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Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school located at Stanford University near Palo Alto, California. The school was established in 1893 and employed approximately 50 faculty members. It also hosts over 500 students working towards their Juris Doctor degrees.
Stanford Law School is among the most prestigious law schools in the United States. It is often ranked in the top three US law schools by US News & World Report and is currently ranked second. Stanford Law School has educated some of America's most influential legal minds, including Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist and former Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Today, the school continues to produce leaders in the legal field, such as Chief Justice of California Ronald M. George.
Contents
History
A Comprehensive History of Stanford Law
Founded in 1893, Stanford Law School (SLS) began as a small department within Stanford University, focusing on practical legal education to serve the growing American West. By the mid-20th century, SLS gained national prominence under leaders like Marion Rice Kirkwood.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the school became known for its innovative, student-focused approach, interdisciplinary studies, and leadership in clinical legal education.
Stanford’s proximity to Silicon Valley uniquely positioned it as a pioneer in technology and intellectual property law. It also became a leader in cyberlaw, environmental law, and international legal studies.
SLS emphasizes joint degrees, hands-on clinical experience, and global engagement, producing influential graduates like Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and William Rehnquist.
Today, Stanford Law is recognized worldwide for its entrepreneurial spirit, academic rigor, and deep ties to the tech industry.
Admissions
Admission to Stanford Law School is highly competitive. While many law schools claim to use a holistic admissions process, Stanford is particularly known for its "black box" approach, where decisions are made based on a careful, individualized review that goes far beyond test scores and GPAs. The admissions committee carefully curates each incoming class to be both accomplished and diverse, and actively encourages applications from underrepresented minorities and those with unique or non-traditional life experiences.
For the 2025 application cycle, Stanford Law received 4,270 applications and admitted 378 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 8.85%. The median undergraduate GPA for admitted students was 3.92, and the median LSAT score was 173, with the middle 50% of LSAT scores ranging from 169 to 175. Stanford requires applicants to submit either LSAT or GRE scores. For this cycle, LSAT scores for admitted students ranged from 163 to 180, while GRE scores typically averaged around 328. However, Stanford places substantial weight on non-quantitative factors, including work experience, extracurricular involvement, letters of recommendation, and personal essays.
Approximately 80% of incoming students in the 2025 class had at least one year of full-time work experience prior to law school, often in fields such as public service, nonprofits, education, finance, or consulting. Additionally, about 22% of the class held advanced degrees before enrolling at Stanford Law.
Stanford Law continues to enroll a relatively small JD class of approximately 180 students each fall, reinforcing its intimate and collaborative academic environment. The school offers 11 full-time legal clinics and 27 joint-degree programs that allow students to engage in cross-disciplinary studies with Stanford’s other top-ranked graduate schools.
When selecting students for the JD program, Stanford focuses on two key criteria: intellectual ability and overall class diversity. The admissions committee seeks students with strong analytical skills and intellectual curiosity, while also valuing diversity in all its forms—racial, socioeconomic, geographic, experiential, and ideological. Stanford believes that cultivating a diverse learning environment enhances the exchange of ideas in the classroom and prepares graduates to serve and lead in a wide range of communities and professional settings.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 171 - 173 - 175 | 169 - 173 - 175 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.83 - 3.95 - 3.99 | 3.78 - 3.92 - 4.00 |
| Acceptance rate | 6.90% | 8.90% |
| Applications received | 4863 | 4270 |
| Acceptances | 353 | 378 |
| Matriculants | 157 | 171 |
Acceptance Rate
Stanford Law School has long maintained one of the most selective admissions processes among U.S. law schools. Historically, acceptance rates hovered between 8% and 10%, with past cycles averaging around 8.9% on roughly 4,800 applications. In the 2024–25 admissions cycle, the school received 4,270 applications, extended offers to 378 applicants, and saw 171 enroll, reflecting an acceptance rate of 8.85% with a yield rate of 45.2%. For the 2025–26 entering class, selectivity increased further: Stanford admitted approximately 7.26% of applicants, marking a notable dip from the previous year and signaling a trend toward even more competitive admissions. With such low acceptance rates and a class size holding steady at about 180 students, gaining entry to Stanford Law remains extraordinarily challenging.
