Why Michigan State University, College of Law?

Michigan State University College of Law offers a practical, interdisciplinary legal education with strong programs in intellectual property, indigenous law, and trial advocacy, deeply integrated within a major public research university.

Michigan State University, College of Law is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 43.9%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.73 GPA and 157 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.47–3.87 GPA and 153–159 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 212 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Michigan, Illinois, and California — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Michigan State University, College of Law admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class. 2 1Ls transferred out.

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Specialty strengths

Intellectual Property, Information, and Communications LawIndigenous LawTrial PracticeBusiness and Tax LawEducation Law and Policy

Class profile

US News rank: #108
Median GPA: 3.73; 25th–75th: 3.47–3.87
Median LSAT: 157; 25th–75th: 153–159
Acceptance rate: 43.9%
Class size (FT 1L): 212
Transfers admitted (2025): 1; ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

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

25th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)
Median: —; 50th percentile
75th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)

2 1Ls transferred out of Michigan State University, College of Law in the same cycle — context for how portable Michigan State University, College of Law's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.

Top employment markets

1Michigan
2Illinois
3California

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

Childhood Clinic
Provides legal services for children and families, focusing on child advocacy.
Entrepreneurial and Innovation Law Clinic
Assists entrepreneurs and startups with legal issues related to business and innovation.
First Amendment Clinic
Defends student press and speech rights, uniquely focusing on high school journalists and students.
Housing Justice Clinic
Offers legal advocacy to low-to-moderate income residents on housing and related consumer problems.
Immigration Clinic
Engages students in direct client representation and systemic advocacy for immigrant communities.
Indian Law Clinic
Works on cases and projects involving tribal nations and indigenous legal issues.

Notable journals

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

Michigan State Law Review— Flagship legal scholarship journal publishing cutting-edge legal analysis.
Animal & Natural Resource Law Review— One of the few journals in North America dedicated to animal and natural resource law.
Michigan State International Law Review— Publishes articles and organizes symposia on relevant international legal issues.

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.

Adam Candeub
Communications Law & Regulation, Intellectual Property
David Blankfein-Tabachnick
Taxation & Tax Policy, Private Law, Intellectual Property
Jennifer Carter-Johnson
Biotechnology & Patent Law, Intellectual Property in Agriculture
Nancy Costello
First Amendment Law, Media Law
Sean Pager
Intellectual Property in Creative Industries, International Trade Law
Daniel D. Barnhizer
Business and Commercial Law, Contract Law, Conservation Law
Kristine L. Bowman
Education Law and Policy, Constitutional Law
Jacob Bronsther
Criminal Law, Tort Law, Legal & Political Philosophy
Susan H. Bitensky
Children's Rights, International Human Rights Law, Constitutional Law
Wenona T. Singel
Indigenous Law, Natural Resources

What makes Michigan State University, College of Law distinctive

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

·Fully integrated into Michigan State University as a public law school, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
·Offers unique dual-degree programs, including a JD/MBA and a JD with the University of Ottawa School of Law (U.S. and Canadian J.D.).
·Houses the Center for Law, Technology & Innovation (CLTI), focusing on the intersection of technology and the legal profession.
·Features the Geoffrey N. Fieger Trial Practice Institute, providing intensive training in trial advocacy.
·Home to the Indigenous Law & Policy Center, one of the few indigenous law certificate programs in the nation.

Using this for your "Why Michigan 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 Michigan State University, College of Law

What is the median GPA and LSAT at Michigan State University, College of Law?▾

Michigan State University, College of Law's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.73 and a median LSAT of 157. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.47–3.87 GPA and 153–159 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.

What is Michigan State University, College of Law's acceptance rate?▾

Michigan State University, College of Law's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 43.9%, per ABA 509 disclosures.

What clinics does Michigan State University, College of Law offer?▾

Michigan State University, College of Law's notable clinical programs include: Childhood Clinic, Entrepreneurial and Innovation Law Clinic, First Amendment Clinic, Housing Justice Clinic, Immigration Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.

What journals does Michigan State University, College of Law publish?▾

Michigan State University, College of Law's notable student-edited journals include: Michigan State Law Review, Animal & Natural Resource Law Review, Michigan State International Law Review.

Where do Michigan State University, College of Law graduates work?▾

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

How many transfer students does Michigan State University, College of Law admit?▾

Michigan State University, College of Law admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.

Schools similar to Michigan 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.

Chicago - Kent College of Law-iit

GPA 3.72 · LSAT 159

#105

St Thomas, University of (minnesota)

GPA 3.72 · LSAT 162

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Sources (5) — verify any fact above

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.