Why University of Virginia?
The University of Virginia School of Law is renowned for its collegial environment, rigorous legal education, and commitment to public service, rooted in its founding by Thomas Jefferson.
University of Virginia is a highly selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 12.9%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.99 GPA and 171 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.83–4.04 GPA and 166–173 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 315 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in New York, Washington, DC, and Texas — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. University of Virginia admitted few or zero transfer students in the most recent reporting cycle — transfer-in slots are extremely limited.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #4
- Median GPA
- 3.99
- 25th–75th: 3.83–4.04
- Median LSAT
- 171
- 25th–75th: 166–173
- Acceptance rate
- 12.9%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 315
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1New York
- 2Washington, DC
- 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 Virginia's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Virginia" essay where they align with your interests.
- Appellate Litigation ClinicStudents represent clients in federal appellate courts, drafting briefs and preparing for oral arguments.
- Civil Rights ClinicStudents work on civil legal issues related to the criminal legal system, addressing systemic injustices.
- Economic and Consumer Justice ClinicStudents represent clients with consumer law issues, such as debt collection and other debt-related matters.
- Environmental Law and Community Engagement ClinicStudents engage in environmental law issues, often working with communities.
- Immigration Law ClinicStudents handle complex immigration cases, including asylum, visa problems, and deportation.
- Innocence Project ClinicStudents work on cases to exonerate individuals who have been wrongly convicted.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Virginia Law Review— General legal scholarship, one of the most cited law journals in the country.
- Virginia Journal of International Law— The oldest student-edited international law journal in the country.
- Virginia Environmental Law Journal— Environmental law and policy, considered a top environmental legal publication.
- Virginia Journal of Law & Technology— Topics including intellectual property, biotechnology, digital privacy, and telecommunications law.
- Journal of Law & Politics— Analyzes the intersection of law in the political process and politics in the legal system.
- Virginia Law & Business Review— Business law scholarship, covering corporate finance, governance, and securities regulation.
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.
- Kenneth AbrahamInsurance Law, Torts
- Richard BonnieCriminal Law, Bioethics, Public Policy
- Danielle CitronPrivacy, Free Expression, Civil Rights
- Anne CoughlinCriminal Law, Feminist Jurisprudence
- John F. DuffyIntellectual Property
- Risa L. GoluboffLegal History, Constitutional Law
- Leslie KendrickTorts, First Amendment
- Caleb NelsonCivil Procedure, Federal Courts
- Saikrishna Bangalore PrakashConstitutional Law, Public Law
- Micah SchwartzmanLaw and Religion, Legal Theory, Constitutional Law and Theory
- Charles BarzunLegal History, Constitutional Law
- Richard SchraggerConstitutional Law, Local Government Law
What makes University of Virginia distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 as part of his 'academical village,' a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- ·Known for its highly collegial and supportive student culture, consistently cited for high student satisfaction.
- ·Offers a unique J.D./M.A. in History that can be completed in an accelerated three-year period.
- ·Features a 'small section' experience for all first-year students to foster community and close faculty interaction.
- ·Emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, with nearly half of its law faculty holding advanced degrees in fields such as psychology, economics, philosophy, and history.
Using this for your "Why University of Virginia" 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 Virginia
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Virginia?▾
University of Virginia's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.99 and a median LSAT of 171. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.83–4.04 GPA and 166–173 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Virginia's acceptance rate?▾
University of Virginia's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 12.9%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Virginia offer?▾
University of Virginia's notable clinical programs include: Appellate Litigation Clinic, Civil Rights Clinic, Economic and Consumer Justice Clinic, Environmental Law and Community Engagement Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Virginia publish?▾
University of Virginia's notable student-edited journals include: Virginia Law Review, Virginia Journal of International Law, Virginia Environmental Law Journal, Virginia Journal of Law & Technology, Journal of Law & Politics.
Where do University of Virginia graduates work?▾
University of Virginia graduates concentrate employment in New York, Washington, DC, Texas, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to University of Virginia
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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