How to Get into Stanford Law School: GPA, LSAT Requirements, and Acceptance Rate
Stanford Law School Overview
About Stanford Law School
What Does Stanford Law School Offer?
Stanford Law School Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
Stanford Law School Class of 2021 Post-Graduation Statistics
Stanford Law School Application Requirements
Stanford Law School FAQ
Stanford Law School Overview
Stanford Law School was ranked the second-best law school in the United States for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report. Two Supreme Court Justices attended Stanford Law, as did many legislators and an array of legal scholars and big law partners. Given the school’s location near Palo Alto, it serves as a major pipeline to tech and finance jobs in Silicon Valley. This, along with Stanford Law’s network of alumni and distinguished faculty, has helped make the school a top choice of many aspiring JDs.
Stanford Law received 4,882 applications for the Class of 2025 and accepted 336 students. 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 Stanford Law.
About Stanford Law School
History and ranking
Stanford Law is one of Stanford University’s seven schools. Founded in 1893, the law school is younger than many of the other T14 schools. Stanford Law is located in the Palo Alto area near the university’s other schools. As noted earlier, U.S. News & World Report ranked Stanford Law number two in the publication’s 2023 Best Law Schools list.
Acceptance rate and class size
Stanford Law had a 6.88% acceptance rate for the Class of 2025. The school has 572 students enrolled, with around 184 students in each class. Stanford Law’s class sizes tend to be smaller than those of most other schools in the T14, which enables students to get better acquainted and to interact more extensively with the campus community.
Post-graduate status
Roughly 98% of Stanford Law’s Class of 2021 passed the bar, and 89% of its 2021 graduates accepted jobs where doing so was required. On average, 33% of a given Stanford Law class clerks, and of its students who are clerking, 84% are at federal courts. Impressively, the school has sent clerks to the Supreme Court 49 years in a row.
Faculty
Stanford Law boasts an impressive roster of approximately 600 professors including former Judge Michael McConnell of the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice Pamela S. Karlan.
Alumni
Stanford Law’s alumni include two Supreme Court Justices, Sandra Day O’Connor and William Rehnquist; six members of Congress, such as Max Baucus, former Montana senator and ambassador to China; and dozens of judges, including Judge Carlos Bea of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Moreover, many activists, members of the media, and scholars have attended Stanford Law, such as Maya Harris, Alisa Chang, and Kerry Abrams.
What Does Stanford Law School Offer?
First-year curriculum
At Stanford Law, all first-year students take the same classes on such topics as criminal law, constitutional law, contracts, civil procedure, and tort law, as well as a legal research and writing course. Each course consists of roughly 50 students. Students take their mandatory courses during the first quarter and then are allowed to take one elective in the second quarter. The third quarter consists of all electives. As is typical at other law schools, students must also complete a legal professions course before they graduate.
In terms of electives, Stanford Law offers more than 200 courses each quarter, with each ranging from four to 30 students. Some revolve around lectures, with one end-of-semester exam determining the student’s grade, while other courses are discussion based, with student papers constituting their grade. Some courses cover standard legal subjects such as family law, securities law, and trusts and estates, while others focus on more specialized topics including academic freedom, net neutrality, and reproductive rights.
Writing and experiential requirements
Students are required to take two two-credit courses whose grade is largely determined by writing. Students also must take one course involving the use of professional skills.
Clinics
Stanford Law has 11 clinics, and students can complete their professional skills requirement by participating in one of them. Some clinics cover standard areas of law, such as criminal defense and environmental law, while others deal with more niche issues including international human rights and Supreme Court litigation. Through these clinics, students have the opportunity to work in Stanford’s community or throughout the world.
Student clubs
The more than 70 student organizations at Stanford Law touch on many different legal causes and social issues. Notable clubs on campus include the Criminal Law Society and the Election Law 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
Stanford Law publishes several journals, including the Stanford Law Review, that focus on such areas as environmental law and corporate law. Participating in the school’s journals gives students opportunities to publish their own work, edit academic papers, and attend conferences and symposiums.
Centers
Stanford Law has 29 centers, including the Center for Internet and Society and the Stanford Human Rights Center, that cover 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.
