Why Southwestern Law School?
Southwestern Law School is distinguished by its pioneering two-year J.D. program (SCALE) and its nationally recognized strength in entertainment and media law, set within a historic Los Angeles campus.
Southwestern Law School is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 50.4%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.51 GPA and 154 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.23–3.72 GPA and 152–157 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 343 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in California, New York, and Florida — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. Southwestern Law School 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
- #154
- Median GPA
- 3.51
- 25th–75th: 3.23–3.72
- Median LSAT
- 154
- 25th–75th: 152–157
- Acceptance rate
- 50.4%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 343
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1California
- 2New York
- 3Florida
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 Southwestern Law School's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Southwestern Law School" essay where they align with your interests.
- Children's Rights ClinicStudents represent children in legal matters, gaining practical skills in advocacy for minors.
- Immigration Law ClinicStudents provide legal assistance and representation to immigrants in various immigration-based cases.
- Entertainment & the Arts Legal ClinicStudents offer pro bono legal services to independent filmmakers, artists, musicians, and other creatives.
- Appellate Litigation ClinicStudents litigate pro bono appeals in the Ninth Circuit, including drafting briefs and preparing for oral arguments.
- Community Lawyering ClinicStudents provide legal advice, counsel, and representation to underserved populations, often in collaboration with California State University, Northridge.
- Eviction Defense ClinicStudents assist clients with legal issues related to eviction defense.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Southwestern Law Review— Publishes scholarly articles and commentary on a broad range of legal topics.
- Southwestern Journal of International Law— Focuses on international legal developments and issues.
- Journal of International Media & Entertainment Law— Dedicated to scholarly work on international media and entertainment 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.
- Darby DickersonLegal Education, Higher Education Administration
- Kevin J. GreeneIntellectual Property, Entertainment Law
- Byron G. StierCivil Litigation, Torts, Civil Justice
- Meera E. DeoCritical Race Theory, Legal Profession, Empirical Legal Studies
- Dov WaismanConstitutional Law, Criminal Law
- Anahid GharakhanianLegal Analysis, Writing & Skills, Externship Programs
- Julie K. WaterstoneExperiential Education, Clinical Legal Education
- Alexandra D'ItaliaLegal Writing, Moot Court, Advocacy
- Sarah SchimmelNegotiation, Dispute Resolution
- John HeilmanCritical Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Danielle Kie HartCivil Procedure, Evidence
What makes Southwestern Law School distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·The SCALE® Two-Year J.D. Program, the nation's first ABA-accredited accelerated J.D. program, allows students to complete their degree in two years.
- ·The Donald E. Biederman Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law Institute offers a comprehensive curriculum and experiential learning in these fields, recognized as a top program nationally.
- ·The campus features the historic Bullocks Wilshire building, an Art Deco landmark that houses the law library, courtrooms, and other facilities.
- ·Offers an ABA-approved Online J.D. program with a primarily asynchronous curriculum, providing flexibility for students.
- ·The PLEAS (Part-time Legal Education Alternative at Southwestern) J.D. program is designed for students with child or elder care responsibilities, offering a flexible schedule.
- ·Offers a J.D./M.B.A. dual degree program with the Drucker Graduate School of Management.
Using this for your "Why Southwestern Law School" 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 Southwestern Law School
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Southwestern Law School?▾
Southwestern Law School's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.51 and a median LSAT of 154. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.23–3.72 GPA and 152–157 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Southwestern Law School's acceptance rate?▾
Southwestern Law School's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 50.4%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Southwestern Law School offer?▾
Southwestern Law School's notable clinical programs include: Children's Rights Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic, Entertainment & the Arts Legal Clinic, Appellate Litigation Clinic, Community Lawyering Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Southwestern Law School publish?▾
Southwestern Law School's notable student-edited journals include: Southwestern Law Review, Southwestern Journal of International Law, Journal of International Media & Entertainment Law.
Where do Southwestern Law School graduates work?▾
Southwestern Law School graduates concentrate employment in California, New York, Florida, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to Southwestern Law School
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 (14) — verify any fact above
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/jd-programs/scale-two-year-jd-program
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinical-programs
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/cocurricular/law-review-journals
- https://www.swlaw.edu/faculty
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/concentrations-customizations
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/jd-programs/online-jd-program
- https://www.swlaw.edu/about-southwestern
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/jd-llm-programs
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinical-programs/entertainment-arts-legal-clinic
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinical-programs/community-lawyering-clinic
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinical-programs/appellate-litigation-clinic
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/cocurricular/journal-international-media-entertainment-law
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/faculty/administrators
- https://www.swlaw.edu/academics/curriculum/comprehensive-curriculum
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.