Seton Hall Law

Seton Hall University was founded in 1856 by Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley. The university is named after his aunt, Sister Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. Today, over 10,000 students attend Seton Hall's eight schools and colleges, including the School of Law in Newark.

Seton Hall University had planned to establish a law school as early as 1937, but the outbreak of World War II and the postwar period delayed these plans. In 1950, the New Jersey Supreme Court adopted rules requiring candidates for bar admission to possess law degrees from ABA-accredited law schools, which forced John Marshall Law School in Jersey City, New Jersey, to close. John Marshall's administration agreed to transfer its assets to Seton Hall on the condition that the latter maintain records for John Marshall's graduates. Consequently, Seton Hall's law school could boast a comprehensive collection of resources from its beginning.

History

The Seton Hall University School of Law was founded in 1951 as part of Seton Hall University. The American Bar Association (ABA) accredited the school to meet the requirements for candidates to be admitted to the bar. In June 1950, John Marshall Law School in Jersey City, New Jersey, was forced to close. In return, Seton Hall agreed to maintain and administer the records of John Marshall's graduates.

Seton Hall Law School is a well-known and respected institution in the United States and internationally. The school offers a student pro bono initiative through its Center for Social Justice that provides legal services for more than 1,000 Newark citizens annually. The Center offers immigration/human rights, civil litigation, family law, and juvenile justice clinics that help clients with various problems, from domestic violence to the threat of deportation.

In addition, Seton Hall Law School participates in the Dean Acheson Legal Stage Program at the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg. Over the past several years, Seton Hall Law School students have competed successfully against their peers from Columbia, Fordham, Georgetown, Harvard, and New York University to secure prestigious positions with European Court justices. Finally, the Law School boasts a highly respected inter-scholastic moot court curriculum among its many programs designed to attract and train some of the best legal minds in the country.

Admissions

The first step in applying to law school is setting up an account with the Law School Admissions Council. This will allow you to submit your letters of recommendation and track your LSAT or GRE scores. All law school applications are hosted on the LSAC portal, which makes it easy to submit questions and data across multiple college applications.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	154 - 158 - 160	157 - 160 - 162
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.32 - 3.55 - 3.79	3.31 - 3.58 - 3.75
Acceptance rate	46.2%	45.7%
Applications received	2028	2256
Acceptances	937	1030
Matriculants	261	184

Seton Hall University has a 1L class size of 354 and a yield of 33.98%. Out of the 2,256 people who applied, 1,030 were offered admission. 350 out of 1,030 applicants who were offered admission were accepted, meaning that 33.98% of that offered admission ended up attending the school. The 1L class at Seton Hall University has a median LSAT of 160. The 25th percentile LSAT is 157, and the 75th percentile LSAT is 162. The median GPA is 3.58. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.31, and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.75.

Cost of Attendance

"'COST OF ATTENDANCE 2022-23 (Fall/Spring)'"
	JD Living on Own (full-time)	JD Living on Own (part-time/weekend)
TUITION	$61,980	$46,484
FEES	$1,680	$1,680
TOTAL TUITION AND FEES	$63,660	$48,164
Room	$9,630	$6,300
Board	$4,590	$1,800
Transportation	$2,070	$1,710
Misc. Expenses	$5,130	$6,030
TOTAL LIVING EXPENSES	$21,420	$15,840
Books and Supplies	$1,400	$1,200
Stafford Loan Fees	$218	$218
TOTAL BUDGET	$86,698	$65,422

Personal Statements

When it comes to writing personal statements for law school, most prompts are pretty similar. Seton Hall Law School is no exception. They ask that applicants submit an essay of "approximately two to three typed pages" and remark that they are "interested in learning about the process that has led you to decide to become a lawyer and to seek admission to Seton Hall Law." They suggest you reflect "upon your personal influences" and provide them with "examples from your experience." In other words, the same personal statement you used for other schools will probably work fine. That being said, if you want to include specific reasons why you want to attend Seton Hall, those will serve as a bonus in the admissions process. If you're interested in improving your statement or even just looking for ideas to write about, Ken DeLeon, the creator of Top-Law-Schools.com, wrote a fantastic guide to personal statements, which can be found here for free.

