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Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 5/30/24
Curious about the hardest law schools to get into? Read on to learn more about the country’s most competitive law schools and what makes them so difficult.
Getting accepted into your dream school can be nerve-wracking for many students aspiring to attend law school. While the admissions process varies from school to school, certain institutions are notorious for being highly selective and competitive.
The academic credentials, interviews, personal statements, and other application requirements may make these law schools difficult to get into. As a result, the admissions process for law schools tends to be highly selective, with many institutions accepting only a fraction of their applicants.
This article will explore the 13 hardest law schools to get into based on key factors like their acceptance rates and average LSAT scores. Let’s get started!
Here is a table of the most competitive law schools in the country.
Curious about your chances of getting into law school? Try out Juris Education’s Admissions Calculator. Take the guesswork out of the application process and get personalized insights to help you navigate this important step with confidence.
Below, we’ll give a quick overview of each of the most competitive law schools in the country.
Yale Law School is considered one of the most prestigious law schools in the world, with a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and producing influential lawyers and judges. Because of this, the admissions process is highly competitive, and the acceptance rate is typically very low.
In recent years, the acceptance rate has been around 5.25%, meaning that for every 100 applicants, only five are accepted. The school looks for exceptional academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and leadership potential in its applicants.
Due to the high volume of qualified applicants and limited spots, getting accepted into this Ivy League law school is a difficult yet impressive achievement.
If you're looking to get accepted at any school on this list, book a free consultation with an expert counselor at Juris Education.
Stanford Law is known for its excellent faculty, rigorous academic programs, and outstanding reputation. The school receives many applications yearly, but only a small percentage of those applicants are accepted.
Although Stanford admits students based on their academic achievements, they also consider the diversity of their entering class.
The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is considered a highly competitive and selective institution, making it challenging to gain admission. The admissions committee looks for exceptional academic achievements, strong letters of recommendation, and a stellar personal statement from applicants.
Prospective students are expected to have diverse experiences, skills, and perspectives that will contribute to the law school's vibrant community. The applicant pool is highly competitive, and the school only admits a small percentage of applicants each year, making it one of the most difficult law schools to get into.
Harvard Law School is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious law schools in the world, and its admissions process is highly competitive. The school receives many applications yearly, and only a small percentage of applicants are accepted.
In addition to a high LSAT score and GPA (Harvard’s most recent matriculating class had a median LSAT score of 174 and a median GPA of 3.95), Harvard Law School’s admissions committee looks for candidates who demonstrate leadership skills and a commitment to public service.
Overall, Harvard Law School's tough academic standards and reputation for excellence make it one of the most challenging and competitive schools to gain admission to.
Columbia Law School is another Ivy League law school with a long history of producing successful private and public graduates. Due to its high reputation, Columbia Law School has become increasingly selective in its admissions process, with a low acceptance rate of around 11.75%.
Also, because of its location in New York City, Columbia Law School attracts many highly qualified applicants worldwide, making competition for admission even more intense.
The University of Michigan Law School is one of the top law schools in the United States, ranking ninth in the nation. The school seeks applicants who have achieved exceptional academic success, demonstrated leadership and community involvement, and shown a strong commitment to the field of law.
In addition, the law school prefers applicants with a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds, which adds to the difficulty of gaining admission. With abundant qualified applicants, the competition for a spot in the school is fierce, making it a difficult school to get into.
The University of Southern California Gould School of Law is known for its top-notch legal education and innovative programs. The school receives many applications yearly, with an acceptance rate of 12.41%.
In addition, the committee considers each applicant's work experience, leadership skills, and community involvement as the law school seeks to admit students who will positively impact the legal profession.
The University of Chicago Law School has an acceptance rate of 12.73%. The school receives many applications each year from highly qualified candidates, and the admissions committee must carefully evaluate each application to identify the most promising candidates.
The school also strongly emphasizes intellectual curiosity and a willingness to engage with complex legal concepts and ideas.
Duke University School of Law is considered one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 13.88%. The school's high reputation, academic standards, and commitment to diversity and inclusion make it a highly competitive and challenging law school to enter.
What makes Duke University unique compared to other schools is that it offers an applicant the option to submit either a GRE or LSAT score.
The University of Virginia Law School stands out from other law schools in the country because it receives no state or federal government funding and instead relies solely on private donations.
Despite this, the law school has undergone several renovations and expansions over time and now boasts one of the largest campuses of any law school in the nation.
The law school is consistently ranked among the top ten law schools in the United States, with a reputation for academic excellence, a distinguished faculty, and a rigorous curriculum. As a result, admission to the school is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 13.92%.
Admission to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 15.36%. Because of its recognition, the law school evaluates many applicants for admission.
Northwestern accepts those with extremely high GPAs and LSAT scores; their median scores are a GPA of 3.95 and an LSAT of 172.
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law is competitive because of its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The school seeks to admit students from many backgrounds and experiences, creating a diverse and intellectually stimulating student body.
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law is highly respected in the legal community and ranked among the country's top 20 law schools. Because of this, many high-achieving applicants will apply to the school.
As a result, competition for admission to the University of Texas at Austin School of Law is intense, making it a challenging law school.
UCLA stands as one of the most competitive law schools in the United States, consistently ranking among the nation's elite legal institutions since it opened in 1949.
With an acceptance rate of 16.10%, UCLA Law maintains exceptionally high standards for admission. To quantify this, the median LSAT score of the incoming class was 170 and the median GPA of the incoming class was 3.95.
UCLA Law's reputation is matched by its specialized programs, particularly in entertainment law, environmental law, and critical race studies. The school's location in Los Angeles provides students with the opportunity to study in a global center for entertainment, technology, and international commerce. Students have many choices for externships and networking with leading legal practitioners at UCLA School of Law.
If you still have questions about the hardest law schools to get into, check out these frequently asked questions.
Yale Law School is widely regarded as the hardest law school to get into, with an acceptance rate of 5.25% and exceptionally high admissions standards. Applicants typically need top-tier LSAT scores, a near-perfect GPA, and outstanding personal statements to stand out in this highly competitive process.
The top law school in America is Yale Law School, followed by Stanford Law School, Harvard Law School, and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Thomas M. Cooley Law School has one of the highest acceptance rates for law schools at 88%. Roger Williams University School of Law also has a high acceptance rate at 65.2%.
The hardest law schools to get into are often the highest-ranked, such as Yale, Stanford, and Harvard. Yale Law School leads with the lowest acceptance rate and exceptionally high admissions standards. Stanford and Harvard follow closely, demanding top LSAT scores, stellar GPAs, and compelling applications.
Law school admissions consider personal statements, work experience, and extracurricular activities. By crafting a well-rounded application that highlights relevant experiences, applicants can improve their chances of acceptance. For expert admissions help, our team can guide you through the process.
Applying to and gaining admission to law school is a rigorous and challenging process. However, some institutions stand out as difficult to get into.
These law schools have high academic standards and strict admissions criteria, often requiring exceptional LSAT scores, outstanding undergraduate academic records, and impressive extracurricular activities.
Ultimately, aspiring lawyers should focus on finding a law school that aligns with their career goals, personal preferences, and learning style rather than solely on the institution's prestige.
Good luck on your law school journey!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
