University of Alabama Law School Overview
The University of Alabama School of Law was established in 1872. The program is a nationally rated, high-tier law school that happens to represent the only publically-available school of law in the entire state of Alabama. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, the University of Alabama School of Law is one of five schools of law in the state of Alabama, and one of three that features ABA (American Bar Association) accreditation.
The University of Alabama School of Law is noteworthy for its illustrious alumni featuring many political powerhouses. The alumni include former governor of Alabama George Wallace, the 84th Attorney General of the United States and a long-running member of the Alabama senate Jeff Sessions, and Southern Poverty Law Center founder Morris Dees. Acclaimed author Harper Lee also attended the school for a while, but never managed to finish her degree with the school.
The law school features a 6.4 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. As a result, the University of Alabama School of Law provides potential students with an elite-level education in law. The University of Alabama School of Law offers many degree options which include:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- JD/MBA (Joint Program)
- JD/MA, Ph.D. in Political Science (Dual Enrollment Program)
- JD/MPA (Dual Enrollment Program)
- JD/Ph.D. in Economics (Dual Enrollment Program)
- JD/MS in Civil Engineering (Dual Enrollment Program)
- JD/MSW in Social Work (Dual Enrollment Program)
- JD/LLM in Taxation (Dual Enrollment Program)
- JD/LLM Concentration in Business Transactions (Dual Enrollment Program)
- Master of Laws (LLM) in Taxation
- Master of Laws (LLM) Concentration in Business Transactions
- Master of Laws (LLM) – International Graduate Program
- Doctor of Juridical Sciences (JSD)
The University of Alabama School of Law also offers many certificate-based programs such as:
- Governmental Affairs Certificate
- Public Interest Law Certificate
- International and Comparative Law Certificate
- Public Interest Institute
- Summer and Academic Year Externship Programs
- Semester-Long Federal Externship Program in Washington, D.C.
- 20 Trial Advocacy and Moot Court Teams
- Academic Support Programs
The University of Alabama School of Law also offers a selection of diverse clinical programs as well. It's also key to note that, according to the Quick Facts section of their website, every law student is guaranteed experience in clinical practice.
Here is the selection of themed clinical programs at the university:
- Civil Law Clinic
- Criminal Defense Clinic
- Domestic Violence Law Clinic
- Elder Law Clinic
- Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Clinic
- Mediation Law Clinic
- Children's Rights Clinic
The University of Alabama School of Law also publishes four academic journals relating to the field of law:
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Alabama Law Review
Coming up on its 65th volume, the Alabama Law Review provides the very best in academic excellence on national as well as local interests. The Alabama Law Review is important to practitioners of law and other types of scholars. -
The Journal of the Legal Profession
Published for a little over 30 years now, The Journal of the Legal Profession is the nation's first academic journal about legal ethics and the complexities/issues within the profession of law. -
Law & Psychology Review
The academic journal discusses the meshing of the specialties of law and psychology. It was one of the first academic journals to blend the two disciplines. -
Alabama Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review
A more recent publication introduced to the university. The journal examines the big issues in civil rights and civil liberty concerns. Many of the issues discussed are about age, gender, race discrimination, disability, fair housing, and more.
The University of Alabama School of Law is located in beautiful Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It is not far from the bustling Birmingham metro area. On top of that, the University of Alabama, in general, holds one of the most celebrated college football teams in the United States. As a result, campus life is more exciting due to the football program's consistent and triumphant victories.
University of Alabama Law School Rankings
School rankings are important for students of all disciplines, but especially when it comes to law students. The rankings of a school of law generally indicate the level of academic rigor and educational quality of the university.
Rankings are also generally mentioned as an extremely important metric when it comes to determining a law applicant's qualification for a certain role. Many different kinds of organizations crunch the numbers annually when it comes to ascertaining the very best law schools in the United States.
Metrics are ultimately determined based on the organization providing the research, but it is important to note the top 10 schools of law in the United States are usually going to be similar. As of 2019, the University of Alabama School of Law ranks between #24 and #25.
University of Alabama Law School Admissions
What is the University of Alabama Law School Acceptance Rate?
