The School of Law at Duke University

Law School Admissions

Application

Director of admissions William Hoye
Application deadline February 15
Full-time program application fee $70
Part-time program application fee N/A
Besides the fall semester, can enter in summer

The School of Law at Duke University

Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)

Acceptance rate 15.3% – Low
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.75
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 170

Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)

Acceptance rate 15.3%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 167-171
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.62-3.84
Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants 3.75
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.A. Cultural Anthropology J.D./M.A. Psychology
J.D./M.A. East Asian Studies J.D./M.S. Biomedical Engineering
J.D./M.A. Environmental Science/Policy J.D./M.A. Romance Studies
J.D./M.A. Economics J.D./M.A. Sociology
J.D./M.A. History J.D./M.A. Religion
J.D./M.A. Humanities J.D./M.A. English
J.D./LL.M Int’l and Comparative Law J.D./Ph.D History
J.D/.M.B.A. J.D./Ph.D Political Science
J.D./M.D. J.D./M.A. Literature
J.D./M.S. Engineering J.D./M.A. Art & Art History
J.D./M.P.P. Public Policy J.D./M.S. Cellular/Molecular Biology
J.D./M.T.S. J.D. MEM
J.D./M.A. Philosophy J.D. LLM Law and Entrepreneurship
J.D./M.A. Political Science Classical Studies
J.D./M.A. Int’l Development Policy
Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school)
Duke leads in interdisciplinary study with almost 25% of students in dual degrees. Interdisciplinary centers offer conferences, research & teaching. Duke operates eight clinics and offers programs that integrate academics & hands-on practice including Duke in DC & capstone projects. International opportunities include externships, foreign exchanges, and summer institutes in Geneva & Hong Kong.
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 201
Seminars 99
Positions available in seminars 1,499
Positions available in simulation courses 738
Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses 174
Student activities (as provided by the school)
Encouraged by the Duke Blueprint to LEAD, students take ownership of their legal education and community through nine law journals; moot court programs with winning track records nationally & internationally; a student government that won back-to-back awards for leadership; more than 50 active organizations; and public interest and pro bono programs that engage nearly half the student body.

Curricular Offerings (Full-time)

Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 80
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 1,019
Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses 695
Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses 163
Full-time students involved in field placements 83
Full-time students involved in law journals 310
Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 87
Full-time students enrolled in independent study 176

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 10.0:1 – Low
Full- and part-time faculty 90
Full-time minority faculty 16.4%
Part-time minority faculty 8.6%
Total faculty 106
Total faculty (men) 65.1%
Total faculty (women) 34.9%
Total faculty (minorities) 13.2%

Class Size

Law School Ranking

#11 Best Law Schools

(5) Ranking by Specialties

#9 in Environmental Law
#8 in Intellectual Property Law
#12 in International Law
#8 in Law Firms Rank Schools
#23 in Tax Law

Law Ranking Scores

Score 84
Peer assessment score (out of 5) 4.3
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) 4.4
GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.62-3.84
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.75
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 167-171
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 170
Acceptance rate 15.3% – Low
Student-faculty ratio 10.0:1 – Low
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 92.0% – High
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 94.8% – High
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 97.0% – High
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar NY
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 76.4%

Law School Student Body

Student Body (Overall)

Total Enrolled 644

Student Body (Full-time)

Enrollment (full-time) 644

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 0.8%
Second-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Third-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Fourth-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Male students discontinuing law school 0.5%
Female students discontinuing law school N/A

Law School Cost

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial aid director John Ahlers
Financial aid phone (919) 613-7026
Financial aid application deadline March 15

Expenses

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $49,617 per year
Room and board $10,890
Books $1,326
Miscellaneous expenses $5,492
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? No

Grants (Full-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 70.5%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 9.9%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 2.5%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 0.2%
Median grant amount $16,000
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $12,000–$20,000
Full-time students receiving grants 83.1%

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 $128,057
Proportion who borrowed 86.0%
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) 151,794
Microform titles 78,544
Electronic titles 71,188
Other non-book titles 1,367
Total titles 302,893
Volumes (excluding microforms) 472,635
Volume equivalent microforms 207,844
Total volumes and volume equivalents 680,479
Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable 63,428
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 168
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule 68
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule 16
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule 3
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule 65
Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule 14
Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule 168
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 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 45
Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule 38

Information Technology

Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations law school information technology department, university information technology department
Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) 14
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) 174
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms 680
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 40
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 67,224
Total seats available for library users 585
Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) Duke Law School’s central campus location promotes interdisciplinary academic and extra-curricular activity. Duke is widely recognized as a high-technology law school, with state-of-the-art classrooms and clinic spaces. A large atrium and the law library serve as focal points and gathering spaces for the community. The campus also offers easy access to biking & hiking trails.

Law School Careers

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)

State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar NY
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 97.0% – High
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 76.4%

Class of 2010 Graduates

Total graduates 213
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 92.0%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 94.8%

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 92.0%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 2.3%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 1.4%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 4.2%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 0.0%
Graduates whose employment status is known 100.0%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 94.8%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 2.3%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 0.9%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 1.9%

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

25th percentile private sector starting salary $140,000
Median private sector starting salary $160,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 93%
Median public service starting salary $56,000

Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)

Percent employed in academia 2.0%
Percent employed in business and industry 4.0%
Percent employed in government 10.9%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 16.8%
Percent employed in law firms 61.4%
Percent employed in public interest 5.0%
Percent employed in an unknown field 0.0%

Employment Location (Class of 2010)

Graduates employed in-state 14%
Graduates employed out-of-state 84.1%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 2%
Number of states where graduates are employed 27
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 4.9%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 23.8%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 4.9%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 0.5%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 39.6%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 1.5%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 5.9%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 12.9%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 4.0%
Employment location unknown 0.0%

Career Services

(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)

Career services operations Duke students develop life-long skills to pursue fulfilling careers and adapt to a changing world. The Career Center offers unlimited counseling and a three-year career development plan. Hundreds of employers interview at Duke and alumni return to campus throughout the year to advise and mentor students. Duke Law graduates work in large and small cities around the country and abroad.

Job Type

Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 88.6%
Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions 98.9%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 10.4%
J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions 38.1%
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) 0.5%
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) 0.5%
Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 100.0%