Why Northwestern University?

Class profile

US News rank

#9

Median GPA

3.96

25th–75th: 3.76–4.00

Median LSAT

171

25th–75th: 166–172

Acceptance rate

15.0%

Class size (FT 1L)

238

Transfers admitted (2025)

38

ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students Northwestern University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

25th percentile

3.50

Bottom quartile

Median

3.66

50th percentile

75th percentile

3.77

Top quartile

4 1Ls transferred out of Northwestern University in the same cycle — context for how portable Northwestern University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.

Top employment markets

1. 1Illinois
2. 2New York
3. 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 Northwestern University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Northwestern University" essay where they align with your interests.

• Bluhm Legal Clinic
  A comprehensive program offering direct client representation across more than 20 clinics within 12 centers, focusing on areas like juvenile justice, immigration, civil litigation, and wrongful convictions.
• Donald Pritzker Entrepreneurship Law Center
  Provides legal services to entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses, offering students hands-on experience in transactional law.
• Center on Wrongful Convictions
  Works to identify and exonerate individuals who have been wrongly convicted, involving students in critical criminal justice reform efforts.
• Environmental Advocacy Center
  Engages in litigation and policy advocacy to address environmental challenges and promote environmental justice.
• Children and Family Justice Center
  Addresses legal issues affecting children and families, including juvenile justice and child welfare.
• LGBTQI+ Rights Clinic
  Focuses on advancing the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals through litigation, policy, and education.

Notable journals

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

• Northwestern University Law Review— Publishes high-quality, general legal scholarship.
• Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology— Dedicated to the scientific study of criminal law and criminology, with a legacy of over 100 years.
• Journal of International Law and Business— Focuses on international commercial law and business.
• Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property— Explores the intersection of law, technology, and intellectual property.
• Journal of Human Rights— Provides a forum for debate on domestic and international human rights issues.
• Journal of Law and Social Policy— An interdisciplinary publication exploring the impact of law on various aspects of society.
• Northwestern Law Journal des Refusés— Uplifts nontraditional voices and embraces avant-garde legal scholarship.

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.

• Ronald J. Allen
  Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law
• Bernard Black
  Corporate Law, Securities Regulation, Law and Economics
• Charlotte Crane
  Tax Law
• Shari Seidman Diamond
  Law and Social Science, Jury Behavior
• Steven A. Drizin
  Criminal Law, Juvenile Justice, Wrongful Convictions
• Michael Kang
  Constitutional Law, Election Law, Political Science
• Deborah Tuerkheimer
  Criminal Law, Gender and Law
• W. Robin Walker Sterling
  Clinical Education, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Justice
• Kimberly A. Yuracko
  Employment Discrimination, Gender and Law, Torts
• Zachary Clopton
  Civil Procedure, Complex Litigation, International Law

What makes Northwestern University distinctive

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

• ·Strong emphasis on practical skills, teamwork, and interpersonal communication, preparing students for modern legal practice.
• ·Offers a renowned JD-MBA program, one of the oldest in the country, bridging law and business education.
• ·The Bluhm Legal Clinic is one of the most comprehensive clinical programs nationally, with over 20 clinics.
• ·Located in downtown Chicago, providing extensive opportunities for practical experience in a major legal and business market.
• ·Unique admissions interview program and preference for work experience, contributing to a student body with diverse real-world perspectives.
• ·Offers a Master of Science in Law (MSL) degree for STEM-educated professionals, focusing on the intersection of law, business, and technology.

Frequently asked about Northwestern University

Schools similar to Northwestern University

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