In addition, the school will accept a "supplemental statement" where one can describe "any experiences or circumstances (including any physical and psychological difficulties) not mentioned elsewhere in [the] application that might have adversely affected any previous academic or standardized testing performance." Furthermore, they ask, "Do these circumstances still prevail today? If yes, how would this affect your success in a law school program?" This statement is an addendum for students with a previous mark on their record. You can reassure the school that whatever issues you had in the past will not affect your future performance (thus increasing your chance of acceptance). For more information about writing addenda, click here.

Application Deadline

Seton Hall has no option for Early Decision (E.D.) or Early Action (E.A.). However, the school says, "All applicants are encouraged to file and complete their applications as early as possible." Applications open on September 1^st and close on April 1^st.

Letters of Recommendation

Seton Hall requires one letter of recommendation from applicants written within the last two years. Letters can be submitted "directly to Seton Hall University School of Law by the writer, sent through a college or university credentials service, or be included as part of LSDAS through the Letter of Recommendation service." Finally, the school notes, "Letters of recommendation must be written on letterhead stationery that includes an address. Letters must be recent and must be signed." For additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.

Transfer Students

The school gives the following information about transferring to Seton Hall:

Applicants for transfer admission must have completed at least one year, or one-third of the credits required for graduation, at an ABA-approved law school and be in good academic standing at their current law schools. Transfer applications must be received and completed by June 25, 2010. The transfer admission process is not rolling, so there is no advantage to applying significantly before the deadline.

In addition, the school reports that "mid-July will make decisions for applications received and completed by the deadline." In the last data reported to the ABA, the school noted that 11 students transferred into Seton Hall, and seven transferred out. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

Urms (or Underrepresented Minorities)

Because of their disadvantaged histories in the United States, certain minorities enjoy a significant boost in the application process. To read more about this boost and whether you classify it as a URM, click here. In addition, many pre-law programs are specifically created to help URM applicants get accepted to top schools. To read more about some of these programs, click here.

Law School Culture

Seton Hall University School of Law is located in Newark, NJ. While Newark isn't a bustling metropolis, it does have various recreational opportunities for its residents. First, there are several parks in Newark and the surrounding area that students can enjoy when the weather is warm. Choices in Newark include Branch Brook Park, a four-mile stretch that "features thousands of cherry trees that blossom in April," and Weequahic Park, a "public 18-hole golf course" that can be reached by car in five minutes.

Ski resorts and beaches are also in the nearby area. For instance, one can reach the Mountain Creek ski area (located in Vernon, NJ) in "approximately 45 minutes." One can also quickly get to various New Jersey beaches; if traveling by car, one should be able to reach a beach in "approximately one hour." In addition, the school's website explains: "The North Jersey Coast line leaves Newark Penn Station regularly bound for beach towns such as Belmar, Spring Lake, Point Pleasant, and other New Jersey beaches."

If you are into sports, the school's location also offers plenty in this regard, with its proximity to the Prudential Center and, for soccer, Red Bull Stadium. Teams like the New Jersey Devils (for hockey) are hometown favorites, and students can travel up to nearby New York for Giants, Jets, Knicks, Rangers, Yankees, and Mets games. In addition, Seton Hall has a basketball team, the Pirates, and games are a "popular student event." The school reports a "limited number of free tickets for selected games during the season are available for law students at the Office of the Dean of Students."

As with most other cities, Newark also offers a variety of museums, shows, and local restaurants for students to enjoy. For instance, the local Newark Museum (which includes the Dreyfuss Planetarium) and Liberty Science Center give students some culture close to home, and nearby New York City offers a multitude of different museums that are "easy to reach via New Jersey Transit and the New York City subway." The nearby New Jersey Performing Arts Center "hosts nationally acclaimed musicians, off-Broadway plays and musicals, as well as local talents," and students can enjoy the classical offerings of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Finally, there are numerous restaurants in the area (Nico, Dino Bar-b-que, Mmmbello's, and Iberia Peninsula, to name a few). If you ever get bored of the food fare in Newark, you can travel to New York City, where the eating options are endless. One current student was surprised that Newark had so much to offer students:

One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises I had coming here was discovering that there is a lot to do in Newark. Many students live in Newark and love it. There are a half dozen bars that SHU students often frequent after school. There are hundreds of food options, especially in the Ironbound, a predominantly Brazilian/Portuguese area of Newark with many cultures. The Prudential Center is home to the Devils, Nets, SHU Basketball, concerts, etc. Newark is a transportation hub, and it's easy to get to Hoboken, NJ, another popular location, and NYC. You will never be bored in your downtime in this area.

