Why Syracuse University?
Syracuse University College of Law is distinguished by its robust experiential learning opportunities, nationally recognized centers in areas like disability and national security law, and innovative hybrid online J.D. program.
Syracuse University is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 41.7%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.60 GPA and 157 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.18–3.77 GPA and 154–160 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 238 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in New York, California, and New Jersey — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Syracuse University admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class. 5 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #100
- Median GPA
- 3.60
- 25th–75th: 3.18–3.77
- Median LSAT
- 157
- 25th–75th: 154–160
- Acceptance rate
- 41.7%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 238
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 2
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Syracuse University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
5 1Ls transferred out of Syracuse University in the same cycle — context for how portable Syracuse University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1New York
- 2California
- 3New Jersey
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 Syracuse University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Syracuse University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Bankruptcy ClinicProvides legal assistance to individuals facing financial distress.
- Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal ClinicOffers legal services to veterans and their families.
- Criminal Defense ClinicRepresents clients charged with misdemeanors or violations in Syracuse City Court.
- Housing ClinicProvides representation to low-income tenants in eviction and housing conditions matters (starting Fall 2024).
- Sherman F. Levey '57, L'59 Low Income Taxpayer ClinicAssists low-income individuals with tax controversies with the IRS.
- Syracuse Medical Legal PartnershipOffers non-litigation legal services to pediatric patients and families at Upstate University Hospital (starting Spring 2025).
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Syracuse Law Review— General legal scholarship, including an annual 'Survey of New York Law'.
- Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce— Public and private international law and commercial studies.
- Syracuse Journal of Science and Technology Law— Legal scholarship in science, technology, biotechnology, and intellectual property.
- Syracuse Journal of Law & Civic Engagement— Legal scholarship challenging public conceptions and encouraging discourse on contemporary issues.
- The Digest— Roman Law, Civil Law, Italian Law, and all areas of property 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.
- Craig M. BoiseDean, Legal Education Innovation
- Nina A. KohnElder Law, Online Legal Education
- Brian Gerling L'99Technology Commercialization, Intellectual Property
- Shubha GhoshIntellectual Property Law, Technology Transfer
- Keith J. BybeeLaw and Courts, Politics of Race and Ethnicity, Media Law
- Lisa DolakPatent Law, Federal Courts, Law, Politics and the Media
- David Cay JohnstonTax Law, Investigative Journalism
- Suzette MeléndezChildren's Health Policy, Medical-Legal Partnerships
- Gary PieplesHousing Law, Public Interest Law
- Dan TraficonteLaw, Political Economy, Innovation, Patents
What makes Syracuse University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·JDinteractive, an ABA-accredited hybrid online J.D. program, offering flexibility for students.
- ·The nation's first joint J.D./LL.M. degree in Advocacy and Litigation, allowing students to earn both degrees in three years at no additional cost beyond the J.D. tuition.
- ·Extensive joint degree programs with other Syracuse University schools, including J.D./M.B.A. (also available online), J.D./M.A. or M.S. in Communications, J.D./M.S. in Forensic Science, and J.D./M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Education with a Certificate in Disability Studies.
- ·The Innovation Law Center, established in 1990, was the first program of its kind to focus on the legal principles of technology commercialization.
- ·The Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL) is a multidisciplinary center for the study of national and international security, offering certificates of advanced study.
Using this for your "Why Syracuse 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 Syracuse University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Syracuse University?▾
Syracuse University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.60 and a median LSAT of 157. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.18–3.77 GPA and 154–160 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Syracuse University's acceptance rate?▾
Syracuse University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 41.7%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Syracuse University offer?▾
Syracuse University's notable clinical programs include: Bankruptcy Clinic, Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Housing Clinic, Sherman F. Levey '57, L'59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Syracuse University publish?▾
Syracuse University's notable student-edited journals include: Syracuse Law Review, Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce, Syracuse Journal of Science and Technology Law, Syracuse Journal of Law & Civic Engagement, The Digest.
Where do Syracuse University graduates work?▾
Syracuse University graduates concentrate employment in New York, California, New Jersey, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Syracuse University admit?▾
Syracuse University admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to Syracuse 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 Syracuse 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 (10) — verify any fact above
- https://law.syr.edu/academics/clinics/
- https://law.syr.edu/academics/student-journals/
- https://law.syr.edu/academics/centers-institutes/
- https://law.syr.edu/academics/degree-programs/joint-degrees/
- https://law.syr.edu/academics/degree-programs/jdinteractive/
- https://law.syr.edu/academics/faculty/
- https://law.syr.edu/academics/areas-of-focus/
- https://law.syr.edu/news/college-of-law-introduces-first-joint-jd-llm-degree-in-advocacy-and-litigation/
- https://law.syr.edu/news/college-of-law-adds-housing-clinic-for-fall-2024/
- https://law.syr.edu/news/college-of-law-adds-the-syracuse-medical-legal-partnership-law-clinic-starting-spring-2025/
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.