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SUNY Buffalo Law School
The SUNY Buffalo Law School is renowned for its excellence in legal education, providing students with a comprehensive set of opportunities and resources. Located on the flagship campus of a prominent research-intensive public university - the largest in the northeastern United States - SUNY Buffalo Law School offers high-quality education that sets graduates up for successful careers in the legal profession. Buffalo Law School is consistently ranked highly by US News & World Report, including a spot at number 62 for their 2023 Best Legal Writing Programs list. Additionally, Prelaw Magazine recently named SUNY Buffalo Law School one of the best schools for Practical Training due to its extensive clinical, externship, and advocacy opportunities. These recognitions speak volumes to the quality of education offered at SUNY Buffalo Law School.
Contents
History
At the outset of its establishment in 1887, a conventional yet robust mode of learning law was through an apprenticeship with an experienced barrister. This method was successful for its period; however, some far-sighted people perceived shortfalls in training acquired from practicing attorneys and observed that other cities had established highly esteemed law schools. Consequently, it was decided to modify how legal education was given in Western New York. A group of twelve judges and lawyers were recognized as the founders of the Buffalo Law School, even though only three had graduated from law schools. In 1899, the school took a revolutionary step forward by enrolling two female students in its first class.
Buffalo Law School is a premier academy of legal education that has positively impacted the Western New York legal community and beyond for many years. To better appreciate this institution's influence, a collection of esteemed legal historians were consulted to compile a list of the most noteworthy events and movements that have had a lasting impression on the American legal system. These include many issues that still have relevance today, such as the rise of the "lawyer elite," the embrace of legal realism, and the emergence of critical race theory. Additionally, there has been a focus on progressive reforms in areas like criminal justice and education law. Such impactful changes would have been virtually impossible without the contributions of Buffalo Law School.
Admissions
The University at Buffalo School of Law seeks students who are ready to embrace the intellectual challenge of legal study and contribute meaningfully to the profession. The admissions process emphasizes academic preparation, personal achievement, and a commitment to justice, offering applicants the opportunity to join a diverse community within New York’s premier public law school.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 153 - 156 - 159 | 153 - 156 - 159 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.48 - 3.72 - 3.89 | 3.44 - 3.71 - 3.87 |
| Acceptance rate | 44% | 44.6% |
| Applications received | 930 | 829 |
| Acceptances | 382 | 370 |
| Matriculants | 139 | 146 |
For the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, the University at Buffalo School of Law received 829 applications, from which 370 students were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of about 44.6%. Of those admitted, 146 students matriculated into the class. The entering class had an LSAT range in the 25th to 75th percentile of 153–159 and an undergraduate GPA range of 3.44–3.87, reflecting the school’s balance of selectivity and accessibility in shaping its incoming class.
Application Review Process
Buffalo Law School offers prospective students a rolling admission process. This means that applications are examined promptly by the Admissions Committee once all associated documents and materials have been submitted, with decisions typically communicated within four to six weeks. Pay attention to detail and ensure that no material is missed from the application to ensure a smooth review process. The Admissions Committee will only review complete applications once all required components are received.
Applying Early Decision
Applicants hoping to take advantage of the Early Decision program at Buffalo Law School must submit a complete application package no later than November 15th. After reviewing the applications, the school will notify applicants about their decisions by December 15th. Those who receive an offer of admission will be required to submit a deposit by the date indicated in their offer letter. To maintain the integrity of their commitment to Early Decision, successful applicants must withdraw any other pending applications and decline any other offers of admission from law schools. If these requirements are not met, SUNY Buffalo Law School may revoke its offer.
Applying Regular Decision
The Buffalo Law School encourages prospective students to submit their applications as soon as possible, ideally by March 1. However, the school accepts applications after this date and will consider LSAT scores from June. Prospective students who opt to take the GRE instead of the LSAT should complete their test by June 15 of the year they want to begin their studies. To ensure that all applicants receive equal consideration, the SUNY Buffalo Law School reviews applications on a rolling basis. The school also provides support services such as admissions counseling and information sessions for those who might not feel comfortable navigating the application process alone. With its commitment to excellence and holistic approach to admissions, the SUNY Buffalo Law School is an ideal choice for aspiring lawyers.
