Why Seton Hall University?
Seton Hall Law is the only private law school in New Jersey, offering a robust curriculum with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and specialized programs in high-demand fields like health law and compliance, all within the vibrant New York metropolitan area.
Seton Hall University is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 40.3%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.71 GPA and 159 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.51–3.86 GPA and 154–162 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 215 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in New Jersey, New York, and California — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Seton Hall University admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class. 10 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #70
- Median GPA
- 3.71
- 25th–75th: 3.51–3.86
- Median LSAT
- 159
- 25th–75th: 154–162
- Acceptance rate
- 40.3%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 215
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 2
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Seton Hall University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
10 1Ls transferred out of Seton Hall University in the same cycle — context for how portable Seton Hall University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1New Jersey
- 2New York
- 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 Seton Hall University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Seton Hall University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Health Advocacy & Collaboration Law ClinicIntegrates legal support into healthcare settings to address social determinants of health for underserved populations.
- Civil Litigation & Practice ClinicHandles a variety of civil cases, with a primary focus on landlord-tenant and housing-related civil matters.
- Criminal Defense and Community Advocacy ClinicProvides legal representation in criminal defense cases and engages in community advocacy.
- Family Law ClinicOffers free legal services to individuals needing representation in family matters, including restraining orders, divorces, and custody issues.
- Immigrants' Rights/International Human Rights ClinicFocuses on advocating for immigrants' rights and international human rights.
- Transactional Legal Clinic (Community Wealth Building)Provides transactional legal services to community groups and organizations working on projects aimed at creating systemic economic change.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Seton Hall Law Review— Nationally recognized scholarly legal journal publishing critical and analytical articles on significant legal issues.
- Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy— Dedicated to the study of legislation and the legislative process, featuring articles by scholars and active participants.
- Seton Hall Constitutional Law Journal— Focuses on constitutional law.
- Seton Hall Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law— Focuses on sports and entertainment law.
- Seton Hall Circuit Review— Focuses on federal circuit court decisions.
- Health Law Outlook— Focuses on health law.
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.
Health Law
- Carl H. Coleman· also Bioethics, Public Health Law, Food Law & Policy.
- John Jacobi· also Health Finance, Health Insurance, Health Access, Health Equity, Mental Health Law, Disability Law, Public Health Law.
Law and Technology
- Gaia Bernstein· also Addictive Technologies, Artificial Intelligence Regulation, Social Media Regulation, Privacy Law, Intellectual Property.
Constitutional Law
- Michael Coenen· also Administrative Law, Federal Courts Law, State and Local Taxation.
Criminal Law
- Brian Murray· also Criminal Procedure, Punishment Theory, Expungement, Jurisprudence, Professional Responsibility.
Family Law
- Solangel Maldonado· also Gender and the Law, Race and the Law, Torts.
Evidence
- Mark Denbeaux· also Civil Rights, Forensic Evidence, Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp issues.
International Law
- Kristen Boon· also International Arbitration, Transnational Law, International Humanitarian Law, Contracts.
What makes Seton Hall University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·The only private law school in New Jersey.
- ·Strong emphasis on experiential learning through its Center for Social Justice clinics, externships, and pro bono programs.
- ·Strategic location in Newark, New Jersey, providing access to federal, state, and county courthouses, leading law firms, and major corporations, with proximity to New York City.
- ·Offers formal JD concentrations that appear on transcripts and are reflected in a certificate.
- ·Features a Weekend JD Program designed for working professionals, combining on-campus and asynchronous online coursework.
- ·Offers dual degree programs including a JD/MBA and a JD/MA Law and Diplomacy.
Using this for your "Why Seton Hall 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 Seton Hall University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Seton Hall University?▾
Seton Hall University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.71 and a median LSAT of 159. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.51–3.86 GPA and 154–162 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Seton Hall University's acceptance rate?▾
Seton Hall University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 40.3%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Seton Hall University offer?▾
Seton Hall University's notable clinical programs include: Health Advocacy & Collaboration Law Clinic, Civil Litigation & Practice Clinic, Criminal Defense and Community Advocacy Clinic, Family Law Clinic, Immigrants' Rights/International Human Rights Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Seton Hall University publish?▾
Seton Hall University's notable student-edited journals include: Seton Hall Law Review, Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy, Seton Hall Constitutional Law Journal, Seton Hall Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, Seton Hall Circuit Review.
Where do Seton Hall University graduates work?▾
Seton Hall University graduates concentrate employment in New Jersey, New York, California, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Seton Hall University admit?▾
Seton Hall University admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to Seton Hall 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 (6) — verify any fact above
- https://law.shu.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics.html
- https://law.shu.edu/academics/journals.html
- https://law.shu.edu/academics/areas-of-study.html
- https://law.shu.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty.html
- https://law.shu.edu/about/index.html
- https://law.shu.edu/academics/jd-programs/jd-curriculum-courses.html
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.