Application Fee
Stanford Law School continues to charge a non-refundable $85 application fee, payable by credit card through LSAC when you submit your application. If you cannot afford this fee, Stanford offers a fee waiver specifically for the Fall 2025 cycle—you must submit the 2025 SLS Application Fee Waiver Form and supporting financial documentation (e.g., financial aid award letter, LSAC CAS waiver) before submitting your application. Processing typically takes 5–7 business days, and Stanford's waiver is separate from LSAC’s. This $85 fee requirement and waiver option also apply to JD transfer, visiting student, LLM, SPILS, and JSD programs, with each program requiring a separate fee if you’re applying to more than one. If you're not sure about applying to law school or just beginning the application process, then please take the time to read some of the excellent pre-law articles found here.
Transferring
Information for Transfer Students
Transfer students at Stanford Law School have successfully completed their first year of study at another law school that is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). Stanford welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds, including those from community colleges, four-year institutions, and individuals with unique professional or life experiences. Military veterans and non-traditional students are also valued members of the Stanford transfer community.
The Admissions Committee at Stanford Law School reviews applications from students who wish to transfer with advanced standing. Admission is competitive and based on space availability in the second-year class. Candidates must demonstrate exceptional academic performance during their first year of law school to be considered.
To be eligible for transfer to Stanford Law School’s J.D. program, applicants must have completed one full year of law study at another institution. Transfer students must commit to spending two full academic years at Stanford, beginning in the fall quarter of their second year. Stanford does not accept transfer applications for any other term.
The amount of residency and unit credit awarded to transfer students is determined by the Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid. Typically, transfer students are granted three-quarters of residency credit and a maximum of 40 quarter units for coursework completed at their previous law school. In exceptional cases, up to 45 quarter units may be accepted. Stanford uses a conversion rate where one semester unit equals 1.3 quarter units. The offer of admission will specify the number of residency and unit credits granted.
Academic transcripts from the student’s previous law school will be carefully reviewed to ensure that all first-year courses required by Stanford Law School have been completed. If any required courses are missing, the student’s admission offer will clearly outline which courses must still be completed during their time at Stanford.
For the 2025 transfer cycle, applications will open on April 15, 2025, and the deadline for submission is May 30, 2025. An application fee of $85 is required, although fee waivers are available upon request if submitted at least 5–7 business days before the deadline.
Transfer students are integrated into the Stanford Law community and supported by the Office of Career Services upon admission, though they should note that Stanford’s on-campus interviews (OCI) for second-year summer employment typically take place before transfer admissions are finalized.
Keep in mind that SLS has an early deadline for transfer applications, June 15. For more information on personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.
Classroom
Professors
Stanford Law School is renowned for its exceptional faculty, offering students unparalleled access to professors due to its small student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 4.3:1. Professors at Stanford are widely respected not only for their scholarship but also for their teaching and mentorship. According to The Princeton Review’s law school rankings, Stanford consistently ranks among the Top 10 law schools for "Best Professors" and "Most Accessible Professors". Students frequently praise the faculty for being deeply engaged in classroom discussions and highly approachable outside of class. Stanford Law professors are active leaders in their fields, regularly contributing to major legal reforms, high-profile litigation, and interdisciplinary research across law, technology, health, and policy.
