Why Stanford University?
Stanford Law is known for its intimate, collegial community, deep commitment to innovation, and an interdisciplinary, student-centric approach to legal education, leveraging its position within a leading research university in Silicon Valley.
Stanford University is a highly selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 6.9%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.96 GPA and 173 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.87–4.00 GPA and 170–176 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 178 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in California, New York, and Washington, DC — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Stanford University admitted 8 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.99. 1 1L transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #1
- Median GPA
- 3.96
- 25th–75th: 3.87–4.00
- Median LSAT
- 173
- 25th–75th: 170–176
- Acceptance rate
- 6.9%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 178
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 8
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Stanford University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- 3.99
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
1 1L transferred out of Stanford University in the same cycle — context for how portable Stanford University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1California
- 2New York
- 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 Stanford University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Stanford University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Community Law ClinicProvides free civil legal services to low-income neighbors in housing, social security disability, and post-conviction relief matters.
- Supreme Court Litigation ClinicOffers students hands-on experience with real Supreme Court cases, serving as lead or co-lead counsel in numerous cases.
- Entrepreneurship ClinicCounsels underserved entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits on legal matters.
- Environmental Law ClinicEngages in litigation and advocacy to defend federal actions on climate and air pollution.
- Immigrants' Rights ClinicProvides representation to noncitizens in removal proceedings and engages in impact litigation and advocacy.
- Juelsgaard Intellectual Property and Innovation ClinicWorks on cases related to intellectual property and innovation, including public domain access and abusive IP litigation.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Stanford Law Review— Provides expert legal scholarship, analysis, and commentary.
- Stanford Law & Policy Review— Analyzes the intersection of the legal system with local, state, and federal policy.
- Stanford Journal of International Law— Devoted to analyses of current international legal issues, human rights, international trade, and comparative law.
- Stanford Journal of Law, Economics & Business— Devoted to the discovery and transmission of legal knowledge in law, economics, and business.
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.
- Gregory AblavskyLaw and History, Native American Law
- Michelle Wilde AndersonLaw and Poverty, Local Government Law
- Easha AnandAppellate Advocacy, Supreme Court Litigation
- Daniel E. HoLaw, Science & Technology, AI, Regulation
- Robert J. MacCounLaw and Psychology, International Studies
- Lisa Larrimore OuelletteIntellectual Property, Innovation Law
- Ralph Richard BanksRace and Law, Family Law
- Michael W. McConnellConstitutional Law, Religious Liberty
- Deborah SivasEnvironmental Law
- Joseph BankmanTax Law
What makes Stanford University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Fosters a close-knit, collegial community with one of the smallest student bodies among top law schools.
- ·Offers a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning with 27 formal joint degree programs across various fields.
- ·Leverages its Silicon Valley location to foster innovation and a focus on law and technology.
- ·Features the W. A. Franke Global Law Program, including the Global Quarter and Intensive Overseas Field Study Trips.
- ·The Mills Legal Clinic provides full-time, immersive training experiences for students.
- ·Supports graduate students across disciplines through the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program.
Using this for your "Why Stanford 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 Stanford University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Stanford University?▾
Stanford University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.96 and a median LSAT of 173. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.87–4.00 GPA and 170–176 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Stanford University's acceptance rate?▾
Stanford University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 6.9%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Stanford University offer?▾
Stanford University's notable clinical programs include: Community Law Clinic, Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Entrepreneurship Clinic, Environmental Law Clinic, Immigrants' Rights Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Stanford University publish?▾
Stanford University's notable student-edited journals include: Stanford Law Review, Stanford Law & Policy Review, Stanford Journal of International Law, Stanford Journal of Law, Economics & Business.
Where do Stanford University graduates work?▾
Stanford University graduates concentrate employment in California, New York, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Stanford University admit?▾
Stanford University admitted 8 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.99.
Schools similar to Stanford 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.stanford.edu/about/why-sls/
- https://law.stanford.edu/mills-legal-clinic/
- https://law.stanford.edu/student-journals/stanford-law-review/
- https://law.stanford.edu/directory/people/
- https://law.stanford.edu/programs-centers-and-projects/
- https://law.stanford.edu/degrees/jd-program/joint-degree-and-cooperative-programs/
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.