Learn what it takes to get into ASU Law School.
See Acceptance Rates, Average LSAT Scores, GPA & More
ASU Law School Overview
Arizona State University Law School opened in 1967. In 2006, the name of the law school got changed to the Sandra Day O?Connor College of Law. The name change got introduced to honor the first woman nominated to the Supreme Court.
The public institution has achieved a reputation for excellence in education. The ASU law school aims to prepare America's brightest and best for an outstanding legal career. ASU has maintained high standards of education and a no-nonsense approach to learning. Students need to prepare themselves to work hard. Being part of the law program automatically implies dramatic personal and intellectual growth.
The school has ranked first among the best law schools in Arizona for the last seven years. Admission standards are stricter than average. The law campus is in Phoenix. The university itself is large and bustling. There are just over 31,000 students in any given year.
It's an excellent school to make new friends. The party scene is active, but you're not going to have the time to indulge. The faculty at the Sandra Day O?Connor College will do an excellent job of preparing you for the high-pressure world of a career in law.
You can opt to join a frat house or sorority on campus. Many students do, and the Greek scene is a vibrant one. There are off-campus housing situations not too far from the law school as an alternative.
The campus is clean and well-maintained and is a relatively safe campus to attend. There is also a strong focus on serving the community. If you love volunteering, you're going to enjoy being at Arizona State University. The school is particularly proud of the law clinics that they've set up and helped to manage.
The law school focuses on providing a good balance between theory and practice. You're able to study towards your Juris Doctor, JD degree, or Master of Laws, LLM degree.
There are 300 externships available, so your chances of landing one are high. There are ten different clinics where students can volunteer their time in exchange for getting hands-on experience.
The average class size is 172 students. The statistic is higher than both the state and national averages. Despite larger class sizes, students report that lecturers are still responsive. In fact, most students don't feel that class size is an issue.
Attrition rates are low and, interestingly enough, higher in the second year. The drop out rate increases from 2.1% to 3.4% in the second year of studies. After that, only 0.5% of students drop out so if you can make it past your first couple of years, you'll survive the college experience.
Most students feel that they're getting their money's worth at the law school. The average bar passage rates support the belief. The average passage rate of 89.5% is very strong. The state average in Arizona is just 73.7%.
Nine out of ten students will find work quickly after graduating. Most opt to find a job as a clerk. Many will choose to work in a law firm to build experience before branching out on their own.
Arizona State University Law School certainly has a lot to offer potential students when you take all of these things into account.
ASU Law School Rankings
According to U.S. News, the law school ranks 27th in the country. According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the school comes in 23rd globally.
Why is this important? Law is a difficult subject to master. Not only do you have to understand the laws, but also understand how they relate to your case. There is some room for interpretation, and it is problematic unless you get a solid theoretical foundation during your education.
Checking a school's ranking is essential to help you sort out the schools that are less than optimal. 27th place in the United States might not sound impressive until you realize that there are hundreds of law schools nationwide.
Comparing one university to the next based on just their programs is difficult. You need to know how they rank in terms of price, acceptance, and a range of other factors.
Fortunately, you don't have to do the comparison yourself. When the U.S. News team compiles their annual report, they factor in all the aspects of a good, reputable law school on your behalf.
ASU Law School Admissions
What is the ASU Law School acceptance rate?
The average rate of acceptance over the past couple of years is 38.75%. Competition is relatively high, though nowhere near as intense as Ivy League schools.
| Applications | Offers | Matriculated | |
| Class of 2023 | 1,423 | 616 (43.29%) | 215 (15.1%) |
| 25% | Median | 75% | |
| GPA | 3.39 | 3.63 | 3.80 |
| LSAT | 158 | 161 | 163 |
| 25% | Median | 75% | |
| Class of 2020 | |||
| GPA | 3.37 | 3.76 | 3.90 |
| LSAT | 158 | 163 | 164 |
ASU Law School LSAT Percentiles
| 75th percentile | 163 |
| 50th percentile | 161 |
| 25th percentile | 158 |
2023 Entering Class Profile
| Number of Students | 623 |
| LSAT Score | 161 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.63 |
| % Women | 37.20% |
| % Students of Color | 1.6% |
| % Enrolled Directly After College | 15.1% |
What is the tuition for ASU Law School?
