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University of Minnesota Law School
ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP PUBLIC LAW SCHOOLS, the University of Minnesota Law School is a leader in preparing students to solve the complex social, economic, and business issues of our time. Its exceptional faculty, innovative curriculum, and unmatched clinical and experiential learning opportunities equip students for the demands of the 21st century.
Though a law school may not be ideal for all applicants, the University of Minnesota Law School exhibits many characteristics that one would search for in an ideal law school. Aside from boasting nearly perfect employment and bar passage rates, the school offers one of the most extensive clinical programs in the country, as well as a law library that is among the largest in the nation. Further, the school's location in Minneapolis, often mentioned as one of the most livable cities in America, promises law students an enjoyable and exciting atmosphere to study law.
Contents
History
Founded in 1888, the University of Minnesota Law School is the oldest law school in Minnesota. The school was originally located downtown, near the city's courthouse and government buildings. In 1924, the law school moved to its current location on the university's Minneapolis campus. The University of Minnesota Law School offers a full-time J.D. and part-time and evening programs. The school employs 46 full-time faculty members and operates on an annual budget of $32 million. The University of Minnesota Law School is consistently ranked as a "Top Tier" law school by U.S. News & World Report. It currently ranks 21st among U.S. law schools according to the 2022 Rankings. You can find here the University of Minnesota Law School timeline.
Admissions
The University of Minnesota Law School is a community of driven students, passionate scholars, and experienced alumni. It offers an innovative curriculum with many experiential learning opportunities, all in one of the country's most vibrant and livable cities. Whether you're looking for a rigorous academic challenge or want to gain real-world experience, the University of Minnesota Law School is the place for you.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 160 - 165 - 166 | 161 - 166 - 167 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.54 - 3.77 - 3.85 | 3.55 - 3.8 - 3.89 |
| Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 27.6% |
| Applications received | 2088 | 2655 |
| Acceptances | 761 | 732 |
| Matriculants | 569 | 490 |
The University of Minnesota Law School's 1L class has a median LSAT score of 166. The 25th percentile LSAT score is 161, and the 75th percentile LSAT score is 167. The median GPA for the 1L class is 3.8. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.55, and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.89.
Applicants with less impressive numbers should highlight other characteristics mentioned in the Dean's description of an ideal applicant. Generally, the successful emphasis of any diversity that an applicant may bring to a law school's student body is seen as a potential equalizer. The personal statement is usually the means of conveying this diversity. The personal statement also allows applicants to explain why they wish to attend the University of Minnesota. The school asks students to address this matter in their personal statement. By highlighting diversity and articulating strong reasons for wanting to study law at Minnesota, applicants can maximize their chances at admission regardless of the strength of their scores and grades.
The University of Minnesota Law School offers online applications for prospective students. The deadline for Early Decision applications is December 31, and the deadline for Regular applications is June 1. More information about applying can be found on the LSAC website.
Acceptance Rate
In the 2022 application cycle, 732 people were offered admission to the University of Minnesota Law School out of 2,655 applicants. Of those offered admissions, 223 accepted and ended up attending the school, meaning the yield was 30.46%. This means that 30.46% of people offered admission to the school ultimately attended.
Application Form
All applicants must submit their application electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
Application Fee
The nonrefundable application fee is $60 and is paid via credit card through LSAC when applying. Applicants who cannot afford to pay the fee may fill out the Fee Waiver Request form. To learn about obtaining a fee waiver, click here.
Character and Fitness
The University of Minnesota Law School requires all applicants to answer two questions related to their character and fitness. All states require bar exam applicants to establish that they are of good character and fit to practice law. Applicants should research the character and fitness requirements for the state they intend to practice, which are available on the National Conference of Bar Examiners website.
Registration with Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
You must first register for the Credential Assembly Service through the Law School Admission Council's website. The service will collect and store your academic transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation. The CAS will then create a summary of your transcripts and send it to each law school you apply to. There is no fee waiver for the CAS report.
Transcripts
Once registered with CAS, applicants must contact every previous college or university attended (even if a degree was not earned) to request a transcript be sent directly to CAS. Universities and other educational institutions should send transcripts to:
Law School Admission Council
CAS
P.O. Box 2000-M
Newtown, PA 18940-0993
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and submit their scores as part of their application. The LSAT score is considered current for five years. The highest score will be used if an applicant has multiple LSAT scores. International students must also complete a post-secondary degree at an English-speaking institution or submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test. For more information, visit the TOEFL website.
