Yale Law: Is It Worth Applying?

Yale Law School is a prestigious and highly selective law school, with an acceptance rate of 5.5%. The school seeks students with a record of academic excellence, professional distinction, and exceptional accomplishments. While it's hard to get into Yale Law School, it's not impossible. The admissions process is holistic, with no cut-off for grade point averages or test scores, and no single part of an application is determinative. The school values diversity and encourages applicants from all socio-economic backgrounds to apply. The Juris Doctor (JD) program offers a collaborative and innovative learning environment, with a focus on academic excellence and public service. The small student-faculty ratio creates exceptional learning experiences and students have countless opportunities to engage in research and gain hands-on experience.

Application requirements

To apply to Yale Law School, you must subscribe to the Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS). You can register for CAS with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Yale Law School requires applicants to submit their applications through the LSAC electronic application service included as part of a CAS subscription.

The application for the Class of 2028 opened on September 1, 2024, and applications can be submitted beginning on October 1, 2024. The deadline for applications is February 15, 2025.

There is no advantage to applying earlier in the application cycle, as your chances of admission remain constant regardless of when you submit your application.

Your application will be considered complete and ready for review once the Law School receives your application materials, a CAS report, LSAT or GRE score(s), and two letters of recommendation.

Application Fee

Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable $85 application fee, which will not be credited to tuition in the event of admission. The application fee is waived automatically for those applicants who have received an LSAC fee waiver. Need-based fee waivers are also available.

Undergraduate Degrees & Academic Transcripts

You must receive, or expect to receive, by the summer of 2025 a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) from an approved undergraduate institution in order to be eligible to apply. All offers of admission are contingent upon graduation.

You must submit to LSAC transcripts from each college or university you attended, including study abroad and all schools you attended for graduate or professional study. Yale Law School strongly encourages applicants to submit transcripts, through LSAC, reflecting all coursework completed through the time of application and further encourages applicants to submit updated transcripts as additional coursework is completed.

Personal Statement

Applicants must submit a personal statement that helps the admissions team learn about the personal, professional, and/or academic qualities they would bring to the Law School community and the legal profession. Personal statements should be approximately two double-spaced pages, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "Personal Statement" in the header.

250-Word Essay

In no more than 250 words, applicants must write about an idea or issue from their academic, extracurricular, or professional work that is of particular interest to them. The idea or issue chosen does not have to be law-related; this is an opportunity for readers to learn more about how you would engage intellectually in the Law School community. The 250-word essay should be double-spaced, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "250-Word Essay" in the header.

Optional Essay

Applicants are encouraged to submit an essay in response to one of the four questions, each related to a value that is central to the Law School community. This is an opportunity to provide readers with relevant information that may not be found elsewhere in your application. The optional essay should be approximately one page double-spaced, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and include your name, LSAC number, and "Optional Essay X" in the header (X should be the number of the question selected). The prompts for the optional essay are as follows:

• Describe a community that has been particularly meaningful to you and what you have gained and contributed to this community.
• Describe one of your most important accomplishments and explain why it is important to you. Discuss how you demonstrated leadership, helped innovate, and/or drove change as part of that accomplishment.
• Describe a significant challenge, disappointment, or setback that you have faced. Discuss how you approached this experience and what you learned from it.
• Describe a time when you changed your mind on an important topic after discussing it with a person with whom you disagreed or learning additional information. Discuss what you learned from this experience.

Letters of Recommendation

Yale Law School requires at least two letters and will accept up to three letters of recommendation. Letters from professors who can speak to your academic performance and who have had a chance to personally evaluate significant aspects of your academic work are strongly preferred. Letters from employers, college deans, coaches, chaplains, colleagues, and others may be helpful but are not preferred.

Statement of Activities

Applicants are required to submit a statement of activities to help the admissions team understand what you did during your undergraduate education and after graduation (if applicable). The college activities section asks three questions:

• What you did during those terms when you were not in school, including summers and any other terms off (e.g., employment, internships, or study abroad);
• What you did during the terms while you were also taking classes (e.g., extracurricular activities, employment, or internships); and
• A catch-all question where you may briefly describe any other activities that you consider relevant (e.g., a significant thesis or capstone project, or significant personal or familial responsibilities).

Résumé

Please submit a résumé. You must answer the College and Post-College Activities questions separately from this included résumé. Generally, résumés should be 1-2 pages in length.

Standardized Test Scores

Yale Law School accepts results from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test. Additionally, the Law School accepts results from the LSAT-Flex and the GRE General Test at Home. You may submit score(s) from one standardized test only. If you choose to apply with the LSAT, you must take the LSAT no later than January 2025. If you choose to apply using the GRE General Test, we must receive your GRE scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) by our application deadline, February 15, 2025.

Application fee

The application fee to apply to Yale Law School is $85 for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program and $75 for the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be credited to tuition in the event of admission. The application fee is waived for applicants who have received an LSAC fee waiver.