Recent Initiatives
Stanford Law School has launched several innovative initiatives that reflect its forward-thinking approach to legal education and public impact. One major effort is the Law & Policy Lab, where students and faculty collaborate on real-world policy projects covering areas such as environmental law, criminal justice reform, technology regulation, and education policy. Additionally, Stanford Law faculty are heavily involved in shaping key legal frameworks, including contributing to the American Law Institute’s Restatement of Torts. The school has also invested in classroom technology through its EdTech Hub, which integrates advanced teaching tools to enhance learning and expand virtual access to legal education. These initiatives emphasize Stanford’s commitment to experiential learning, policy innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Library
The heart of Stanford Law’s academic resources is the Robert Crown Law Library, an expansive facility spanning four floors and housing over 500,000 print volumes, along with 360,000 microforms and audiovisual items, and more than 8,000 current serial subscriptions. Law students enjoy 24/7 access, especially during after-hours reserved exclusively for JD candidates, supported by staffed Borrowing Services and virtual assistance. The library’s layout is thoughtfully designed: a bright first-floor reading room, collaborative spaces with carrels and computers on the second floor, and tranquil, tree-lined study carrels on the third. It also features a modern computer classroom dedicated to instruction in legal research databases .
Beyond its physical holdings, the Crown Library offers robust digital infrastructure, including full access to major legal databases like Westlaw, Lexis Advance, Bloomberg Law, HeinOnline, and others via Articles+ and SearchWorks interfaces. It also provides digital reserves, archival exams, and virtual collections, such as the “Eyles Aisle” study-aid repository and thematic virtual exhibits—including anti-racist readings, Latinx literature, and legal history showcases.
The library’s distinguished Special Collections preserve Stanford Law’s historical and cultural legacy, including curated records, oral histories, rare documents, and student publications. These materials support classroom teaching, legal clinics, faculty research, and independent scholarship. Access to Special Collections is by appointment, ensuring curated and protected use.
As part of Stanford University Libraries, Crown Law Library connects students to a broader network spanning nearly 12 million items across disciplines—from engineering to medicine—ensuring interdisciplinary research opportunities. Librarians offer personalized research consultations, course reserves, interlibrary loans, and copyright guidance. The library also encourages student feedback via suggestion boxes and hosts short-term loans of “cool stuff” like noise-cancelling headphones or projectors.
In sum, the Robert Crown Law Library is more than a repository—it’s a vibrant academic hub featuring state-of-the-art facilities, comprehensive print and digital resources, expert staff support, and special collections that enrich both doctrinal study and experiential learning.
Quality of Life
Stanford Law School offers an exceptional quality of life, combining world-class academics with a supportive, close-knit community and access to the cultural, professional, and natural assets of the Bay Area. Students at Stanford benefit not only from rigorous legal training but also from a balanced lifestyle supported by a beautiful campus, collaborative student culture, and accessible housing options. Below is a closer look at the key aspects that shape the daily experience for Stanford Law students in 2025.
Location
Stanford Law School is located in Stanford, California, right in the heart of Silicon Valley. The campus offers students a unique blend of intellectual vibrancy and natural beauty. Situated approximately 45 minutes south of San Francisco and about 30 minutes from the Pacific Ocean, Stanford provides easy access to both the cultural energy of the Bay Area and the scenic coastline. The location is also less than an hour’s drive to the Santa Cruz Mountains and about three and a half hours from Lake Tahoe, offering law students opportunities for hiking, skiing, surfing, and outdoor recreation throughout the year.
The surrounding area is both suburban and cosmopolitan. Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Mountain View are home to thriving cafes, bookstores, restaurants, and innovative tech hubs. Public transportation options, like Caltrain and university shuttles, are widely used for commuting and exploring nearby cities. The region’s high cost of living is a well-known challenge, but Stanford’s guaranteed housing options help mitigate this burden for law students, especially during their first year. The campus itself is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the country, with well-maintained green spaces, bike paths, and an iconic architecture that supports a high quality of daily life.
The dearth of public transportation is one sore spot for students. The campus shuttle is convenient for getting around Palo Alto, but to go anywhere else, a car is practically a necessity. Of course, many students do not own cars, so those who do are sure to be popular any time their classmates want to take advantage of the Bay Area's amenities.
