Why Golden Gate University?
Golden Gate University School of Law is discontinuing its J.D. program at the end of the 2024 academic year, but continues to offer advanced graduate legal degrees such as LL.M. and Master of Law Studies programs.
Golden Gate University is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 25.5%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.15 GPA and 154 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 2.92–3.45 GPA and 152–156 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 43 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in California, Maryland, and New York — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. Golden Gate University admitted few or zero transfer students in the most recent reporting cycle — transfer-in slots are extremely limited.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- Unranked
- Not numerically ranked by US News
- Median GPA
- 3.15
- 25th–75th: 2.92–3.45
- Median LSAT
- 154
- 25th–75th: 152–156
- Acceptance rate
- 25.5%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 43
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1California
- 2Maryland
- 3New York
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 Golden Gate University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Golden Gate University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Environmental Law & Justice Clinic (ELJC)Provides pro bono legal support to low-income and minority communities facing pollution and environmental impacts.
- Veterans Legal Advocacy Center (VLAC)Offers pro bono legal services to veterans seeking healthcare, compensation for service-related injuries, and discharge upgrades.
- Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC)Focuses on ensuring economic fairness, equal opportunity, and dignity in the workplace for women.
- Pro Bono Tax ClinicProvides students with experience representing low-income individuals in income tax and sales & use tax disputes.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Golden Gate University Law Review— A general interest legal journal publishing scholarly writing on a broad range of legal topics.
- Golden Gate University Environmental Law Journal— Focuses on environmental law issues.
- Golden Gate University Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice Law Journal— Dedicated to advancing social justice through legal scholarship concerning marginalized communities.
- GGU Tax & Estate Planning Review— Covers topics in taxation and estate planning.
- Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law— Focuses on international and comparative legal studies.
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.
Torts
- Mark Yates· also Civil Procedure, Remedies, Criminal Procedure, American Legal History, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Legal Education.
Consumer Bankruptcy Law
- Linda Elizabeth Coco· also Business Reorganizations in Bankruptcy, Civil Procedure, Commercial Law, Federal Courts.
Administrative Law.
- Daniel Devoy
Law Library and Legal Research.
- Michael Daw
Comparative Criminal Justice
- Rachel Van Cleave· also Property/Wills & Trusts, State Constitutional Law.
Civil Procedure
- Anna Benvenue· also Constitutional Issues in Immigration Law, Criminal Law, Refugee Law, Social Justice Law.
What makes Golden Gate University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Historically, it was the first law school in Northern California to offer an evening program, established in 1901.
- ·The Center for Intellectual Property and Privacy Law (CIPPL) is noted for being one of the largest and most robust IP and Privacy Law programs.
- ·The Sompong Sucharitkul Center for Advanced International Legal Studies brings together scholars and students interested in international legal studies.
- ·Located in downtown San Francisco, offering proximity to courts and law firms.
- ·Offers LL.M. and Master of Law Studies degrees, with additional graduate programs on the horizon.
Using this for your "Why Golden Gate 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 Golden Gate University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Golden Gate University?▾
Golden Gate University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.15 and a median LSAT of 154. The 25th–75th percentile range was 2.92–3.45 GPA and 152–156 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Golden Gate University's acceptance rate?▾
Golden Gate University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 25.5%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Golden Gate University offer?▾
Golden Gate University's notable clinical programs include: Environmental Law & Justice Clinic (ELJC), Veterans Legal Advocacy Center (VLAC), Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC), Pro Bono Tax Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Golden Gate University publish?▾
Golden Gate University's notable student-edited journals include: Golden Gate University Law Review, Golden Gate University Environmental Law Journal, Golden Gate University Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice Law Journal, GGU Tax & Estate Planning Review, Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law.
Where do Golden Gate University graduates work?▾
Golden Gate University graduates concentrate employment in California, Maryland, New York, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to Golden Gate 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 (4) — verify any fact above
- https://www.ggu.edu/school/school-of-law/
- https://www.ggu.edu/school/school-of-law/faculty/
- https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/journals/
- https://www.ggu.edu/law/clinics-and-externships/
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.