Why University of Memphis?
The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law offers a practice-oriented legal education with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and community engagement in a vibrant urban setting.
University of Memphis is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 41.2%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.53 GPA and 154 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.22–3.77 GPA and 152–156 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 101 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Tennessee, Florida, and Texas — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Memphis admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #140
- Median GPA
- 3.53
- 25th–75th: 3.22–3.77
- Median LSAT
- 154
- 25th–75th: 152–156
- Acceptance rate
- 41.2%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 101
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 2
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Memphis admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
Top employment markets
- 1Tennessee
- 2Florida
- 3Texas
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 Memphis's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Memphis" essay where they align with your interests.
- Disability Rights Law ClinicProvides legal representation to clients with disabilities.
- Expungement and Restoration of Rights ClinicAssists individuals with expunging criminal records and restoring rights.
- Mediation ClinicTrains students in mediation and provides mediation services to the community.
- Medical-Legal Partnership ClinicStudents represent low-income pediatric patients and their families at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, addressing legal and social issues impacting health.
- Neighborhood Preservation ClinicRepresents the City of Memphis in public nuisance lawsuits against owners of neglected properties.
- Elder Law ClinicProvides legal services to the elderly.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- University of Memphis Law Review— Publishes scholarly articles on a wide range of legal topics.
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.
- Lynda BlackSecured Transactions, Sports Law, Nonprofit Organizations, Contracts, Remedies, Reproductive Rights, Estate Planning, Family Law, and Trust Law.
- Daniel KielLaw and Education, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law
- Barbara KritchevskyCivil Procedure, Federal Courts, Evidence, Professional Responsibility
- Katy Ramsey MasonMedical-Legal Partnership, Health Law, Experiential Learning.
- Jeffrey MillerDisability Rights Law, Clinical Legal Education.
- John M. NewmanAntitrust Law, Intellectual Property, Law and Economics.
- David S. RomantzHousing Adjudication, Clinical Legal Education.
- Danny SchaffzinExperiential Learning, Neighborhood Preservation, Clinical Legal Education.
- Regina Lambert HillmanLegal Writing.
- Donna HarknessElder Law, Special Needs Law.
What makes University of Memphis distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Located in downtown Memphis, offering proximity to courts and the legal community.
- ·Offers several 3+3 accelerated programs allowing students to earn a bachelor's and law degree in six years.
- ·Provides dual-degree programs including JD/MBA, JD/MA in Political Science, and JD/MPH.
- ·Offers Professional Certificate programs in Advocacy, Business Law, Health Law, Public Interest Law, and Tax Law.
- ·The law school building has been recognized multiple times as a top facility in U.S. legal education.
Using this for your "Why University of Memphis" 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 Memphis
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Memphis?▾
University of Memphis's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.53 and a median LSAT of 154. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.22–3.77 GPA and 152–156 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Memphis's acceptance rate?▾
University of Memphis's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 41.2%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Memphis offer?▾
University of Memphis's notable clinical programs include: Disability Rights Law Clinic, Expungement and Restoration of Rights Clinic, Mediation Clinic, Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, Neighborhood Preservation Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Memphis publish?▾
University of Memphis's notable student-edited journals include: University of Memphis Law Review.
Where do University of Memphis graduates work?▾
University of Memphis graduates concentrate employment in Tennessee, Florida, Texas, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Memphis admit?▾
University of Memphis admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Memphis
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 University of Memphis?
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (10) — verify any fact above
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/students/lawreview.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/experiential/clinics/mlp.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/experiential/clinics/neighborhood.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/about/rankings.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/programs/degrees.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/programs/3plus3.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/faculty/lynda-black.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/faculty/index.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/about/nationalroles.php
- https://www.memphis.edu/law/admissions/faq.php
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.