Letter of Recommendation
At least one letter of recommendation is needed and must be submitted through CAS. The Law School will accept a maximum of two letters. These letters should come from somebody in an academic setting who knows the applicant well and can vouch for their ability to do well in a competitive professional program. If an applicant has been out of college for more than two years, letters from an employer may be submitted instead. Letters from family, friends, or personal acquaintances are not encouraged. For additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.
Personal Statement
The University of Minnesota Law School seeks students with a diverse range of backgrounds and talents. The personal statement allows applicants to share information about their abilities, motivation, and experiences and demonstrate their writing ability. In the statement, applicants should highlight significant achievements and professional goals and explain why they are interested in pursuing a law degree. It is also helpful if applicants discuss specific reasons for wanting to attend the University of Minnesota Law School. Those interested in doing so may attach a supplemental statement. For personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.
Résumé
The University of Minnesota Law School asks that applicants include a detailed resume with their application. This resume should contain information on the applicant's work history during and after college and any academic or professional honors they have received. Other information included in the resume are co-curricular activities, community service, or hobbies and interests. There is no page limit for resumes.
Addenda
The Admissions Committee at the University of Minnesota Law School values diversity and is interested in hearing about your unique perspective and experiences. Suppose you have anything you would like to share that would give the Admissions Committee a better understanding of who you are as an individual. In that case, they encourage you to do so in a supplemental statement. This is your opportunity to discuss any significant absences or breaks in your academic history, any obstacles or adversity you have overcome, or any other matters that you feel are important for the Admissions Committee to know. They welcome your input and look forward to learning more about you through your supplemental statement. For more information about writing addenda, click here.
Tuition and Expenses
The cost of tuition at the University of Minnesota Law School is $1,896 per credit for residents and $2,279 per credit for non-residents. For students taking 12 or more credits per semester, the cost is $22,752 for residents and $27,348 for non-residents.
Cost of Attendance
The Office of Student Finance sets each year's cost of attendance (COA). A student’s financial aid cannot exceed their COA. The figures below are for the nine-month September through May period. Figures for the upcoming 2023-2024 year will be finalized in July.
| Cost of Attendance 2022-2023 | ||
| Residents and Reciprocity Students | Nonresidents | |
| Tuition | $45,504 | $54,696 |
| University and Law School Fees | $2,250 | $2,250 |
| Loan fees | $608 | $608 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,700 | $1,700 |
| Indirect Costs* | $22,144 | $22,144 |
| TOTAL | $72,206 | $81,398 |
| Notes: *Indirect Costs for students living off-campus are listed below: Room/board $16,616 (based upon local housing prices) |
All students are required to have health insurance. The student health plan cost is $3,468. This is not included in the cost of attendance estimate because this fee is waived for students using their own health insurance.
Scholarships
Scholarships are based on admission applications and are awarded at the time of admission. Admitted students are reviewed for a scholarship at the time of admittance; no separate application is required. For questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Law School Admissions Office at jdadmissions@umn.edu.
- Review the Scholarship Policy.
- Law School scholarships range from $5,000 to full tuition.
- Law students are not eligible for federal or state grants. However, you may qualify for gift aid by researching and applying for outside grants and scholarships. See the One Stop Scholarships page for more information.
Loans
Applying for financial aid for law school at the University of Minnesota is done through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). To be considered for federal loans, applicants must complete the FAFSA after October 1st, preceding the fall semester they plan to attend. Additional information can be found on the One Stop: Receiving Financial Aid website.
- Complete the FAFSA online form after you have completed your federal tax return. The federal school code for the University of Minnesota is 003969.
- Law students are considered for two federal loans: the unsubsidized loan (annual limit $20,500) and the Grad Plus loan (no annual limit, but cannot exceed the cost of attendance).
- Loans are awarded to help meet educational costs that are not met by other aid, such as scholarships or earnings.
Transfer Students
The University of Minnesota Law School is always looking for talented transfer students to join its community. Transfers can take full advantage of the school's many resources, including rigorous coursework taught by experienced faculty, experiential learning opportunities through clinics and internships, and participation in moot courts and law journals. With a network of successful alumni, transfer students can be sure to find the support they need to succeed. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.
