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UConn School of Law
UConn is more than just a great university. It's a top-ranked research institution with campuses and staff across Connecticut. The university is built to inspire the global community, and its talented students consistently exceed expectations. UConn's researchers, faculty, and alums are driving Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (CIE) for a better tomorrow. The university also fuels the state's economy and is committed to benefiting the greater good. Students come first at UConn, and the Huskies will always be part of the community.
The University of Connecticut School of Law is located in New England. Situated on a beautiful campus, the school offers applicants the opportunity to study law in a collegial environment marked by small classes and a low student-to-faculty ratio. The school's public standing allows residents of the state of Connecticut to enroll at bargain rates. Thus, applicants currently residing in Connecticut should consider UConn Law.
The University of Connecticut began offering doctoral-level coursework in the Graduate School in 1943 when they acquired the Hartford Colleges of Law and Insurance. In 1949, they were awarded their first doctoral degrees in chemistry and genetics. University trustees prohibited organizations that discriminate against or exclude individuals based on race, religion, or national origin that year.
Contents
Admissions
The UConn School of Law welcomes applicants to the JD program who have or expect to receive a bachelor's degree from an accredited undergraduate college or university and who have taken the LSAT, the Law School Admission Test. The application deadline for Fall 2023 admission is April 30, 2023, but they encourage you to apply as early as possible.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 156 - 158 - 160 | 156 - 159 - 161 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.34 - 3.53 - 3.68 | 3.28 - 3.54 - 3.71 |
| Acceptance rate | 45.1% | 28.8% |
| Applications received | 1206 | 1754 |
| Acceptances | 544 | 505 |
| Matriculants | 229 | 211 |
The University of Connecticut has a 1L class size of 153 and a yield of 28.51%. 144 out of 505 applicants offered admission were accepted, meaning that 28.51% of that offered admission ended up attending the school. The median LSAT at the University of Connecticut is 159. The 25th percentile LSAT is 156, and the 75th percentile LSAT is 161. The median GPA is 3.54. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.28, and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.71.
The UConn School of Law application checklist includes taking the LSAT, registering with the Credential Assembly Service, completing the application, completing the FAFSA, and submitting the Residency Affidavit. When applying to the UConn School of Law, you must fill out the application form on the LSAC website and submit at least two letters of recommendation and a personal statement. You can track the progress of your application through your LSAC account.
The admissions committee at law school looks at each application holistically to make the best decision for the individual. The LSAT score, college grades, academic honors and awards, letters of recommendation, work record, and other factors are all considered when making decisions. There is no one specific thing that is most important when deciding who to admit. Instead, the committee looks at the whole file of each applicant.
The school gives a preference to residents of Connecticut when making admissions decisions. If you are a resident of a New England state without a publicly-supported law school, you will also receive some preference. Other states are encouraged to apply, and students may become Connecticut residents for educational purposes after one year. Tuition would fall to the in-state rate, even for full-time students.
The LSAT is a test that all law school applicants are required to take. The June test is the last one we will accept for enrollment in the fall. You can find more information about the LSAT on the Law School Admissions Council website.
Transfer and Visiting Students
If you have completed only one year at an ABA-accredited law school, you may be considered for transfer admission to the UConn School of Law if space is available. The UConn School of Law also admits a small number of visiting applicants each year under limited circumstances and depending on available space.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Law school tuition and fees are not the only expenses that students incur. The cost of attendance, which includes living expenses for the nine-month academic year, is factored into financial aid packages.