Class of 2025 Acceptance Rate and Statistics
Stanford Law received 4,882 applications for its Class of 2025 and made 336 offers of acceptance, with 159 students ultimately enrolling.
Of the Class of 2025,
- 14% are Hispanic.
- 13% are Asian.
- 7% are African American.
- Overall, 46% are people of color.
In terms of statistics,
- For the LSAT, the 25th percentile was 170, the 50th percentile was 173, and the 75th percentile was 176.
- For the GRE, the 25th percentile was 162 for Quantitative, 5 for Analytical Writing, and 165 for Verbal. The 50th percentile was 165 for Quantitative, 5 for Analytical Writing, and 167 for Verbal. The 75th percentile was 168 for Quantitative, 5.5 for Analytical Writing, and 168 for Verbal.
- For GPA, the 25th percentile was 3.84, the 50th percentile was 3.92, and the 75th percentile was 3.99.
Class of 2021 Post-Graduation Statistics
According to Stanford Law’s employment report, of the 184 graduates in the Class of 2021,
- 153 were working in jobs that require passing the bar.
- Ten accepted jobs where having a JD is helpful.
- Two were working in “professional positions.”
- Five were pursuing professional degrees.
- One was still looking for a job.
Of the roughly 42% of graduates working at law firms,
- 35% were at law firms with more than 500 employees.
- 2% were at law firms with 251 to 500 employees.
- 5% were at law firms with fewer than 250 employees.
Graduates took jobs in the following industries/roles:
- Judicial clerkship: 33%
- Public interest: 14%
- Government: 7%
- Business: 4%
- Education: <1%
In addition, about 3% of the graduates were attending graduate school.
Stanford Law School Application Requirements
- Online application and application fee
- LSAT or GRE
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Undergraduate transcript
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Optional short essays
- Optional diversity statement
Stanford Law School Application Details
Stanford Law’s application typically opens in early September. If you are applying to the school’s scholarship program, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, you usually must apply by the first week of December. The deadline for all applications is mid-February.
Resume
Make sure you customize your resume for your Stanford Law application. Use professional and consistent fonts and avoid small page margins. According to Stanford Law’s website, the resume should not exceed two pages. 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.
Letters of recommendation
Stanford Law requires applicants to submit a minimum of two and a maximum of four letters of recommendation, preferably from professors who are familiar with the applicant’s academic work. If you have worked for a significant amount of time, you can submit one letter of recommendation from an employer. If you cannot get any letters of recommendation from professors, you can submit two letters from your employers.
Personal statement
The goal of the personal statement is to share any information that is not included in your application. On its website, Stanford Law states that this statement should be roughly two pages long.
Optional short essays
Stanford Law provides the option for applicants to answer up to two of four essay questions. Each answer should be between 100 and 250 words.
Optional diversity statement
Stanford Law also allows applicants to write an optional essay about how they would contribute to the diversity of the school’s community.
Stanford 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. What matters more is your undergraduate GPA and having 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 completed between college and law school will be considered work experience, including volunteer work, internships, a desk job, or working in the service industry. However, you should be ready to discuss your work experience if asked about it during a law school interview.
Is Stanford Law looking for applicants with a particular undergraduate major?
No. Although it might seem that Stanford Law would prefer applicants with technology-related degrees given the school’s background in tech, it accepts students from all backgrounds.
I have a low GPA but a difficult major. Will Stanford Law overlook that?
Generally, no, because law schools typically look at your overall GPA. If you have a more challenging major, like a STEM major, the school might be more flexible. However, this will not excuse a low GPA.
Does it matter when I apply?
Stanford Law does not provide any advice on whether it is better to apply early. If you have all of your application materials ready, it is worth applying earlier because there are usually more slots available. But typically, as long as you apply by December, your chances will not be harmed, as plenty of slots should still be available. 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?
Although having work experience can help improve your odds of acceptance, 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. Therefore, it is not particularly crucial to have work experience.
What is the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program?
This scholarship program is available to all Stanford Law students. It provides leadership training and funds three years of tuition at the school.
Are you considering applying to Stanford 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!