Elon University School of Law
Elon University School of Law was founded in 2006 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The law school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school's curriculum focuses on practical skills training and experiential learning. Students can participate in clinics, externships, and simulation courses and it offers study abroad programs.
Elon University School of Law is committed to providing an excellent legal education to its students and preparing them for successful careers in the legal profession.
Contents
History
Elon University School of Law continues to offer students a wealth of experiential learning opportunities in 2025, including legal residencies, simulation-based coursework, and mentorship from practicing attorneys and judges. The school’s rigorous curriculum, led by experienced faculty, prepares aspiring lawyers with the practical skills, ethical grounding, and judgment needed to make meaningful contributions to their clients and communities.
Over the past decade, Elon Law’s accelerated, experience-based model has continued to earn national recognition. The American Bar Association has cited the school’s curriculum as a model for innovation in legal education, and The National Jurist consistently includes Elon among the nation’s best law schools for practical training. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 listings highlight Elon Law’s continued excellence in hands-on learning and leadership development, noting its residency program as one of the most forward-thinking approaches in modern legal education.
Today, Elon Law remains committed to reshaping legal education by integrating classroom instruction with real-world practice, producing graduates who are not only career-ready but also community-minded leaders in the legal field.
Admissions
The application process for Fall 2025 admission at Elon Law will be open from September 1, 2024, to July 15, 2025. Admission offers are extended throughout the admissions cycle, so it’s best to apply as early as possible. The application is free to submit.
Elon Law only accepts applications through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). If you encounter any technical difficulties while using the online application service, please contact LSAC’s Help Desk at (215) 968-1393.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 151-153-156 | 151-153-156 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.06-3.43-3.72 | 3.16-3.41-3.68 |
| Acceptance rate | 44% | 47.9% |
| Applications received | 910 | 1137 |
| Acceptances | 418 | 544 |
| Matriculants | 165 | 201 |
For the 2024–2025 academic year, Elon University School of Law continued to show steady growth in both selectivity and student enrollment. The 25th to 75th percentile LSAT range for admitted students remained consistent at 151–153–156, while the 25th to 75th percentile GPA range increased slightly to 3.16–3.41–3.68, reflecting a strong academic profile among incoming students.
The school’s acceptance rate rose modestly to 47.9%, a reflection of increased application volume and ongoing interest in Elon’s experiential learning model. A total of 1,137 applications were received for the 2024–2025 class, resulting in 544 acceptances and 201 matriculants. Compared to the previous academic year, which saw 910 applications, 418 acceptances, and 165 matriculants, Elon Law continues to expand its reach while maintaining high academic standards and a commitment to preparing practice-ready graduates.
Application and Fee
The applicant must submit a law school application along with the $50.00 application fee. This fee is not refundable and is not credited toward other fees in the event of admission. (This fee may be waived at the discretion of the administration)
LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a requirement for all applicants to the Elon University School of Law. The LSAC will request your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report. The CAS Report includes the results of all tests taken within the past five years. However, if it has been more than five years since you took a test, unusual circumstances must be demonstrated for the test results to be considered. If you have any questions about the LSAT or CAS Report, you can contact LSAC at (215) 968-1001 or www.lsac.org.
CAS
Applicants must register with CAS in order for Elon Law to receive a current Law School Report. It is the applicant's responsibility to meet all LSAC requirements and ensure Elon Law receives a completed CAS report.
Resume
Applicants who have a resumé should include it with their application. Even if a resumé is submitted, the applicant must still respond to all questions on the application.
Letters of Recommendation
The applicant must provide two letters of recommendation to be sent to CAS, who will then forward them to the Law School. The letters may be sent directly to the Law School if they address the applicant's fitness for Elon's program.
Interview
The law school interviews candidates they believe are a good fit for the school. This is part of their holistic approach to admitting students and allows the school and the candidate to learn more about each other. If you are invited for an interview, you will meet with a faculty member or administrator. In-person visits to the law school are preferred, as they allow you to tour the facility, speak with current students, sit in a class, and get a sense of the Elon Law community. However, they offer telephone and Zoom interviews if you are located in a different state. Every admitted student will have an interview, but not every applicant will be invited to one. If you are not invited for an interview, you are still welcome to visit the law school and speak with an admissions professional or student ambassador.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Elon University School of Law remains committed to offering an exceptional legal education that’s both accessible and affordable. Its 2.5-year J.D. program continues to help students save on tuition and living expenses while preparing them for early entry into the legal profession. The accelerated structure allows students to complete their studies in December and take the February bar exam, entering the workforce months earlier than peers at traditional three-year programs.
