Why University of Minnesota?
The University of Minnesota Law School is known for its rigorous academics combined with one of the nation's strongest clinical and experiential education programs, preparing students for practical legal work.
University of Minnesota is a very selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 37.2%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.88 GPA and 168 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.62–3.95 GPA and 162–169 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 222 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Minnesota, Illinois, and Washington, DC — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Minnesota admitted 7 transfer students into the 2L class. 5 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #22
- Median GPA
- 3.88
- 25th–75th: 3.62–3.95
- Median LSAT
- 168
- 25th–75th: 162–169
- Acceptance rate
- 37.2%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 222
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 7
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Minnesota 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 University of Minnesota in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Minnesota's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Minnesota
- 2Illinois
- 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 Minnesota's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Minnesota" essay where they align with your interests.
- Business Law and Entrepreneurship ClinicProvides legal assistance and advice for small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs.
- Child Advocacy & Juvenile Justice ClinicEngages students in cases involving child advocacy and juvenile justice.
- Civil Rights Appellate ClinicStudents work on appellate cases related to civil rights.
- Environmental & Energy Law ClinicAddresses legal issues concerning environmental protection and energy.
- Immigration & Human Rights Law ClinicAssists asylum seekers, works to stop deportation orders, and represents detained noncitizens.
- Intellectual Property ClinicOffers legal assistance in matters involving copyrightable works, trademarks, and patents.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Minnesota Law Review— General legal scholarship, student-run.
- Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality— Issues of law and inequality, including family law.
- Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology— Intersection of law, technology, and the sciences, including intellectual property and bioethics.
- Constitutional Commentary— Constitutional law and legal history.
- Minnesota Journal of International Law— International and comparative law, including international politics, trade, and human rights.
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.
International Human Rights
- Fionnuala Ní Aoláin· also Law of Armed Conflict, Feminist Theory
- Steve Meili· also International Refugee Law, Clinical Legal Education
Intellectual Property Law
- Thomas F. Cotter· also Antitrust, Law and Economics
Data Privacy
- William McGeveran· also Trademark, Internet Law
Intellectual Property
- Sapna Kumar· also Administrative Law, Patent Law
Child Advocacy
- Perry Moriearty· also Criminal Law, Juvenile Justice & Law, Race & Law
Government Ethics
- Richard Painter· also Corporate Law
Family Law
- Jill Hasday· also Constitutional Law, Gender and Law
Age and Law
- Alexander Boni-Saenz· also Race and Law
What makes University of Minnesota distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Offers a robust clinical and experiential education program with over 25 clinics, including a 'Law in Practice' course for first-year students.
- ·Located in the vibrant Twin Cities, providing access to numerous Fortune 500 companies, federal and state courts, and the state capitol.
- ·Features a unique Student Director Model in clinics, allowing third-year students to work for two years and supervise incoming students.
- ·Provides extensive dual degree programs, enabling students to combine a JD with a wide range of graduate degrees across the university.
- ·Offers specialized Master of Science in Patent Law (MSPL) and LL.M. in Patent Law programs.
- ·Maintains one of the smallest first-year writing section sizes (9-10 students) and requires three years of writing experiences.
Using this for your "Why University of Minnesota" 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 Minnesota
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Minnesota?▾
University of Minnesota's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.88 and a median LSAT of 168. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.62–3.95 GPA and 162–169 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Minnesota's acceptance rate?▾
University of Minnesota's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 37.2%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Minnesota offer?▾
University of Minnesota's notable clinical programs include: Business Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, Child Advocacy & Juvenile Justice Clinic, Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, Environmental & Energy Law Clinic, Immigration & Human Rights Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Minnesota publish?▾
University of Minnesota's notable student-edited journals include: Minnesota Law Review, Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality, Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology, Constitutional Commentary, Minnesota Journal of International Law.
Where do University of Minnesota graduates work?▾
University of Minnesota graduates concentrate employment in Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Minnesota admit?▾
University of Minnesota admitted 7 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Minnesota
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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