Housing

The school offers a detailed look at the various housing options available for students on its website. For instance, students can search for housing in Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City, Manhattan, Westfield, and South Orange/Maplewood, just a few communities where Seton Hall students often reside. One student commented on the housing situation:

I don't live in Newark, but my friends don't seem to mind it because it is conveniently located close to school. There are a lot of excellent restaurants and bars in Newark and nearby Jersey City and Hoboken. NYC is also only a 20-minute train ride, so there are social outlets. People generally find housing in Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken, but many commutes from different places. Most people I know live relatively close to school, but a few commute a considerable distance. SHU Law doesn't have "on-campus" dorms, but there are two apartments that are about a block or two from school that many students live in.

Another student explains further:

The good thing about Newark is that it's a transportation hub. Newark Penn Station is a block away, which field stops from N.J. Transit, NY/NJ PATH trains, and Amtrak. Cities like Hoboken, Jersey City, and Lower Manhattan are top-rated along the PATH line. Newark also has fine accommodations like the 1180 and Union buildings. Both are within walking distance of the law school.

Another student remarked that, although he did not live in Newark during his first year at law school, he wished he had. He further explained, "The city gets a bad rap; however, the area where the law school is located is phenomenal. There is never a shortage of restaurants and bars, and I feel safe 24 hours a day."

Facilities

One current student raved about the facilities at Seton Hall:

The school's facilities are excellent. There is wireless everywhere in the building, and there are no dead zones like my undergraduate campus. There are outlets for every seat in the classrooms, and communal computers are available in the library and computer lab. There are also plenty of printers, so you rarely have to wait to print out materials. At my undergraduate school, there were endless lines between classes to print or even to get to a computer. That is not the case here. The facility itself is very new and well-designed. Also of note is the cafeteria, which makes excellent food, and the Coffee Shop, which has both Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks flavors of coffee. Can't go wrong.

Those who want to stay fit at Seton Hall can attend the University Recreation Center. The school's website describes the gym as having "five multipurpose courts for basketball, badminton, and volleyball; a 200-meter indoor track; an eight lane, 25-yard swimming pool; a fitness/weight room; a dance studio; 4 racquetball courts; and complete locker rooms with saunas." If you're a full-time student at Seton Hall, you can attend this gym free of charge, but part-time students must pay $100 per semester. The gym is located on Seton Hall's main University campus, which is "about 15 minutes away" from the law school. One current student found this distance "a little disappointing."

If you're looking for a gym within walking distance of the law school, you can obtain a membership nearby New York Sports Club for cheap. This "full-service fitness center" offers a free one-week trial and a "Seton Hall Law School corporate rate." Other facilities on campus are competent but not remarkable. One student writes, "Everything other than the gym is on par with any law school I have seen."

The Student Body

The school reported in its most recent ABA data that the overall student body was 59% male and 41% female. One current student emphasizes how diverse the student body is:

We are also very diverse. While we are a Catholic school, you wouldn't know it by the population. There are students of all denominations. We predominantly attract from the Northeast, but I have friends from Texas, Florida, California, Washington, Arizona, and Michigan, just to name a few. Internationally we have students from Russia, Brazil, Italy, etc.

In addition, students are overwhelmingly positive about the quality of the student body. One current student writes:

The best part about law school for me has been the friends I have made here. As I said, Seton Hall does a beautiful job of creating an excellent social atmosphere that allows great friendships to develop. There will always be the annoying people, the competitive ones, and of course, the "gunners," but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Another student reaffirms this perspective, writing:

Seton Hall has an amiable atmosphere, and I can honestly say that in only my first year here, many of my peers have become my best friends. I think there is a place and a niche for any type of person who goes to school here, and anyone can "fit in." People are not overly competitive; as a matter of fact, I have found that the students here go out of their way to help each other.

