Duke Law's Competitive Admissions: Annual Applicant Numbers

Duke University School of Law is a prestigious and highly competitive law school located in Durham, North Carolina. With a small student body, a rigorous curriculum, and a strong focus on leadership and collaboration, Duke Law attracts thousands of applicants each year. The school's esteemed alumni, distinguished faculty, and well-known reputation make it a top choice for many law school applicants.

In this paragraph, we will explore the topic of How many students apply to Duke Law every year? by examining the application numbers, acceptance rates, and enrolment statistics for Duke University School of Law.

Duke Law's application requirements

Duke Law Application Requirements

Duke University School of Law is one of the best law schools in the nation, with a collaborative, rigorous, and diverse curriculum. It has a relatively high acceptance rate of 14.4%, with 6,250 applications received and 225 students enrolled for its Class of 2025.

Bachelor's Degree

You must complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited university before enrolling. Your major doesn't matter, but your GPA does. Choose a major that interests you to help maintain high grades.

Resume

Your resume should include significant work experience, education, honours, and awards. There are no page or length limitations, but it should only highlight your greatest accomplishments and experiences.

Personal Statement

This is a short essay that allows you to introduce yourself to the committee, share your significant experiences, and explain your passions and ambitions. You can stand out by writing a strong personal statement.

First Optional Essay

The personal statement may not be the only essay required. The first optional essay asks you to explain your reasons for applying to law school in general and Duke Law specifically. Although this essay is optional, it is recommended that you write it to help your application stand out. Clearly express your genuine interest in a legal career and in Duke Law to advance your career.

Second Optional Essay

The second essay is a diversity statement. You should write this statement if you've had any unique experiences that have given you different insights and perceptions. Duke Law suggests writing a diversity statement if you've had experiences of prejudice or bias, economic disadvantage, social hardships related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, ethnicity, or national origin, or if you are a first-generation college student or an immigrant/refugee. However, these are not the only reasons, and you can write about anything that makes you unique and able to bring a different perspective to your legal education.

LSAT or GRE

To apply to Duke Law, you must take either the LSAT or the GRE, but not both.

Recommendation Letters

You must submit two recommendation letters, with at least one coming from an academic instructor who can attest to your knowledge and academic potential. The second letter should come from someone, such as a supervisor, who can speak to your interpersonal skills, leadership, and involvement.

Application Timeline

Duke Law typically accepts applications from early September through mid-February. The early decision Round 1 application deadline is in early November, while the Round 2 deadline is in early January.

Acceptance rate

Duke University School of Law is one of the most prestigious and competitive law schools in the US, with a relatively high acceptance rate of 14.4%. The school received 6,250 applications for its Class of 2025, with 225 students ultimately enrolling. This puts the acceptance rate at around 3.6%. The early admissions round one deadline is December 31st, and the early admissions round two deadline is January 31st. Regular applicants should apply by February 15th.

The admissions process at Duke Law is highly selective, with the school only accepting 14.4% of all its applicants. The median LSAT score for the incoming class of 2024 was 170, and the median GPA was 3.82. The school also considers factors such as work experience, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and optional essays when evaluating applicants.

Duke Law seeks to promote a diverse classroom, and this is reflected in the demographics of its students. More than half of the class, or 54%, were women. The average age of the class was 24, and 44% of the students were people of colour. The incoming class also had a high proportion of first-generation or professional degree students, at 26%.

The acceptance rate at Duke University School of Law is indicative of the school's prestige and competitiveness. With a limited number of spots and a large pool of highly qualified applicants, the selection process is rigorous. The school's reputation as one of the best law schools in the world further contributes to the low acceptance rate.

Compared to other top law schools, Duke's acceptance rate is slightly higher. For example, Harvard Law has an acceptance rate of 15%, while Stanford Law's acceptance rate is 9%. However, numbers don't tell the whole story, and it's important to consider the programs offered, the quality of faculty, and the student culture when choosing a law school.

LSAT and GPA requirements

Duke University School of Law is one of the most prestigious and competitive law schools in the US, with a small student body and a relatively high acceptance rate of 14.4%. The median LSAT score for the 2024 JD class was 170, and the median GPA was 3.82. The 25th percentile LSAT score was 168, while the 75th percentile score was 172. Similarly, the 25th percentile GPA was 3.73, and the 75th percentile was 3.94.

