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Why Arizona State University College of Law?

Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law emphasizes practical learning and real-world experience through its downtown Phoenix location and diverse clinical programs, preparing students for a dynamic legal landscape.

Arizona State University College of Law is a very selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 19.7%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.91 GPA and 167 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.58–3.98 GPA and 158–168 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 288 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Arizona, California, and Washington, DC — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Arizona State University College of Law admitted 24 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.26 (25th–75th percentile: 2.94–3.43). 6 1Ls transferred out.

Specialty strengths

Indian LawLaw, Science and Technology / Intellectual PropertyDispute ResolutionSports Law and BusinessLegal WritingHealth Law and Policy

Class profile

US News rank
#34
Median GPA
3.91
25th–75th: 3.58–3.98
Median LSAT
167
25th–75th: 158–168
Acceptance rate
19.7%
Class size (FT 1L)
288
Transfers admitted (2025)
24
ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students Arizona State University College of Law admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

25th percentile
2.94
Bottom quartile
Median
3.26
50th percentile
75th percentile
3.43
Top quartile

6 1Ls transferred out of Arizona State University College of Law in the same cycle — context for how portable Arizona State University College of Law's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.

Top employment markets

  1. 1Arizona
  2. 2California
  3. 3Washington, DC

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 Arizona State University College of Law's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Arizona State University College of Law" essay where they align with your interests.

  • Civil Litigation Clinic
    Represents low-income individuals in civil matters such as consumer fraud, employment discrimination, and tenant rights.
  • First Amendment Clinic
    Works on free speech and civil rights matters, including defending libel suits and arguing to unseal court records.
  • Immigration Clinic
    Provides representation to individuals navigating complex immigration matters.
  • Indian Legal Clinic
    Offers legal services and education in Indian law, representing tribal members in various situations.
  • Lisa Foundation Patent Law Clinic
    Assists inventors with the patent application process and related intellectual property matters.
  • Entrepreneurship and Small Business Clinic
    Provides legal assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Notable journals

Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.

  • Arizona State Law JournalPrimary scholarly publication covering general law and law-related topics.
  • Jurimetrics—The Journal of Law, Science, and TechnologyOldest journal of law and science in the U.S., focusing on the relationships between law, science, and technology.
  • Law Journal for Social Justice (LJSJ)Student-run online journal publishing on important, novel, and controversial areas of law.
  • Sports and Entertainment Law JournalPublishes articles and essays on current topics in sports and entertainment law.
  • ASU Corporate and Business JournalForum for ideas and information on trends and developments in business and corporate law.

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.

  • Stacy Leeds
    Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents Professor of Law.
  • Angela M. Banks
    Immigration and Citizenship, Vice Dean and Charles J. Merriam Distinguished Professor of Law.
  • Adam Chodorow
    Tax and Business Law.
  • Laura Coordes
    Bankruptcy and Financial Distress, Commercial Law.
  • Evelyn H. Cruz
    Clinical Law, Immigration Law.
  • Aaron Fellmeth
    Public International Law, International Business Law.
  • Paul Bender
    U.S. and Arizona Constitutional Law, Intellectual Property, Indian Law.
  • Michael J. Saks
    Law and Social Science.
  • James G. Hodge, Jr.
    Public Health Law and Policy.
  • Diana M. Bowman
    Governance and Regulation of Innovation, Public Health, Emerging Technologies.
  • Art Hinshaw
    Alternative Dispute Resolution, Experiential Learning.
  • Patty Ferguson-Bohnee
    Indian Law, Inclusive Excellence.

What makes Arizona State University College of Law distinctive

Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.

  • ·Located in the Beus Center for Law and Society in downtown Phoenix, steps away from courts, government offices, and businesses.
  • ·Offers the unique Allan "Bud" Selig Sports Law and Business Program, including a JD/MSLB dual degree.
  • ·Home to the Indian Legal Program, established in 1988, providing legal education and scholarship in Indian law.
  • ·Features the Center for Law, Science & Innovation, focusing on the intersection of law with science and technology with over 50 related courses.
  • ·Maintains a presence in Washington, D.C., through the Barrett and O'Connor Center, housing academic programs like the Rule of Law and Governance program.
  • ·Introduced a wellness initiative for first-year JD students, emphasizing mental and physical health.

Using this for your "Why Arizona State University College of Law" 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 Arizona State University College of Law

What is the median GPA and LSAT at Arizona State University College of Law?

Arizona State University College of Law's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.91 and a median LSAT of 167. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.58–3.98 GPA and 158–168 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.

What is Arizona State University College of Law's acceptance rate?

Arizona State University College of Law's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 19.7%, per ABA 509 disclosures.

What clinics does Arizona State University College of Law offer?

Arizona State University College of Law's notable clinical programs include: Civil Litigation Clinic, First Amendment Clinic, Immigration Clinic, Indian Legal Clinic, Lisa Foundation Patent Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.

What journals does Arizona State University College of Law publish?

Arizona State University College of Law's notable student-edited journals include: Arizona State Law Journal, Jurimetrics—The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology, Law Journal for Social Justice (LJSJ), Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, ASU Corporate and Business Journal.

Where do Arizona State University College of Law graduates work?

Arizona State University College of Law graduates concentrate employment in Arizona, California, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.

How many transfer students does Arizona State University College of Law admit?

Arizona State University College of Law admitted 24 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.26.

Schools similar to Arizona State University College of Law

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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