One student describes the friendly atmosphere at Seton Hall as the school's greatest asset. He writes, "The biggest positive is the overall atmosphere created at the school of comfort and openness." Another student confirms this perspective at length:

Seton Hall's biggest positive is its atmosphere. The students are friendly, the professors are helpful, and everyone gets along. It isn't a cutthroat law school; people want to do well, but they will not sabotage a classmate to get to the top. This, I think, is what sets Seton Hall apart from other law schools. Law school is stressful enough without worrying about other students potentially trying to hurt your chances of doing well. In my first year experience, I found that my classmates were a huge help and went out of their way to assist me and each other. We each want to do well individually, but we also want our classmates and friends to do well.

Finally, another current student remarks that, while the students at Seton Hall are competitive, it never reaches an unreasonable level:

The friendliness of the students, faculty, administration, and other staff is incredible. SHU has a friendly, laid-back attitude. We are somewhat competitive as we rank and have a curve like most schools, but it is a VERY friendly competition. You'll never hear of someone having their notes deleted or tampered with or other sabotage horror stories like at some other more competitive schools in the area. I feel completely safe leaving my laptop open in the library, as do most of my friends.

As with most law schools, there are numerous organizations on campus that students can participate in and enjoy in their scarce free time. For instance, students can join diverse clubs (Black Law Students Association, Latin American Law Students Association, Asian Pacific American Law Students Association), religious groups (the Muslim Students Association, St. Thomas More Society, Jewish Law Students Association), and many other types of organizations (Intellectual Property Law Association, Corporate Law Society, Family Law Society, etc.). One student remarked about student involvement in clubs:

If you want to be involved, you definitely can be. As a 1L, I was involved in several organizations, and most of my friends were too. Now, as 2Ls most of us are on at least one executive board (or e-board). You'll get as much out of the organizations and activities on campus as you put into them.

Journals

There are three different student-run journals at Seton Hall Law School. They are the "Seton Hall Law Review", the "Legislative Journal", and the "Seton Hall Circuit Review". New members to the journals are mainly chosen based on their GPAs and their performances in the school's annual writing competition. One student remarks, "A lot of 1Ls participate in the write-on competition at the end of their first year and are notified of the results by mid-July."

The "Seton Hall Law Review" is the school's flagship journal; one current student remarks that the "Review "is "the most prestigious and most competitive, but every journal is great." The journal's website reports that "offers are extended to only twenty-five to thirty students who have completed their first year of law school." Students that are automatically selected to be members of the "Law Review" include the "top 5 GPAs of those students who participate in the Write-On competition" as well as the "top 10 writing scores (so long as they meet the GPA requirement." The rest of the members are chosen by their GPAs, assuming they are in at least the top 50% of the write-on competition.

If you are selected to be on the "Review", you can look forward to contributing to a journal that has been "cited numerous times by the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as in hundreds of federal and state court cases." The journal is published four times annually and tackles issues as diverse as foreign extradition, gamete donation, and maritime torts. Finally, the journal hosts various symposia (usually annually) on different topics; in 2015, the Symposium was entitled "Policing the Police and the Community" and included several panel discussions with two keynote speakers.

Another popular publication at Seton Hall is the school's "Legislative Journal." Like the "Law Review", students are selected through a write-on score and GPA. Students who are chosen to work in the "Legislative Journal "can look forward to "[acquiring] valuable skills and expertise in legislative scholarship and in legal writing and editing." Recent issues have addressed labor-management relations, the No Child Left Behind Act, and cyberbullying. In addition, much like the "Law Review", the "Legislative Journal" hosts regular symposia; in 2015, the topic focused on issues related to incarceration, exploring challenges and questions regarding prison reform.

The newest journal at Seton Hall (it was founded in 2004) is the school's "Seton Hall Circuit Review". Published twice a year, the "Seton Hall Circuit Review" is "dedicated to the study of the work of the United States Courts of Appeals. Since the Supreme Court reviews only a handful of cases, the circuit courts are the primary judicial lawgivers for the federal system. The "Circuit Review" features lead articles on recent developments at the federal appellate level. In addition to editing lead articles, each member writes a Comment addressing a novel topic embodied in a "circuit split," i.e., an instance where different circuits have announced varying interpretations of the law. New members are chosen based on a combination of their performance in the write-on competition and their GPAs. The Editorial Board is chosen annually by election of the entire "Circuit Review" membership." The journal's website states that:

During the selection process, your writing score and Bluebooking exercise weigh slightly more than your GPA. In other words, we are more concerned with your ability to write well and be resourceful, i.e., to use the Bluebook when necessary. There is no hard 3.0 GPA floor.... This weighing scheme is designed to encourage those exceptional writers with a 2.9 to demonstrate writing ability by participating in the competition.

