The School of Law at University of St. Thomas

Law School Admissions

Application

Director of admissions Cari L. Haaland
Application deadline July 7
Full-time program application fee $0
Part-time program application fee N/A
Besides the fall semester, can enter in N/A

The School of Law at University of St. Thomas

Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)

Acceptance rate 55.4% – High
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.30
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 156

Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)

Acceptance rate 55.4%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 153-161
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.07-3.54
Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants 3.30
Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants 156

Admissions & Enrollment (Part-time)

Applicants N/A
Acceptance rate N/A
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) N/A
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) N/A
Median undergraduate GPA for part-time program entrants N/A
Median LSAT score for part-time program entrants N/A

Law School Academics

Academic Program Details

Academic calendar Semester
Joint degrees offered
J.D./M.A. Catholic Studies
J.D./M.A. Public Policy and Leadership
J.D./M.B.A.
J.D./M.S.W.
Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school)
UST offers a nationally-recognized, 3-year Mentor Externship. In Bankruptcy, Elder, Immigration, Federal Commutations, and Community Justice Clinics, law students work with psychology and social work students in an innovative Interprofessional Center for Counseling & Legal Services. UST Law offers 5 joint degrees, Judicial, Business Law and Public Interest Externships, and summer study in Rome.
Programs/courses offered in
appellate advocacy intellectual property law
clinical training international law
dispute resolution tax law
environmental law trial advocacy
health care law

Curricular Offerings (Overall)

Classroom course titles, beyond the first-year curriculum, offered last year 91
Seminars 15
Positions available in seminars 234
Positions available in simulation courses 452
Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses 83
Student activities (as provided by the school)
UST’s nearly fifty student groups include a Public Service Board, Federalist and American Constitutional Societies, Black, Latino and Asian groups, and faith-based and practice area groups. The Law Journal hosts symposia generating articles for publication; a Board of Advocates coordinates various competitions. An active, collaborative Student Government enhances UST’s high quality of life.

Curricular Offerings (Full-time)

Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 85
Is there typically a full-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? Yes
Typical size of first-year “small section” 43
Positions filled in full-time program seminars 171
Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses 419
Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses 77
Full-time students involved in field placements 637
Full-time students involved in law journals 38
Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 29
Full-time students enrolled in independent study 75

Curricular Offerings (Part-time)

Typical first-year part-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) N/A
Is there typically a part-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? N/A
Positions filled in part-time program seminars N/A
Positions filled in part-time program simulation courses N/A
Positions filled in faculty-supervised part-time program clinical courses N/A
Part-time students involved in field placements N/A
Part-time students involved in law journals N/A
Part-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions N/A
Part-time students enrolled in independent study N/A

Faculty Profile (Fall 2011)

Student-faculty ratio 13.6:1 – Medium
Full- and part-time faculty 94
Full-time minority faculty 16.7%
Part-time minority faculty 10.9%
Total faculty 107
Total faculty (men) 65.4%
Total faculty (women) 34.6%
Total faculty (minorities) 12.1%

Class Size

Law School Ranking

Unranked Best Law Schools

Law Ranking Scores

Score N/A
Peer assessment score (out of 5) 1.9
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) 2.3
GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.07-3.54
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.30
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 153-161
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 156
Acceptance rate 55.4% – High
Student-faculty ratio 13.6:1 – Medium
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 32.9%* – Low
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 86.5% – Medium
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 88.5% – Medium
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar MN
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 92.2%

Law School Student Body

Student Body (Overall)

Total Enrolled 483

Student Body (Full-time)

Enrollment (full-time) 481

Student Body (Part-time)

Enrollment (part-time) 2

Attrition Rates for Full- and Part-time Students (2010-2011)

First-year students discontinuing law school 1.2%
Second-year students discontinuing law school 9.6%
Third-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Fourth-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Male students discontinuing law school 5.2%
Female students discontinuing law school 1.9%

