SMU Dedman School of Law

Southern Methodist Law

The SMU Dedman School of Law is one of two law schools in Dallas and is widely considered to be among the finest law schools in the Southwest region. Located on a lush tree-lined campus in what is regarded as the most prestigious section of Dallas, SMU Law provides its students with a wonderful setting in which they can pursue their legal education. Upon graduation, these students enjoy tremendous job prospects in Texas--especially in Dallas--and most choose to begin their law careers within the state. For applicants hoping to do the same, SMU Law should be near the top of the list.

History

The Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University was established in 1925. In 2001, it was renamed in honor of Dallas benefactors Nancy and Robert H. Dedman, Sr., and their family. The Dean of the law school is Jason P. Nance, who is also a Judge James Noel Dean and Professor of Law. The law school has a national and international reputation for training prominent lawyers in law and business.

The SMU Law faculty is highly respected for its contributions to the law. The faculty has a variety of strengths, including business and corporate law, international law, intellectual property, energy law, and family law and advocacy. In addition, their students have many opportunities to gain practical legal experience through our clinics and projects. Their Underwood Law Library is also one of the country's largest private academic law libraries. The alums include prominent individuals such as justices on the Texas Supreme Court, members of the U.S. Congress, an ambassador, a governor, and foreign ministers.

Admissions

For the 2024–2025 admission cycle, SMU received approximately 2,540 applications, offered admission to about 772 applicants, and saw 223 students matriculate, resulting in an acceptance rate of 30.39% and a yield (enrollment rate) of roughly 28.9%. The median LSAT score for the enrolled class was 165, with the 25th percentile around 160 and the 75th percentile about 166; the median undergraduate GPA was 3.86, ranging from approximately 3.67 to 3.91. Tuition and fees for full‑time J.D. students in the 2025 academic year are $66,044, with 96% of full‑time students receiving grants or scholarships, averaging $25,000, which covers nearly 38% of the sticker price. The bar passage rate for class of 2024 first‑time takers was around 84.86%, and SMU Dedman was ranked #43 in the 2025 Best Law Schools rankings. The school also has strong outcomes in large law firm placements and judicial clerkships, particularly for long-term, bar-passage-required jobs.

The 2025 entering class showed increases in competitiveness compared with previous years: the median LSAT rose to 165, the median GPA climbed slightly to 3.86, and the acceptance rate dropped to 30.39%, its lowest in recent years. Yield improved slightly to 28.89%, with 223 matriculants joining a total J.D. enrollment of 649 students (out of 717 total students, including non-J.D. programs).

In summary, gaining admission to SMU Dedman School of Law in Fall 2025 required strong academic metrics, and the school continues to offer significant financial aid and strong career outcomes to its students.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2023-2024	2024-2025
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	160 - 164 - 166	161 - 165 - 166
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.67 - 3.83 - 3.91	3.6 - 3.86 - 3.93
Acceptance rate	33.9%	30.4%
Applications received	2175	2540
Acceptances	711	772
Matriculants	186

For the 2024–2025 academic year, SMU Dedman School of Law saw a rise in applications, receiving 2,540 in total compared to 2,175 the previous year. The acceptance rate dropped slightly from 33.9% to 30.4%, indicating increased selectivity. A total of 772 applicants were accepted, and 223 chose to matriculate, up from 186 the year prior. The LSAT scores for the middle 50% of admitted students ranged from 161 to 166, a modest increase from the previous range of 160 to 166. Similarly, the GPA range for the 25th to 75th percentile moved slightly higher to 3.6 to 3.93, up from 3.67 to 3.91. These figures suggest a more competitive applicant pool and slightly stronger academic profiles among incoming students for the class of 2025.

Application Deadline

The regular decision deadline is March 1. If you take the February LSAT, your application and all supporting materials must be received by March 1 to be considered. You will be informed by the end of April. If you want to apply for a late decision, your application will be reviewed on a space-available basis. Applications are completed as received, and decisions are made shortly after that.

Application Process

In order to apply to law school, you must submit an electronic application, as well as a CAS report. Your file will not be reviewed until all required materials have been received. Letters of recommendation are optional, but if you choose to submit them, we will only accept up to three. You can submit your letters of recommendation through the CAS Letter of Recommendation Service.

Transfers

The traditional first-year law curriculum at another law school may be completed by a student in order to be eligible to apply for admission with advanced standing at Suffolk University Law School. A student who has been excluded from or who is on probation at another school will not be admitted. Admission is selective. Applications for transfer are reviewed for fall, spring, or summer admission. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

Tuition and Expenses

Tuition and mandatory fees total $66,044 per year for full-time J.D. students, marking a 4% increase from the previous academic year.

