Georgetown Law

The Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) is located in one of the world's most vibrant legal and political communities and has vast resources to offer its students. Academic opportunities and extracurricular activities, including clinics and journals, are never in short supply. The school's location near the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol is something students can take advantage of. GULC offers both a full- and a part-time J.D. program, the highest-ranked program to do so.

History

Georgetown Law began modestly in the 19th century when the directors of Georgetown University recommended the establishment of a separate department to train lawyers. It was the first law school created by a Jesuit institution of higher learning in the United States.

Georgetown Law opened on October 5, 1870. It was founded by Georgetown University Medical School Professor Dr. Joseph M. Toner (AM'1867, PhD'1889), Judge William Merrick (H'1875), Richard T. Merrick (H'1873), Martin F. Morris (H'1877), and Charles P. James (H'1870). Georgetown Law is one of the oldest law schools in the United States. It is located in Washington, D.C., and is part of Georgetown University. Georgetown Law offers a variety of degree programs , including a Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), and Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD). Georgetown Law is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools in the United States. Notable alumni of Georgetown Law include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and former FBI Director Robert Mueller.

In 1872, the first 10 law students graduated from Georgetown Law School. This event marked an important milestone in the school's history and set it on a path to becoming one of the leading law schools in the United States. Since then, Georgetown Law has produced many accomplished lawyers who have made significant contributions to their field. The school continues to be a leader in legal education, preparing its students for success in various legal careers.

Georgetown Law is one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown Law has a long tradition of producing some of the country's best lawyers.

Georgetown Law offers various courses and programs, allowing students to tailor their education to their specific interests. The school also strongly commits to public service, and many of its graduates go on to the government and public interest law careers.

Georgetown Law has a long history of producing successful lawyers. Some of the school's most famous alums include U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, as well as former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

Admissions

Georgetown Law is still accepting applications for the JD program for Fall 2022. So if you're interested in attending one of the best law schools in the country, make sure to apply soon!

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	164 - 168 - 169	167 - 171 - 173
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.55 - 3.78 - 3.88	3.66 - 3.85 - 3.94
Acceptance rate	20.1%	12.9%
Applications received	9980	14049
Acceptances	2006	1809
Matriculants	3189	2391

Application Rate

Georgetown Law is one of the most prestigious law schools in the country. Each year, thousands of people apply to Georgetown Law to be accepted into the program.

Of those who applied to Georgetown Law during the 2022 application cycle, 14,049 people were offered admission. Of those 1,809 people offered admission, 517 accepted, meaning that 28.58% of those offered admissions ended up attending the school.

Georgetown Law has a 1L class size of 558 and a yield of 28.58%. Georgetown Law can maintain its high standards by admitting only the best and brightest students into the program.

If you are interested in applying to Georgetown Law, you should know about the fierce competition. However, if you are willing to work, Georgetown Law can offer you an excellent education and job opportunities after graduation.

In his interview with TLS, Dean Cornblatt emphasized that getting admitted at GULC depends on more than an applicant's LSAT and GPA. He said:

Most applicants think this is strictly a numbers game, LSAT and GPA and that's the end of it. That's not so. The process is more interesting and complicated than that, and therefore how you present yourself, what your voice is in this, matters a lot.

Even if you believe that you are slightly deficient in your numbers, a great personal statement and a cohesive and well-thought-out application can increase your chances of acceptance. Likewise, a sloppy application can put you in the reject pile even if you have great numbers. Dean Cornblatt emphasized this point:

I also don't like to see applications that are casually and sloppily put together. Those often come from some of our best applicants, who just throw something together and click submit without giving it much thought. If I feel like the application is being done sloppily, without much thought, that will hurt that applicant. We are looking for people who have thought this through and are applying in a focused, thoughtful way. If that is not the case, it will hurt their chances.

