Overview

Applicants
1,856
Acceptance Rate
36%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.65
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
274

Test Scores

LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
158 - 165

Deadlines

Application Deadlines
April 3

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


Selectivity Rating

Faculty Information

Total Faculty
131

44.6
Female
17.56
Underrepresented Minorities


Students Say

Located in the state capital of Madison, the University of Wisconsin Law School 鈥渋s an incredibly well-run law school鈥 that focuses on skill-based learning by taking a law-in-action approach to emphasizes how law relates to social change and to society as a whole. The school offers numerous dual degrees, certificates, and curricular concentrations, as well as one of the country's largest clinical programs. This abundance of options 鈥渁llows students to get heavily involved with client-interfacing, substantive, and meaningful work as early as 1L summer,鈥 working hands-on with real clients in the Federal or Criminal Appeals Projects, the Family Court Clinic, or the Neighborhood Law Clinic, among others. The school dedicates special 鈥渁ttention 鈥 to Wisconsin-specific law,鈥 which is aided by the school's location. 鈥淒owntown Madison as an aspiring lawyer is great鈥 because it creates numerous experiential learning opportunities, including placements in courts and state and federal agencies. Last year, more than 92 percent of students took a clinic or externship course. Additionally, the Lawyering Skills Program offers simulation courses that let students develop professional skills such as oral communication, negotiations, writing for practice, and client counseling within a supervised classroom setting, and 鈥渢he emphasis on practical legal skills is unmatched.鈥 The Academic Enhancement Program 鈥渋s an incredible resource鈥 that provides support services such as learning skills assessments, study groups, and study aids. Finally, the state of Wisconsin's Diploma Privilege lets students secure a license to practice law in Wisconsin without taking a bar exam right out of law school. Overall, 鈥渃linical work, externships, and internships [are] all heavily emphasized鈥 here, and 鈥渞eally allow you to get first-hand experience working with real people in the community.鈥

Professors at UW Law 鈥渦nderstand that law school is stressful but also expect a great deal from their students.鈥 However, they're there to help: Faculty 鈥渇rom the dean to professors are accessible and want to converse 鈥 with students,鈥 so they 鈥渆ncourage meeting them for office hours or otherwise approaching them with questions via email.鈥 For example, 鈥渢he dean hosts weekly office hours,鈥 and 鈥渢he administration is accessible and cares about their students.鈥 This dedication draws many favorable comments from enrollees: 鈥淚've had several professors that, in addition to being excellent lawyers, have really spent the time to develop their curriculum using research-based methods and cater to a variety of learning styles.鈥 Many teachers also 鈥渁ssign student-directed learning projects throughout the semester to enhance student research and independent studies.鈥 Facilities-wise, 鈥渢he [law] building is dated,鈥 but the library 鈥渋s beautiful and a nice place to study.鈥 It also offers 鈥渕ultiple research trainings that are very useful,鈥 and the librarians really 鈥渢ake time to make sure that you understand the services.鈥 In addition to these trainings, there is 鈥渁mple opportunity to learn things beyond the classroom thanks to events 鈥 where speakers come and talk about various areas of law.鈥 The school's 14,000 alumni also regularly make appearances on campus, perhaps most notably during the Pizza with Professionals lunch panels.

Career overview

Median Starting Salary
$64,582
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
94%
% of job accepting graduates providing useable salary information
46%

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
120

Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Kirkland & Ellis; Foley& Lardner; Quarles & Brady; Godfrey & Kahn; Reinhart Boerner; Michael Best & Friedrich; Dewitt, Ross & Stevens; Faegre Baker Daniels; Sidley & Austin; Mayer Brown; Dorsey & Whitney; Deloitte Tax; Wisconsin Public Defender; Wisconsin Supreme Court; Robins, Kaplan; PwC; Perkins Coie; Dane County District Attorney; Stafford Rosenbaum; Husch Blackwell; and Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Graduates Employed by Area

43%
Private Practice
17%
Public Interes
16%
Government
10%
Business/Industry
7%
Judicial Clerkships

Graduates Employed by Region

71%
MidWest
7%
Pacific
6%
Mid-Atlantic
4%
South
2%
South West
1%
International
1%
Mountain
1%
New England

Dates

Financial Aid Rating
Apr 15

Financial Aid Statistics


Expenses per Academic Year

In-State Tuition
$28,835
Out-Of-State Tuition
$47,532
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$14,122
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$14,122
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$2,450
Fees
$1,447

Student Body Profile

Total Enrollment
650
Parent Institution Enrollement
45,317

Number of Foreign Countries Represented
19
Average Age at Entry
25

% Out-of-State
51%
% International
3%

Demographics

97% are full time
3% are part time
48% female
52% male

Campus Life

Students Say

鈥淢adison is a very active city with lots of options,鈥 and the school's Bascom Hill location 鈥渋s perfect if you like that Big Ten campus vibe.鈥 Within the classroom, there is 鈥渁 healthy level of respectful 鈥 participation,鈥 but 鈥減retty much everyone is friends or acquaintances with 鈥 other classmates.鈥 As such, they're 鈥渨illing to share notes when people miss class and 鈥 create study groups [to] meet up outside of school.鈥 Students caution that 鈥渋t can get competitive, especially around recruitment time,鈥 but overall the 鈥渧ariety of different student organizations and opportunities to be involved鈥 creates a 鈥渧ery welcoming鈥 environment that fosters a 鈥渟trong 鈥榯eam' attitude.鈥

More Information

% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%

Admissions Office Contact

Contact
Rebecca L. Scheller
Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid

Address
975 Bascom Mall
Suite 6210
Madison, WI 53706

Phone
608-262-5914

Email
admissions@law.wisc.edu


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