Why University of Puerto Rico?
The University of Puerto Rico School of Law is the only public law school in Puerto Rico, offering a Juris Doctor program primarily taught in Spanish with a strong focus on the civil law system and the island's unique territorial status under U.S. jurisdiction.
University of Puerto Rico is a broadly accessible JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 49.0%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.77 GPA and 147 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.57–3.90 GPA and 143–153 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 137 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Puerto Rico, Illinois, and Pennsylvania — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Puerto Rico admitted 5 transfer students into the 2L class. 1 1L transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- Unranked
- Not numerically ranked by US News
- Median GPA
- 3.77
- 25th–75th: 3.57–3.90
- Median LSAT
- 147
- 25th–75th: 143–153
- Acceptance rate
- 49.0%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 137
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 5
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Puerto Rico admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
1 1L transferred out of University of Puerto Rico in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Puerto Rico's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Puerto Rico
- 2Illinois
- 3Pennsylvania
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 Puerto Rico's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Puerto Rico" essay where they align with your interests.
- Legal Aid ClinicA required two-semester course offering students diverse practice areas and live client representation.
- Environmental Law ClinicProvides legal advocacy in environmental matters.
- Immigration ClinicOffers legal services to individuals in immigration cases.
- Economic Community Development and Organization ClinicFocuses on advocacy and legal representation for underserved communities.
- Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship ClinicAssists clients with intellectual property issues and business start-ups.
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination ClinicAddresses legal issues related to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico— General legal scholarship, the most prestigious and historic law review in Puerto Rico.
- In Rev— A digital publication of the Revista Jurídica, focusing on current legal debates and controversies.
- University of Puerto Rico Business Law Journal— Dedicated to the relationship between law and business, promoting economic growth.
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.
- Vivian I. Neptune RiveraLegal Education, Pro Bono and Public Interest Law
- Rubén Berríos MartínezConstitutional Law, Political Law
- José Julián Álvarez GonzálezLegal Theory, Comparative Law
- Luis Aníbal Avilés PagánInternational Law, Comparative Law
- Ernesto Chiesa AponteCivil Law, Legal History
- Carlos Díaz OlivoBusiness Law, Commercial Law
- Glenda Labadie JacksonCivil Law, European Legal Systems
- Hiram A. Meléndez JuarbeIntellectual Property, Technology Law
- Oscar Miranda MillerLegal Research and Writing, Academic Support
- Efrén Rivera RamosConstitutional Law, Human Rights, Legal Philosophy
- Chloé S. GeorasArt Law, Technology Law, Feminist Legal Issues
What makes University of Puerto Rico distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·The only public law school in Puerto Rico.
- ·Juris Doctor program primarily taught in Spanish.
- ·Offers various joint-degree programs, including JD/MBA, JD/MD, JD/MPA, JD/MArch, and JD/Master in Planning.
- ·Provides a Dual Juris Doctor and Law Degree Program with the University of Barcelona, Spain.
- ·Features a Master of Laws (LL.M.) program with specializations, including an online LL.M. in Orality in the Penal System.
Using this for your "Why University of Puerto Rico" 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 Puerto Rico
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Puerto Rico?▾
University of Puerto Rico's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.77 and a median LSAT of 147. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.57–3.90 GPA and 143–153 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Puerto Rico's acceptance rate?▾
University of Puerto Rico's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 49.0%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Puerto Rico offer?▾
University of Puerto Rico's notable clinical programs include: Legal Aid Clinic, Environmental Law Clinic, Immigration Clinic, Economic Community Development and Organization Clinic, Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Puerto Rico publish?▾
University of Puerto Rico's notable student-edited journals include: Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, In Rev, University of Puerto Rico Business Law Journal.
Where do University of Puerto Rico graduates work?▾
University of Puerto Rico graduates concentrate employment in Puerto Rico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Puerto Rico admit?▾
University of Puerto Rico admitted 5 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Puerto Rico
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 Puerto Rico?
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 →