Admissions Requirements
Admissions to Buffalo Law School require applicants to demonstrate academic excellence by submitting various documents and information. Most notably, applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE), provide transcripts from all previous educational institutions attended, show proficiency in the English language, and obtain letters of recommendation from their professors or mentors. Additionally, applicants must submit a personal statement, résumé, and application fee before being considered for admission. Once accepted to the law school, applicants must also demonstrate good character and fitness by providing additional documents that may be requested. After admission has been granted, the law school will provide additional information regarding the student's academic journey.
The admissions process to The Buffalo Law School requires applicants to provide several documents and pass specific tests to demonstrate their academic excellence. Once accepted, applicants must still show good character and fitness before officially beginning their journey at the law school.
Tuition and Financial Aid
SUNY Buffalo Law School remains one of the most affordable law schools in the nation, especially for New York State residents. The school offers a competitive tuition structure along with a variety of scholarships, grants, and financial aid options to help students manage the cost of their legal education.
Cost of Attendance
For the 2025–2026 academic year, SUNY Buffalo Law School offers a comparatively affordable legal education, particularly for New York residents. The estimated cost of attendance (COA) includes tuition, fees, and living expenses such as housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal costs. For in-state students, the total COA is projected to be just over $52,000, while out-of-state students can expect a higher overall cost due to increased tuition rates. Financial aid, scholarships, and grants are widely available to help offset these expenses, ensuring that many students pay less than the full sticker price.
| Category | In-State Students | Out-of-State Students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $29,750 | $35,420 |
| Living Expenses | $18,650 | $18,650 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| Transportation | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Total COA | $52,010 | $58,070 |
Financing Options
Suppose you're considering attending SUNY Buffalo Law School and would like to be considered for financial aid. In that case, the first step is to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1st. You should know that a Title IV Code Number is associated with UB School of Law, 002837. Make sure you include this number when completing your FAFSA application and submit it promptly to ensure that the financial aid process is completed quickly. With the right resources, SUNY Buffalo Law School can provide you with a quality legal education while keeping the cost manageable. Take advantage of these funds to make your law school dreams come true.
Merit Scholarships
Merit scholarships at the University at Buffalo School of Law recognize incoming and continuing students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. These awards are typically offered at the time of admission, and if you are selected, the scholarship details will be clearly outlined in your admission letter.
Once awarded, merit scholarships are renewable annually for both J.D. and LL.M. students, provided recipients maintain good academic standing. Importantly, these scholarships are non-conditional, meaning they will not be reduced or rescinded as long as you remain in good academic standing.
Merit support is widely distributed among students. For example, nearly 89% of the Fall 2023 incoming J.D. class received merit scholarships ranging from $2,000 up to full in-state tuition, making SUNY Buffalo Law one of the more accessible and affordable public law school options.
Loans
At the University at Buffalo and the SUNY Buffalo Law School, various loans are available to help students pay for their legal education. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is one option for students, providing up to $20,500 per academic year. This loan can be applied directly from the university and is a great way to help meet the cost of legal education.
For those students who need additional financial assistance, there are other loan options, such as the Federal Direct PLUS Loan and Perkins Loan. Both of these loans are credit-based and provide funds for educational expenses. Students may also qualify for College Work-Study, which is offered through the university on a need-based and available funds basis.
At SUNY Buffalo Law School, they understand the financial obligations associated with pursuing a legal education and are here to help you explore your options for financing your education. They strongly encourage all students to review their loan options to decide how best to meet their educational expenses.
Need-Based Grant
The EDPS Program, funded by New York State and supported by educational institutions, provides partial tuition waivers to full-time law students who demonstrate exceptional need. This opportunity offers a unique benefit to those individuals who would otherwise find it challenging to pursue professional studies due to financial constraints.
To be eligible for the EDPS Program at SUNY Buffalo Law School, a student pursuing an advanced law degree must provide evidence of their need through a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or another official financial aid form. The Financial Aid Office will review all documents and determine if a student’s need is sufficient to qualify them for the program.
New York State offers a discounted tuition rate to those who are considered residents of the state. SUNY Buffalo Law School is a public institution, so these reduced rates are available to students living in New York for at least twelve months before their application. Out-of-state students can also become eligible for discounted tuition by establishing residency in New York, which can be done after living in the state for a year. To apply for the discounted tuition rate, out-of-state residents must submit an Application For Residency For In-State Tuition Purposes to Student Accounts at SUNY Buffalo Law School.
