The University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School was founded in 1868, making it one of the oldest law schools in the United States. The school has a rich history and has played an important role in shaping Wisconsin’s legal landscape. The school is known for its rigorous academic curriculum, as well as its commitment to public service and social justice. Over the years, the school has educated some of Wisconsin’s most influential leaders, including former U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist and former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. In addition to producing influential alumni, UW Madison Law School is also home to several distinguished faculty members who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and academia. In recent years, UW Madison Law School has become increasingly focused on preparing students for a globalized world by providing them with access to international opportunities and experiences that will better prepare them for successful careers in law and beyond. Check topschoolsintheusa for Maryland law schools.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School is located in the state of Wisconsin. As one of the leading law programs, University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School has a high average LSAT score of 156-163 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $125,000 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School.
Admissions: University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School is one of the most prestigious law schools in the country. According to the most recent admissions data, the school receives around 5,000 applications each year, and accepts about 1,700 of them. The median GPA for accepted applicants is 3.8 and the median LSAT score is 166. In addition to academic credentials, other factors such as work experience and extracurricular activities are also taken into consideration when reviewing an applicant’s portfolio. The school has a 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio and a diverse student body representing many different backgrounds and experiences. The school also offers numerous opportunities for students to gain practical legal experience through its clinics and externships with local firms or government agencies. Finally, UW Madison Law School graduates go on to pursue successful careers in law firms, judicial clerkships, public service organizations, corporations, and other areas.
Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants
2,936
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances
697
Overall acceptance rate
23.7%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled
278
Number of full-time program applicants
2,936
Number of full-time program acceptances
697
Full-time acceptance rate
23.7%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled
278
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
3.31-3.76
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students
156-163
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students
3.31-3.76
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students
156-163
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 Wisconsin–Madison
Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar
WI
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers
99.3%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers
91.9%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates
290
Graduates employed at graduation
80.8%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation
98.3%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary
$67,625
Median private sector starting salary
$125,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary
$160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information
54%
Median public service starting salary
$47,500
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia
2.0%
Percent employed in business and industry
12.0%
Percent employed in government
15.0%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships
6.0%
Percent employed in law firms
58.0%
Percent employed in public interest
7.0%
Percent employed in an unknown field
0.0%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge
1.0%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state
51%
Graduates employed in foreign countries
3%
Number of states where graduates are employed
26
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
3.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA)
4.0%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
64.0%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
6.0%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)
9.0%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN)
0.0%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)
3.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)
6.0%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY)
2.0%
Employment location unknown
0.0%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations
Five lawyers provide personal attention and individualized career counseling to help students explore their interests and learn job search strategies. Special JD adviser works with students interested in public service careers or judicial clerkships. Employers across the country come for on-campus interviewing. School participates in off-campus recruiting including in NY/Northeast, DC, and CA.
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks)
86.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent)
9.0%
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)
