Cameron Miranda
Duke University School of Law is a prestigious and highly competitive law school with a small student body and a relatively high acceptance rate of 13.88%. The school has a strong core curriculum with special attention to areas such as business and finance law, international and comparative law, constitutional and public law, and fields related to science and technology. The median GPA for the 2024 JD class was 3.89, and the median LSAT score was 170. Duke Law requires students to submit two recommendation letters, with at least one from an academic instructor. The school offers a rigorous, collaborative, and diverse curriculum, and provides resources such as mock trials and court competitions to enhance students' legal education.
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What You'll Learn
Application requirements
To apply to Duke Law, you must use the online application available on the Duke Law website. The application requirements are extensive, and the admissions committee recommends that applicants begin the process well in advance of the application deadline.
The first step is to
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Acceptance rate
Duke Law School is one of the nation's leading law schools, known for its emphasis on leadership, ethics, scholarly research, and professional development. The school has a small student body and is ranked among the top 20 law schools worldwide. In 2022, Duke Law was ranked 5th in the world for classroom experience by the Princeton Review. It was also ranked the number one law school in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2018.
Duke Law School is a prestigious and high-ranking law school, and as a result, the acceptance rate is low. The acceptance rate is the number of applicants accepted divided by the total number of applications received. Duke Law School has a relatively high acceptance rate compared to other top law schools, at around 19%. For context, Harvard Law School's acceptance rate is 15%, and Stanford Law School's is 9%.
The competitive application process means that strong test scores and grades are essential for gaining acceptance. The median LSAT score for the 2024 JD class was 170, and the median GPA was 3.89. Duke Law School also requires applicants to submit two recommendation letters, preferably one from an academic instructor and one from a supervisor or someone who can attest to your interpersonal skills. While work experience is not necessary, it can help your application.
Duke Law School received 6,250 applications for its Class of 2025, with 225 students ultimately enrolling. The class of 2025 represents 35 US states and territories and nine countries.
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LSAT and GPA scores
To get into Duke Law School, you must submit LSAT or GRE scores. The LSAT is a challenging test, and a high GPA is often as crucial as a strong LSAT score. The median LSAT score for the 1L class at Duke University is 170. The 25th percentile LSAT score is 168, and the 75th percentile is between 171 and 172.
The median GPA for the 2024 JD class was 3.89, and the median undergraduate GPA is 3.85. The GPA range for admitted students is between 3.73 and 3.94, so aiming for a GPA within or above this range can strengthen your application. If your GPA is much lower than the median, you can still get into Duke Law by writing an addendum explaining your low grades.
To increase your chances of getting into Duke Law School, you should aim for a GPA that meets or exceeds the school's median undergraduate GPA of 3.85. If your GPA is 4.0 or above, you will want an LSAT score of 167 or higher. If your GPA is 3.9, you will want an LSAT score of 168 or above. If your GPA is 3.7 or above, you will want an LSAT score of at least 169. Your chances look pretty good with an LSAT score of 174 or higher, as long as your GPA is 3.4 or above.
However, it is important to note that these numbers are self-reported and not verified, so they may not be entirely accurate. Additionally, Duke Law School has a low acceptance rate of around 10.7% to 13.88%, so securing a spot requires a strong application and excellent academics.
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Course structure
Duke University School of Law is one of the world's leading law schools, known for its outstanding faculty and scholarship, a curriculum that integrates professional skills development, and a cross-disciplinary approach to learning and teaching. The school offers a wide variety of courses that cover nearly every area of legal theory and practice.
In their first year at Duke Law, students take courses in civil procedure, criminal law, constitutional law, tort law, and contracts, as well as legal analysis, research, and writing. In the second semester, students can choose to take courses in property law, business associations, international law, and administrative law. Duke Law offers hundreds of different courses, with class sizes ranging from ten to as many as 100 students. Many courses are lectures, with one end-of-semester exam determining the student’s grade, while others are seminars where grades are based on participation and papers.
Lecture courses typically cover standard legal subjects such as employment law and administrative law, while seminars focus on more niche topics including sports law and art law. Duke Law requires students to complete six experiential credits and a writing project before they graduate. Students can fulfill the writing requirement through a seminar or an independent study.
The school offers several dual-degree programs, including the JD/LLM in International and Comparative Law, which includes a four-week period at the Duke-Leiden Summer Institute in Global and Transnational Law in The Hague. The JD/LLM in Law and Entrepreneurship is another dual-degree program that includes a startup immersion experience during the summer following the first year and a non-law firm externship at a local startup company or a transactional clinic.
The LLM program is a general program that introduces foreign-trained law graduates to the legal system of the United States. This program includes certificates in Environmental and Energy Law, Business Law, Intellectual Property, Science and Technology Law, and New Ventures and Entrepreneurship. The SJD is a doctorate program for students with outstanding academic credentials who intend to pursue an academic career in law.
To apply to Duke Law School, applicants must complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited university prior to enrolment. Applicants must also submit a resume and one or two short essays as part of their application. Personal statements and diversity statements can also help applicants stand out.
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Duke Law's reputation
Duke Law School, formerly known as Trinity College, is one of Duke University's ten specialty schools. It was founded in 1904 and has since become one of the most renowned institutions for studying law in the United States. The school has consistently appeared on the list of "T-14" law schools and was ranked the number one law school in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2018. Duke Law has a relatively high acceptance rate of 13.88%, making it the 5th toughest school to get into. The median LSAT score for the 2024 JD class was 170, and the median GPA was 3.89.
Duke Law's 18 centers and institutes, including the Duke Center on Law and Technology and the Center for Sports Law and Policy, cover a wide range of legal topics. The school offers various resources, such as mock trials and court competitions, to help students develop their verbal advocacy skills. The J. Michael Goodson Library, with its extensive legal resources, is also a valuable asset for students.
The quality of life in Durham, North Carolina, where Duke University School of Law is located, is often praised by students. The campus is situated among beautiful mountains and beaches, and the city offers a perfect balance of social opportunities. Duke Law professors are known for their diverse professional backgrounds and dedication to teaching. The school provides abundant individual attention and opportunities for students to assist professors with research and other projects.
Duke Law School has a strong reputation for its rigorous, collaborative, and diverse curriculum. It has produced notable alumni, including world leaders, philanthropists, civil rights activists, and Supreme Court representatives such as Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, and Christine Durham, the first female justice of the Utah Supreme Court. The school's first-time bar passage rate for the Class of 2022 was 94%, and the employment rate was 99%, with 96% of those employed in jobs requiring bar passage.
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Frequently asked questions
Duke Law School has a relatively high acceptance rate of 13.88%, making it one of the most competitive law schools in the US.
To get into Duke Law School, you must submit LSAT or GRE scores. Additionally, you must submit two recommendation letters with your application, with at least one from an academic instructor. While work experience is not mandatory, it could help your chances.
For the Class of 2025, Duke Law School received 6,250 applications, with 225 students enrolling, making the enrollment rate 3.6%.
The application deadline for Regular Decision candidates is February 15. Applications for the binding Early Decision option must be submitted by early November (Round I) or early January (Round II).
Your application should include essays that showcase your unique experiences, background, and interests. If you have any unconventional experiences that have given you unique insights, consider writing a diversity statement.
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