In other words, those who might not qualify for the other journals can be selected for the "Circuit Review".

Academics

As is standard practice, first-year students at Seton Hall Law School enroll in several required classes. These include staples like Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, etc. In their second year, students have a few classes they are required to take (Business Associations, Federal Income Taxation, and Evidence), but most of class time is taken up by electives. Students can declare concentrations in Intellectual Property Law or Health Law (which was recently ranked 5^th in the nation by U.S. News) and can take courses in subjects as varied as Taxation, Property and Estates Law, Environmental Law, and History and Philosophy of Law. For a full listing of courses available at Seton Hall, click here.

One important way that the school supports its Health Law program is through the Center for Health & Pharmaceutical Law & Policy. This center "comprises three-degree programs for J.D., LLM, and MSJ students, as well a certification program in Health Care Compliance," and "produces scholarship through journal publication and white papers on emerging legal, ethical, and social issues in health and pharmaceutical law." Seton Hall Law's Health Law program has been ranked among the U.S. News & World Report's top 10 for two decades. One current student commented about the Center, "The Center for Health & Pharmaceutical Law draws many incoming students to our school because of the strength and reputation of our Health Law program. Many students concentrate on Health Law and have a great resource at hand through this Center."

Another center that enhances the intellectual life at Seton Hall is the Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology. This institute is the bastion on campus for intellectual property law. It provides students with the resources necessary to handle the "complex issues" associated with intellectual property law in the 21st century. For instance, students can pursue a concentration in intellectual property law and can choose between two different tracks (intellectual property or entertainment law). Classes include Law in the Music Industry, Securities Regulation, Entertainment Contracts, Negotiation & Drafting, among others.

There are four different joint degrees that students at Seton Hall can pursue. These include a JD / MA in Diplomacy and International Relations, a JD / MBA, a JD / MD, and an interesting six-year program with the New Jersey Institute of Technology where students earn a B.S. and J.D. consecutively. One current student writes, "I know a couple of people doing the joint J.D. / M.B.A. program, and they both seem satisfied with it." To read more about joint degrees and why one might pursue one, click here and here.

Professors

Students interviewed about their professors were overwhelmingly positive. One student commented:

The professors have very different teaching styles, but I have found all to be effective. I have walked away from my first year feeling as though I have definitely learned a lot and have been able to apply what I learned throughout my first year in my current summer internship.

Another student reaffirmed this viewpoint, writing:

The professors here are phenomenal. We have no choice in who our first-year professors are, but I was not disappointed with any of them. Some professors will always be better than others, but I have developed relationships with many of them. Seton Hall maintains an open-door policy, and professors respond to attempts at communication quickly.

Finally, yet another student also greatly enjoyed his professors at Seton Hall:

My professors have been very impressive. They are all very qualified, and their knowledge is impressive. Several have also been outstanding in the classroom - responsive, organized, and funny. Only one of my classes fell below my expectations for in-class performance, but even then, the teacher was personable and helpful outside the class, and the exam was very fair.

Overall, students seem very satisfied with their classes. One writes, "There are always the first-year legal concepts that have no practical effect. However, I view my overall academic experience as extremely gratifying. The professors have excited me to become a lawyer through stories of their practices and experiences." Another reinforces this viewpoint, writing, "I think I have learned a lot over the course of my first year at SHU Law and think the education is a 'practical' one. I have been able to apply a lot of what I learned in my summer internship and was prepared to work at my summer job as a result." Finally, a current student explains how he thinks his Seton Hall education has been practical thus far:

I finally feel that what I am learning in school is practical, unlike most of my undergrad experience. The material is dense but interesting, and the practicality is immediately apparent - you are learning about cases that have happened, so the legal issues in each case were very important and practical to those parties. It's much more of a training process than solely a learning process.

