UCLA Law School

Founded only 54 years ago, UCLA Law School has rapidly risen to become one of the nation’s top law schools and an attractive choice for many law school applicants. UCLA Law School offers the best of both worlds, providing a world class education in beautiful Southern California.

UCLA Law School Admissions

Factor in the low tuition of UCLA law school, $12,248.50 for California residents and $23,360.50 for non-residents (who generally can become residents after one year), and it becomes evident why UCLA generally receives amongst the most law school applications of any top law school in the nation. For Fall 2002, there were over 6,600 applications for admission to UCLA law school of which fewer than 15% were accepted. As a result, the entering statistics compare well with other top law schools. The class entering in fall 2002 had the following percentiles: LSAT: 25th - 162; 50th - 165; 75th - 167; GPA: 25th - 3.52; 50th - 3.67; 75th - 3.80.

UCLA Law School graduates generally have their choice of jobs and this has fostered a caring environment in the school. As one graduate wrote, "UCLA Law School is a nurturing haven where the professors have coffee with you and the person to your left is sporting a genuine smile." A 20/60/20 curve also lessens the stress, where in most classes 20% of the students receive A's, 60% B's and 20% C's.

UCLA Law School also offers several joint degree programs with many other graduate programs, including the highly regarded Anderson School of Business. However, because UCLA Law School is on the semester system and the rest of the campus is on quarters, scheduling conflicts often occur.

UCLA Law School has an excellent externship program, which allows students to spend a semester working with a federal judge, non-profit organization, government office or other public interest group.

Students complain that the Career Services department is ineffective in assisting students looking for jobs outside of Southern California, but the strong academic reputation of UCLA Law School often overrides any difficulties.

UCLA Law School - Location

UCLA Law School is located in the Los Angeles enclave of Westwood, a collegiate town known for its numerous movie theatres, restaurants, and nightclubs. UCLA Law School is cradled in rolling green hills about five miles from the Pacific Ocean, bordered on the north by the protected wilderness of the Santa Monica Mountains. UCLA Law School offers a full array of performing arts including concerts, theater, ballet, opera and the symphony as well as lectures, forums and seminars – both throughout the city and at UCLA Law School.

UCLA Law School students also can take advantage of first-class athletic facilities on campus, which include extensive tennis and racquetball courts, a full-service gymnasium and recreation program, four swimming pools, and playing fields and running tracks.

UCLA Law School Rankings

The following are some specialties that 2003 law school rankings place UCLA law school as one of the top law schools.

Entertainment law – amongst top 10 law schools

Clinical training – amongst top 10 law schools

Trial Advocacy – amongst top 20 law schools

Tax law – amongst top 25 law schools

International law – amongst top 25 law schools

Intellectual Property law – amongst top 25 law schools

Amongst national law school rankings UCLA Law School is ranked 13th by the Gourman Report, 14th by the Insider's Guide and Educational Quality Rankings and 16th by U.S. News law school rankings.

UCLA law school is also renowned for its expertise in business law areas, Critical Race and Feminist Legal Theory, Jurisprudence/Legal Philosophy; Law & Social Science, and Moral & Political Theory

Conclusion

The combination of academic excellence, great location and low tuition make UCLA Law School an option any student who is accepted should consider.

Contact and Admissions Information

71 Dodd Hall

PO Box 951445

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1445

(310) 825-4041

admissions@law.ucla.edu

Applications deadline: February 1, 2003 for the class of 2003.

Application fee: $70.

Median salary for private sector: $125,000.

Median salary for public sector: $44,500.

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