Why American University?
American University Washington College of Law is renowned for its experiential learning, particularly its clinical programs, and its strong focus on international law, human rights, and intellectual property, all within the nation's capital.
American University is a selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 33.8%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.63 GPA and 162 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.32–3.75 GPA and 156–163 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 396 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, American University admitted 13 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.21 (25th–75th percentile: 3.04–3.37). 51 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #108
- Median GPA
- 3.63
- 25th–75th: 3.32–3.75
- Median LSAT
- 162
- 25th–75th: 156–163
- Acceptance rate
- 33.8%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 396
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 13
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students American University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- 3.04
- Bottom quartile
- Median
- 3.21
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- 3.37
- Top quartile
51 1Ls transferred out of American University in the same cycle — context for how portable American University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Washington, DC
- 2Maryland
- 3Virginia
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define American University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why American University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Elliott S. Milstein Civil Advocacy ClinicProvides legal representation to low-income clients, focusing on survivors of intimate partner violence and other DC residents.
- Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law ClinicOffers students the opportunity to represent clients in intellectual property matters.
- Immigrant Justice ClinicProvides representation on cases and projects involving immigrants and their communities, focusing on deportation defense and immigrant rights.
- International Human Rights Law ClinicEngages students in litigation and advocacy on behalf of human rights victims.
- Janet R. Spragens Federal Income Tax ClinicRepresents low-income individuals in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.
- Criminal Justice ClinicOffers students experience in criminal defense and prosecution.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- American University Law Review— General legal scholarship, consistently ranked among top law journals.
- Administrative Law Review— Administrative law and regulatory practice, published in conjunction with the ABA.
- American University International Law Review— Public and private international law, international organizations, and human rights.
- American University Business Law Review— Cutting-edge legal analysis for the business law community.
- Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law— Gender issues and social policy.
- Intellectual Property Brief— Intellectual property law issues, case updates, and articles.
- Human Rights Brief— Up-to-date content on cutting-edge human rights legal issues.
- National Security Law Brief— Examining the legal dimensions of United States national security law and policy.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Padideh Ala'iInternational Economic Law, WTO Law, Comparative Law.
- Hilary AllenBanking Law, Securities Regulation, Business Associations.
- Susan CarleLegal History, Employment Discrimination, Professional Responsibility.
- Michael CarrollIntellectual Property, Information Justice.
- Janie ChuangInternational Law, Migration Law.
- Roger A. Fairfax, Jr.Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Habeas Corpus.
- Sean FlynnIntellectual Property, Trade Law, Human Rights.
- Rebecca HamiltonInternational Law, National Security Law, Criminal Law.
- Heather HughesBusiness Law, Financial Institutions, Consumer Financial Services.
- Binny MillerCriminal Justice, Clinical Legal Education.
- Jayesh RathodMigration Law, Experiential Education.
- Victoria PhillipsIntellectual Property Law, Clinical Education.
What makes American University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Founded in 1896 by two women, making it the first law school in the country founded by women.
- ·Located in Washington, D.C., offering unparalleled access to government agencies, international organizations, and NGOs for practical experience.
- ·Offers a wide array of domestic and international dual-degree programs, including JD/MA in International Affairs and JD/MBA.
- ·Home to the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (PIJIP), a leading academic and research center.
- ·Features a LEED Gold certified campus with state-of-the-art facilities, including five courtrooms.
Using this for your "Why American University" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about American University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at American University?▾
American University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.63 and a median LSAT of 162. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.32–3.75 GPA and 156–163 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is American University's acceptance rate?▾
American University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 33.8%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does American University offer?▾
American University's notable clinical programs include: Elliott S. Milstein Civil Advocacy Clinic, Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic, Immigrant Justice Clinic, International Human Rights Law Clinic, Janet R. Spragens Federal Income Tax Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does American University publish?▾
American University's notable student-edited journals include: American University Law Review, Administrative Law Review, American University International Law Review, American University Business Law Review, Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law.
Where do American University graduates work?▾
American University graduates concentrate employment in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does American University admit?▾
American University admitted 13 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.21.
Schools similar to American University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (3) — verify any fact above
- https://www.wcl.american.edu/academics/experiential/clinics/our-clinics/
- https://www.wcl.american.edu/academics/journals/
- https://www.wcl.american.edu/faculty/
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.