Why St. John's University?
St. John's University School of Law emphasizes practical skills, public service, and a strong sense of community, rooted in its Vincentian mission and located in diverse Queens, New York.
St. John's University is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 37.4%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.81 GPA and 153 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.44–3.91 GPA and 150–156 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 235 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in New York, New Jersey, and California — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, St. John's University admitted 10 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.21.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #62
- Median GPA
- 3.81
- 25th–75th: 3.44–3.91
- Median LSAT
- 153
- 25th–75th: 150–156
- Acceptance rate
- 37.4%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 235
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 10
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students St. John's University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- 3.21
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
Top employment markets
- 1New York
- 2New Jersey
- 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 St. John's University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why St. John's University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Child Advocacy ClinicStudents represent children and families in legal matters, focusing on their best interests.
- Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation ClinicStudents represent low-income elderly residents of Queens County in civil litigation, including foreclosure defense and consumer debt.
- Defense and Advocacy ClinicStudents represent adults charged with misdemeanors in New York City Criminal Court.
- Securities Arbitration ClinicStudents represent small investors in arbitration proceedings against broker-dealers.
- Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation ClinicStudents advocate for refugees and immigrants in various legal proceedings.
- Tenants' Rights Advocacy ClinicStudents represent tenants facing housing issues, navigating New York landlord-tenant law.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- St. John's Law Review— Publishes scholarly articles on diverse areas of local, national, and international law.
- American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review— Focuses on bankruptcy law and related topics.
- Journal of Catholic Legal Studies— Explores legal issues from a Catholic perspective.
- Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development— Addresses legal commentary on civil rights and economic development.
- New York International Law Review— Covers international law topics relevant to New York and global practice.
- Admiralty Practicum— Focuses on maritime law and admiralty 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.
- Jelani Jefferson ExumDean of the School of Law
- Renee Nicole AllenRace and Social Justice, Legal Writing
- Adrián E. AlvarezDisability, Immigration, and Family Law
- John Q. BarrettConstitutional Law, Legal History (especially Justice Robert H. Jackson)
- Christopher J. BorgenSpace Law, International Law, National Security Law
- Miriam A. CherryLabor and Employment Law, Contracts
- Catherine Baylin DuryeaHuman Rights, Administrative Law, Legal History
- Seema MohapatraHealth Law, Racism and Structural Inequality in Health
- Marissa Jackson SowProperty, Civil Rights
What makes St. John's University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·A strong Vincentian mission that emphasizes service to others and social justice.
- ·Located in Queens, New York, offering diverse practical opportunities within 'The World's Borough'.
- ·Offers a unique Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute (PTAI) for mock trial training.
- ·Provides a wide array of joint degree programs, including J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.S. Accounting, J.D./M.A. Government & Politics, and J.D./LL.M. in Bankruptcy or Real Estate.
- ·Features a dedicated LL.M. in Bankruptcy Law, recognized as the nation's premier program in the field.
Using this for your "Why St. John's 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 St. John's University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at St. John's University?▾
St. John's University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.81 and a median LSAT of 153. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.44–3.91 GPA and 150–156 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is St. John's University's acceptance rate?▾
St. John's University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 37.4%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does St. John's University offer?▾
St. John's University's notable clinical programs include: Child Advocacy Clinic, Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic, Defense and Advocacy Clinic, Securities Arbitration Clinic, Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does St. John's University publish?▾
St. John's University's notable student-edited journals include: St. John's Law Review, American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, Journal of Catholic Legal Studies, Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development, New York International Law Review.
Where do St. John's University graduates work?▾
St. John's University graduates concentrate employment in New York, New Jersey, California, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does St. John's University admit?▾
St. John's University admitted 10 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.21.
Schools similar to St. John's 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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- https://www.lsac.org/schools/st-johns-university-school-law
- https://www.stjohns.edu/law/academics/journals
- https://www.stjohns.edu/law/academics/clinics
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.