Academics and Curriculum
The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB Law) has a flexible and diverse curriculum that gives students plenty of options to build a unique program of study. A full-time JD student must complete six or five full-time semesters plus two summer sessions for graduation. The first-year classes introduce the legal system, with courses in contracts, torts, civil procedure, criminal law, property, and constitutional law. After the first year, students must complete at least 60 semester credit hours, including at least one seminar. The upper-division program is elective and offers survey and advanced courses across public and private practice fields, as well as seminars and miniature group courses in particular or emerging areas of law.
The Law School also has dual-degree programs, allowing students to earn credit toward a master's or Ph.D. degree jointly with their JD. UB Law is the only university in New York State that offers this opportunity. It provides access to nationally recognized schools such as its School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Engineering and Applied Sciences. Dual-degree programs include political science, management, philosophy, public health, legal information management and analysis, social work, sociology, and economics.
Overall, UB Law offers a well-rounded law program that provides students with the necessary knowledge to be successful in their legal careers. With the flexibility to choose a more personalized curriculum, dual degree programs, and a wide array of courses, students have plenty of options to make the most out of their education.
The Law School also provides international students with special courses designed to introduce them to American law and prepare them for the New York State bar exam. Additionally, the school offers an LLM degree in Criminal Law and a General LLM for international and domestic students. Clinics and simulations are also available to help students hone their professional skills before entering the legal profession.
Legal Skills
The University at Buffalo Law School's Legal Skills initiative is the cornerstone of the school's curriculum. The initiative focuses on developing and producing practice-ready lawyers who can meet the challenges of the legal profession. A key component of the initiative is the Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research (LAWR) program. The three semesters of required LAWR coursework allow every student to receive the necessary training in these skills broken up into manageable segments. "Legal analysis and legal writing are the two fundamental skills of any lawyer," Said Professor Charles Patrick Ewing, Vice Dean for Legal Skills. "This enables us to not only give students more training in these skills but to give it to them in pieces that they are more able to deal with at their level. We don't have to rush students to get all this in."
Another integral part of the Legal Skills Initiative is the Trial Technique Program which includes the Buffalo-Niagara Trial Tournament, Trial Teams and Trial Technique classes. Each year UB Law hosts The Buffalo Niagara Trial Tournament, which draws over 125 students from over 30 law schools around the nation. The tournament, held in the Buffalo City Court building, allows students to argue fictitious cases in front of practicing lawyers and judges. UB Law Trial Teams travel to trial competitions in Michigan, New York City, Georgia, and California and to the National Trial Competition in Syracuse, New York. In recent years UB Law's Trial Team has won more awards than any other school at the American Bar Association regional competition. UB Law's Trial Technique classes culminate each semester with a mock trial in a downtown Buffalo courtroom.
Special Programs
Clinical Programs - Skills training in the clinical program is coordinated with substantive law courses to give students a theoretical understanding of practical issues. Students serve clients and conduct research and fieldwork in areas such as economic development, affordable housing, mediation, family violence, elder law, and environmental and development law.
Research Centers - The Law School's research centers provide multiple perspectives on the law. The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy serves as a focal point for interdisciplinary research and teaching. As the focal point for human rights work at the UB Law, the Buffalo Human Rights Center (BHRC) fosters coursework, research, scholarship and practical experience in human rights. The Edwin F. Jaeckle Center (for state and Local Democracy) supports a balanced academic program of theoretical study of democratic processes and the education of lawyers for public service. The Center for the Study of Business Transactions, a joint venture of the Law School and the UB School of Management, sponsors a variety of courses, research opportunities, and distinguished speakers. Through one of the country's most extensive and diverse criminal law curricula of lecture courses, seminars, and hands-on courses, the Criminal Law Concentration allows students to acquire a wide variety of skills in the practical and theoretical aspects of modern criminal law.
"Law, religion and culture program" focuses on the multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural study of the intersection of law, religion, society and culture.
The Canada-United States Legal Studies Centre integrates Canadian legal issues into the Law School by coordinating its activities with those of research groups, faculty initiatives, and student organizations. Finally, the UB Law Program for Excellence in Family Law integrates teaching, research, policy, and practice to provide students with the skills and experience needed to practice family law.
Bridge Term - Second- and third-year students can enroll in up to three one-credit bridge courses taught by experienced lawyers and judges, giving students a window into current issues in practice.
New York City Program in Finance and Law - Provides University at Buffalo Law students with an introduction to New York City's financial markets and a gateway to its highly competitive financial-sector job market. Each Year, approximately 25 students are selected to participate in this unique program, which is located in New York City.