Rankings of law schools indicate just how competitive it is for prospective students to enter into a particular school. The standard is generally the larger the rank of said law school, the more difficult it is to get accepted. There are other metrics to take into consideration as well, such as a school's overall prestige. Types of academic programs offered can also impact the admission rate as well.
Average acceptance ratesfor law schools in the United States is moving close to 46%. The University of Alabama School of Law seems to set a higher standard of entry for its applicants. Considered a competitive law school, The University of Alabama School of Law's acceptance rate, estimated for the class of 2023, resides around 36.68%.
When it comes to law school acceptance, the numbers can vary per year due to a lot of different factors. One prime factor is simply the fact that law schools can only hold a designated number of students at any given time. Another huge factor is the number of annual applicants in general. Acceptance rates are going to look much higher if the number of applicants is fewer in number compared to the previous year.
When it comes to standardized metrics, however, the very best factors of a law school's acceptance rate are based on the academic achievements of the students that apply. LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA are the two founding benchmarks of new applicants.
There are other determinations for an applying student that the institution takes into consideration on a case by case basis. In 2019, applicant GPAs on average were in the 3.76 range. The average is close to some Ivy League law schools, such as New York University, and manages to rank higher than Columbia University, the fifth-ranked law school in the country.
When it comes to LSAT scores, the median score for incoming University of Alabama School of Law students rests at 163. The statistical average is considerably lower than LSAT scores recorded for the top five Ivy League schools (which are in the 171-173 range).
Here are some more statistics regarding the University of Alabama School of Law:
Applications Offers Matriculated Class of 2023 1,584 581 (36.68%) 153 (9.7%) 25% Median 75% GPA 3.29 3.76 3.93 LSAT 156 163 164
University of Alabama School of Law LSAT Percentiles
25th Percentile 156 50th Percentile 163 75th Percentile 164Want to get into the University of Alabama School of Law? Sign up for LSATMax today!
2019 Entering Class Profile
Number of Students N/A LSAT Score 163 Undergraduate GPA 3.76 % Women 42.70% % Students of Color 9.0% % Enrolled Directly After College N/A
What is the tuition for the University of Alabama School of Law?
In-State Resident Non-Resident Full Time $22,324 $37,664 Part-Time N/A N/A
What are the living expenses at the University of Alabama School of Law?
On-Campus $17,972 Off-Campus $17,972
What are the housing options at the University of Alabama School of Law?
On-Campus No Off-Campus Yes
BAR Passage Rates at the University of Alabama School of Law
Reporting 80.9% First Time Takers 173 University of Alabama School of Law Average 95.0% Alabama Average 86.3% National Average 74.82%
Application Deadlines
When will the University of Alabama School of Law application materials be available?
The University of Alabama School of Law application materials is accessible online. Application materials can be accessed here.
When does the University of Alabama School of Law begin accepting applications?
The University of Alabama School of Law begins accepting applications for the next semester on September 1, 2019. The application cutoff date for the fall semester is July 15, 2020.
How are applications to the University of Alabama School of Law submitted?
Prospective students for the University of Alabama School of Law are to submit their applications via the Law School Administration Council (LSAC) website.
Does the University of Alabama School of Law have an "early admission" or an "early decision" process?
The University of Alabama School of Law does not have an early admission process.
How much is the application fee, and when is the deadline?
Application Fee $40 Early Decision Deadline N/A Regular Decision Deadline N/A
Does the University of Alabama School of Law grant interviews?
The admissions committee for the University of Alabama School of Law does not require a prospective student to commit to an interview. However, the admissions office might contact you if there's an issue or problem with your application.
Employment after the University of Alabama School of Law
Median Salary Private Sector N/A Median Salary Public Sector N/A
The University of Alabama law school is the top public offering in the state of Alabama. The School of Law has fostered many of its students into successful individuals.
The university doesn't seem to divulge much in post-graduation statistics, such as the predominant job sectors graduates end up in, and salary estimates. They do, however, provide two very interesting facts about their graduates:
- In 2018, there was a 90.1% passing rate for first-time takers of the bar exam.
- 2% of the graduates in 2018 were either employed or going after some form of an advanced degree around ten months after their graduation from law school.