When factoring in estimated living and other non-tuition costs, the total cost of attendance (COA) rises to approximately $88,682. This includes estimated expenses for housing and meals at $22,638, transportation around $2,232, books and supplies at $2,000, and personal and miscellaneous costs at about $4,000.

Approximately 96% of full-time J.D. students receive financial assistance, with the average scholarship or grant award being around $25,000. After this aid is applied, the typical net cost of attendance decreases to roughly $63,682 per year.

To summarize:

Tuition & fees: $66,044
Estimated living & other expenses: ~$22,638 (total COA ~ $88,682)
Average financial aid awarded: $25,000
Net cost after aid: ~$63,682

These figures provide a clear view of the financial expectations for incoming law students at SMU Dedman School of Law in the 2024–2025 academic year.

Cost of Attendance

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the total Cost of Attendance (COA) at SMU Dedman School of Law for full-time J.D. students is estimated at approximately $88,682. This includes $66,044 in tuition and mandatory fees, plus an estimated $22,638 in living and personal expenses. These non-tuition costs cover items such as housing, food, books, supplies, transportation, and personal needs. While the total sticker price may appear high, 96% of full-time students receive scholarships or grants, with the average award amounting to roughly $25,000, effectively reducing the net cost to about $63,682 per year for most students.

**SMU Dedman School of Law – Cost of Attendance (2024–2025)**
Category	Estimated Cost
Tuition and Fees	$66,044
Housing and Meals	$22,638
Books and Supplies	$2,000
Transportation	$2,232
Personal Expenses	$4,000
Total Cost of Attendance (COA)	$88,682
Average Financial Aid	$25,000
Estimated Net Cost After Aid	$63,682

Scholarships and Loans

The Scholarship Committee awards scholarships to entering first-year students based on academic achievement and potential, as well as life experiences. The Committee uses the available funds to attract students who will enhance SMU Dedman School of Law with their skills and experiences. All applications completed by the regular decision deadline are automatically considered for academic scholarships. Scholarships for full-time students are typically awarded based on an outstanding undergraduate record and a strong performance on the LSAT.

Private Scholarship Opportunities:

The Charles and Peggy Galvin Endowment Fund was established in 1979 to provide scholarships for students based on merit. Approximately three students per entering class are awarded the prestigious Hutchison Scholarship, which covers the total cost of tuition and fees. The Luce Scholarship is also a full-tuition, four-year scholarship awarded to one student per year. The Dedman School of Law Impact Scholarship provides a full-tuition, three-year scholarship for an incoming law student with demonstrated leadership abilities from an economically or educationally underserved community with a preference for a first-generation college student. Selected students will also have the opportunity to mentor one-on-one with prominent attorneys to provide them with advice and guidance during their law school experience. There is no separate application required to receive any of these scholarships.

The Sumners Foundation Scholarship:

The Sumners Foundation Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and a stipend for living expenses and textbooks. The Sumners Foundation selects between four and six outstanding students to receive these scholarships each year. If you are a permanent resident of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas, you may apply for a Sumners Foundation Scholarship. SMU and the Sumners Foundation have worked together to change the name of this scholarship program to reflect better their unwavering commitments to diversity, inclusion, and excellence.

The Sarah T. Hughes Scholarship:

The Sarah T. Hughes Scholarship is offered by the Dallas Bar Foundation that covers the total cost of tuition and fees for outstanding students of color each year. You must complete the separate SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION to be considered for the scholarship. Your scholarship application must be completed and on file with the Dallas Bar Foundation by February 15. To be admitted to the JD program by February 15, you must complete an application for admission by January 15.

Law School Culture

The atmosphere at SMU Dedman is widely described as collegial, collaborative, and supportive, with students naturally inclined to help each other—whether by sharing class notes, forming study groups, or offering peer support through coursework and clinics. A standout feature of first-year life is the Haynes Boone Inns of Court Program, in which students meet weekly with classmates, faculty, student leaders, career advisors, and alumni—building close-knit connections and fostering mentoring relationships that often extend throughout law school and beyond.

Beyond academics, Dedman students are engaged in a vibrant community of more than forty student organizations, including affinity groups like BLSA and HLSA, as well as specialty groups such as the Intellectual Property Organization, Environmental Law Society, and Health Law Association. These organizations host networking events, speaker series, social activities, and service initiatives that enrich both personal and professional growth.