In other words, make sure to spell-check your application and your essays. Multiple typos make an application look sloppy and rushed. Also, don't accidentally include another school's name in your application. One surprisingly common error is when applicants forget to edit a personal statement fully or a "Why?" essay for different schools; telling Georgetown Law how much you'd love to attend Harvard isn't going to win you any love. However, somewhat surprisingly, Dean Cornblatt doesn't seem to think that this mistake necessarily dooms the applicant:

I think it'll happen, over the course of reading 12,000 files . . . maybe 50 times? Not a good way to go. Most of this is inadvertent; it's still sloppy, but if someone recaptures the initiative and sends in something to the effect of "my mistake, here's the correction," that's absolutely fine.

Finally, Dean Cornblatt had several interesting comments on applicants who have gone through severe hardship (alcoholism, drugs, depression, etc.). When asked whether those factors can help explain away a lower GPA, he said:

For applicants that fit that profile, we pay even more attention to their personal statements and letters of recommendation just to get the best possible picture we can of what happened and where the applicant was then, and where they are now. Once we feel that the applicant has left that behind and is in good shape to begin law school, we think that shows a real strength of character and would view that positively. However, it's on a case-by-case basis, so we have to look at each individual and their particular circumstances, and we weigh all of those circumstances together. We feel that anything that requires real strength of character and determination is something we'll look upon favorably.

In other words, there's no need to avoid these "taboo" topics if they are a significant factor in your personal development. Instead, consider confronting them in an addendum and explaining how you've changed. It will help explain any deficiencies in your academic record and might get the admissions committee to give your application a second look.

Personal Statements

As with other top law schools, writing a compelling personal statement is an important part of gaining admission. A riveting essay can seal the deal if your numbers are borderline; similarly, a sloppy one can spell doom for your application.

Georgetown Law has no minimum or maximum length for the personal statement, but they recommend that it be around two pages, double-spaced. The personal statement is an opportunity for you to share anything about yourself that will enable the Admissions Committee to get to know you better. You can write about any subject you feel would give them a better sense of who you are. They hope you will use this opportunity to share something meaningful about yourself that we might not otherwise learn from your application.

Dean Cornblatt said:

I've seen enough of this to know when a personal statement feels rushed. . . . I don't know, this is just one of those things where if you've read enough applications and have been doing this long enough, you know it when you see it. The lesson to be learned is: Work carefully on your application.

Dean Cornblatt also recommended that applicants keep their personal statements concise and to the point. He said:

I've done this so long now that . . . well, it's never, and I mean never, that someone does something to cause them to be automatically rejected. I think that the biggest error in judgment that an applicant might make is to talk too much in their personal statement. It is so much more effective for an applicant to be concise, say what they have to say, make their point, and then stop talking. It's not a good thing to go on forever, so I think in that respect that might hurt someone's chances.

It should be noted that there is no minimum or maximum length for personal statements submitted to GULC, though it's probably best to keep your essay to a reasonable length (around two to three pages).

Finally, making your essay Georgetown-centric can win you some points in the admissions game. Dean Cornblatt said:

I think it is a plus; however, it is not a requirement, or we would ask for it. If it is included and feels genuine in such a way that it makes sense in the context of the rest of the personal statement, then the applicant connecting his or her interests with what we offer is a plus.

For personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.

Application Fee or Fee Waiver

The $85 application fee for Georgetown Law is non-refundable. This means that once you submit your payment, you will not be able to get that money back even if you decide not to attend the school or are not accepted. The fee can be paid by credit card through LSAC, check, or money order if you use a paper application. Georgetown Law will not issue refunds for any reason, so make sure you are certain of your decision before you apply. To learn more about obtaining a fee waiver, click here.

When To Apply

If you're considering applying to Georgetown Law, the earliest you can submit your application is September 6, 2022. However, if you want to be guaranteed a decision within four weeks of completing your application, you'll need to apply by March 1, 2023. Remember that even if you don't apply by this date, you can still submit your application to Early Decision at any time. Remember that the four-week turnaround time is not guaranteed after March 1. Lastly, March 1, 2023, is the recommended submission date if you're applying for the JD program specifically. However, we will continue to accept applications after this date. If you're unsure about applying to law school or just beginning the application process, please take the time to read some of the excellent pre-law articles found here.

