Overview

Applicants
6,413
Acceptance Rate
15%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.89
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
251

Test Scores

LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
164 - 171

Deadlines

Application Deadlines
March 1

Application Process

Rolling Admissions
Yes

Application Fee
$80

CAS Service Used
Yes

Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No

Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes

Deferred Admission
Yes

Other Admission Factors


Selectivity Rating

Faculty Information

Total Faculty
242

35.5
Female
19.8
Underrepresented Minorities


Students Say

A University of Pennsylvania Law education is one of cross-disciplinary training, an integrative curriculum, and access to premier research opportunities. The school believes that legal expertise should be complemented by knowledge of related fields such as business, health, and education. Therefore, students are allowed to enroll in graduate level courses at Penn Law's sister schools or to pursue “numerous disciplinary certificates” or joint degrees. “It's clear that even many of the law classes themselves aim to provide a cross-disciplinary approach,” shares a student. This distinct approach led the school to partner with Penn Engineering to develop a Law & Technology Program, aimed at preparing enrollees for careers at the intersection of law and technology. But regardless of one's area of study, Penn “promotes student engagement” and public service, with pro bono student projects (many of which are interdisciplinary) offering direct experience through serving the community. The school's nine clinics and an array of externships also work toward this same goal. As one attendee explains, “There are more practical opportunities than I know what to do with.” All first-years take a course in Legal Practice Skills, learning the fundamentals of representing a client, and secondand third-years have access to further development tools and courses. Plus, “because Penn is so small, there is no shortage of opportunities or leadership roles,” and “resources are abundant.” Another future lawyer says, “There has never been a time where I find myself seeking out help or a resource that did not exist or was not easily accessible.”

Professors at Penn “are often the leaders in their fields and are highly sought after.” They are known to “welcome student feedback and serve as lifelong mentors.” To that end, in addition to regular schedules, they “will add more [office hours] if there is demand or a more convenient time.” This “creates a very stimulating environment for students” as it helps them gain access to professors who are “top-quality and are invested in teaching.” The faculty help “teach you how to study and follow up with students.” Additionally, the library staff also “does a wonderful job teaching students how to perform efficient and effective legal research,” and “the administration is so understanding and responsive to student needs.” In short, “Every student and every single person who works in the building is so devoted to this community and making it the best it can be.” As for the school itself, the location in Philadelphia—“a major city with a substantial legal presence”—is a huge plus, and Penn “does an amazing job at partnering with other Philadelphia organizations to provide students with the opportunity to engage in substantive legal work and make connections with other attorneys in the area.”

Career overview

Pass Rate for First-Time Bar Exam
92%
Median Starting Salary
$180,000
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
99%
% of job accepting graduates providing useable salary information
97%

Career Services

On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes

On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes

Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Variety of major law firms nationwide; prestigious national fellowship organizations and public interest organizations; federal and state judges; leading business organizations and federal, state and local government entities.

Graduates Employed by Area

75%
Private Practice
11%
Judicial Clerkships
5%
Business/Industry
5%
Public Interes
4%
Government

Graduates Employed by Region

65%
Mid-Atlantic
15%
South
9%
Pacific
4%
New England
3%
MidWest
2%
International
1%
Mountain
1%
South West

Prominent Alumni

Safra A. Catz
CFO, Oracle Corporation

Libby Liu
President, Radio Free Asia

Jay Clayton
hairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Peter Detkin
Founder and Vice Chairman, Intellectual Ventures

Lisa Scottoline
Author

Dates

Financial Aid Rating
Mar 1
Application Deadlines
Mar 15

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$84,657

% Students Receiving Some Aid
76%

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$63,610
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$17,338
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$9,002
Fees
$4,388

Student Body Profile

Total Enrollment
755
Parent Institution Enrollement
25,860

Average Age at Entry
27

Demographics

30.00%
% Under-represented Minorities

100% are full time
0% are part time
51% female
49% male

Campus Life

Students Say

Both the administration and faculty at Penn Law emphasize teamwork, so “there is no sense that students are competing against each other.” In fact, the school “reveals neither class rankings nor GPA,” which in turn “really encourages students to be as collaborative as possible.” This extends to interpersonal relationships: “the law school is defined by our collegiality,” says one student, and so it's a place that maintains a “tolerance of diverse opinions, including traditional conservative thought.” That's important, because the small class sizes “afford students the opportunity to know most of their classmates at least by name by the time of graduation,” and “people openly share outlines, counsel each other/study together for exams, and genuinely support each other academically.” And while students at Penn “are serious about their studies, [they're] also up for having a good time,” so “people are really social and there are many opportunities for … having fun.” Since “there are tons of social activities, both in and outside of school, the “overall atmosphere at the school is extremely friendly.”

More Information

% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%

Admissions Office Contact

Contact
Renee Post
Associate Dean, Admissions and Financial Aid

Address
3501 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204

Phone
215-898-7400

Email