Law School Cost

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial aid director Cari Haaland
Financial aid phone (651) 962-4895
Financial aid application deadline July 7

Expenses

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $34,898 per year
Room and board N/A
Books N/A
Miscellaneous expenses N/A
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? Yes
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? No
Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? No
Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? Yes

Grants (Full-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 18.9%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 14.8%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 23.9%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 0.0%
Median grant amount $25,000
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $10,000–$34,964
Full-time students receiving grants 57.6%

Grants (Part-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition N/A
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full N/A
Students receiving grants of full tuition N/A
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition N/A
Median grant amount N/A
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) N/A
Part-time students receiving grants N/A

Indebtedness

Average indebtedness of 2011 graduates who incurred law school debt $105,382
Proportion who borrowed 89.6%
Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2011 J.D. graduates? Yes

Law School Library

Library Information Resources

Print titles (excluding nonbook titles) 14,146
Microform titles 131,926
Electronic titles 58,314
Other non-book titles 135
Total titles 204,521
Volumes (excluding microforms) 64,466
Volume equivalent microforms 153,772
Total volumes and volume equivalents 218,238
Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable 0
Library’s online catalog or website includes links to electronic titles or databases made available by another campus library or consortia Yes

Library Schedule of Operation

Number of hours per week library is open on a regular schedule 83
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule 66
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule 4
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule 1
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule 59
Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule 17
Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule 46
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty are on an abbreviated schedule 47
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 0
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 0
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule 40
Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule 0

Information Technology

Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations law school information technology department, law school library, university information technology department
Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) 3
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) 335
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms 165
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs 19
Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school 121
Does the law school have a wireless network? Yes
Wireless network is available in the law library, in classrooms, in computer labs, in administrative/faculty offices and work areas, elsewhere in the law school
Does the school require entering students to own a computer? No

Physical Library Facilities

Net square feet of space assigned for library purposes 39,289
Total seats available for library users 379
Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) UST Law is in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, near courts and major law firms. Distinctive features include a dramatic four-story atrium, a striking moot courtroom, and a beautiful chapel. Modern technology enhances the classrooms, courtroom, and study areas. The library, with ample seating, 12 group studies, and a strong electronic collection facilitates study from both on and off campus.

Law School Careers

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)

State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar MN
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 88.5% – Medium
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 92.2%

Class of 2010 Graduates

Total graduates 155
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 32.9%*
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 86.5%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Graduation

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 7.7%
Graduates whose employment status is known 92.3%
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 32.9%*
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 1.9%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 56.8%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 0.6%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 1.3%
Graduates whose employment status is known 98.7%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 86.5%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 1.9%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 9.0%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 1.3%

Starting Salaries of Graduates Employed Full-time (Class of 2010)

25th percentile private sector starting salary $45,000
Median private sector starting salary $57,500
75th percentile private sector starting salary $75,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 62%
Median public service starting salary $46,500

Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)

Percent employed in academia 4.5%
Percent employed in business and industry 26.1%
Percent employed in government 11.2%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 11.2%
Percent employed in law firms 35.8%
Percent employed in public interest 8.2%
Percent employed in an unknown field 3.0%

Employment Location (Class of 2010)

Graduates employed in-state 79%
Graduates employed out-of-state 21.1%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 0%
Number of states where graduates are employed 16
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 0.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 0.8%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 5.5%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 84.4%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 0.8%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 0.0%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 0.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 4.7%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 3.9%
Employment location unknown 0.0%

Career Services

(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)

Career services operations Career and Professional Development (CPD) services for students include career counseling, resume review, mock interviews, and workshops on job skills and the job market. CPD does significant outreach to employers and assists students with their networking activities. Its extensive online Job Center allows students to search job postings from around the country.

Job Type

Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 54.2%
Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions 92.8%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 16.3%
J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions 80.0%
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) 9.2%
Professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 50.0%
Non-professional 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) 5.9%
Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 33.3%