Letters of Recommendation

Georgetown Law requires a letter of recommendation from a professor who knows you well and can speak to your academic work. Additional letters or evaluations are welcome but not required. The best way to get a strong letter of recommendation is to build a good relationship with your professor and ask for their help early on. To get some additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.

Canceled LSATs and Other Addendums

Dean Cornblatt said an addendum is unnecessary for a canceled [[ https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/900052390/What-is-the-Role-of-LSAT-in-Law-School-Admissions/%7CLSAT]] score. However, in some circumstances, an addendum can help explain a dark spot in an applicant's file. For instance, in cases of academic probation, Dean Cornblatt said:

It is imperative that applicants who are in this situation send an addendum to the file with an explanation of what happened then and where they are now. We're going to notice all of that, so they need to talk about it.

One should also consider writing an addendum if one has an issue with one's UGPA, such as a downward trend. The school will consider factors like family illness or work responsibilities when making its decisions, and an addendum can help mitigate the damage of a lower GPA.

Transfer Students

Georgetown Law is one of the most respected law schools in the United States. The school reviews transfer applications from current full-time or part-time students at ABA-accredited law schools for both Spring and Fall semester admission. Transfer applicants are considered for either the full-time division, part-time division, or “both.” The school looks at each application case-by-case to ensure that each student is placed in the most appropriate division for their needs. Georgetown Law is an excellent choice for law students looking to transfer to another school.

Georgetown Law encourages applicants to submit their applications as early as possible, even if their Spring semester grades are unavailable. Applicants may submit their law transcript separately once their Spring grades become available. Early submission of applications allows Georgetown Law to evaluate an applicant's qualifications better and gives the applicant a greater chance of admission. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

Tuition and Expenses

The Cost of Attendance includes both sets of costs and forms the basis of your financial aid eligibility. Your personal costs may vary, but the Costs of Attendance will give you a good idea of what to expect.

Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance 2022-2023
	Full-Time	Part-Time
Tuition	$71,996	$2,571/credit
Books	$1,335	$955
Room & Board	$23,620	$23,620
Personal Expenses	$3,375	$3,375
Transportation	$3,074	$2,250
Personal	$1,584	$35,716
Transportation	$738	$35,716
Estimated Cost of Attendance	$103,400	($30,200 + tuition)

Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid Georgetown Law students may be eligible for the following types of financial aid:

• Need-Based Grant Assistance
  

Aid for less economically advantaged full-time JD students that don't need to be repaid.
MORE ABOUT NEED-BASED GRANTS

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized (Stafford) Loans
  

The basic building block of student loans
MORE ABOUT DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED STAFFORD LOANS

• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
  

Supplemental student loans are available for up to the full Cost of Attendance.
MORE ABOUT DIRECT GRADUATE PLUS LOANS

• Private/Commercial Loans
  

Alternative, credit-based loans borrowed in the private marketplace
MORE ABOUT PRIVATE/COMMERCIAL LOANS

• Federal Work-Study
  

Funding for hourly employees to reduce borrowing needs
MORE ABOUT FEDERAL WORK-STUDY

• Loan Repayment Assistance Program
  

Post-graduation assistance in repaying loans for JD alumni

Loan Repayment Assistance Program

BREAKING NEWS: The federal loan repayment pause has been extended until December 31, 2022. This means anyone in an income-driven repayment plan and those considering consolidation or Georgetown Law LRAP applications will not need to make any payments until next year. More updates will be provided later this year.

Georgetown Law has a great Loan Repayment Assistance Program that helps its public interest JD graduates repay their student loans. The program is one of the best in the nation and greatly benefits its participants. I encourage you to learn more about this program and how it can help you with your student loan debt.

