UCLA LAW SCHOOL RANKING

Your Guide to the UCLA Law School Ranking and Admission

Introduction

UCLA Law School has an international reputation for excellence. The institution is a leading law school in Southern California and one of the best in the country. The institution has thirteen schools and colleges, 69 departments, and nineteen libraries. It also offers over 200 rigorous and diverse courses and programmes on contemporary legal challenges. This article will tackle the UCLA Law School ranking, the factors affecting the ranking, the admission process, and how to get into UCLA Law School.

A professor and student doing research in the library- UCLA Law School Ranking

Overview of UCLA Law School

The UCLA School of Law opened its doors back in 1949. Since then, it has become a top law school right in Los Angeles. The school is best known for its awesome programs in Business Law, Critical Race Studies, Entertainment Law, Media Law, and Intellectual Property. The school’s methodology combines intense academic training with approximately 20 legal clinics for hands-on experience. Its uncommon depositions course lets students work with faculty on real legal issues, boosting their learning. 

UCLA Law’s premier faculties provide a vibrant and comprehensive perspective to the classroom, encouraging students to explore law and take leadership roles. The school makes sure to equip students with real-world skills that’s why they focus on practical training alongside traditional law lectures and exams. By the time graduation rolls around, UCLA Law students have a ton of hands-on experience under their belts.

2023-2024 UCLA Law School Ranking

Rank Specialty
#14 Best Law Schools
#9 Business/Corporate Law (tie)
#25 Clinical Training (tie)
#12 Constitutional Law (tie)
#8 Contracts/Commercial Law (tie)
#12 Criminal Law (tie)
#34 Dispute Resolution (tie)
#4 Environmental Law (tie)
#19 Health Care Law
#9 Intellectual Property Law (tie)
#15 International Law (tie)
#115 Legal Writing (tie)
#7 Tax Law (tie)
#6 Trial Advocacy (tie)

The UCLA Law School has distinguished itself in legal education with impressive national rankings. Currently, UCLA Law School is ranked No. 14 among the Best Law Schools, a significant achievement highlighting its educational offerings’ quality and effectiveness. This esteemed UCLA law school rank is further reinforced by its specialized achievements: it stands at No. 4 in Environmental Law, reflecting its dedication and excellence in this critical field. 

The school’s strong commitment to providing comprehensive and practical legal training is evident in its ranking of 7th in Tax Law. In addition, UCLA has achieved the 6th rank in Trial Advocacy, showcasing its dedication to educating proficient litigators through its extensive law school curriculum. The UCLA Law School rankings assess the school’s overall performance and effectiveness in preparing students for success in several legal domains.

Factors Influencing Rankings

Recent shifts in ranking methodology have placed greater emphasis on outcome measures like employment and bar passage rates, reducing focus on reputation and selectivity. This change reflects the growing importance of tangible results from legal education, such as successful bar passage and securing employment post-graduation.

Data for these rankings is collected through surveys sent to law schools and includes required disclosures by the American Bar Association (ABA). The statistical data used in the rankings are current as of a specific date, ensuring the rankings are based on the most recent information.

Placement Success and Bar Passage 

UCLA Law School excels in key bar passage and career placement metrics now emphasized by the American Bar Association in its UCLA Law School rankings. An impressive 95.6% of UCLA Law grads secure full-time JD-required or bar passage-required jobs within 10 months of graduating. Additionally, UCLA students posted a 93.8% first-time bar exam pass rate compared to a 78% national average. And 98.1% of the Class of 2019 ultimately passed the bar within two attempts, reflecting UCLA’s rigorous preparation. 

These outstanding employment and bar outcomes demonstrate UCLA’s excellence in readying students for legal practice and professional success. Prospective students should weigh this proven track record of maximizing graduates’ career opportunities when evaluating law schools.

Quality Assessment

The quality assessment of law schools is based on two indicators of expert opinion, peer assessment and lawyers and judges assessment scores. Peer assessment scores are based on ratings from law school deans, academic affairs chairs, and tenured faculty members. 

