Why University of Texas at Austin?
The University of Texas School of Law offers a world-class legal education with cutting-edge programs, a vibrant community, and extensive experiential learning opportunities in the heart of Austin.
University of Texas at Austin is a highly selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 14.6%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.89 GPA and 170 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.75–3.96 GPA and 166–171 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 292 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Texas, New York, and California — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Texas at Austin admitted 8 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.83. 1 1L transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #16
- Median GPA
- 3.89
- 25th–75th: 3.75–3.96
- Median LSAT
- 170
- 25th–75th: 166–171
- Acceptance rate
- 14.6%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 292
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 8
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Texas at Austin admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- 3.83
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
1 1L transferred out of University of Texas at Austin in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Texas at Austin's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Texas
- 2New York
- 3California
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 Texas at Austin's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Texas at Austin" essay where they align with your interests.
- Immigration ClinicProvides legal representation to vulnerable, low-income immigrants in removal defense, bond, and asylum cases.
- Supreme Court Litigation ClinicOffers students the opportunity to work on active cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Criminal Defense ClinicStudents represent clients in criminal defense matters under faculty supervision.
- Environmental ClinicFocuses on legal issues related to environmental protection and policy.
- Entrepreneurship and Community Development ClinicAssists entrepreneurs and community organizations with legal needs.
- Domestic Violence ClinicProvides legal services to survivors of domestic violence.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Texas Law Review— Primary student-edited law review publishing scholarly articles, essays, and notes.
- Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal— Dedicated to cutting-edge legal issues in intellectual property, patents, and emerging technologies.
- Texas International Law Journal— Explores current issues in international law.
- Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law— Focuses on legal issues at the intersection of energy law and business law.
- American Journal of Criminal Law— Devoted to exploring current issues in criminal law.
- Texas Environmental Law Journal— Addresses legal issues concerning environmental 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.
- Tara GroveConstitutional Law, Textualism, Supreme Court
- Lawrence SagerConstitutional Theory, Philosophy of Law
- Richard AlbertComparative Constitutional Law, Constitution-making
- Melissa WassermanAdministrative Law, Patent Law, Intellectual Property, Health Law
- Rachel RebouchéFamily Law, Health Law, Reproductive Rights, Contracts, Gender and the Law
- Paul GugliuzzaIntellectual Property, Patents, Civil Procedure, Federal Courts
- Avihay DorfmanTorts, Property, Jurisprudence, Private Law Theory
- Aaron NielsonAdministrative Law, Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Antitrust, Separation of Powers
- Alexander ZhangLegal History, Public Law, Legislation, Statutory Interpretation, Race and the Law
- Susan YorkeTorts, Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Appellate Advocacy, Jurisprudence
- Christopher KulanderEnergy Law, Oil and Gas Law, Property, Mining Law, American Indian Law
- David E. AdelmanEnvironmental Law, Administrative Law, Intellectual Property
What makes University of Texas at Austin distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Offers extensive dual degree programs, including JD/MBA, JD/MPAff, JD/MSIS, and JD/PhD options, allowing students to earn two graduate degrees in less time.
- ·Features an innovative AI Innovation & Law Program, providing novel courses and engagement with policymakers to define the future of AI in legal practice.
- ·Home to the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice, fostering critical, interdisciplinary analysis and practice of human rights and social justice.
- ·Boasts a nationally recognized Advocacy Program that links academic coursework with competitive advocacy tournaments, developing persuasive advocates.
- ·Implements a unique Society Program that builds community and provides dedicated mentorship for first-year students, matching them with Austin-area alumni.
Using this for your "Why University of Texas at Austin" 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 Texas at Austin
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Texas at Austin?▾
University of Texas at Austin's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.89 and a median LSAT of 170. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.75–3.96 GPA and 166–171 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Texas at Austin's acceptance rate?▾
University of Texas at Austin's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 14.6%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Texas at Austin offer?▾
University of Texas at Austin's notable clinical programs include: Immigration Clinic, Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Environmental Clinic, Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Texas at Austin publish?▾
University of Texas at Austin's notable student-edited journals include: Texas Law Review, Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal, Texas International Law Journal, Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law, American Journal of Criminal Law.
Where do University of Texas at Austin graduates work?▾
University of Texas at Austin graduates concentrate employment in Texas, New York, California, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Texas at Austin admit?▾
University of Texas at Austin admitted 8 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.83.
Schools similar to University of Texas at Austin
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 (12) — verify any fact above
- https://law.utexas.edu/juris-doctor/dual-degrees/
- https://law.utexas.edu/publications/journals/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/melissa-f-wasserman/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/rachel-rebouche/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/paul-r-gugliuzza/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/avihay-dorfman/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/aaron-l-nielson/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/alexander-zhang/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/susan-yorke/
- https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/profile/christopher-kulander/
- https://law.utexas.edu/academics/clinics/
- https://law.utexas.edu/academics/programs-and-centers/
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.