Why University of California-davis?
UC Davis School of Law, known as King Hall, fosters a uniquely collegial and diverse learning environment with a strong emphasis on social justice and public service.
University of California-davis is a very selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 25.2%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.70 GPA and 165 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.49–3.87 GPA and 163–166 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 206 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in California, Nevada, and Colorado — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of California-davis admitted 12 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.35 (25th–75th percentile: 3.25–3.53). 9 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #52
- Median GPA
- 3.70
- 25th–75th: 3.49–3.87
- Median LSAT
- 165
- 25th–75th: 163–166
- Acceptance rate
- 25.2%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 206
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 12
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of California-davis admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- 3.25
- Bottom quartile
- Median
- 3.35
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- 3.53
- Top quartile
9 1Ls transferred out of University of California-davis in the same cycle — context for how portable University of California-davis's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1California
- 2Nevada
- 3Colorado
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 University of California-davis's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of California-davis" essay where they align with your interests.
- Immigration Law ClinicProvides legal services to indigent noncitizens and offers students practical experience in immigration law.
- Civil Rights ClinicEngages students in civil rights litigation and advocacy, representing clients in various civil rights matters.
- Domestic and Sexual Violence Law ClinicOffers legal assistance to victims of domestic and sexual violence, providing students with experience in family law and victim advocacy.
- Water Justice ClinicFocuses on environmental and social justice issues related to water resources, often serving underserved communities.
- Small Farmer ClinicProvides legal support to small farmers, addressing their unique legal challenges.
- California Supreme Court ClinicThe first of its kind, this clinic focuses on cases before the California Supreme Court, offering students unique appellate experience.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- UC Davis Law Review— King Hall's premier scholarly publication, publishing articles from academics, practitioners, and students.
- UC Davis Business Law Journal (BLJ)— Provides current and valuable legal and business analysis, with a focus on business law.
- Environs: Environmental Law and Policy Journal— Dedicated to scholarship on environmental law and policy.
- Immigration and Nationality Law Review— Focuses on scholarly works related to immigration and nationality law.
- UC Davis Journal of International Law & Policy— Strives to contribute compelling scholarly works to the field of international law.
- UC Davis Social Justice Law Review— Promotes scholarship relating to social justice, continuing the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.'s work.
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.
- Menesh PatelAntitrust, Corporate Law, Securities Regulation, Capital Markets
- Afra AfsharipourCorporate Governance, Gender Equity in Corporate Leadership
- Mary ZieglerReproduction Law, Constitutional Law, Legal History of Abortion
- Courtney G. JoslinFamily Law, Constitutional Law, Employment Discrimination, Sexuality, Gender, and the Law
- Darien ShanskeTaxation (State and Local), Local Government Law, Public Finance, Political Theory
- Vikram D. AmarConstitutional Law
- Holly S. CooperImmigration Law, Civil Rights, Clinical Legal Education
- Carlton F.W. LarsonConstitutional Law, American Legal History, Law of Treason
- Chimène KeitnerInternational Law, Transnational Litigation, Civil Procedure, Cyberlaw
- Stacy-Ann ElvyCommercial Law, Privacy Law, Technology Law, Human Rights
- Shayak SarkarFinancial Regulation, Employment Law, Immigration Law, Taxation
- Irene Oritseweyinmi JoeCriminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Professional Responsibility, Juries
What makes University of California-davis distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·The law school building is named King Hall, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflecting a deep commitment to social justice.
- ·Offers a Public Service Law Distinction program for students dedicated to public service careers, including coursework and practical experience.
- ·The UCDC Law Program provides a unique semester-long externship opportunity in Washington D.C., combining a seminar with a full-time field placement.
- ·Home to interdisciplinary research centers including the California Environmental Law and Policy Center, the Aoki Center for Critical Race and Nation Studies, and the Center for Innovation, Law, and Society.
- ·Known for its collegial and supportive learning environment, fostering strong community among students and accessibility of faculty.
- ·Offers various J.D. Concentrations (e.g., Business Law, Environmental Law, Immigration Law, Intellectual Property Law, Criminal Law and Policy, Tax Law) to allow students to specialize.
Using this for your "Why University of California-davis" 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 University of California-davis
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of California-davis?▾
University of California-davis's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.70 and a median LSAT of 165. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.49–3.87 GPA and 163–166 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of California-davis's acceptance rate?▾
University of California-davis's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 25.2%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of California-davis offer?▾
University of California-davis's notable clinical programs include: Immigration Law Clinic, Civil Rights Clinic, Domestic and Sexual Violence Law Clinic, Water Justice Clinic, Small Farmer Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of California-davis publish?▾
University of California-davis's notable student-edited journals include: UC Davis Law Review, UC Davis Business Law Journal (BLJ), Environs: Environmental Law and Policy Journal, Immigration and Nationality Law Review, UC Davis Journal of International Law & Policy.
Where do University of California-davis graduates work?▾
University of California-davis graduates concentrate employment in California, Nevada, Colorado, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of California-davis admit?▾
University of California-davis admitted 12 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.35.
Schools similar to University of California-davis
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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