Experiential learning is integral to the Dedman culture: the school supports ten in-house legal clinics, robust externship programs—such as corporate counsel placements, federal judicial externships, and public interest roles—and a nationally recognized moot court and mock trial program. Collectively, these offerings support a well-rounded student experience, marrying rigorous academics with hands-on practice in a collaborative, community-oriented environment.

Additionally, SMU's wider campus anchors a strong sense of student life and wellness, supported by the university’s Division of Student Affairs, on-campus medical and counseling services, and leadership initiatives like the Caswell Leadership Program and Maguire Center for Ethics.

Overall, the 2025 Dedman culture blends academic challenge with meaningful support, ample opportunities for leadership and practical experience, and a vibrant student community grounded in mentorship, professionalism, and ethical growth.

Pre-Law Scholars Program

The Pre‑Law Scholars Program is an invitation-only initiative for highly qualified SMU undergraduates (about 40 students per year) interested in pursuing a legal education at Dedman. Students are selected based on their application for SMU with pre‑law as an academic interest—no additional essay or application is required—and invitations are sent after SMU’s regular decision results. Once admitted into SMU, participation in PLS offers significant benefits including guaranteed admission to SMU Dedman so long as students meet the program requirements: a cumulative GPA of at least 3.85 with a minimum LSAT score of 156, or a GPA of at least 3.20 with a LSAT score of 166, successful completion of the PLS course, and earning an SMU degree within five years.

PLS participants enjoy access to exclusive programming such as a dedicated Pre‑Law Scholars course taught by Dedman faculty, visits to actual law school classes, receptions with law school faculty, current students, and alumni, and invitations to career workshops, symposia, and distinguished guest speaker events. The program also provides mentorship from current Dedman students and a fee waiver for the law school application upon matriculation to SMU.

Through these offerings, the Pre‑Law Scholars Program immerses students early in the law school environment, builds academic skills, and strengthens professional networks—setting participants up for a seamless transition into the Dedman School of Law.

Academics & Curriculum

The University of Texas at Dallas offers many opportunities for students to get involved in academics. These include centers and institutes such as the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, the Tsai Center for Law, Science and Innovation, and the Robert B. Rowling Center for Business Law and Leadership. These centers offer unique opportunities for students to get involved in research, scholarship, and leadership development.

Conferences, Symposia, & Lecture Series

Each year, SMU Dedman Law hosts a variety of presentations, distinguished speakers, academic conferences, and symposia on various topics of national and international relevance. Faculty, alums, and students participate in these events, where important topics are discussed and debated.

SMU Law Journals

The journals are staffed by second and third-year law students guided by faculty advisors and community members serving on the Boards of Advisors. These students solicit, edit, and publish over 150 articles each year. In addition, the journals host several symposia events each year, bringing together legal scholars and practitioners from across the globe.

Study Abroad in Oxford

SMU Dedman Law offers a summer study abroad program at University College, Oxford, one of Oxford’s oldest and most distinguished colleges founded in 1249. During the roughly six-week program, students take two courses for credit: one taught by an SMU professor and one delivered in the traditional Oxford tutorial format by an Oxford tutor—culminating in five hours of law school credit. Participants live in University College rooms and share meals in the college dining hall, fully integrating into the historic and academic life of Oxford.

Beyond academics, students participate in unique cultural experiences—such as formal “High Table” dinners with faculty and tutors—and enjoy classic Oxford traditions like evening runs through Christ Church Meadow and visits to historic pubs such as The Eagle and Child, frequented by Tolkien and Lewis.

This program provides SMU Dedman Law students with a rich international academic experience, combining rigorous legal study with immersive engagement in Oxford’s intellectual and cultural environment.

Clinics

The Dedman School of Law clinics provide students with opportunities to serve the community and specialize in various areas of law. These clinics are essential to our mission to provide excellent legal education and public service. The clinics allow students to develop professional responsibility and skills in a natural world setting.

Externships

SMU's Externship Program provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience by working in legal settings under the supervision of a mentor-attorney and law faculty member. With three distinct programs, nearly 200 students each year can participate in our Corporate Counsel, Federal Judicial, and Government & Public Interest Externships, allowing students to gain legal work experiences in non-profits, courtrooms, local and federal government agencies, and corporate counsel offices.

Moot Court

The Board of Advocates is a student-led organization that promotes practical experience in written and oral advocacy through various competitions throughout the school year. The BOA coordinates intramural mock trials, moot court, negotiation, client counseling, and mediation competitions open to all SMU law students. These competitions are judged by local practitioners and members of the law faculty. The BOA also sponsors student teams for state, national, and international interscholastic mock trials, moot courts, negotiation, client counseling, and mediation competitions.

