Overview

Applicants
2,301
Acceptance Rate
33%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.67
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
166

Test Scores

LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
157 - 165

Deadlines

Application Deadlines
March 15

Application Process

Rolling Admissions
Yes

Application Fee
$60

CAS Service Used
Yes

Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No

Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes

Deferred Admission
Yes

Other Admission Factors

Academic

LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Letters of Recommendation
Essay / Personal Statement

Selectivity Rating

Faculty Information

Student/Faculty
8:1
Total Faculty
189

38.1
Female
12.2
Underrepresented Minorities


Students Say

Situated in the hip, relaxed seaside city of Seattle, the University of Washington School of Law is arguably the top law college in the Pacific Northwest. Deemed a 鈥渧eritable paradise鈥 by one student, the 鈥渞egional powerhouse鈥 has 鈥渉uge respect鈥 and its 鈥渞eputation helps [students] . . . [compete] with [students from] other schools for internships and jobs.鈥 With a 115-year legacy, 鈥渓eft-leaning鈥 UW prides itself on its 鈥渟trong focus on social justice and minority issues鈥 and the students in general 鈥渃are a lot about doing good鈥 via forty-five-plus student-run organizations and a required sixty hours of public service legal work. Still, attendees find that the administration is 鈥済eared at getting students . . . high-paying jobs at big firms鈥 and ultimately encourages students to 鈥淸pursue] . . . [careers] in big law.鈥 Career services, however, 鈥渁re not the strongest part of UW Law,鈥 with several students lamenting that it鈥檚 difficult to find jobs outside of the Seattle area with a UW Law degree.
The school is one of only a handful in the country on the quarter system, which some believe makes for 鈥渢ighter . . . schedules.鈥 UW Law offers eight concentration tracks: Asian law, business law, dispute resolution, environmental law, health law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, and public service law. Curriculum highlights include a 鈥渞ange of course offerings . . . that give ample room for exploring different interests鈥 and a 鈥渨ell-developed legal writing program.鈥 Students happily share that the 鈥1L experience is well-tailored to helping students transition into a new environment,鈥 as 鈥渢he school . . . sets up 1Ls with a professional mentor from the Seattle community and a faculty member.鈥 But classes are certain to be vigorous鈥攖he curve is apparently 鈥渁bsurd鈥濃攁nd some students wished that the school 鈥淸helped] guide students in their practice area selection.鈥 But there are 鈥渢ons of opportunities for involvement in the community鈥 (such as internships and externships) and more than 60 percent of UW Law students participate in at least one out of thirteen clinics.
鈥淩igorous, prestigious, and [known for bringing] immense intellectual insight to the classroom,鈥 the faculty includes 鈥渢op-notch professors who are accessible and supportive鈥 and who know how to make 鈥渆ven boring topics more approachable and enjoyable, thanks to their enthusiasm.鈥 Plus, 鈥渕ost . . . have been or still are highly successful practitioners,鈥 鈥渕any have Supreme Court experience,鈥 and 鈥渁lmost all instructors publish.鈥 And they鈥檙e primarily there to teach: 鈥淒espite [their] amazing credentials, the professors have an astounding ability to break down the subject matter and help the students to understand and excel academically.鈥 The student-faculty ratio is also an awesome 9:1, so students 鈥済et individualized attention when [they] need it.鈥
Housed in the new, modern William H. Gates Hall (which is named after Bill Gates鈥 father), UW鈥檚 facilities are reportedly breathtaking. 鈥淏eautiful and full of light,鈥 the 鈥渨orld-class鈥 Gallagher Law Library boasts 鈥渢ons of materials鈥 (technically, 650,000-plus volumes, making it one of the largest law libraries west of the Mississippi) and is an envy-inducing 鈥済em in every other law school鈥檚 eye,鈥 staffed by 鈥渇riendly research librarians.鈥 The 鈥渃lassrooms are well-maintained鈥 (with 鈥渇airly ergonomic chairs,鈥 no less) and 鈥渙ffer state-of-the-art technology for pedagogical use.鈥

Career overview

Pass Rate for First-Time Bar Exam
85%
Median Starting Salary
$75,000
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
90%
% of job accepting graduates providing useable salary information
79%

Career Services

On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes

On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes

# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
75

Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Columbia Legal Services, Davis Wright Tremaine, DLA Piper, Garvey Schubert & Barer, King County Department of Public Defense, King County Prosecuting Attorney, K&L Gates, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, Northwest Justice Project, Perkins Coie, Washington State Attorney General, Washington State Supreme Court. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Graduates Employed by Area

40%
Private Practice
17%
Government
13%
Business/Industry
12%
Judicial Clerkships
7%
Public Interes
1%
Academic

Graduates Employed by Region

88%
Pacific
2%
International
2%
Mid-Atlantic
2%
South
2%
MidWest
2%
Mountain
1%
New England

Prominent Alumni

Jeffrey H. Brotman
Co-founder and Chairman, Costco

Jenny Durkan
Mayor, City of Seattle

William H. Gates, Sr.
Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Co-founder, Preston Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates)

Jerome Farris
Senior Judge, US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

Ricardo Martinez
Chief Judge, US District Court for the Western District of Washington

Dates

Financial Aid Rating
Jan 15
Application Deadlines
Mar 15

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$56,856

% Students Receiving Some Aid
98%

Expenses per Academic Year

In-State Tuition
$34,908
Out-Of-State Tuition
$46,110
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$15,936
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$15,936
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,371
Fees
$1,080

Student Body Profile

Total Enrollment
498
Parent Institution Enrollement
46,165

Number of Foreign Countries Represented
11
Average Age at Entry
26

% Out-of-State
35%
% International
2%

Demographics

26.30%
% Under-represented Minorities

100% are full time
0% are part time
49% female
51% male

Campus Life

Students Say

What鈥檚 the one thing pretty much all UW Law students have on their wish list of school improvements? Diversity. While 鈥渏ust about everyone can find a group of people to call their friends,鈥 attendees remark that there sure are 鈥渁 lot of white, privileged individuals at the school鈥 (though some students noted that it鈥檚 a problem endemic to law school in general, not just UW).
Otherwise, the scene 鈥渋s much less competitive and more supportive than most law schools鈥 and the 鈥渇riendly and good-natured鈥 students 鈥渄o a pretty good job of looking out for each other鈥濃攁ll without too many 鈥渙vert personality clashes.鈥 As for the social calendar, 鈥減arties or pot lucks happen almost every weekend as a nice break from the day to day stresses鈥 and 鈥渟tudent organizations sponsor happy hours and mixers.鈥 With its coffee house culture and exposure to art and music, the city of Seattle also provides plenty of opportunities to blow off steam.

More Information

% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%

Admissions Office Contact

Contact
Mathiew Le
Assistant Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid

Address
William H. Gates Hall, Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98195-3020

Phone
206-543-4078

Email
lawadm@uw.edu


Articles & Advice