Legal professionals also rate programs’ overall quality, with a score of 0.125. U.S. News surveyed between the fall of 2022 and the first part of 2023, and 64.5% of the receivers replied. Schools that declined to provide statistical information were programmatically discarded.

Selectivity

UCLA School of Law’s esteemed selectivity is evidenced by exceptional admissions benchmarks that notably augment its high position in rankings. Entering Juris Doctor candidates demonstrate outstanding scholarly aptitude reflected in median undergraduate grade-point averages of 3.9 and Law School Admission Test scores of 171. To continue attracting top-caliber applicants, the school capitalizes on superior academic indicators, which carry substantive weight in UCLA Law School rankings.

Concurrently, an exceptionally low 16.8% acceptance rate underscores the competitive nature of gaining admission. By extending offers judiciously, UCLA ensures matriculating students are among the nation’s most capable legal aspirants. The selectivity thus sustains UCLA Law’s culture of excellence that consistently amplifies its reputation.

Faculty and Library Resources

The student-faculty ratio refers to how many students there are per professor. UCLA Law has an impressive 6.9 students per professor. This means classes are smaller and each student gets more personalized attention and support from their professors.

The student-library staff ratio looks at how many students are served per librarian. At UCLA Law, there are 49.4 students per librarian. This means more support for students in accessing research materials and getting assistance with projects.

How Hard is it to Get into UCLA Law School?

The UCLA Law School rankings and eminent status lead to intense competition for admission each application cycle. Specifically, UCLA Law reported receiving several thousand submissions from prospective Juris Doctor candidates across the global community seeking entry to their Fall 2023 class. Yet despite the substantial interest, the UCLA Law School acceptance rate proved exceptionally selective, with only 16.8% of total applicants garnering offers of admission. 

Such exclusive selectivity places UCLA School of Law in the upper echelon of competitive law school admissions. Further, it cements its reputation as a top-tier training ground for the next generation of legal professionals. 

A student working on laptop sitting on porch of brick building

Academic Programs and Specialization

UCLA Law provides a range of rigorous academic programs tailored to equip students for successful careers in diverse legal professions and related fields.

Juris Doctor Program

This three-year comprehensive curriculum constitutes the conventional path toward formal legal licensure. Students benefit from exploring specialized legal concentrations while being grounded in all indispensable areas of doctrinal knowledge and analytical skills.

Master of Laws Program

Aimed primarily at law graduates and practicing attorneys, the LL.M. program at UCLA Law offers advanced legal education. It allows for specialization in multiple areas, enabling students to gain deeper insights and expertise in specific legal domains.

Master of Legal Studies Program

This program is tailored for professionals who are looking to gain a fundamental understanding of legal systems and thinking, without intending to practice law. It’s particularly beneficial for those whose careers intersect with legal issues and require a solid understanding of the law.

Doctor of Juridical Science Program

As the most advanced law degree offered by UCLA Law, the S.J.D. program is primarily research and scholarship-focused. It is designed for those who aim to pursue careers in academic, research, or high-level policy work in law.

Other schools also offer several online options if you are looking for a flexible path to a legal career. It’s recommended to look into individual programs and their accreditation status for more precise information on Online Law School California and their offers.

Admissions Process

To be considered for admission to UCLA School of Law in the Fall of 2024, you have to follow these specific application requirements:

Standardized Test Requirement

All applicants pursuing entry through the conventional Regular Decision pathway must complete either the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General Test or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than January 31st, 2024 to remain eligible for consideration this application cycle. Kindly note this deadline pertains exclusively to standard candidates.

Registration with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

It is necessary to register with the CAS of LSAC. This service gathers and sends your test results and official academic transcripts to law schools. Don’t delay sending transcripts waiting for fall grades. However, any work completed after initial registration should be updated to LSAC.

Application Form

Prospective students must submit a complete application form through the UCLA Law website or mail service by the stated deadline. All sections should be filled out in their entirety.