JD Day Division (full-time, 12 credits per semester)
| Juris Doctor Day Division 2022-2023 | In-State | NE Compact | Out-of-State |
| Tuition per Year | $30,354 | $51,786 | $61,396 |
| University Fee | $118 | $118 | $118 |
| Maintenance Fee | $558 | $558 | $558 |
| Student Activity Fee | $164 | $164 | $164 |
| Transit Fee | $48 | $48 | $48 |
| Technology Fee | $174 | $174 | $174 |
| Total Tuition & Fees | $31,416 | $52,848 | $62,458 |
| Books | $1,618 | $1,618 | $1,618 |
| Housing | $11,232 | $11,232 | $11,232 |
| Meals | $3,660 | $3,660 | $3,660 |
| Misc. | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Transportation | $2,312 | $2,312 | $2,312 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $53,618 | $75,050 | $84,660 |
JD Day Division (part-time, 10 credits per semester)
| Juris Doctor Day Division 2021-2022 (COA 2022-2023) | In-State | NE Compact | Out-of-State |
| Tuition per Year | $25,300 | $43,160 | $51,180 |
| University Fee | $118 | $118 | $118 |
| Maintenance Fee | $280 | $280 | $280 |
| Student Activity Fee | $164 | $164 | $164 |
| Transit Fee | $48 | $48 | $48 |
| Technology Fee | $174 | $174 | $174 |
| Total Tuition & Fees | $26,084 | $43,944 | $51,964 |
| Books | $1,618 | $1,618 | $1,618 |
| Housing | $11,232 | $11,232 | $11,232 |
| Meals | $3,660 | $3,660 | $3,660 |
| Misc. | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Transportation | $2,312 | $2,312 | $2,312 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $48,406 | $66,266 | $74,286 |
JD Evening Division (part-time, 10 credits per semester)
| Juris Doctor Evening Division 2022-2023 | In-State | NE Compact | Out-of-State |
| Tuition per Year | $21,180 | $36,140 | $42,840 |
| University Fee | $118 | $118 | $118 |
| Maintenance Fee | $280 | $280 | $280 |
| Student Activity Fee | $164 | $164 | $164 |
| Transit Fee | $48 | $48 | $48 |
| Technology Fee | $174 | $174 | $174 |
| Total Tuition & Fees | $21,964 | $36,924 | $43,624 |
| Books | $1,320 | $1,320 | $1,320 |
| Housing | $11,232 | $11,232 | $11,232 |
| Meals | $3,660 | $3,660 | $3,660 |
| Misc. | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Transportation | $2,312 | $2,312 | $2,312 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $44,642 | $59,922 | $66,662 |
Financial Aid
A legal education can be costly, but the UConn School of Law offers excellent value. The average student debt is lower than most schools in the nation. As a public school, UConn Law offers a tuition reduction for Connecticut residents and students from Rhode Island and Vermont in the New England Compact states. State residency laws allow students from another state to petition after living in Connecticut for one year to be reclassified as Connecticut residents, making them eligible for the in-state tuition rate.
Scholarship and Grants
The Office of Student Finance encourages students to apply for grants and scholarships. In the Student Portal, there is a list of upcoming available scholarships. Various kinds of grants and scholarships are available, including UConn-funded scholarships for JD and LLM students and financial aid for international students. Students should note that any awards must be reported to the Student Finance Office. If total financial aid equals or exceeds the cost of attendance, student loans or other aid must be reduced to resolve the over-award.
Academics & Curriculum
The first year at UConn Law is more flexible than most other law schools. Students can choose from various courses, including a statutory/regulatory course. Classes are usually around 70 students, which is much smaller than most other law schools. After the first year, students can take almost 150 elective courses. There are also a variety of dual degree programs available, as well as special certification programs. UConn Law offers several studies abroad programs that allow students to explore law in different parts of the world.
The UConn School of Law offers a variety of clinics and field placement programs that allow students to put their classroom learning into practice. These clinics and programs allow students to gain hands-on legal experience in a real-world setting.
Clinics and Experiential Education
The UConn School of Law provides various programs that allow students to engage in real-world law practice. These programs include supervised in-house and partnership clinics and field placement programs. Each student receives at least one intensive, carefully supervised live-lawyering experience before graduation through these programs. This experience is essential to supplement classroom-based learning and helps prepare students to practice law competently and ethically.
In-House Clinics
The five in-house clinics at UConn Law are integral to the clinical program. They are essentially small law firms run by the law school but taught and operated independently by full-time professor lawyers. The clinics serve various community needs, and students are primarily responsible for client matters. This provides students with unparalleled opportunities to develop skills, judgment, and professional identity.
- Animal Law Clinic
- Asylum & Human Rights Clinic
- Criminal Defense Clinic
- Housing & Eviction Defense Clinic
- IP & Entrepreneurship Law Clinic
- Tax Clinic
Partnership Clinics
The partnership clinics are collaborative endeavors between the UConn School of Law and partner agencies and organizations. Senior lawyers at the partner organization provide guidance and supervision to law students, who assist with the work of a nonprofit advocacy organization, a government agency, or on behalf of low-income clients. This provides students with valuable experience and allows them to gain practical legal skills.
Field Placements
Field placement courses offer students opportunities to work at different legal organizations, such as non-profit legal services, advocacy, and public policy organizations; government offices and agencies; private law firms; corporate in-house legal departments; prosecutors’ and criminal defenders’ offices; federal and state judicial chambers, and adjudication divisions of administrative agencies. The Semester in DC and Semester in NYC allow students to live, work and study in those cities.
Pro Bono & Public Interest
The UConn School of Law strongly emphasizes providing pro bono legal services to those who cannot afford representation, as well as increasing access to justice for all. There are many opportunities for students to get involved in pro bono work and public interest law during their time at the school. These include clinical programs, public interest grants, fellowships, and the Pro Bono Pledge program.
The Pro Bono Pledge program encourages and recognizes law student participation in pro bono activities and community service projects. Students who perform 50 or more hours of pro bono service before graduation receive a notation on their UConn Law transcript highlighting their pro bono contributions.
