Why Drake University?

Class profile

US News rank

#91

Median GPA

3.67

25th–75th: 3.38–3.89

Median LSAT

154

25th–75th: 151–157

Acceptance rate

71.3%

Class size (FT 1L)

110

Transfers admitted (2025)

0

ABA 2025 reporting cycle

Top employment markets

1. 1Iowa
2. 2Illinois
3. 3Arizona

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 Drake University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Drake University" essay where they align with your interests.

• Children's Rights Clinic
  Students work to improve services for children and families involved in the legal system.
• Criminal Defense Clinic
  Students represent indigent clients in criminal matters, gaining experience as criminal defense attorneys.
• General Civil Practice Clinic
  Students assist clients with a range of civil legal issues, including interviews, investigations, drafting, and court representation.
• Entrepreneurial/Transactional Clinic
  Students gain experience in transactional and business law.
• Refugee Clinic
  Students represent clients in asylum applications before various government agencies and courts.
• Wrongful Convictions Clinic
  Students investigate and contribute to post-conviction litigation for Iowa inmates claiming factual innocence.

Notable journals

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

• Drake Law Review— Publishes scholarly articles, notes, and lectures relevant to professors, judges, practitioners, and law students.
• Drake Journal of Agricultural Law— Dedicated to reviewing legal issues affecting the agricultural industry on national and international levels.

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.

• Roscoe Jones, Jr.
  Dean of the Law School
• Sayoko Blodgett-Ford
  Artificial Intelligence Law, Intellectual Property Law, Privacy and Cybersecurity
• Kristi Harshbarger
  Entrepreneurial and Transactional Law, Business Law
• Mark Kende
  Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
• Jeremy Kidd
  Business Law
• Ellen Yee
  Criminal Law, International Law and Global Citizenship
• Jennifer Zwagerman
  Food and Agricultural Law
• Dean Strang
  Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Justice Reform
• Alexa Perez
  Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Sydney Gangestad
  Legislative Practice

What makes Drake University distinctive

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

• ·The First-Year Trial Practicum, a unique program where 1L students observe an actual state or federal trial in its entirety.
• ·Location in Des Moines, Iowa's capital city, offering unique opportunities for internships and practical experience with state government, courts, and businesses.
• ·Five research centers: Agricultural Law Center, Constitutional Law Center, Legislative Practice Center, Middleton Center for Children's Rights, and the Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation.
• ·Offers joint degree programs including JD/MBA, JD/MPA, and JD/PharmD.
• ·Provides a variety of certificate programs allowing students to specialize in areas like AI Law, Business Law, Criminal Law, and Public Service.

Frequently asked about Drake University

Schools similar to Drake University

Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.