The Law School at University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Law School Admissions

Application

Director of admissions Sarah C. Zearfoss
Application deadline February 15
Full-time program application fee $75
Part-time program application fee N/A
Besides the fall semester, can enter in summer

The Law School at University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)

Acceptance rate 21.4% – Low
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.76
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 169

Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)

Acceptance rate 21.4%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 167-170
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.59-3.87
Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants 3.76
Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants 169

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./Ph.D. Economics J.D./M.A. Russian/E. European Studies
J.D./M.S. Information J.D./M.A. Political Science
J.D./M.S. Natural Resources J.D./M.A. Chinese Studies
J.D./M.P.H. J.D./M.A. Modern Mid East/N African Stud
J.D./M.P.P. J.D./M.A. World Politics
J.D./M.S.W. J.D./M.H.S.A. Masters of Hlth Serv Admin
J.D./M.U.P. J.D./M.A. Pharmaceutical Engineering
J.D./M.B.A. J.D./Ph.D. American Culture
J.D./M.A. Kinesiology J.D./Ph.D. Sociology
J.D./M.A. South Asian Studies J.D./M.A. Applied Economics
J.D./M.A. South East Asian Studies J.D./Cert., Lat. Amer./Carib. Studies
J.D./M.A. Japanese Studies J.D./Cert., Real Estate Devel.
Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school)
Michigan Law offers extensive clinical, research, scholarly, and practice opportunities — including 13 clinics, study abroad in one of 8 established programs, domestic and international externships and internships, 14 dual degree programs, 6 international centers and programs, and prestigious clerkships in the U.S., the European Court of Justice and International Court of Justice.
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 182
Seminars 61
Positions available in seminars 846
Positions available in simulation courses 723
Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses 345
Student activities (as provided by the school)
Students are active in 50+ groups devoted to legal interests and affinity group membership. They excel in national moot court competitions, participate in institutional governance, and serve on the editorial staffs of 6 journals. Student-led symposia and workshops bring prominent legal scholars and practitioners to Michigan. We are particularly proud of our students’ 50 hour pro bono commitment.

Curricular Offerings (Full-time)

Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 92
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” 46
Positions filled in full-time program seminars 768
Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses 626
Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses 333
Full-time students involved in field placements 30
Full-time students involved in law journals 476
Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 58
Full-time students enrolled in independent study 256

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 12.8:1 – Medium
Full- and part-time faculty 106
Full-time minority faculty 11.4%
Part-time minority faculty 5.6%
Total faculty 130
Total faculty (men) 66.9%
Total faculty (women) 33.1%
Total faculty (minorities) 9.2%

Class Size

Law School Ranking

#10 Best Law Schools

(5) Ranking by Specialties

#14 in Clinical Training
#19 in Intellectual Property Law
#9 in International Law
#4 in Law Firms Rank Schools
#11 in Tax Law

Law Ranking Scores

Score 86
Peer assessment score (out of 5) 4.5
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) 4.6
GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.59-3.87
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.76
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 167-170
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 169
Acceptance rate 21.4% – Low
Student-faculty ratio 12.8:1 – Medium
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 90.4% – High
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 92.2% – High
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 94.9% – 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 1149

Student Body (Full-time)

Enrollment (full-time) 1,149

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 N/A
Second-year students discontinuing law school 1.0%
Third-year students discontinuing law school 0.8%
Fourth-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Male students discontinuing law school 0.8%
Female students discontinuing law school 0.4%

Law School Cost

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial aid director Katherine Gottschalk
Financial aid phone (734) 764-5289
Financial aid application deadline N/A

Expenses

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $46,830 per year (in-state)
Full-time: $49,740 per year (out-of-state)
Room and board $11,750
Books $1,050
Miscellaneous expenses $5,330
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? Yes
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? Yes
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 60.7%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 3.9%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 2.3%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 1.5%
Median grant amount $15,000
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $8,850–$18,000
Full-time students receiving grants 68.5%

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 $110,532
Proportion who borrowed 90.2%
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) 304,723
Microform titles 23,708
Electronic titles 75,448
Other non-book titles 98
Total titles 403,977
Volumes (excluding microforms) 710,761
Volume equivalent microforms 315,951
Total volumes and volume equivalents 1,026,712
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 112
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule 49
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 47
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule 105
Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule 4
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 14
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 11
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule 63
Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule 48

Information Technology

Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations law school 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) 6
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms 297
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs 24
Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school 72
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 96,762
Total seats available for library users 854
Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) The beautiful Law Quad, at the heart of campus, includes the Lawyers Club student residence, one of the 4 best law libraries in the world and its renowned Gothic Reading Room, and classroom, faculty offices, and student meeting and lounging space. In 2011, a new four-story academic building and vibrant new Commons opened, offering new spaces for classes and collaboration.

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) 94.9% – High
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 76.4%

Class of 2010 Graduates

Total graduates 374
Graduates known to be employed at graduation 90.4%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 92.2%

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 90.4%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 2.7%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 4.0%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 2.9%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 0.8%
Graduates whose employment status is known 99.2%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 92.2%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 3.2%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 1.3%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 2.4%

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

25th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Median private sector starting salary $160,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 72%
Median public service starting salary $62,426

Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)

Percent employed in academia 1.2%
Percent employed in business and industry 5.2%
Percent employed in government 8.7%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 11.0%
Percent employed in law firms 64.1%
Percent employed in public interest 9.3%
Percent employed in an unknown field 0.6%

Employment Location (Class of 2010)

Graduates employed in-state 12%
Graduates employed out-of-state 82.0%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 3%
Number of states where graduates are employed 36
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 3.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 26.0%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 27.0%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 3.0%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 15.0%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 1.0%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 3.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 14.0%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 2.0%
Employment location unknown 3.0%

Career Services

(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)

Career services operations The 7 attorney-counselors in Career Planning advise students about the full range of professional opportunities. Our on-campus recruiting program, consistently one of the largest and geographically broadest, attracts employers from all major markets. We are leaders in clerkships and academia; a generous LRAP helps ensure high placement in government and public interest.

Job Type

Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 95.6%
Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions 99.7%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 3.5%
J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions 100.0%
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) 0.9%
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) 0.0%
Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions N/A