Academics & Curriculum
With many nationally and internationally recognized scholars among its faculty, the University of Minnesota enjoys a strong academic reputation. Despite the impressive credentials of this faculty, the school has a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students and recent graduates of Minnesota have found the professors to be highly accessible and willing to go to great lengths to accommodate the needs of students.
The University of Minnesota Law School offers a curriculum that allows students to elect courses in their first year. First-year law students at Minnesota can choose from courses like business essentials for lawyers, international law, civil procedure, legislation and regulation, and their mandatory first-year courses. After the first year, there are three required courses that second and third-year students must take, on top of a writing requirement. Most of the courses in the second and third year are chosen by the students themselves, who can elect to focus on one of the school’s formal legal concentrations – which include business law, health law, bioethics, human rights law, or labor and employment law – or explore other areas. It’s also possible for students to complete a dual degree or joint degree through other schools at the University of Minnesota, like a J.D./MBA through the Carlson School of Management.
The University of Minnesota Law School offers a variety of clinical courses that provide students with real-world experience. More than half of all law students at the school take advantage of these opportunities before graduating. The school has many research centers and institutes, including the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity and the Human Rights Center. The law school also boasts a unique mix of student-edited, faculty-edited, and student-and-faculty-edited law journals. Finally, there are more than 35 student organizations to get involved with, covering a wide range of interests.
The law school offers the sixth-largest law library in the nation, with over one million volumes, and is open to students 24 hours a day. The library and school facilities underwent a major expansion and renovation in 2001. The law school building is named after its most famous alumni, Walter F. Mondale, former Vice President and the 1984 Democratic presidential candidate.
Quality of Life
Students at the University of Minnesota Law School enjoy a high quality of life, as do most residents of the Twin Cities area. Minneapolis is known to be a safe, clean and charming city, yet it still offers most of the amenities usually associated with big-city life. The city boasts an ever-growing art scene, as well as restaurants, bars, and nightclubs for all tastes. In addition, the weekly bar review is popular among law students, allowing them to meet and socialize with classmates while touring the bars of Minneapolis. For the sports fan, three major sports teams, the Vikings, Twins, and Timberwolves, call Minneapolis home, and the school itself fields competitive teams in many sports the law school itself even fields an ice hockey team, the Fighting Mondale's. Although the school does not offer on-campus housing for law students, ample affordable housing is available near the law school, and bus lines are available to take students to and fro.
Employment Prospects & Bar Passage
The University of Minnesota Law School enjoys a supreme reputation throughout the northern Midwest and offers students excellent job placement. Over the last five years, the school has averaged a 99% employment rate for graduates within 9 months of graduation, most of which have secured employment in the northern Midwest. Through its on-campus interviews and alumni network, the school can also help students secure employment throughout the nation, and a considerable number of graduates are able to find jobs on the coasts each year. The career services office at Minnesota is reportedly dedicated and reliable, and students have found the school's full-time career counselors to be helpful and resourceful. Thus, it is safe to say that Minnesota students can comfortably look forward to job offers in several fields before or immediately after their hard-earned graduation. Of the 2008 graduating class, 60% of graduates began working in private law firms, while an impressive 17% accepted judicial clerkship positions.
In terms of bar passage, there is hardly any law school with as impressive numbers as Minnesota's. The school boasts a near-perfect 99% passage rate for first-time exam takers in Minnesota over the past five years.
Synopsis
With its highly reputable faculty and the breadth of its clinical program, the University of Minnesota Law School offers students a challenging and unique legal education. Further, the school's excellent reputation throughout the northern Midwest and near-perfect employment and bar passage rates ensure that graduates can reap the fruits of their labor after graduation. The fact that such a school is located in the Twin Cities, consistently considered among the most livable areas in the nation, is icing on the cake.
Contact Information
University of Minnesota Law School
J.D. Admissions
N130 Walter F. Mondale Hall
229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0401
Phone: 612-625-3487
Fax: 612-625-2011
E-mail: jdadmissions@umn.edu
Summary
| Established | 1888 |
| Location | Minneapolis, MN |
| Dean | GARRY W. JENKINS |
| 2022 US News Ranking | 21st |
| LSAT Median Score | 166 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.8 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 99% (2022) |
| Employment Rate | 72% (2022) |
| Cost | Residents and Reciprocity Students
Tuition $45,504 |
| Average Debt | $90,393 |
| Application Deadline | June 1, 2023 |
Forum and Discussion
University of Minnesota Law School Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums
Reference
https://law.umn.edu/
Rank #21
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