Why William and Mary School of Law?

Class profile

US News rank

#34

Median GPA

3.82

25th–75th: 3.53–3.94

Median LSAT

165

25th–75th: 160–166

Acceptance rate

46.0%

Class size (FT 1L)

212

Transfers admitted (2025)

3

ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students William and Mary School of Law admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

25th percentile

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Suppressed (small cohort)

Median

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50th percentile

75th percentile

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Suppressed (small cohort)

3 1Ls transferred out of William and Mary School of Law in the same cycle — context for how portable William and Mary School of Law's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.

Top employment markets

1. 1Virginia
2. 2Washington, DC
3. 3New York

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 William and Mary School of Law's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why William and Mary School of Law" essay where they align with your interests.

• Appellate & Supreme Court Clinic
  Students engage in appellate practice in the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the U.S. Supreme Court, authoring briefs and participating in moot courts.
• Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic
  Students assist veterans with claims and appeals for disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Immigration Clinic
  Students engage with immigration law matters, assisting noncitizens with legal concerns, community outreach, and policy advocacy.
• Innocence Project Clinic
  Students participate in the legal investigation and research of inmate claims of actual innocence.
• Special Education Advocacy Clinic
  Students provide legal and practical advice to families and caregivers navigating special education challenges.
• Community Law Clinic
  Students provide free legal services to underserved populations in housing, public benefits, and family law matters.

Notable journals

Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.

• William & Mary Law Review— A top general interest law journal publishing scholarly work across all areas of law.
• William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal— Publishes scholarly works on issues of constitutional law, consistently ranking high nationally.
• William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review— Devoted to relevant and timely issues in environmental law and policy.
• William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice— Provides a forum for scholarly debate on race, gender, and social justice issues.
• William & Mary Business Law Review— Explores the nexus between business, law, and ethics through scholarly articles and student notes.
• Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Journal— Focuses on property rights scholarship.

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.

What makes William and Mary School of Law distinctive

Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.

• ·Home to the Center for Legal & Court Technology (CLCT), a joint project with the National Center for State Courts, which focuses on improving legal systems through technology and houses the technologically advanced McGlothlin Courtroom.
• ·Features the Institute of Bill of Rights Law (IBRL), dedicated to contributing to the national dialogue on constitutional issues through scholarship and events like the annual Supreme Court Preview.
• ·Offers a robust clinical program with eight clinics, providing extensive hands-on experience in diverse legal areas and serving unmet community needs.
• ·Provides a comprehensive externship program allowing students to earn academic credit while gaining real-world experience in various legal settings, including federal government, judicial, and non-profit placements.
• ·Offers both an on-campus and online LL.M. in American Legal Studies for foreign-educated graduates and attorneys, with flexibility in course selection and specialized areas.

Frequently asked about William and Mary School of Law

Schools similar to William and Mary School of Law

Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.