Personal Statement

Applicants must electronically attach a law school personal statement not exceeding 2 double-spaced pages in 11-point font or greater. The statement should discuss:

  • Any relevant background, experiences, interests, and attributes that may contribute to potential success as a UCLA Law student and future legal practitioner.
  • Unique qualities the applicant might introduce to the UCLA Law community if admitted.
  • Other appropriate factors that offer additional insights into one’s qualifications and compatibility with UCLA Law’s offerings.

Resume

A current electronic resume that includes information on one’s leadership, volunteer work, academic background, and other relevant experiences must be submitted.

Letters of Recommendation

To finish the application process, one needs to submit exactly two law school letters of recommendation. These have to be turned in via the LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation Service provided by the LSAC.

Application Fee

There is a nonrefundable fee of $75. This can be paid electronically via LSAC or by check, money order, or international money order payable to the Regents of the University of California, accompanied by your signed Certification Letter.

UCLA School of Law Tuition and Financial Aid

UCLA Law’s 2023-24 tuition distinguishes between California residents, charged $56,455, and higher non-resident fees of $68,700. However, recognizing the diverse financial situations within its 900+ student body, nearly 90% receive financial assistance, including grants, law school scholarships, and various law school loans, designed to make pursuing a premier legal education more accessible.

Qualified students may be awarded coveted full-tuition scholarships. This expansive aid commitment dramatically expands access to UCLA Law’s premier programs for high-potential students of all backgrounds. By alleviating the monetary burden through specialized assistance, UCLA shapes a legally skilled cohort defined by its talent and diversity rather than financial means alone.

Secure Your Spot at UCLA School of Law with Comprehensive LSAT Prep

Given the University of California Law School ranking, gaining admission remains intensely competitive, with multifaceted selection criteria assessed across candidates in each annual application cycle. The Law School Admission Test consistently constitutes one of the principal benchmarks utilized by the most selective legal academic institutions in the United States and globally to gauge students’ baseline aptitudes and future trajectory of success within the legal profession. 

Aspiring attorneys who strive for placement in tier-one law schools would immensely benefit from maximizing their LSAT performance through dedicated examination preparation. Odyssey Test Prep offers comprehensive services to help you excel in this crucial exam.

LSAT Prep Course

Elevate your LSAT scores with our comprehensive prep course to secure your spot at UCLA Law School. Odyssey offers comprehensive LSAT prep programs that combine instructor-led classes and self-paced learning to maximize students’ score improvements. This holistic LSAT instruction instills mastery in logical reasoning, logic games, reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and LSAT writing samples, equipping students with exam familiarity and essential strategies to conquer every question type on test day.

LSAT Tutoring

Try our personalized LSAT tutoring designed to maximize your potential and help you achieve admission to UCLA Law School. We provide personalized LSAT tutoring with experienced instructors who evaluate students’ practice exams to identify relative strengths and target areas needing improvement. Expert tutors supply ongoing assessment feedback, adjusting their instruction plans to ensure students progressively address problem spots and develop proficiencies to achieve their personalized LSAT score goals confidently.

Law School Admission Consulting

Navigate the competitive admissions process successfully with our expert consulting services tailored to help you stand out and thrive at UCLA Law School. Our law school admission consultants offer customized guidance through every stage of the application process, from school selection and personal statement revisions to application completion support and interview preparation. Odyssey’s consulting approach identifies the ideal law schools aligned with students’ goals and equips them to convincingly articulate their fit within competitive applicant pools.

Conclusion

Understanding these admission statistics is key in evaluating law schools for prospective students. It’s important to look beyond just the UCLA Law School rankings and consider how well each school aligns with your career goals, academic interests, and preferred learning environment. As you conclude your journey towards admission to UCLA School of Law, remember that the LSAT is a critical stepping stone in this process. Our dedicated team offers an LSAT Free Consultation to kickstart your preparation, tailoring a strategy that aligns with your strengths and addresses your weaknesses.

Embrace this opportunity with confidence and determination, knowing that the right support can make all the difference in your law school journey!

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