Study Abroad

Students can enjoy several study abroad programs while at Seton Hall. Locations have included Cairo; Jordan; Chamonix, France; and Zanzibar. Total costs for these trips can be quite expensive, ranging from $6,000 to $10,000 for most Seton Hall students. The curriculum generally focuses on areas of international law, such as European Union Law, International Oil and Tax Law, and International Human Rights, Slavery, Human Trafficking, and the Law. Please note that the Zanzibar and Chamonix programs are "winter intersession" programs that last roughly two weeks in late December.

Public Interest

Seton Hall students interested in public interest law will have plenty of opportunities to get first-hand experience with clients before they graduate. As the school's website writes:

Through internships, fellowships, and our onsite clinic, Seton Hall Law students put their skills to work as practicing lawyers under the tutelage of professors and practitioners renowned in their fields.

One of the main ways that the school approaches public interest law is through its "centers," the Center for Social Justice (CSJ) and the Center for Policy and Research. The Center for Social Justice has seven clinics that provide pro bono legal services to those who need it. These clinics include the Civil Rights and Constitutional Litigation Clinic, the Civil Litigation Clinic, the Family Law Clinic, the Equal Justice Clinic, the Immigrants' Rights/International Human Rights Clinic, the Impact Litigation Clinic, and the Juvenile Justice Clinic. One student remarks about the clinical program at Seton Hall:

Many 3Ls participate in clinics at Seton Hall, and most recommend doing a clinic after their experience. A good number of students are interested in the public interest at SHU Law and participate in pro bono programs and non-profit organizations while here.

As you might guess from above, the clinics at Seton Hall span various areas. The school's website explains:

Cases and issues students work on span the range from the local to global. Providing educational equality for urban students, litigating on behalf of the victims of real estate fraud, protecting the human rights of immigrants, and obtaining asylum for that fleeing persecution - these are just some of the issues that CSJ faculty and students team up to address.

One student raves about this Center:

One of my summer jobs is through the pro bono program at CSJ. It has been an excellent opportunity with a public interest center in Newark doing real legal work. The Center has a great reputation and contributes to the overall intellectual environment.

Another student confirms this perspective on the Center for Social Justice, writing:

A large majority of the students at SHU Law participate in programs through the Center for Social Justice, as many of us participate in the pro bono programs the Center runs. Even a first-semester 1L can participate in pro bono programs that provide the student with great real-world legal experience while allowing them to use their legal knowledge in a way that gives back to the community.

Finally, yet another student raves about the Center, describing it as a "living, breathing law firm":

Inside the Center is a living, breathing law firm. Students who do their clinic here and those who do clinics in other areas are performing the work of real lawyers. They interact with clients, give counsel, and even argue a case before a judge. They're just under the supervision of an attorney, usually the clinic's professor. These clinics are a great opportunity to get some hands-on legal work before graduating. The Center for Social Justice, in particular, does much pro bono work. Being in an urban environment in Newark, there are many opportunities and people in need of this.

In addition, if you are a particularly promising public interest student, you might be named a Center for Social Justice scholar. Two first-year students are chosen for this program each year; one will work with the Center's International Human Rights/Rule of Law Project, while the other will work on the Urban Revitalization Project. In each of these projects, students will get the chance to help shape policy in fields where reform is desperately needed. Selected scholars will receive "participation in educational and networking events for CSJ Scholars" and "assistance locating summer internships at prestigious public interest organizations, with a stipend funded through a Public Interest Legal Fellowship." In addition to this program, there are other fellowship opportunities for public interest students; these include the Distinguished Public Interest Scholarship, and the Public Interest Law Fellowships.

The Center for Policy and Research allows students to "gain experience in the investigation through research into national policies and practices." The Center's most famous project is its Guantanamo Reports, where Fellows of the Center analyzed "the government's own data through the systematic review of literally over 100,000 pages of government documents procured through the Freedom of Information Act" to "illuminate the interrogations and intelligence practices of the United States." These reports have made a significant splash in the international community; as the school's website writes:

The reports have been introduced into the Congressional record by the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, and as part of a Resolution by the European Parliament.

Finally, several organizations on campus are dedicated to public interest law and public policy. These include the Haiti Rule of Law Association, the Family Law Society, the International Law Society, the Public Interest Network, and the Student Outreach Society. Students at Seton Hall certainly have many different venues to get involved in public interest law. Those with the initiative can receive valuable clinical and fellowship experience before heading off to defend people in the real world.