Externships
Over 50 law school students are placed in supervised externships each semester, and another 20 or more students are placed in judicial clerkships. Externships and judicial clerkships provide law students with unique legal and public service experience as they work in various government and non-profit organizations, and get credit for doing so. By working at the externship host offices, students learn how to work with a client and address the client's specific needs and goals - something that's difficult to teach in a classroom. Students also get a sense of how the legal and public policy systems work and are exposed to many interesting and exciting jobs that perhaps they never knew existed.
Students help judges, attorneys, and legislators with pressing legal questions that arise in ongoing cases, in the development of public policy or legislation, and in response to citizen inquiries or problems. Students may, for example, attend court, draft an opinion for a judge, or write legislation for a member of Congress.
New semester-long opportunities continue to be added to a list of options, including dozens of possible judicial clerkships, legislative externships, and other non-profit and government work. Most are in Western New York. However, our summer externships allow students to work in Rochester, Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and overseas.
Employment Prospects
The University at Buffalo School of Law continues to deliver strong outcomes for its graduates. According to its ABA-required disclosures, 91.72% of the Class of 2023 secured full-time, long-term, JD-required positions within nine months of graduation. Impressively, the Class of 2024 achieved an even higher placement rate of 95.625%, reflecting the law school’s intensified professional preparation and career support. These figures underscore UB Law’s commitment to helping its students successfully transition from the classroom to meaningful legal careers.
Quality of Life
University of Buffalo Law School students have an enjoyable and productive educational experience. They are encouraged to collaborate with their peers to achieve the most from their legal studies as they progress toward a successful legal career. Extracurricular activities are available for students to get involved in, such as the Student Bar Association, which is responsible for governing all student organizations. Additionally, the Moot Court Board offers competitions for students to practice appellate proceedings. At the same time, other specialized journals focus on environmental law, affordable housing, criminal law, human rights law, and social policy concerning women. The University at Buffalo Law School provides a wide range of opportunities for its students to gain legal expertise and an enjoyable experience that will stay with them throughout their careers.
The University at Buffalo Law School faculty are dedicated and knowledgeable professionals who provide a superior education to their students, offering guidance in pursuing their chosen career path. Faculty members have received numerous awards from prominent organizations such as the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools, and other prestigious organizations. The faculty are actively engaged in research, publishing articles and books that contribute to the field of law. Additionally, they are involved in various externships, clinical programs, and interdisciplinary courses.
The University at Buffalo Law School is committed to providing its students with an exceptional legal education and a memorable experience. With dedicated faculty members, various extracurricular activities, and opportunities, the University at Buffalo Law School is ideal for aspiring lawyers to begin their journey. With its excellent resources and knowledgeable faculty, students can be assured that they will receive a well-rounded education geared toward preparing them for success in the legal profession.
Library and Physical Facilities
The John Lord O'Brian Hall of SUNY Buffalo Law School is a seven-story building that serves as the home for law students. It includes high-tech courtroom facilities for students to observe professional judges and lawyers in action, giving them a unique learning experience. The library occupies six floors and has a particular reading room for law students.
In addition to its expansive library, the Law School offers first-year law students one-on-one guidance in research methods and writing with exceptional instructors. To further improve the student experience, SUNY Buffalo Law School recently renovated its student lounge and classrooms to include a new entrance and reception area. Technology has also been upgraded throughout the school to give students and faculty access to the internet and other resources they need to succeed. With its cutting-edge facilities, SUNY Buffalo Law School is ideal for aspiring lawyers looking to hone their skills.
Contact Information
University at Buffalo School of Law
Admissions Office
309 O'Brian Hall,
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: 716-645-2907
Email: law-admissions@buffalo.edu
https://www.law.buffalo.edu/admissions.html#team
Summary
| Established | 1887 |
| Location | Buffalo, NY |
| Dean | Brown, S. Todd |
| 2025 US News Ranking | 94th |
| LSAT Median Score | 156 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.71 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 81.1% (2025) |
| Employment Rate | 66.2% (2025) |
| Cost | "$29,390 (in-state, full-time),
$34,690 (out-of-state, full-time)" |
| Average Debt | $77,692 |
| Application Deadline | March 1, 2025 |
Forum and Discussion
SUNY Buffalo Law School Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums
Reference
https://www.law.buffalo.edu/
Rank #94
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