Campus Location

Georgetown Law is a law school located in Washington D.C. The Law Center is located near Union Station and Capitol Hill at 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W.. It is not located on the undergraduate campus; however, a shuttle bus provides frequent service to and from both campuses. The Gewirz Student Center faces McDonough Hall, the main Law Center building, and is located at 120 F Street, N.W. Georgetown Law offers a variety of degree programs, including J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D programs. It also has several clinics and centers that provide legal services and research on various topics.

• BY METRO
  

The Law Center is near Union Station, which is accessible by the Metro. To get there, take the Red Line and exit onto Massachusetts Avenue. Turn right on Massachusetts Avenue and walk two blocks to the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Avenue. Turn left on New Jersey Avenue, and the Law Center will be on your right.

• BY CAR
  

From Northeast of Washington, D.C. (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore): Follow I-95 South. At the I-495 Junction, follow the signs toward 95 South to Richmond. **Take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway/ I-295 exit (west). Take the Baltimore Washington Parkway to US 50 (New York Avenue). Follow 50 heading west into Washington, DC. Make a left onto North Capitol Street, then make a right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Before the next light, make a left on New Jersey Avenue, and immediately bear right on First Street. The main Law Center building, McDonough Hall, will be on your right.

From South or East of Washington, D.C. (Norfolk, Richmond, Williamsburg): Follow I-95 North. At the I-495 junction, 95 will turn into 395. Follow 395 North to Washington, DC. Cross the 14th street bridge and keep to the right. Continue following signs for 395 North and take the D Street/ US Senate exit. Continue following the signs for 395 North and continue into the D street tunnel (stay in the far right lane). Take the D Street exit in the tunnel and make a right at the first traffic light. Turn left onto New Jersey Avenue, and the Law Center will be on your left hand side.

From South or West of Washington, D.C. (Charlottesville or Nashville): Take I-66 East to Washington. Cross the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and follow signs for Constitution Avenue. Take Constitution Avenue until it ends. Make a left onto Louisiana Avenue, and then make a left onto New Jersey Avenue. The Law Center will be on your left.

From Northwest of Washington (western Pennsylvania, western Maryland): Follow I-270 south. Where 270 divides, follow the signs to 495 east toward Silver Spring. Take the Baltimore Washington Parkway to US 50 (New York Avenue). Follow 50 heading west into Washington, DC. Make a left onto North Capitol Street, then make a right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Before the next light, make a left on New Jersey Avenue, and immediately bear right on First Street. The main Law Center building, McDonough Hall, will be on your right.

Parking: Parking is very limited around the Law Center. There is a parking garage across the street from the Law Center at 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW. There is also limited metered parking available around the Law Center.

• BY TRAIN

Amtrak: 1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-USA-RAIL Take the train to Union Station, then follow the Metro directions above.

• BY AIRPLANE

Washington Reagan National Airport is the closest and most convenient airport, as it is only 6 miles from the Law Center. Transportation to the Law Center from National Airport is available by Taxi or Metro.

By taxi, travel time to the Law Center is about 15 minutes, and the fare is approximately $15.00. Be sure to tell the driver that you are going to the Law Center, NOT the main undergraduate campus.

By Metro, allow approximately 30 minutes. The Metro station is located across the street from the main terminal at National Airport. Take the Yellow Line to Gallery Place. When you arrive at Gallery Place, transfer to the Red Line (in the direction of Glenmont) and get off at Union Station. Then follow the directions above.

Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) and Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) are often less expensive than flying into Washington National airport. BWI and Dulles airports are approximately 30 miles from the Law Center.

A taxi from BWI will cost approximately $50.00, however, you can take a shuttle bus from the airport to the MARC train station. The ride to Union Station will cost $6.00. Please visit the Maryland Transportation website or the BWI website for more information.