LRAP (Loan Repayment Assistance Program)

Like many other schools, Seton Hall offers a public interest LRAP (or Loan Repayment Assistance Program) to students. In essence, the school offers a low-interest loan (5%) that they must begin to repay as soon as they no longer participate in the LRAP. As a student stays in the program, he/she will "have a portion of [his/her] indebtedness forgiven" based on the following "sliding" scale:

Completion of 2 years = 20% of year 2 loan forgiven
Completion of 3 years = 40% of year 3 loan forgiven
Completion of 4 years = 60% of year 4 loan forgiven
Completion of 5 years = 80% of year 5 loan forgiven

Those who stay in the program for six consecutive years will have their entire loan indebtedness forgiven. This might seem like a great program, but its effectiveness in reducing student debt is slightly dubious. The annual salary cap for students to stay in the program is $60,000, and the maximum annual loan amount is $10,000. Thus, if one does not receive significant scholarship money while at Seton Hall and/or does not meet the numerous requirements to stay in the LRAP, one will almost undoubtedly be in financial trouble. Jobs that qualify for the LRAP include being an attorney "with a not-for-profit organization that provides, directly or through public policy efforts, advocacy advancing the interests of those traditionally underserved by the legal system, or an organization (whether governmental or not-for-profit) that provides constitutionally mandated services to criminal defendants."

Employment Prospects

In the school's most recent ABA data, it is reported that the vast majority of students that started their legal education at Seton Hall finished their studies there. With a 1^st year attrition rate of 12.6%, a 2^nd year attrition rate of 0.6%, and a 3^rd year attrition rate of 0%, 93.3% were employed in full-time, long-term positions within nine months.

Students do seem positive about summer job prospects. One writes, "I personally cannot weigh in on job prospects since I just finished my first year. However, all of the 1Ls I know have summer internships or research positions, and many of the 2Ls I know have summer work as well." However, how well these summer positions translate into real employment after graduation is questionable. The school's Office of Career Services helps students prepare for their job searches in several ways. One student explains:

I have spoken to Career Services and worked with them throughout my 1L year to get advice, work on my resume, and speak about different career options. My career counselor went out of her way to help me in every way possible, from advice on what classes I should take to what summer internships I might want to consider.

Another student reinforces this point, writing:

I have had positive experiences with the Office of Career Services. They offer a variety of programs, including externships, on-campus interviews, resume referral programs, mock interviews, resume reviews, and many others. Finding a job is undoubtedly a tough market, but I feel like they are doing everything they can to help us out.

Finally, yet another student has positive things to say:

The career services office is helpful. While I got my judicial internship through a connection, they still helped by critiquing my resume and discussing other opportunities. Most of my friends got jobs this summer through career services. Besides resume critiques, they offer job-specific mock interviews to prepare you for an upcoming interview.

Synopsis

Seton Hall Law School's job prospects are strong for most graduates, and the tuition is competitive with other regional private law schools. Students provide positive reports of the facilities and the teaching. Many students retain their financial aid under the school's policies. The school has a broad variety of clinical and public interest opportunities and well-established and well-known health and intellectual property law programs. Its location allows easy access to leisure, entertainment, and sports venues in New York and northern New Jersey.

Contact Information

Seton Hall University
School of Law
Admissions Office
One Newark Center
1109 Raymond Blvd.
Newark, NJ 07102
tel: 973-642-8747
Email: admitme@shu.edu

https://law.shu.edu/admissions/index.cfm

Summary

Established	1951
Location	Newark, NJ
Dean	Kathleen M. Boozang
2022 U.S. News Ranking	73
LSAT Median Score	160
GPA Median Score	3.58
Bar Passage Rate	75% (2022)
Employment Rate	82% (2022)
Cost	$123,479 $63,660 JD Living on Own (full-time) $48,164 JD Living on Own (part-time/weekend)
Average Debt	$123,479
Application Deadline	April 1, 2023

Forum and Discussion

Seton Hall Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums

Reference

Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
https://law.shu.edu/
Rank #73
LSD Law
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
Guide to Fee Waivers

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