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Home » Law Schools » Rankings and Profiles » Washington and Lee University School of LawWritten by Hadi Sedigh
The Honor System: One truly unique feature of Washington and Lee is its Honor System. According to this system, students are entrusted with a greater than usual amount of responsibility, as they are allowed to sit for unproctered exams, sometimes receive take-home exams, and are offered some flexibility in their exam schedules. The system has also created a comfortable and safe environment throughout the law school, demonstrated by the fact that students regularly leave laptops and possessions unguarded in the library without any worries. Undoubtedly, the Honor System affects the school in many ways and helps students enjoy their three years in Lexington. Admissions and Tuition: In part because Washington and Lee’s entering classes consist of approximately 130 seats, less than half the number of seats at most other top law schools, applicants should expect a highly competitive admissions process. In recent years, the school has received over 2,500 applications per year, usually granting approximately 800 acceptances. As is the case with most law schools, Washington and Lee places primary emphasis on a candidate’s LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. The most recent entering class at the school, the Class of 2012, boasted a median LSAT score of 166 and a median GPA of 3.56. Current and future applicants with numbers near or above these medians should stand a good chance at admission. Of course, Washington and Lee looks beyond numbers in its admissions process, and because of the small size of its student body as well as its Honor System, the school searches for applicants that can enhance the intimate environment of the law school. Accordingly, applicants from diverse racial, ethnic, economic, religious, and geographic backgrounds may see their chances of admissions improve. Furthermore, the school encourages applicants to arrange an interview with a member of the admissions committee, and students would be well advised to take advantage of this opportunity, as it would allow them to demonstrate their ability to contribute to the unique environment of the law school. For the 2009-2010 academic year, yearly tuition at Washington and Lee was $37,025. More than 90% of the student body received some sort of financial aid, while approximately 63% of students received merit scholarships. Academic Reputation and Curriculum: According to the Princeton Review, the faculty at Washington and Lee ranks among the top 10 law school faculties in the nation. Because the school has an impressive 9.5 to 1 faculty-student ratio along with an open-door policy that ensures students can reach professors when they wish to do so, Washington and Lee students are given ample opportunity to communicate with and to learn from this distinguished faculty. Although Washington and Lee and its faculty are reputable in all areas of the law, the school’s corporate law, international law and health law programs are particularly strong. It should also be noted that at Washington and Lee members of the faculty teach legal writing courses, as opposed to other law schools where 3Ls or writing instructors teach the course. As is the standard practice, Washington and Lee has a required set of courses for first-year students, while allowing second and third year students to choose their classes freely. It bears mention that compared to other similarly regarded law schools, Washington and Lee offers few elective courses, although it has steadily increased the selection in recent years. On the other hand, the school’s first year section sizes are about half as large as other top law schools, and a majority of upper-level courses contain less than 25 seats. Also, because the school uses a revolving lottery system of course selection, all students, sooner or later, will be able to enroll in the courses of their choice. Quality of Life:
Employment Prospects and Bar Passage: Especially in the Southeast, employment prospects for Washington and Lee graduates are strong, as top firms from Washington D.C., Atlanta, and Charlotte conduct on-campus recruiting in Lexington. Recently, Washington and Lee has began conducting a remote on-campus recruiting program in Charlottesville, allowing its students to take advantage of the greater number of firms that visit the University of Virginia campus to interview students. Although the school’s alumni network, which spreads throughout the nation, allows students to tap into markets outside of the Southeast, job prospects are generally much more limited in those areas for Washington and Lee graduates. Although finishing near the top of the class certainly opens doors for graduates, Washington and Lee remains a strong regional school, and should not be counted on for its national reach in job placement. Of the 2008 graduating class, 92% were employed nine months after graduation, a percentage slightly lower than that of similarly regarded law schools. 83.3% of graduates who sat for the exam in Virginia passed the exam in their first attempt, compared to a 77% statewide average. Among those graduates who accepted job offers from private law firms, 57% of the class of 2008, the median first-year salary was $135,000. Synopsis: A small law school in a small town, the Washington and Lee University School of Law offers applicants the opportunity to earn a JD degree in a rare intimate and friendly environment. The school’s Honor System breeds a tremendous amount of trust and respect between students and faculty and also helps to enhance this environment. Though Lexington is certainly not a city suited to those accustomed to bar-hopping and clubbing on the weekends, the city could be a perfect place to study law for those who would prefer a social life based around their classmates. Quick Reference: U.S. News Ranking: 30th |
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The Washington and Lee University School of Law stands out among the nation’s top law schools in more than one way. Located in Lexington, a small and scenic town in central Virginia, the school’s serene and intimate setting contrasts the hectic environment of similarly regarded law schools, most of which are located in large metropolitan cities. Also, because Washington and Lee houses one of the smallest student bodies of the top law schools in the nation, there is an increased sense of camaraderie at the school, in contrast to the cutthroat competition at other law schools. For select applicants who prefer this sort of friendly and calm environment, Washington and Lee should be given serious consideration. 
For some, Lexington could represent the perfect place to attend law school, while many would likely find the city to be uneventful. With only a handful of bars and a total absence of nightclubs, the city does not provide the excitement that larger cities provide. However, this lack of nightlife creates a situation in which law students orchestrate their own social activities, helping to bring Washington and Lee’s student body together outside of the classroom. Students often throw themed-parties, join together for a variety of intramural sports, and generally are a tighter knit group than student bodies of other law schools. Also, the previously mentioned Honor System creates a comfortable and safe environment within the law school, and Lexington as a whole is also a tremendously safe city. Lexington’s low cost of living is also a boon to law students, who can find comfortable and even somewhat luxurious housing at a fraction of the cost of larger cities. For applicants who prefer this low cost of living, tremendous safety and student body-centered social life, Lexington would likely prove to be an enjoyable place to spend three years for law school.