A taxi from Washington Dulles to the Law Center will also cost about $50.00; however, you can take the Washington Flyer to the West Falls Church Metro Station. Take the Orange Line (towards New Carrolton) and transfer at Metro Center to the Red Line (toward Glenmont). Exit the Red Line at Union Station and follow the directions above. For more information, visit the Washington Flyer website.

Employment Prospects

Georgetown University law graduates make a median salary of $190,000 if they go into the private sector and $59,000 if they work in the public sector. Most graduates (64.9%) go into law firms, while 10.7% clerk for judges and 12.4% go into public interest. Almost all graduates (94.7%) pass the bar on their first try.

Quality of Life

Situated in downtown Washington, D.C., Georgetown provides its students with a good quality of life. You don't need to travel far to find culture and recreation in the nation's capital. The Capitol, the Washington Monument, the White House, the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials, the National Mall, and the Smithsonian museums are all within blocks of the law school. There are frequent outdoor concerts, movies, and other events hosted in the area, and some of the best fireworks in the world can be seen on July 4. The Mall is also home to the famous Cherry Blossom Festival and weekly ultimate Frisbee tournaments.

In addition to giving its students a great social life, GULC also offers an intellectually charged environment. At Georgetown, students study against the best legal backdrop in the United States. Dean Cornblatt explains further:

Well, there are [more advantages to studying in Washington, D.C.] than I have time to go into. Still, first of all, there's the possibility during your second and third year of law school to be out working in this incredible city where laws are made, interpreted, and implemented within walking distance of Georgetown Law School. So we think that's a huge plus for employment while you're here. The second plus is, even if you're not getting paid or not working, the opportunity to participate as an observer, or to participate in a million different ways, whether it's your job or not, to be exposed to all of the things that people in other parts of the country are reading about, but you can walk over to the Supreme Court and watch an argument, you can go over to Capitol Hill, you can be involved in all sorts of things that go on here.

Housing

In terms of housing, there are plenty of options available for students. Dean Carol Walsh of Residence Life went into detail:

The nearby apartment complexes such as Meridian, Mass Court, and so on are desirable simply because of their location. Popular neighborhoods are probably the next most desirable location, neighborhoods like Dupont Circle and the Capitol Hill area. The Chinatown area is becoming more popular, but it's also more expensive, so I think that's something each student weighs for themselves in terms of priorities. We used to have a problem with some of the newer luxury apartment buildings not necessarily wanting to work with us because they didn't want students. Still, recently they've been sending information directly to our office. I think this is a product of them realizing that law students are not like your typical undergrads and are quite desirable tenants.

Other neighborhoods becoming more trendy include the Southeast area near the Washington Nationals stadium, NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue), and the 14th Street corridor (NW). If you're looking for a bit more guidance, you can always contact Georgetown's off-campus housing director and ask for advice. Dean Walsh explained further:

We do have an off-campus housing coordinator who is available not only to current students but also [to] incoming students looking for housing for their 1L year. This can be a great resource for asking about what different neighborhoods are like, what buildings around here are popular, lease questions, and things like that. We also are going to try this year to become more involved in Facebook, as it seems like a lot of students have on their own found roommates through it, and we want to set up a group that will act as a location for people to meet and look for roommates who they think they'd be compatible with.

It should be noted that GULC is separated from Georgetown's main campus; there is also a general lack of parking at the law school. However, most law students appreciate being separated from the undergraduate mayhem, and access to the D.C. Metro (GULC's campus is only a five-minute walk from Union Station) removes the need for most students to drive.

The Student Body

Georgetown Law is one of the [[ https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/900049509/Top-Law-Firms/%7Ctop law schools]] in the country. It is large, with more than 550 students of color and 36 full-time faculty of color. As the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution in the United States, it is committed to religious and cultural pluralism and inquiry. This makes it a great place for students to learn about the law.