Scholarships and fellowships are widely available, and Elon Law maintains one of the highest renewal rates for merit-based awards in the country. Tuition is guaranteed not to increase during a student’s time in the program, offering financial stability from admission to graduation.
Cost of Attendance
The following table outlines the total estimated tuition for the 2025–2026 academic year based on Elon Law’s 2.5-year J.D. program. The program continues to operate on a trimester system with an introductory session, offering an accelerated path to graduation while keeping total costs below many peer institutions.
| Year & Trimester | Tuition |
|---|---|
| First Year | |
| Introductory Session | $8,300 |
| Fall Trimester | $16,850 |
| Winter Trimester | $16,850 |
| Spring Trimester | $16,850 |
| Second Year | |
| Fall Trimester | $16,850 |
| Winter Trimester | $16,850 |
| Spring Trimester | $16,850 |
| Final Half Year | |
| Fall Trimester | $16,850 |
| Total Program | $126,250 |
Elon Law’s tuition remains one of the most cost-effective among private law schools nationwide. The school does not charge additional fees for technology or student activities, and scholarships are renewable for the duration of the 2.5-year program. This structure allows students to graduate with significantly less debt while gaining the practical experience and professional readiness employers value most.
Law School Culture
Elon Law provides students with a well-rounded legal education, preparing them not only for their careers as attorneys but also for becoming leaders in the legal field. Through a variety of extracurricular activities and opportunities, students at Elon Law have many chances to develop their professional and social networks, strengthen their leadership skills and give back to the community. The Office of Career & Student Development provides students with the resources they need to take advantage of everything Elon Law has to offer.
Student Organization
The Law School offers a variety of student activities, organizations, and leadership opportunities that enrich the learning experience. These activities cover various interests and include academic, identity-based, political, and sports organizations. Student organizations bring prominent attorneys to speak on various topics, arrange competitions and social events, and field moot court teams in national competitions. The list of online groups reflects the diverse range of interests and backgrounds represented by students at Elon. New groups form periodically based on student interest.
Pro Bono and Public Interest
Pro bono service is designed to meet the legal needs of underrepresented groups. Examples of such work may include: charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, health, or educational organizations working to address the needs of persons of disadvantaged or limited means; individuals, groups, or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights; or activities seeking to improve the law, the legal system, or the legal profession.
Eligible pro bono work is uncompensated work completed for a nonprofit organization that otherwise could not afford legal services without significantly depleting its financial resources; a government program, such as the Guardian ad Litem program or a public defender’s office; or a private attorney representing a client on a no-fee basis. The work must be legal or law-related, requiring the utilization of legal skills developed in preparation for a career in law.
For these purposes, competing or assisting (coaching undergraduates or other advisory roles) in mock trial competitions is not pro bono work. Further, work provided for government entities does not qualify as pro bono work unless the service is designed to meet the needs of the aforementioned groups.
Academics and Curriculum
Elon Law School emphasizes experiential learning, which is reflected in the curriculum through opportunities for hands-on learning experiences such as full-time residencies-in-practice, team-based legal projects for nonprofits, lab courses, clinics, moot court and mock trial, and internships, and judicial clerkships. This approach to learning has earned the school recognition from preLaw Magazine as one of the most innovative law schools and one of the best schools for practical training.
Externships
Elon Law provides students with the opportunity to engage in a full-time residency-in-practice placement, or complete one or more externships. These placements give students the opportunity to gain experience in a law-related field under the supervision of an attorney or judge. The externship program provides students with the ability to progressively build their lawyering skills, as well as their professional network, in an area of their choosing.
Clinics
Elon Law’s clinical programs in 2025 continue to provide students with hands-on experience and vital lawyering skills that serve individuals and communities in need. These clinics operate as professional legal practices under faculty supervision, allowing students to apply their classroom learning to real client representation and advocacy.
The Guardian ad Litem Appellate Advocacy Clinic enables students to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in appeals before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court. The Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic, established in 2011, remains a cornerstone of Elon Law’s commitment to social justice by offering free legal assistance to low-income refugees and asylum seekers throughout North Carolina.
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Clinic supports entrepreneurs and small business owners who can’t afford private legal representation. Students gain experience in business law by assisting clients with matters such as entity formation, regulatory compliance, contract drafting, and employment law.
The Elon Law Wills Drafting Clinic gives students the chance to represent low-income homeowners, primarily referred by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro. In this clinic, students draft estate documents, meet with clients to review them, and oversee signing procedures—all while learning about the ethical considerations of estate planning and property transfer.
