The School of Law at University of Virginia

Law School Admissions

Application

Director of admissions Anne M. Richard
Application deadline March 1
Full-time program application fee $80
Part-time program application fee N/A
Besides the fall semester, can enter in N/A

The School of Law at University of Virginia

Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)

Acceptance rate 9.3% – Low
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.86
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 170

Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)

Acceptance rate 9.3%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 165-171
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.49-3.94
Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants 3.86
Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants 170

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.B.A. J.D./M.A. Government/Foreign Affairs
J.D./M.A. History J.D./M.A. Philosophy
J.D./M.P.H. J.D./M.U.E.P.
J.D./M.A. English J.D./M.A. International Relations
J.D./M.S. Accounting J.D./M.A. Law and Diplomacy
J.D./M.A. Economics J.D./M.P.A.
Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school)
Virginia offers 20 clinics as well as curricular programs in law and business, law and public service, international law, legal history, criminal justice, human rights, race and law, environmental law, intellectual property, health law, immigration law, law and humanities, and animal law. Virginia also offers 11 joint degree programs and eight international exchange programs.
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 259
Seminars 91
Positions available in seminars 1,459
Positions available in simulation courses 926
Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses 96
Student activities (as provided by the school)
Student activities at Virginia include 10 student-run academic journals, 70 interest-centered organizations, student government, and a vibrant range of social and athletic activities. Students also compete in appellate moot court and trial advocacy competitions nationwide.

Curricular Offerings (Full-time)

Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 68
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” 31
Positions filled in full-time program seminars 1,112
Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses 824
Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses 91
Full-time students involved in field placements 159
Full-time students involved in law journals 650
Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 86
Full-time students enrolled in independent study 154

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 11.1:1 – Low
Full- and part-time faculty 177
Full-time minority faculty 12.9%
Part-time minority faculty 8.7%
Total faculty 185
Total faculty (men) 77.8%
Total faculty (women) 22.2%
Total faculty (minorities) 11.4%

Class Size

Law School Ranking

#7 Best Law Schools

(3) Ranking by Specialties

#10 in International Law
#6 in Law Firms Rank Schools
#6 in Tax Law

Law Ranking Scores

Score 87
Peer assessment score (out of 5) 4.4
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) 4.6
GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.49-3.94
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.86
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 165-171
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 170
Acceptance rate 9.3% – Low
Student-faculty ratio 11.1:1 – Low
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 98.1% – High
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 98.1% – High
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 91.1% – Medium
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar VA
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 77.4%

Law School Student Body

Student Body (Overall)

Total Enrolled 1093

Student Body (Full-time)

Enrollment (full-time) 1,093

Student Body (Part-time)

Enrollment (part-time) N/A
Gender distribution (part-time) N/A

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

First-year students discontinuing law school 1.1%
Second-year students discontinuing law school 1.4%
Third-year students discontinuing law school 0.3%
Fourth-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Male students discontinuing law school 0.8%
Female students discontinuing law school 1.0%

Law School Cost

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial aid director Jennifer M. Hulvey
Financial aid phone (434) 924-7805
Financial aid application deadline February 15

Expenses

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $44,600 per year (in-state)
Full-time: $49,600 per year (out-of-state)
Room and board $15,466
Books $1,800
Miscellaneous expenses $3,534
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? No
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? No
Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? Yes
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 31.9%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 10.0%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 3.5%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 0.4%
Median grant amount $18,000
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $12,000–$25,000
Full-time students receiving grants 45.7%

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 $117,886
Proportion who borrowed 78.6%
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) 277,188
Microform titles 13,690
Electronic titles 143,847
Other non-book titles 9,727
Total titles 444,452
Volumes (excluding microforms) 592,503
Volume equivalent microforms 281,478
Total volumes and volume equivalents 873,981
Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable 75,542
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 112
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule 69
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule 7
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule 57
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule 69
Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule 15
Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule 70
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty are on an abbreviated schedule 45
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 15
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 16
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule 45
Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule 37

Information Technology

Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations law school information technology department, law school library, university information technology department, other
Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) 13
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) 78
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms 0
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs 0
Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school 0
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? Yes

Physical Library Facilities

Net square feet of space assigned for library purposes 81,876
Total seats available for library users 809
Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) At Virginia, students enjoy perhaps the most appealing physical environment found at any law school in the country. Surrounded by inviting gardens and an elegant, tree-lined lawn, the setting reflects Thomas Jefferson’s conviction that locating an intellectual community within a beautiful environment fosters learning and personal growth.

Law School Careers

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)

State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar VA
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 91.1% – Medium
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 77.4%

Class of 2010 Graduates

Total graduates 374
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 98.1%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 98.1%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Graduation

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 0.0%
Graduates whose employment status is known 100.0%
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 98.1%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 0.5%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 0.5%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 0.8%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 0.3%
Graduates whose employment status is known 99.7%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 98.1%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 0.5%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 0.3%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 0.8%

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

25th percentile private sector starting salary $135,000
Median private sector starting salary $160,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 91%
Median public service starting salary $54,293

Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)

Percent employed in academia 0.8%
Percent employed in business and industry 2.7%
Percent employed in government 13.6%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 14.2%
Percent employed in law firms 61.3%
Percent employed in public interest 7.4%
Percent employed in an unknown field 0.0%

Employment Location (Class of 2010)

Graduates employed in-state 14%
Graduates employed out-of-state 83.4%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 2%
Number of states where graduates are employed 35
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 2.7%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 22.1%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 4.1%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 1.6%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 49.1%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 2.5%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 4.9%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 7.6%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 2.7%
Employment location unknown 1.1%

Career Services

(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)

Career services operations We partner with students on all aspects of their job search. We guide students in identifying employment opportunities that will be personally and professionally fulfilling, work with them on their resumes and cover letters, assist them in preparing for interviews, and then educate them on skills that will enable them to succeed in the workplace.

Job Type

Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 95.1%
Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions 100.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 3.8%
J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions 92.9%
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) 0.3%
Professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 100.0%
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) 0.8%
Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 100.0%