If you do not have an LSAC fee waiver, you can request a need-based fee waiver for the Yale Law School application fee using the online application. Need-based fee waivers are generously granted, and parental information is not requested as part of the fee waiver application. If your request is approved, you will receive a fee waiver code to enter during the submission process for your application. It is important to note that neither the request for nor the granting of a need-based fee waiver will impact your admissions decision. Yale Law School employs a need-blind admissions process and encourages applicants from all socio-economic backgrounds to apply.

In addition to the application fee, there are other costs associated with applying to Yale Law School. For example, applicants are required to subscribe to the Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which is included as part of a CAS subscription with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). There may also be costs associated with submitting transcripts, letters of recommendation, and taking the required standardized tests, such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test.

Application deadlines

The application deadlines for Yale Law School vary depending on the specific programme and cycle you are applying for. Here is a detailed overview of the application deadlines for different cycles and programmes:

• Application Opening Date: September 1, 2024.
• Application Submission Start Date: October 1, 2024.
• Application Deadline: February 15, 2025.

It is important to note that for this cycle, you must ensure that all your application materials arrive at Yale in a timely manner. The processing of your materials by the Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS) may take several weeks.

The Launchpad Scholars Program is for applicants planning to enrol in law school in the fall of 2027. Here are the key dates for the 2025 application cycle:

• Information Sessions: January - March 2025.
• First-Round Application Deadline: April 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.
• Second Round Requirements Deadline (for selected applicants): June 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.
• Interviews for Second Round Candidates: June 3-6, 2025.

Standardised Test Score Deadlines:

If you are applying with the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), you must take the test no later than January 2025, and complete the LSAT Writing no later than January 25, 2025.

For applicants using the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test, the deadline to receive your scores is February 15, 2025. To meet this deadline, you should take the GRE no later than February 1, 2025.

Application essays

The application process for Yale Law School is highly selective, with only around 200 students accepted each year out of thousands of applicants. The admissions process is holistic, with no cut-off for grade point averages or test scores, and no single part of the application being determinative.

The application essays are crucial to the success of your application. Yale Law School requires a personal statement and a 250-word essay. The personal statement should be approximately two double-spaced pages, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and should help admissions officers learn about the personal, professional, and/or academic qualities you would bring to the Law School community. You can use the same personal statement that you have prepared for other law school applications.

The 250-word essay should be double-spaced, formatted in a professional 12-point font, and respond to the following prompt:

> The Law School is a vibrant intellectual community where students are expected to engage academically with faculty and fellow students. In no more than 250 words, applicants must write about an idea or issue from their academic, extracurricular, or professional work that is of particular interest to them. The idea or issue you choose does not have to be law-related; this is an opportunity for readers to learn more about how you would engage intellectually in the Law School community.

Additionally, Yale Law School offers applicants the opportunity to submit an optional essay in response to one of four questions, each related to a value that is central to the Law School community. This essay should be approximately one page, double-spaced, and formatted in a professional 12-point font. The four prompts for the optional essay are as follows:

• The Law School has a strong tradition of public service and encourages its students to contribute to the community. Describe a community that has been particularly meaningful to you, what you have gained from being a part of this community, and what you have contributed to this community.
• The Law School encourages its students and alumni to be leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Describe one of your most important accomplishments, why it is important to you, and how you demonstrated leadership, helped innovate, and/or drove change.
• The Law School values determination and resilience and recognizes that these traits are critical to success. Describe a significant challenge, disappointment, or setback that you have faced, how you approached this experience, and what you learned from it.
• To succeed at the Law School and in the legal profession, you must be able to have discussions with people who have different viewpoints. Describe a time when you changed your mind on an important topic after discussing it with someone with whom you disagreed or after learning additional information. Discuss what you learned from this experience.

Interviews

The interview is an opportunity for the admissions committee to learn more about you and assess your suitability for the law program. It is also a chance for you to demonstrate your interest in the school and ask any questions you may have.

To prepare for your interview, make sure you are well-versed in your application materials, including your personal statement, essays, and resume. Be ready to discuss your academic and professional background, as well as your reasons for wanting to attend Yale Law School. It is important to come across as authentic and genuine during the interview, as this is a key factor that the admissions committee looks for in candidates.

Additionally, the interview may include questions designed to evaluate your critical thinking, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. Yale Law School seeks students who demonstrate academic excellence, professional distinction, and exceptional accomplishments. So, be prepared to provide examples of your achievements and how you have contributed to your previous educational institutions or workplaces.

If you are an international applicant, the interview may also focus on your English proficiency. Yale Law School requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-based test for international applicants.

Remember, the interview is a two-way process. While the admissions committee will be evaluating your fit for the program, you should also use this opportunity to assess whether Yale Law School is the right choice for you. Ask questions about the curriculum, faculty, and any other aspects of the program that are important to you.

Frequently asked questions