To gain admission to Duke Law School, applicants must submit their LSAT and/or GRE scores, with a minimum of two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and academic transcripts. While not mandatory, applicants can also submit up to two optional essays to boost their application. The first optional essay should cover the applicant's interest in attending law school in general and Duke Law specifically. The second optional essay is a diversity statement, where applicants can write about any unique experiences or perspectives they can bring to the school.

Duke Law School seeks candidates who exhibit strong engagement and leadership qualities, with a commitment to one or more fields of interest. The school values diversity and promotes a collaborative environment, with a focus on training and developing the whole person.

Application timeline

If you're applying to Duke Law School, it's important to keep the following timeline in mind to ensure you submit all parts of your application on time.

Duke Law School typically accepts applications from early September through mid-February. The early decision Round 1 application deadline is at the beginning of November, while the Round 2 deadline is in early January. The early admissions round one deadline is December 31st, and the early admissions round two deadline is January 31st. Regular applicants should aim for a deadline of February 15th.

It's important to note that there are two early decision rounds and that dates may change based on the year and decision cycle, so be sure to check the Duke Law School website for the most up-to-date information.

The application process is completed via the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). You'll need to fill out the application form, pay the $80 application fee, and submit a range of supporting documents, including:

• A personal statement
• Optional essays
• Two required letters of recommendation
• Academic transcripts from all previously attended institutions
• LSAC CAS report
• LSAT and/or GRE scores
• Letter from a previous law school if transferring
• InitialView interview or TOEFL if you're an international applicant

Once your application is submitted, you may receive a request for an interview. Interviews are not typically part of the screening process, but they may be offered if the admissions committee requires additional information. If you are invited for an interview, it is optional but highly recommended as it can help your application stand out.

Offers of admission are typically submitted by March 1st, and decisions are finalized by the end of April. Some applicants may be waitlisted, and offers are usually made to these candidates in early May and throughout the summer.

Application Requirements

In addition to the standard application form and supporting documents, here are some key requirements to keep in mind when applying to Duke Law School:

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university prior to enrolment. Your major doesn’t matter, but your GPA does.
• A resume detailing your significant work experience, education, honours, and awards.
• A personal statement that introduces yourself to the committee, draws on your significant experiences, and explains your passions and ambitions.
• Two letters of recommendation, one from an academic instructor and one from a supervisor or someone who can attest to your interpersonal skills, leadership, and involvement.
• Competitive LSAT and/or GRE scores. The median LSAT score for the Duke Law Class of 2024 was 170.
• Strong academic performance with a high GPA. The median GPA for the Duke Law Class of 2024 was 3.82.

Tips for a Successful Application

• Customise your resume for your Duke Law application. Use a professional and consistent format, avoid small page margins, and keep it to one page.
• In your personal statement, focus on significant experiences that are not included on your resume or transcript, as well as your personal and career goals.
• Consider writing the optional essays, especially if the rest of your application is lacking. These essays give the admissions committee a better sense of who you are and can boost your application.
• If you have a low GPA, consider writing an addendum to explain your grades.
• Start the application process early to ensure you don't miss any deadlines and allow enough time for LSAC to process your transcripts and recommendation letters.
• If you're invited for an interview, prepare by reviewing common law school interview questions and answers and practising with someone who can provide feedback.

Tuition fees

For the current academic year, 2024-2025, the tuition fees have risen again, with entering students in the JD and MLS programs, as well as transfer students, paying a full year's tuition of $77,100. This figure is even higher for JD/LLM students, who will pay a total of $89,950 for the year.

In addition to the tuition fees, there are several mandatory costs that students must consider. These include a student health fee of $968 per year, an activity fee of $150, a graduate student activity fee of $36.50, a graduate student services fee of $24, and a recreation fee of $374. There is also a one-time academic transcript fee of $120.

The total estimated cost of attendance for the 2024-2025 academic year, including tuition and living expenses, is $100,346. This figure takes into account additional expenses such as rent, food, and insurance.

Duke Law School offers some financial aid and scholarship opportunities to help offset the cost of tuition. The school's LRAP program, for example, covers 100% of federal loan payments for graduates earning $65,000 or less, with assistance available on a sliding scale for those earning up to $90,000.

International students may also be eligible for financial assistance based on merit or need. However, they must provide proof of sufficient funds for tuition and living expenses before the university will initiate the student visa process.

Frequently asked questions