Making Friends

Despite being a top law school, Georgetown doesn't have an overly competitive environment. One student explained further:

It's a good group overall-some people with highly inflated senses of self-worth, but not too bad. Competition is minimal so far. Everybody is willing to share notes and help each other out. Study groups are quite common as well. I was discussing the lack of competition today with a few other classmates who had heard similar rumors about the alleged cutthroat nature of students here. None of us have experienced anything like that. There is only one "gunner" in my section, and he is universally mocked.

There are also plenty of different kinds of people at GULC, so chances are that all students will find a place to fit in. As one student remarked:

It's a pretty wide range of backgrounds here. I've met everyone from children of ambassadors to ex-farm boys. The stereotypical rich-kid law student is certainly present and accounted for, but I've not experienced any real snobbery beyond what can be expected from some 22-year-old hotshot law students who don't know any better. I come from pretty modest means and don't feel out of place.

Another student confirmed this viewpoint:

I mostly only see the students in my section. People seem friendly; I haven't had any unpleasant dealings with anybody at all. I don't feel like I lost out by attending a school with a large student body. [My] sections are broken down into even smaller sections for Contracts and Legal Research & Writing, so not all the classes have all 120 of us in there.

If you search around TLS, you'll find similar perspectives from many other students. Even though GULC boasts one of the largest student bodies of any top law school, it clearly takes steps to ensure that students have the opportunity to experience smaller class settings.

Facilities

Georgetown's gym is a frequent recipient of praise. One student detailed the workout facility:

The fitness center on campus is great. There are plenty of cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, stairmasters), lots of free weights, lots of weight machines, and the few classes I've taken have been a really good workout (and free!). There's also an indoor pool, a basketball court, and jacuzzis in both the men's and women's locker rooms. There's also a towel service free of charge. I live on campus and it's extremely easy to fit a workout in whenever I have a chunk of free time since the fitness center is so close.

The rest of the school's facilities are modern and impressive as well. One applicant even described Georgetown's facilities as "overwhelming."

Extracurricular

Like other top law schools, the choices are practically endless regarding extracurricular activities. Students can choose among dozens of different organizations and clubs to get involved with; a small sampling might include the Military Law Society, the Wine Tasters, and the GULC Softball Club.

Journals

Georgetown Law has 12 law journals. Topics of specialty journals include immigration law, poverty law, and legal ethics (among others), and the Georgetown Law Journal, the flagship journal, addresses "general legal concern."

Academics

Georgetown Law has updated its grading policies and curves for 1L and upper-level courses, effective in the Summer of 2020. The new policies are as follows:

A+ 1% (0-2%)
A 17% (17-19%)
A- 20% (19-21%)
B+ 39% (39-43%)
B 23% (15-25%)
B- to F 0-5%

This led to cries of grade inflation designed to artificially boost students' GPAs in times of shrinking job opportunities for graduates. The Curriculum & Academic Standards Committee explained why the change was implemented:

The Curriculum & Academic Standards student-faculty committee recommended these changes to the faculty based in part on the curves from other schools and also based on faculty members' feelings about the rising level of student performance.

One of the most intriguing parts of Georgetown is its alternate first-year curriculum, Curriculum B. Developed in 1991, the curriculum offers what the school calls "an innovative and integrated approach to the study of law." According to the school, courses in the B section "emphasize the sources of law in history, philosophy, political theory, and economics." One TLS user clarified what sort of interdisciplinary study Curriculum B entails:

[T]he "emphasis on history and philosophy" that was explained to me was different than what I expected. Having done a lot of history and philosophy, proper, I expected stuff from those disciplines; not so, we're really talking about "legal history" or "legal philosophy," which are sort of blurry areas between the two espoused in articles written by lawyers who fancy themselves historians or philosophers, or wise old judges who sought to explain why lawyers do what they do.

There are four sections (three full time, one part-time) of curriculum A and only one of curriculum B at Georgetown. The alternate curriculum is not for everyone. Dean Cornblatt described the curriculum as "more of a liberal arts approach to the first year of law school," so if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, applying to Curriculum B might not be in your best interest.