The UConn Law Public Interest Law Group awards summer stipends to students working unpaid internships with entities serving underrepresented and disenfranchised communities. These fellowships are made possible through an annual auction, a major social event for the UConn Law community. In addition, various student organizations and bar groups sponsor pro bono projects. Students may also work with alums or faculty engaged in pro bono projects or volunteer directly with not-for-profit organizations that provide direct services to clients or engage in advocacy work. Students are also encouraged to arrange their qualifying placements with organizations and private attorneys doing pro bono work.
Quality of Life
The UConn Law campus is located in Hartford, Connecticut. Hartford is the capital of Connecticut and is home to the state legislature and Supreme Court. There are also many insurance companies and other corporations located in Hartford. The New York and Boston areas are just a few hours away, easily accessible by public or private transit. Amtrak service into Hartford offers access to the entire Northeast corridor, from Boston to Washington, D.C., and points south. Bradley International Airport is 16 miles to the north of Hartford.
The UConn School of Law campus comprises five Collegiate Gothic buildings. Four buildings were constructed in the 1920s, and the fifth, the Thomas J. Meskill Law Library, was completed in 1996. The campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library café and the patio outside it are popular gathering spots among students, faculty, and staff. The meticulously landscaped central quadrangle offers a tranquil respite for the law school community and neighbors in the West End of Hartford.
The West End of Hartford is a historic neighborhood with many well-preserved Victorian homes. Some of the homes are occupied by UConn Law students, staff, and faculty. The Hartford Seminary once had a campus here, but it is now located across the street in a building designed by Richard Meier. Next door is the Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library. Elizabeth Park, which has the nation's first municipal rose garden and is still one of the most extensive rose gardens in the country, is a short walk from campus. Small restaurants are nearby, and several bus lines run through the area.
Downtown Hartford is the home of some great educational institutions. The University of Connecticut's Hartford Campus is just two miles from the School of Law and the Graduate Business Learning Center. This campus offers graduate and undergraduate courses and is also home to a bookstore, the School of Social Work, the Department of Public Policy, and the Urban and Community Studies Program. The Hartford Public Library, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and Connecticut Science Center are all nearby.
The center of West Hartford is a lively and vibrant shopping district just two miles from the campus. The district has a village feel, with plenty of restaurants and small shops. Some other popular attractions in the town include the West Hartford Reservoirs, perfect for walks or bike rides, and the Noah Webster House. There is also the Westfarms mall, which is a great place to do some shopping.
Connecticut is a great place to live, with plenty of things to do. There are historic cities like Hartford and New Haven and exciting suburbs near New York City. If you're looking for a relaxing place to live, the Litchfield Hills are a great option, or you can enjoy the scenic coastline on Long Island Sound. There are also plenty of things to do in Connecticut, like visiting museums, theaters, and vineyards, hiking and biking, or enjoying other outdoor activities.
Employment Prospects & Bar Passage
The median salary for JD graduates from the University of Connecticut who work in the private sector is $95,000. If they go into the private sector, a grad can expect to make $61,618. Most (46.2%) of law graduates from the University of Connecticut go directly to work for law firms, while 16.8% clerk for a judge. 5.0% of graduates go into public interest. 85.1% of University of Connecticut graduates pass the bar on their first try.
Synopsis
The University of Connecticut School of Law offers applicants the opportunity to pursue a legal education among a small and tight-knit law school community. Applicants hoping to find employment in the New England region should give the school serious consideration, as should residents of the state of Connecticut, who can attend at a bargain rate.
The UConn School of Law is located in the West End of Hartford, a historic district. The campus is made up of five buildings that were built in the Collegiate Gothic style. A law library on campus is also full of nooks and niches for students to study in. One of the best things about attending the UConn School of Law is that many events occur on campus each night, so students never have to be boredom. Additionally, the school offers private housing for students in the Victorian homes surrounding the campus. This allows students to have a more traditional college experience. Lastly, the proximity to New York and Boston makes it easy for students to take weekend trips and explore those cities.
Contact Information
University of Connecticut
School of Law
Admissions Office
55 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06105
Phone: +1 (860) 570-5000
Email: law.admissions@uconn.edu
https://uconn.edu/admissions/
Summary
| Established | 1921 |
| Location | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Dean | Dean Eboni S. Nelson |
| 2022 US News Ranking | 64th |
| LSAT Median Score | 159 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.54 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 85% (2022) |
| Employment Rate | 59% (2022) |
| Cost | Full-Time: $31,296 (In-State); Full-Time: $62,338 (Out-of-State); |
| Average Debt | $80,205 |
| Application Deadline | April 30, , 2023 |
Forum and Discussion
UConn School of Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums
Reference
https://law.uconn.edu/
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