Public Service

The public service graduation requirement encourages students to gain hands-on experience and professional development by allowing them to help meet the needs of the community for free legal service. There are relationships with over 90 different public interest organizations in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, so students have ample opportunity to find an organization that coordinates with their interests.

Simulated Learning

Simulation courses, such as trial advocacy, contract drafting, real estate practice, small business representation, patent prosecution, and patent litigation, provide opportunities for students to learn and practice the skills they need to be successful in their chosen field. These courses are designed to give students a realistic experience that will help them better understand the challenges they may face in their professional life.

Quality of Life

Dallas is a city in the United States experiencing a lot of economic growth. Many excellent restaurants, shopping centers, and entertainment districts are located throughout the city. The weather is moderate, and the cost of living is low, making Dallas a great place to live. Many sports teams are also located in Dallas, making it a fun place to live year-round.

SMU's location in University Park, a prestigious neighborhood of Dallas, contributes to the high quality of life students enjoy at the university and the law school. The law school facilities are self-contained and located on the beautiful, green university campus, and have recently been updated through extensive renovations. Law students enjoy a newly built parking garage and dining hall at the law school and have access to the larger SMU campus's many facilities, including childcare, housing options, and fitness centers. Law students praise housing available on campus, and off-campus housing options are affordable and suitable close to the law school. In terms of nightlife, law students enjoy the variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants typically available in large metropolitan cities such as Dallas and participate in weekly happy hours arranged by the Student Bar Association. Traffic can be avoided through the use of Dallas's efficient public transportation system, and safety is rarely an issue at or around the law school.

The SMU Libraries and the Dedman School of Law's Underwood Law Library offer various services to students. The libraries provide access to resources such as books, journals, and databases and offer research assistance. The Dedman School of Law's Underwood Law Library is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Center and the Meadows Museum.

Employment Prospects & Bar Passage

Southern Methodist Law

Graduates of the Class of 2024 from SMU Dedman achieved a first-time bar passage rate of 84.86%, meaning 185 out of 218 first-time takers passed the exam—significantly outperforming the national average of approximately 77% and Texas’s average of around 83%.

Regarding employment outcomes, 207 out of 220 graduates (94.09%) had secured jobs within nine months of graduation. Among those employed, 205 held full-time, long-term positions, including 146 working at law firms (ranging from small to large operations), 24 in business roles, 14 in government, and several in judicial clerkships and public interest roles.

SMU Dedman’s national placement performance is noteworthy: the school ranked among the top law schools nationally for the percentage of graduates in full-time, long-term, bar-passage-required jobs. Additionally, the school is recognized for placing its graduates as associates at some of the nation’s largest law firms. As of March 15, 2025, a remarkable 99.58% of job‑seeking graduates had secured employment.

These outcomes occurred against a backdrop of a historically strong national market: U.S. law school graduates in 2024 recorded a nationwide employment rate of 93.4%, with over 84% in bar-required roles, and the median starting salary climbing to $95,000.

In summary, SMU Dedman Law’s Class of 2024 posted a solid 84.9% bar passage rate, high employment rates (~94%), and strong placement in both law firms and clerkships. These figures reflect Dedman’s robust career support and competitiveness in a market where nationwide job placement and salary metrics have reached historic highs.

Synopsis

Applicants with a fondness for Texas and the Southwest should give the SMU Dedman School of Law serious consideration. The school is among the finest in the region, and offers its students great job prospects in Texas and its neighboring states. While at SMU, most will likely enjoy a high quality of life that comes about in part as a result of the beautiful university campus on which the law school is situated.

Contact Information

Southern Methodist University
Dedman School of Law
Admissions Office
3300 University Blvd.
Carr Collins Building, Suite 331
Dallas, Texas 75205
Main Number: 214-768-2550
Fax Number: 214-768-2549
Email: lawadmit@smu.edu

https://www.smu.edu/Law/Admissions

Summary

Established	1925
Location	Dallas, Tx
Dean	Jason P. Nance
2025 US News Ranking	43rd
LSAT Median Score	165
GPA Median Score	3.86
Bar Passage Rate	84.9% (2025)
Employment Rate	77.1% (2025)
Cost	$66,044
Average Debt	$51,451
Application Deadline	April 1, 2025

Forum and Discussion

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Reference

https://www.smu.edu/law
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