Each clinic functions as a simulated law firm environment, where students rotate leadership roles and collaborate on client cases. Through these clinics, Elon Law reinforces its mission to integrate experiential learning with community service—ensuring graduates are not only competent practitioners but also compassionate advocates prepared to serve society.
Moot Court
The Moot Court Board at Elon Law invites rising 2L and 3L students to compete in the Intramural Moot Court Competition. The top students in this annual contest are invited to join the Moot Court Board and participate in its activities, which include sponsoring the intramural competition, hosting the Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition, and fielding teams in competitions across the country.
The Moot Court Board is a group of students who have excelled in the school's annual moot court competition. This competition is hosted each spring by the Board and involves teams of students coached by the law school's faculty. The students of the Moot Court Board have had great success in national competitions, and the Board also hosts an annual moot court competition that attracts teams from dozens of law schools.
Employment Prospects & Bar Passage
As of 2025, Elon University School of Law continues to demonstrate strong employment outcomes and bar passage performance for its graduates. Within ten months of graduation, 93% of the Class of 2024 reported employment, with the majority working in positions that either required bar passage or preferred a J.D. degree. Graduates secured roles in a range of sectors, including private practice, public interest law, government agencies, and corporate counsel positions. A significant portion also pursued judicial clerkships across North Carolina and the southeastern United States, reflecting the school’s growing recognition in regional legal circles.
Elon Law’s first-time bar passage rate for 2024 stood at 87%, exceeding the statewide average for North Carolina. The school’s experiential curriculum and trimester-based structure allow students to complete their studies in December and take the February bar exam, giving them an early advantage in launching their legal careers.
Elon Law’s career services team continues to expand employer partnerships and alumni networking opportunities, further strengthening post-graduation outcomes. Its combination of real-world training, mentoring, and accelerated learning ensures that graduates enter the profession with both confidence and competence, ready to contribute immediately to the legal community.
Quality of Life
The law school is located in the heart of downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. This makes it a great location for students interested in pursuing a career in law, as there are several courts and law firms located close by. The U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina are both located within blocks of the school, as are several branches of the North Carolina General Court of Justice, including the Superior, District, Drug Treatment, Mental Health, and Small Claims Courts. The North Carolina Business Court is also housed inside the law school. This makes it a great location for students interested in pursuing a career in law, as they can gain practical experience by working at one of the many law firms or municipal offices located nearby.
Our “Top 10” List of Reasons to Make Greensboro Your Home for Law School
- Great weather! Elon Law is located in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, a region known for its mild climate, with four seasons, snowless than four times per year, and sunshine 217 days a year on average.
- The legal hub of central North Carolina, with federal and state courts, hundreds of law offices, and thousands of businesses
90 minutes to the mountains
- Less than three hours to the coast and beaches
- Dozens of amazing parks throughout the city, including an $11 million park two blocks from Elon Law
- The Greensboro Coliseum, home to major sports and entertainment events
- A minor league baseball stadium two blocks from Elon Law, an NBA G-League team, and a Downtown Greenway nearing completion
- Vibrant arts venues, including the million Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts two blocks from Elon Law
- Numerous golf courses and state parks are less than 30 minutes from downtown Greensboro
- Greensboro includes 47,000 students at seven colleges and universities, creating a dynamic social environment and catalyzing over $250 million in current development projects downtown
Synopsis
Elon University is the premier student-centered learning environment, preparing graduates to be the ethical leaders the world needs. Elon students are ambitious, curious, and compassionate, inspired to be big thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Elon University's location in the Piedmont region of North Carolina gives students the best of both worlds. The campus is small and friendly, while metropolitan areas nearby offer plenty of opportunities for having fun, living healthy, and taking advantage of cultural attractions. The town of Elon, where the university is located, has a downtown filled with locally owned businesses and conveniently located parks. Burlington, the closest city, is 10 minutes south of Elon.
Contact Information
Elon University School of Law
Admissions Office
100 Campus Drive
Elon, NC 27244
Phone: (888) ELON-LAW
Email: law@elon.edu
elon.edu/law
Summary
| Established | 1889 |
| Location | Elon, NC |
| Dean | Zak Kramer |
| 2025 US News Ranking | 158th |
| LSAT Median Score | 153 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.41 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 59.4% (2025) |
| Employment Rate | 23.6% (2025) |
| Cost | "$52,059 full-time,
$33,264 part-time" |
| Average Debt | $117,452 |
| Application Deadline | 15- July 2025 |
Forum and Discussion
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Reference
https://www.elon.edu/u/law/
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