Joining the section (Section 3) that uses Curriculum B doesn't seem overly competitive, as "nearly every year it's what almost exactly one full section of our class is looking for." In terms of career options, Section 3 alumni do not seem to be at any distinct disadvantage, as one student said

I highly doubt B/3 will adversely impact your legal career. It may well give you a huge leg up. The school tracked alumni for 6 years and found they did at least as well as alumni from other sections (in terms of jobs, clerkships, etc.) Employers don't care about your first year if you do very well in your second-year classes. I'm not sure how B/3 correlates with job satisfaction, but I've a sneaking suspicion it would be pretty high. Anecdotal evidence: the Law Review editorial board here is predominantly Section 3 alumni. B/3s do well in mock trial, moot court, etc. It's not like you're "missing" something by going the B/3 route.

One TLS user added: "OCI interviewers have no bias one way or the other from what I've heard and experienced."

Finally, GULC offers 15 joint-degree programs. More information about admissions and financial aid for these joint degrees can be found on the joint degree FAQ page. Prospective joint-degree applicants should remember that joint degrees often add a great amount of time and money to the staggering cost of a J.D. and seldom help you get a traditional legal job. Have a detailed and well-thought-out plan before you apply for a joint degree.

Part-Time Students

Georgetown is well known for its part-time J.D. program. The school is proud of its "long tradition of providing quality legal education to working students." Those students who need to work while in law school can rest assured that they will receive a first-rate education at GULC.

The differences between the full-time program and the part-time program are minor. Part-time students can't take the alternate curriculum (Curriculum B/Section 3), and they take 24 hours of credit their first year and eight to 11 credits each semester after that. The whole program is designed to take eight semesters, but it's possible to complete the program faster if you're truly dedicated. In contrast, full-time students usually have 31 hours of credit their first year and 12 to 16 credits after that.

Of course, there are a few other minor setbacks that part-time students have to deal with. One student in the FT program suggested that it might be difficult to find clinical work while working full-time, and socializing with your classmates might be slightly more difficult if you take mostly evening classes. In general, however, the part-time program offers the same education as the full-time program.

Those who wish to transfer from the part-time program to the full-time program can usually do so at will. One student describes the process:

All I did was send an email requesting a transfer. In theory, if too many people ask they will hold a lottery. In practice, that has never actually happened. About one-half of the class transfers. I thought I would try to work my way through law school and stay PT, but 1L year ran me into the ground. After seven months of getting five hours a night of sleep, I cracked and put in for the transfer. I haven't looked back. Considering the opportunity cost and the awful 2L recruiting this year, I am very glad I did it. It really doesn't cost the school anything to allow the transfer because all they are really doing is allowing you to take enough credits to graduate earlier. You could still theoretically just take night classes. Those who stay PT could theoretically take only day classes after their first year.

Those applicants who would have difficulty getting into GULC's full-time program can apply for the part-time program and then transfer into the full-time program after a year. This plan might help students with slightly lower numbers complete most of a full-time GULC education.

Public Interest

Georgetown is known for its focus on public service. Dean Cornblatt has described GULC as the "largest public interest firm in the country":

We are, in many ways, the largest public interest law firm in the country, in that we have all of our students who are interested in taking part, representing people who can't afford representation otherwise. It's a very exciting part of the curriculum, and Georgetown is considered the best in that area. That's something we're proud of, but what's important is just the substance of it and what it offers to our students.

Because of the school's location in Washington, students have unparalleled access to government externships and other opportunities. Georgetown even has its own career services office for public interest, the Office of Public Interest Community Services (OPICS), which Gihan Fernando (formerly of GULC career services, now of American University) explained in detail:

Georgetown has a separate Office of Public Interest Community Services, OPICS, which deals with the public sector broadly defined as government and nonprofit positions, and perhaps also positions in firms that focus on public interest work. This is something that not many other schools have, and it allows students to have a resource that's dedicated specifically to working with them towards finding public sector opportunities.

