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« TLS Profiles - TLS Programs - TLS Stats - Rankings The University of Richmond School of Law
Admissions & Tuition Admissions standards at the University of Richmond are fairly standard relative to the school’s ranking. The Princeton Review gives the school an “Admissions Selectivity Rating” of 84 out of a possible 100. Roughly 35% of applicants were granted admission last year (655 out of 1,886). For those who were admitted, the 25th to 75th percentile GPA range was 3.23–3.65 and the range for the LSAT was 158-162—with medians of 3.36 and 161, respectively. Some students may be misled by the school’s name, and assume that it is a public institution. In reality, however, it is private; and with a private school comes private school tuition, which, at Richmond, is just over $30,000. ‘Room & Board’, as reported on the school’s website, amounts to almost $9,500. Combined with other expenses, such as the cost of books and the ever-popular miscellaneous fees, students can expect to pay over $40,000 per year for a U. of Richmond legal education. The financial aid office does its part, though, in helping to cushion the blow: last year, 7% of the student-body received a grant that was higher than half the cost of tuition. The median grant overall was $7,500, while the 25th to 75th percentile grants ranged from $4,000 to $8,500. Bar Passage & Employment Prospects
Over 60% of Richmond graduates find work in Virginia. And those who leave do not go very far. Only about 5% of graduates found work west of the Mississippi River. As these numbers show, the University of Richmond is a regional school. As for the fields of law in which Richmond students end up practicing, more of last year’s graduates found work in the private sector (43%) than in any other field. 20% found government jobs, 8% went into business, and 23% secured judicial clerkships. Those who went into the private sector earned the most, with a median starting salary of $70,000. Those in public service (only 3%) started with a median salary of $49,000. Academics The University of Richmond failed to appear on any of the USNews specialty rankings lists this year. Few indicators seem to suggest that there are any real “stand-out” programs at the school. Nevertheless, it can be argued that Richmond is able to provide a stimulating academic environment for its students. Students can take advantage of the fact that Richmond is Virginia’s state capital, providing a plethora of opportunities for adding practical experience to one’s legal education. Some students, interviewed by the Princeton Review, maintain that they enjoy considerable access to their professors; though it should be noted that Richmond has a mediocre student-faculty ratio of 15:1. Students can choose to complement their legal education with a number of other degrees offered through Richmond’s joint degree programs. For example, students can earn a Master’s degree in Social Work, Urban & Regional planning, Business Administration, and Health Administration. Quality of Life At the University of Richmond, The School of Law shares a campus with the undergraduate institution. This is a plus for the law students, as the campus is one of the nicest in the country. Richmond proper is a growing city. Crime rates are high, however, and minority students interviewed by the Princeton Review have expressed concerns about life in the city (Richmond is known by many to be plagued by patterns of racism). Similar concerns were expressed about life on-campus. The University is generally homogenous, and it seems that minority students are often made aware of this. Not all is grim, though; there are plenty of clubs for students to get involved in, and Richmond should provide enough opportunities to keep students busy on the social front. Politically, the school has often been thought of as a conservative-leaning institution, but generally is perceived to be heading towards the center. Conclusion The employment rates at Richmond make the school a tough sell. Further, it is hard to argue that Richmond is the most attractive city in which to spend three years; but many students do quite well with a Richmond degree, and all interested students are encouraged to visit the campus and form their own opinions about life at Richmond. Quick Reference U.S. News Ranking: 68 |
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Located in Virginia’s state capital, the University Of Richmond School Of Law is well-equipped to prepare students for a lucrative legal career in the Mid-Atlantic region. Being well-equipped, however, does not guarantee a full return on one’s investment. This is especially true at Richmond Law, which fails to prove itself to be especially strong in any particular field of law, and the employment rates are painfully low. 
USNews reports that 84.8% of Richmond graduates pass the (Virginia) Bar the on their first try. This is a solid passage rate compared to the state-wide rate of 74%. Do strong career prospects follow? Not immediately. Only 72% of students have employment secured at the time of graduation—this truly is a poor employment rate, even though, in the school’s defense, almost 95% of students have jobs nine months after graduation.