Why Saint Louis University?
Saint Louis University School of Law is the oldest law school west of the Mississippi River, known for its Jesuit tradition, nationally recognized health law program, and extensive clinical opportunities in downtown St. Louis.
Saint Louis University is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 61.2%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.61 GPA and 156 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.37–3.83 GPA and 153–161 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 184 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Missouri, Illinois, and Washington, DC — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Saint Louis University admitted 4 transfer students into the 2L class.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #91
- Median GPA
- 3.61
- 25th–75th: 3.37–3.83
- Median LSAT
- 156
- 25th–75th: 153–161
- Acceptance rate
- 61.2%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 184
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 4
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Saint Louis University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
Top employment markets
- 1Missouri
- 2Illinois
- 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 Saint Louis University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Saint Louis University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Children's Permanency ClinicFocuses on serving the legal needs of children and families in St. Louis.
- Civil Advocacy ClinicHandles a variety of lawsuits in municipal, state, and federal court, often focusing on civil rights, consumer protection, and landlord-tenant disputes.
- Criminal Defense ClinicRepresents clients charged with criminal offenses, specializing in those with serious mental illness.
- Entrepreneurship & Community Development ClinicAssists entrepreneurs and community organizations, including a patent program in partnership with the USPTO.
- Human Rights at Home Litigation ClinicEngages in litigation and advocacy related to human rights issues within the U.S.
- Medical-Legal Partnership ClinicIntegrates legal assistance into healthcare settings to address social determinants of health.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Saint Louis University Law Journal— Publishes scholarly articles on a broad range of legal topics.
- Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy— Features in-depth analysis of developing issues in health law and policy.
- ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law— Provides balanced discussions of current developments in labor and employment law, edited at SLU LAW.
- Saint Louis University Public Law Review— Addresses legal issues arising from public policy decisions.
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.
- Matt BodieCorporate, Contract, Employment, and Labor Law.
- Kelly DineenHealth Law and Ethics.
- Roger L. GoldmanPolice Licensing and Decertification, Constitutional Law.
- Joel GoldsteinVice Presidency, Presidency, and Constitutional Law.
- Marcia L. McCormickEmployment and Labor Law, Federal Courts.
- John AmmannClinical Law, Public Interest Law.
- Brendan RoedigerCivil Rights, Clinical Law.
- Yvette Joy LiebesmanIntellectual Property.
- Robert GatterHealth Law.
- Michael SinhaHealth Law.
What makes Saint Louis University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Founded in 1843, it is the oldest law school west of the Mississippi River.
- ·Located in downtown St. Louis, offering unparalleled access to federal and state courthouses, law firms, and government agencies.
- ·Offers 8 dual-degree programs in collaboration with other Saint Louis University graduate schools.
- ·Provides a part-time JD program (day or evening), which is the only one in the state of Missouri.
- ·Offers study abroad opportunities, including an ABA-approved Summer Law Program at Saint Louis University's Madrid campus.
- ·Features a 'Semester in D.C.' program for health law students to clerk full-time for health-related federal agencies.
Using this for your "Why Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Saint Louis University?▾
Saint Louis University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.61 and a median LSAT of 156. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.37–3.83 GPA and 153–161 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Saint Louis University's acceptance rate?▾
Saint Louis University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 61.2%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Saint Louis University offer?▾
Saint Louis University's notable clinical programs include: Children's Permanency Clinic, Civil Advocacy Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Entrepreneurship & Community Development Clinic, Human Rights at Home Litigation Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Saint Louis University publish?▾
Saint Louis University's notable student-edited journals include: Saint Louis University Law Journal, Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy, ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law, Saint Louis University Public Law Review.
Where do Saint Louis University graduates work?▾
Saint Louis University graduates concentrate employment in Missouri, Illinois, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Saint Louis University admit?▾
Saint Louis University admitted 4 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to Saint Louis University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
About to start at Saint Louis University?
Case Cub is the AI study platform built for the 1L grind: case briefs, issue spotters, flashcards, outline generators. Walk into your first finals already practiced.
Try Case Cub free →Sources (6) — verify any fact above
- https://www.slu.edu/law/legal-clinics/index.php
- https://www.slu.edu/law/law-journal/index.php
- https://www.slu.edu/law/academics/centers/index.php
- https://www.slu.edu/law/academics/degree-programs/index.php
- https://www.slu.edu/law/faculty/index.php
- https://www.lsac.org/schools/saint-louis-university-school-law
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.