Cecily Zamora
Stanford Law School (SLS) is the law school of Stanford University, a private university in Stanford, California. It was established in 1893 and is one of the oldest law schools in the United States. SLS is ranked as the best law school in the world by US World and News 2025. It offers courses across many domains, including JD, JSD, LLM, MSL, and PhD. SLS has a diverse and inclusive community and is known for its large alumni network of over 12,000. The school has a low student debt burden and provides hands-on experience through legal clinics and policy practicums.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking | Stanford University is ranked No. 1 (tie) out of 195 in Best Law Schools. |
| Acceptance rate | Stanford Law School has a low acceptance rate, typically ranging between 5 to 10% every year. |
| Alumni network | Stanford Law School has a large network of over 12,000 alumni worldwide. |
| Campus | Stanford Law School's campus includes the Crown Quadrangle, William H. Neukom Building, and the Thomas Welton Stanford Library. |
| Curriculum | Stanford Law School offers courses across various domains, including JD, JSD, LLM, MSL, and PhD. |
| Faculty | Stanford Law School has 65 core faculty members, resulting in a student-to-faculty ratio of 4.3:1. |
| Grading system | Stanford Law School's grading system consists of four grades: honors, pass, restricted credit, or no credit. |
| Extracurriculars | Stanford University offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, such as sports, drama, and choir classes. |
| Location | Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, United States. |
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What You'll Learn
Campus culture
Stanford Law School is located on the Stanford University campus in California. The law school is situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, which provides students with unique opportunities to study and work in the tech industry. The campus spans over 18 acres and includes state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Robert Crown Law Library, a complete legal research center with spacious reading rooms and technology-enabled conference rooms. The Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance is another unique aspect of Stanford Law School's campus, providing students with opportunities for research, events, and programs related to corporate governance.
The campus culture at Stanford Law School is characterised by a close-knit, collegial, and collaborative community with a deep commitment to innovation and an unconventional, interdisciplinary, and intensive approach to education. The small class sizes at Stanford Law School foster a tight-knit community with more direct access to professors and less intense competition, which has led to better clerkship outcomes. The campus offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including over 60 student organisations, sports teams, and volunteer opportunities. Stanford Law School hosts various events throughout the year, including guest lectures, symposia, and networking events, providing students with opportunities to connect with legal professionals. The campus is also located near the San Francisco Bay Area, offering access to cultural and recreational activities such as museums, theatres, music venues, hiking, and surfing.
Stanford University's campus life is characterised by a thriving residential community with a broad range of services and support for students, including leadership development, residential programs, public service, career exploration, and community engagement. The university has a rich tradition of fostering creativity and the arts, with a vibrant "arts district" along Palm Drive near the Oval and two world-class art museums. Biking is a popular mode of transportation on campus, and there is also a free campus shuttle and car-share service. Nearly all undergraduates and about 72% of graduate students live in on-campus residences, with nine dining halls providing healthy and sustainable meals.
In summary, both Stanford Law School and Stanford University offer a vibrant and engaging campus culture with a range of academic, extracurricular, and recreational opportunities. Stanford Law School is known for its innovative and intensive approach to legal education, with a close-knit community and unique tech industry connections, while Stanford University provides a well-rounded residential experience with a strong focus on creativity, arts, and community engagement.
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Location
Stanford Law School and Stanford University are located in California, with Stanford Law School situated within the Stanford University campus. The law school was first established in 1893, when Stanford University hired its first two law professors: former U.S. president Benjamin Harrison and Nathan Abbott. At this time, the law department primarily enrolled undergraduate majors, including a large number of women and students of colour.
In its early days, Stanford Law School was located in Encina Hall, but in 1900 it moved to the northeast side of the Inner Quadrangle, where larger facilities included Stanford's first law library. Today, Stanford Law School is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, offering students unique opportunities to engage with tech companies and startups. The location is also known for its pleasant weather.
In contrast to the laid-back culture of Stanford, Harvard Law School is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is home to many prestigious universities and research institutions, offering students a rich academic environment.
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Curriculum
Stanford Law School, founded in 1893, is located on the Stanford University campus in California. The school initially offered a two-year program, which was later extended to three years. Stanford Law School is known for its cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary approach to legal education. The curriculum includes courses such as constitutional law, privacy rights, campaign finance reform, and art law.
The law department at Stanford University primarily enrolled undergraduate majors when it was first established. Over time, the department expanded and included a diverse group of students, such as women and students of colour. The school implemented its first three-year curriculum with a focus on professional training and became one of the charter members of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).
Today, Stanford Law School offers a range of degree programs, including a one-year master's program and a doctoral degree (JSD) for international graduate students with law degrees from outside the United States. The school also has joint degree programs and opportunities for hands-on experience through legal clinics and policy practicums.
