Why University of California-los Angeles?
UCLA Law is known for its innovative and collaborative approach to legal education, with a strong emphasis on public interest, critical race studies, and entertainment law, situated in a dynamic global city.
University of California-los Angeles is a highly selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 15.5%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.95 GPA and 171 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.73–4.00 GPA and 166–172 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 308 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, University of California-los Angeles admitted 35 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.74 (25th–75th percentile: 3.64–3.93). 4 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #13
- Median GPA
- 3.95
- 25th–75th: 3.73–4.00
- Median LSAT
- 171
- 25th–75th: 166–172
- Acceptance rate
- 15.5%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 308
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 35
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of California-los Angeles admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- 3.64
- Bottom quartile
- Median
- 3.74
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- 3.93
- Top quartile
4 1Ls transferred out of University of California-los Angeles in the same cycle — context for how portable University of California-los Angeles'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 University of California-los Angeles's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of California-los Angeles" essay where they align with your interests.
- Immigrants' Rights Policy ClinicStudents address systemic issues of immigrants' rights, focusing on state and local engagement with immigration law.
- Tribal Legal Development ClinicStudents gain hands-on experience in meeting clients' legal needs while creating a pipeline of tribal law experts.
- Frank G. Wells Environmental Law ClinicStudents work to protect environmental resources and prevent pollution through research and advocacy.
- Prisoners' Rights ClinicStudents represent incarcerated individuals in federal appellate courts regarding conditions of confinement and civil rights claims.
- Housing Justice ClinicStudents provide legal assistance to housing-insecure residents of Los Angeles, defending tenants in eviction cases.
- Documentary Film Legal ClinicStudents gain practical experience in legal issues related to documentary film production.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- UCLA Law Review— General legal scholarship, publishing six times a year.
- Asian Pacific American Law Journal— Legal issues affecting Asian Pacific American communities.
- National Black Law Journal— Legal issues affecting Black communities.
- Entertainment Law Review— Legal issues affecting film, television, radio, computer, and print media.
- Journal of Environmental Law and Policy— Environmental law and policy issues.
- Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs— International law and foreign relations.
- The Indigenous Peoples' Journal of Law, Culture & Resistance— Writings concerning Native Peoples' cultures, traditions, and histories.
- Journal of Islamic and Near Eastern Law— Legal issues related to Islamic and Near Eastern 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.
- Stephen BainbridgeCorporate & Securities Law
- Stuart BannerLegal History
- Devon CarbadoCriminal Law & Procedure and Critical Theories
- Kimberlé CrenshawCritical Theories
- Scott CummingsLegal Ethics
- Ingrid EaglyImmigration Law
- Hiroshi MotomuraImmigration Law
- Kal RaustialaInternational Law & Security
- Seana ShiffrinLaw and Philosophy
- Eugene VolokhConstitutional Law
- Adam WinklerConstitutional Law
What makes University of California-los Angeles distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·It is the youngest of the top-ranked law schools in the U.S., fostering a spirit of innovation and openness.
- ·The Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology & Sports Law leverages its location in the heart of the entertainment industry.
- ·The Promise Institute for Human Rights is an innovative center for human rights education, research, and advocacy, with locations in LA and Europe.
- ·The Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment is a national leader in scholarship and advocacy.
- ·The UCDC program offers students the opportunity to live, learn, and work in Washington D.C. for a semester.
Using this for your "Why University of California-los Angeles" 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-los Angeles
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of California-los Angeles?▾
University of California-los Angeles's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.95 and a median LSAT of 171. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.73–4.00 GPA and 166–172 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of California-los Angeles's acceptance rate?▾
University of California-los Angeles's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 15.5%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of California-los Angeles offer?▾
University of California-los Angeles's notable clinical programs include: Immigrants' Rights Policy Clinic, Tribal Legal Development Clinic, Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic, Prisoners' Rights Clinic, Housing Justice Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of California-los Angeles publish?▾
University of California-los Angeles's notable student-edited journals include: UCLA Law Review, Asian Pacific American Law Journal, National Black Law Journal, Entertainment Law Review, Journal of Environmental Law and Policy.
Where do University of California-los Angeles graduates work?▾
University of California-los Angeles graduates concentrate employment in California, New York, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of California-los Angeles admit?▾
University of California-los Angeles admitted 35 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.74.
Schools similar to University of California-los Angeles
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 (7) — verify any fact above
- https://law.ucla.edu/academics/jd-program/jd-specializations
- https://law.ucla.edu/academics/journals
- https://law.ucla.edu/academics/experiential-education/clinics
- https://law.ucla.edu/news/ucla-law-launches-housing-justice-clinic-and-welcomes-matthew-nickell-its-director
- https://law.ucla.edu/academics/centers-programs-and-institutes
- https://law.ucla.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles
- https://law.ucla.edu/about/about-ucla-law
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.