University of Chicago Law School

By | January 6, 2023

The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 by a group of distinguished legal scholars and jurists. The school’s first dean was the renowned Roscoe Pound, who would go on to become one of the most influential legal minds of the twentieth century. During his tenure, Pound developed a curriculum that focused on the study of law in its social context, which made it one of the first law schools to emphasize interdisciplinary studies. This emphasis on social context and interdisciplinary studies has continued to be a hallmark of the school to this day. As the school grew, it began to attract some of the brightest legal minds from around the country and became known for its rigorous academic standards and commitment to excellence in legal education. In 1930, it became one of only two law schools in the nation to have an endowed chair, when Professor Edward Levi was named as Dean. In 1945, Levi’s tenure as Dean saw him introduce groundbreaking reforms such as allowing students from any background or religion into the school and creating a unique curriculum that combined traditional courses with an emphasis on practical experience through hands-on clinics and internships. These reforms have helped make UChicago Law one of the most respected institutions for legal education in the United States.

University of Chicago Law School

University of Chicago Law School is located in the state of Illinois. As one of the leading law programs, University of Chicago Law School has a high average LSAT score of 169-173 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $160,000 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of University of Chicago Law School.

Admissions: University of Chicago

The University of Chicago Law School is a highly competitive school, admitting only a small percentage of applicants each year. In the 2021-2022 academic year, the school received 4,943 applications and admitted 651 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of 13.2%. The median LSAT score of admitted students was 172 and the median GPA was 3.86. The majority of the student body is comprised of U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a small percentage of international students making up the remaining population. Additionally, the class is composed of students from diverse backgrounds in terms of race and ethnicity as well as gender identity and sexual orientation. This diversity is reflected in the various backgrounds and experiences that each individual brings to campus life at UChicago Law School. Furthermore, the school places an emphasis on creating an inclusive environment for all members of its community by providing resources such as legal clinics and student organizations that promote diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants 5,403
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances 982
Overall acceptance rate 18.2%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled 191
Number of full-time program applicants 5,403
Number of full-time program acceptances 982
Full-time acceptance rate 18.2%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled 191
Number of part-time program applicants N/A
Number of part-time program acceptances N/A
Part-time acceptance rate N/A
Number of first-year part-time students enrolled N/A
Fall 2019 GPA and LSAT Scores
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students 3.63-3.84
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students 169-173
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students 3.63-3.84
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students 169-173
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for part-time students N/A
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for part-time students N/A

Careers: University of Chicago

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar IL
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers 95.1%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers 90.8%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates 210
Graduates employed at graduation 97.1%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 99.0%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Median private sector starting salary $160,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 99%
Median public service starting salary $50,000
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia 0.0%
Percent employed in business and industry 3.0%
Percent employed in government 2.0%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 13.0%
Percent employed in law firms 81.5%
Percent employed in public interest 0.5%
Percent employed in an unknown field 0.0%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge 13.0%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state 34%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 0.5%
Number of states where graduates are employed 22
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 1.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 19.4%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 36.3%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 2.5%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 10.9%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 1.5%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 5.5%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 19.4%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 3.0%
Employment location unknown 0.0%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations 6 professional career coaches are dedicated to helping you find the job that will fit you best. Interview coaching and job search advising are available. Alumni at top firms, government agencies and public interest organizations come back to talk to students. One-quarter secure some of the most sought-after judicial clerkships, including clerkships with Justices on the United States Supreme Court.
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 97.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 1.0%
Professional/other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) 2.0%
Nonprofessional/other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) 0.0%