School among the top 14 schools in the publication’s Best Law Schools list. Michigan Law also boasts esteemed alumni including Valerie Jarrett, who served as senior adviser to President Barack Obama, and Heather Gerken, the dean of Yale Law School. In addition, the University of Michigan’s prominent reputation makes Michigan Law a top destination for law school applicants.
Around 800 people were accepted into Michigan Law’s Class of 2025. Given the competitive admissions process, having strong test scores and grades is essential to a successful application. In addition, knowing some key facts about the school can help enrich your application and set you apart from other applicants.
In this post, we at Stratus share what you need to know to increase your chances of getting into Michigan Law.
About the University of Michigan Law School
History and ranking
Located in Ann Arbor, not far from Detroit, Michigan Law is part of the University of Michigan. The law school opened in 1859, more than 40 years after the university was founded. Michigan Law ranks tenth in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Law Schools list.
Acceptance rate and class size
Michigan Law typically has an acceptance rate of about 10%. Roughly 1,000 students are enrolled in the school, and each class has about 300 students. Michigan Law’s class size provides students with plenty of people to network with, but also gives them a chance to get to know their peers.
Post-graduate status
In 2022, Michigan Law’s first-time bar-passage rate was 95.5%. Around 94% of the Class of 2021 accepted jobs that require JDs, and only around 1% of graduates were seeking a job and unable to find one. 17% of graduates were working in clerkships.
Faculty
Among Michigan Law’s more than 250 faculty members are prominent legal figures such as feminist legal theory expert Catharine MacKinnon and former US Attorney Barbara McQuade.
Alumni
Famous trial lawyer Clarence Darrow attended Michigan Law. In addition to those mentioned earlier, the school’s more prominent graduates include Judge Raymond Kethledge of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, former Ohio Senator Rob Portman, and businessman Sam Zell.
What Does the University of Michigan Law School Offer?
First-year curriculum
Michigan Law’s first-year curriculum includes courses on standard legal topics such as civil procedure, contract law, constitutional law, criminal law, tort law, and legal practice. The school’s Legal Practice Program spans two semesters and focuses on practical legal skills such how to research relevant cases and put together a brief. Michigan Law also requires students to take a legal professions course in addition to courses in international and comparative law and administrative law in order to graduate.
Michigan Law offers courses of varying sizes, ranging from more than 100 students to fewer than 20. Courses cover conventional topics such as employment law, environmental law, and secured transactions, but also more specialized areas including poverty law and European law. Some courses have one end-of-semester exam that determines all of a student’s grade, while seminar courses base a student’s grade on a paper.
Writing requirements
Michigan Law requires students to complete a course that has a “substantial writing” component, according to the school’s website.
Clinics
Michigan Law’s 18 clinics cover a range of issues including child advocacy, community enterprise, and civil rights.
Student clubs
The roughly 80 clubs at Michigan Law, such as the International Law Society and the Intellectual Property Students Association, focus on a range of legal topics. 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
Michigan Law publishes nine journals including the Michigan Law Review, the Michigan Journal of Gender & Law, and the Michigan Journal of Race & Law. Participating in these journals gives students opportunities to publish their own work, edit academic papers, and attend conferences and symposiums.
Centers
Michigan Law’s 18 centers, including the Center for International and Comparative Law and the Empirical Legal Studies Center, 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.
Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
Michigan Law received 6,254 applications for its Class of 2025 and offered admission to 819 students, with 336 ultimately enrolling. This equates to a 10.7% acceptance rate.
Of the Class of 2025,
- 50% are women.
- 49% are men.
- 1% are nonbinary.
- 24% identify as LGBTQ+.
- 42% are people of color.
- 14% are first-generation college students.
- 13% reported facing significant socioeconomic disadvantages.
- 79% took at least one year off in between college and law school.
Students in the Class of 2025 represent 129 different universities in 46 different US states and territories as well as 25 countries.
In terms of statistics,
- For the LSAT, the 25th percentile was 166, the 50th percentile was 171, and the 75th percentile was 172.
- For undergraduate GPA, the 25th percentile was 3.59, the 50th percentile was 3.83, and the 75th percentile was 3.92.
Class of 2021 Post-Graduation Statistics
According to Michigan Law’s employment report for the Class of 2021, of the 363 graduates,
- 342 accepted jobs that required passing the state bar.
- Nine were working in jobs where having a JD is helpful.
- Two were working in “professional” positions.
- Two were unemployed but were not seeking a job.
- Four were unemployed but were seeking a job.
- Three had enrolled in other graduate programs.
Graduates took jobs in the following industries/roles:
- Law firms: 219
- Business: 8
- Government: 16
- Public interest organizations: 46
- Judicial clerkships: 62
Michigan Law Application Requirements
- Online application
- LSAT
- Undergraduate transcript
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Personal statement
- Optional essays
Michigan Law Application Details
Application
Michigan Law follows a rolling admissions process and traditionally accepts applications from late August through the end of February. Applicants usually must accept admission by May. Michigan Law’s early decision deadline is typically in mid-November, and applicants will receive a decision by mid-December. (Note that early decision is binding.)
Letters of recommendation
Michigan Law applicants must submit a minimum of one and maximum of three letters of recommendation, with at least one preferably from an academic source.
Resume
Make sure you customize your resume for your Michigan 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.
Personal statement
A personal statement is also required. Rather than providing specific content guidelines, Michigan Law notes on its website that the applicant is best suited to discern “what is most important for us to know.” The school views the personal statement as an opportunity for you to expand on topics that your resume and transcript cannot fully cover. Michigan Law recommends that the personal statement consist of between two and four pages, double spaced, with at least an 11-point font.
Optional essays
Michigan Law gives you the option to write two additional essays from a choice of nine prompts on such topics as your interest in the law school, a unique quality or skill that will help you in the legal field, and which “prominent person” you would choose to have dinner with.
University of Michigan Law School FAQs
What if I attended a low-ranked undergraduate institution?
As long as your college is accredited, its undergraduate ranking does not matter. Having a strong GPA and test scores is more important.
If I take time off between college and law school to work, do I need to do legal work?
No, as long as you do something productive with your time off, such as working or completing an internship. Michigan Law values all types of work experience.
Is Michigan Law looking for applicants with a particular undergraduate major?
No. The school accepts students from a variety of academic backgrounds.
I have a low GPA but a difficult major. Will Michigan Law overlook that?
Generally, no. Law schools usually are only interested in your overall undergraduate GPA. They will allow some flexibility for applicants with particularly difficult majors, such as a STEM major, but this will not excuse a low GPA.
Does it matter when I apply?
Given that Michigan Law follows a rolling admissions process, if your application materials are ready to go at the beginning of the cycle, it probably helps your chances a little to apply then because that is when the most spots are available. If not, you are better off not rushing your application. If you think you can improve your LSAT score by taking it one or two more times in the fall, remember that substantially increasing your score will improve your chances much more than applying a few weeks earlier.
Do I need to take time off between college and law school to work in order to gain a competitive edge?
Although work experience can improve your chances of acceptance, plenty of students get into Michigan Law each year without any. 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 Michigan 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!