The faculty at Stanford Law School is composed of former government officials, judges, and practitioners in Silicon Valley, reflecting the school's location in the heart of Silicon Valley. This location provides students with unique opportunities to engage with tech companies and startups.
The grading system at Stanford Law School differs from traditional letter grades, instead using honours, pass, restricted credit, or no credit. The school enforces strict curves, limiting the number of honours grades. Stanford Law School also offers a variety of courses and specialisations, such as environmental law, criminal defence, religious liberty, and intellectual property.
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Faculty
Stanford Law School (SLS) is the law school of Stanford University, a world-renowned private university in California known for its quality education. SLS is one of the oldest law schools in the US, having been established in 1893. That year, Stanford hired its first two law professors: Nathan Abbot, who headed the new programme, and former US President Benjamin Harrison.
Over the next few years, Abbot assembled a small faculty as the law department primarily enrolled undergraduate majors, including a large number of women and students of colour. In 1900, the department moved to the northeast side of the Inner Quadrangle, where Stanford's first law library was located. The school began to focus more on professional training and implemented its first three-year curriculum, becoming one of the 27 charter members of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in 1901. The first degree offered by SLS was the Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
Today, SLS has 65 core faculty members, giving it a student-to-faculty ratio of 4.3:1. Notable current and former faculty members include:
- Jennifer Martínez, Provost of Stanford University since 2023 and former Dean of SLS (2019-2023); human rights and international law scholar
- Michael W. McConnell, constitutional law scholar and former Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- Nathaniel Persily, election law and constitutional law scholar
- A. Mitchell Polinsky, law and economics scholar
- Paul Brest (emeritus), former Dean of SLS; constitutional law, judgment and decision-making scholar
- Gerhard Casper (emeritus), former President of Stanford University; constitutional law scholar
- Joshua Cohen (emeritus), political theorist and philosopher
- John J. Donohue III, law and economics, empirical analysis scholar
- Jeffrey L. Fisher, co-director of the Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic and appellate litigator who has argued over 40 cases before the US Supreme Court
- Richard Thompson Ford, civil rights, local and state government, and critical theory scholar; named one of Esquire's Best-Dressed Real Men in 2009
SLS offers courses across many domains, including JD, JSD, LLM, MSL, and PhD. It also offers a one-year master's degree programme and a doctoral degree (JSD) for international graduate students who have earned a law degree outside the US. SLS students are involved in publishing and preparing the Stanford Law Review, the most highly cited university law review. They have worked on 290 US Supreme Court cases since Spring 2004. SLS students are also well-equipped with full-time clinics, including an Environmental Law Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Religious Liberty Clinic, and Intellectual Property and Innovation Clinic.
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Class size
Stanford University is a private university situated in Stanford, California, United States. Stanford Law School (SLS) is the law school of Stanford University. SLS is ranked #1 among the best 196 law schools around the world, according to the US World News and Rankings body in 2025. SLS is tied with Yale Law School for the top spot. The school is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 7.26% for the JD Class of 2027.
SLS has a student-to-faculty ratio of 4.3:1, indicating a high level of attention for students. The school hosts around 180 students each year, with 51% of them working on law reviews and journals. SLS has a median salary for graduates of USD 225,000 in the private sector.
Stanford Law School has a small class size compared to other schools such as Harvard Law School. Some students prefer a large class size as it provides more people to actively learn from. However, small class sizes can be beneficial for achieving certain goals, such as gaining clerkships. With a smaller class, it may be easier to get a clerkship as judges may view applicants more favourably if they are one of the few applying from their school.
The benefits of small class sizes are further demonstrated by the high placement rate of SLS graduates. In 2020, 178 out of 199 graduates secured placements, resulting in a placement rate of 97.2%. This high placement rate can be attributed to the school's strong network of over 12,000 alumni worldwide and its commitment to inclusion and diversity.
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Frequently asked questions
Stanford Law School (SLS) is the law school of Stanford University. It was established in 1893 and is one of the oldest law schools in the United States. SLS offers courses across many domains, including JD, JSD, LLM, MSL, and PhD.
Stanford University is a private university situated in Stanford, California, United States. It is home to the Stanford Law School, which is ranked No. 1 among the best 196 law schools globally. Stanford University is also known for its strong research focus, with centres such as the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics (CodeX) and the Stanford Law and Policy Lab.
Stanford Law is the law school within Stanford University. Stanford Law has its own unique curriculum, faculty, and student body, with a focus on legal studies and research. Stanford University, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of academic disciplines and departments, offering a wide variety of courses and programmes beyond law.