As mentioned earlier, there is also a public interest scholarship where GULC offers to pay up to one third of a student's annual tuition. While not as generous as some public interest scholarships at peer schools, the added financial cushion this scholarship provides is another reason those students seeking public interest careers may be drawn to the school. There are a plethora of public interest programs to get involved with at GULC, including the D.C. Family Literacy Project, the Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program, and the National Center for Tenant Ownership.

Clinics

Georgetown offers 25 clinical courses through 15 clinics each year. Clinics such as the Appellate Litigation Clinic, the Criminal Justice Clinic, and the Domestic Violence Clinic allow students to get hands-on experience in one of the most electrifying legal settings in the world.

Unfortunately, with such a large student body, it is sometimes challenging for students to get into clinics. One student wrote:

None of the clinics are easy to get into. Less than 20% of 2L applicants get into a clinic, and almost no one will ever get to attend more than one clinic. … Basically, it seems like you only have a real shot at taking a clinic as a 3L, and then you only have a shot (though it's a pretty good one) at your top-choice clinic.

Another student's assessment was less dramatic:

Some clinics have a policy of only allowing 3Ls, either officially (Appellate Litigation) or unofficially (Institute for Public Representation, Federal Legislation), while others like Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Domestic Violence, and Law Students in Court all require Evidence as a prerequisite (which locks out rising 2Ls). The immigration clinic gets the most applicants and is hardest to get into statistically, but it does accept an even number of 2Ls and 3Ls. The Harrison Housing and Harrison Policy Clinics and International Women's Human Rights Clinic all accepted quite a few 2Ls this year. But you do need to carefully target the clinic you want, make it your first choice, and put together a strong application.

Finally, if you manage to get into a clinic as a 2L, then you "go to the back of the line if you apply for another as a 3L," as the school wants to give as many students as possible the opportunity to do clinical work.

Professors

Most students seem to enjoy their professors at GULC. One student wrote:

My professors are awesome. I'm in B/3 (the alt curriculum B) and I feel like we get the best profs, but my friends in other sections also really like their professors. 1Ls all have dinner with a small section either at their professor's house or at a place of the professor's choosing sometime. This was 150% the right choice for me. LOVING it.

Another student wrote that all of his professors have been "friendly and approachable." Of course, as with any school, some students are going to find some professors more boring than others, but in general, students tend to think highly of their professors. The teachers also tend to have real-world experience, as former dean Fernando points out:

Georgetown students also have the benefit of having access to the amazing faculty here, which includes many people that have personal insight into the way government operates and the process by which it accomplishes things. Not only do we have many full-time professors with that type of experience, but we also have many of the best lawyers in the field working as adjunct professors here. These people are federal judges, agency lawyers and the like in their day jobs, but also come teach upper-level classes. They are able to inform the academic focus of the class with actual practice experience and also can serve as valuable contacts for the students that take their courses.

Contact Information

Georgetown University Law Center
Office of Admissions
600 New Jersey Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
J.D. ADMISSIONS
PHONE: (202) 662-9010
Email: lawadmis@georgetown.edu
https://www.law.georgetown.edu/

Summary

Established	1870
Location	Washington, D.C
Dean	William M. Treanor
2022 US News Ranking	14th
LSAT Median Score	172
GPA Median Score	3.85
Bar Passage Rate	95% (2022)
Employment Rate	83% (2022)
Cost	$71,996
Average Debt	$172,012
Application Deadline	March 1, 2023

Forum and Discussion

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Reference

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/
Rank #14
LSD Law
Guide to Fee Waivers
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans

Forum: GULC 3L Taking Questions
News: Above the Law

Interview: Andy Cornblatt, Dean of Admissions at Georgetown University Law Center (GULC)