| In-State Resident | Non-Resident | |
| Full Time | $27,074 | $42,794 |
| Part-Time | N/A | N/A |
What are the living expenses at ASU Law School?
| On-Campus | $21,388 |
| Off-Campus | $21,388 |
What are the housing options at ASU Law School?
| On-Campus | Yes |
| Off-Campus | Yes |
BAR Passage Rates at ASU Law School
| Reporting | 98.3% |
| First Time Takers | 174 |
| {ASU} Average | 89.5% |
| {Arizona} Average | 73.7% |
| National Average | 75% |
Application Deadlines
When will the ASU application materials be available?
- Applications get received on a rolling basis. The application material is available online year-round.
When does ASU begin accepting applications?
- 8/15/2019. As said before, the school has rolling admissions. ASU is strict about deadlines but less strict about when you apply. Regardless, the institution recommends applying sooner rather than later, to improve your chances of acceptance.
- The turnaround time for applications is around 15 working days. It depends on how many applications are received.
How are applications to ASU submitted?
- Applications must be submitted online at https://law.asu.edu/admission/apply/jd.
Does ASU have an ?early admission? or an ?early decision? process?
Yes. You must apply by the end of October the year before you want to study to qualify.
How much is the application fee and when is the deadline?
| Application Fee | $65 |
| Early Decision Deadline | 11/1/2019 |
| Regular Decision Deadline | 1/3/2020 |
Does ASU grant interviews?
Yes, Arizona State University Law School does grant interviews. The law school tends to interview around 61% of applicants. So, if you need to make your case directly, you'll have that opportunity.
Employment after ASU Law School
| Median Salary Private Sector | $82,000 |
| Median Salary Public Sector | $58,500 |
Your employment potential is high at Arizona State University Law School. 91% of graduates get employed within a year of graduation. There's a good mix between graduates moving into both the public and private sectors.
A popular course of action for graduates is to find work in the public sector. Being a judicial clerk allows former students an excellent introduction to how the law gets practiced. Most graduates spend some time working as clerks in either the public or private sector. Graduates traditionally apply for entry-level positions in the private sector
Some graduates start their own practices after graduation. It is the hardest road to take. While some succeed, it's difficult for most clients to hand over control to someone just out of law school.
First, you have to decide where you want to focus your efforts. Here are some examples of the jobs that graduates of ASU law school have landed in the past:
- Intellectual property lawyers. There is a big demand for this kind of work
- Serving the armed forces in legal matters such as disciplinary hearings
- Compliance attorney posts. The posts are nothing like the courtroom dramas we see on TV. To perform well in this field, you must have high attention to detail and not get bored easily.
- Policy lawyers help shape our nation. There's nothing quite as thrilling as knowing that you've helped to overturn an unfair federal statute.
- ASU presents excellent footing if you want to champion the cause of the average man in the street. Political law is an area of focus for many law students. The school also offers courses (and practical experience) in dealing with Indian law.
- Lawyers specializing in Elder Law ASU grads are qualified to protect senior citizens (such as in cases of elder abuse). These types of lawyers can also represent the elderly that are unable to conduct their affairs any longer.
- Immigration lawyers. These types of lawyers help those that wish to call the United States their permanent home
- Judicial clerks see a lot of action from both civil and criminal cases.
- Environmental lawyers represent clients in legal issues about climate change, water purity, clean technology, and land management.
Salaries immediately after graduation are not much to write home about. But that's to be expected, considering the graduate's lack of experience. That said, the earning potential over the long haul is still outstanding.
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Some similar options are:
- UMN Law School
- Emory Law School
- Notre Dame Law School
- University of Alabama Law School
- OSU Law School