Student Culture
Stanford Law School is widely known for fostering a supportive, collaborative, and intellectually adventurous student culture. Unlike many peer institutions where competitive grading and rigid hierarchies can dominate, Stanford emphasizes community over competition. Students often describe the law school environment as “intensely collaborative” with an ethos that encourages sharing outlines, group study, and peer mentoring. The small class size (about 180 JD students per year) promotes strong interpersonal connections and frequent faculty interaction.
In 2025, Stanford continued to offer over 55 active student organizations that span a diverse range of interests, including public interest law, technology, environmental advocacy, entrepreneurship, international human rights, and more. Popular student groups like the Stanford Law Review, Women of Stanford Law, and the Stanford Technology Law Review create vibrant intellectual communities outside the classroom. Social events, speaker series, and pro bono projects keep the campus lively and foster professional networking in an informal, student-driven atmosphere. The school actively supports interdisciplinary study, allowing law students to take courses at Stanford’s other top graduate schools, including Business, Medicine, and Engineering, further enriching student life.
Stanford’s focus on wellness and balance is evident in its supportive mental health resources, outdoor study areas, and community-building traditions like weekly bar reviews, tailgates, and the Canfield Courtyard graduation ceremony, all of which were highlights for the Class of 2025.
Housing
Stanford Law School offers comprehensive and accessible housing support, particularly during the first year of the JD program. For the 2025–2026 academic year, all first-year JD students were guaranteed on-campus housing, which is a major advantage given the notoriously high housing costs in the Palo Alto area. The centerpiece of graduate housing is the Munger Graduate Residence, a modern, graduate-only complex that houses up to 600 students in 358 units. Munger apartments are fully furnished, and the complex features communal lounges, well-equipped kitchens, study rooms, music spaces, a fitness center, and even free laundry facilities.
For upper-year students, Stanford offers a lottery-based housing system with the option to live in additional campus residences or to pursue off-campus housing in nearby cities. In the 2025 housing lottery, over 7,300 graduate students were placed into university housing, maintaining strong placement rates despite increasing demand. For those seeking off-campus options, Stanford provides a searchable housing portal and rental resources to help students find apartments in surrounding communities like Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Redwood City.
Stanford’s graduate housing rates remain significantly lower than equivalent private-market rentals in the Bay Area, and all university-managed residences include utilities, internet, and furnishings in their fees. Contracts typically align with the academic year, with options for summer housing available through separate applications. Flexible payment options, including payroll deduction and quarterly billing, help ease the financial planning process.
Overall, Stanford’s housing system offers a comfortable, convenient, and community-centered living experience, making the adjustment to law school and life in the Bay Area much smoother for incoming students.
Employment Prospects
Stanford Law School consistently offers some of the strongest employment outcomes among U.S. law schools, even amid shifting economic conditions. Graduates from the Class of 2025 are entering a competitive yet highly navigable job market, supported by Stanford’s top-tier national reputation, its deep alumni network, and the school’s proactive career support services. Whether pursuing law firm positions, prestigious clerkships, public interest roles, or careers in academia, Stanford Law students continue to secure highly desirable and impactful opportunities across the legal landscape.
Impact of the Recession
Despite concerns about a potential recession, Stanford Law graduates continue to enjoy robust post-graduation employment outcomes. National job metrics show some cooling in hiring cycles—firms are making fewer summer associate offers—but elite law schools like Stanford are relatively insulated. The Office of Career Services reports that over 96% of the Class of 2024 found full-time, long-term employment within nine months—a trend expected to hold steady in 2025. While new graduates may face an adjustment period in earlier recruiting timings, historically strong alumni placement, particularly at top law firms and clerkships, maintains their competitiveness.
Law Firms
In 2024, 54% of Stanford Law graduates entered positions at law firms, including over 40% at large firms (501+ attorneys)—a share expected to remain significant in 2025. Earlier in the pipeline, 1L and 2L summer placements reflect similar patterns: in 2023, 76% of 2Ls obtained summer associate roles at firms, with 29% of 1Ls landing firm placements. Adding to anticipated starting salaries exceeding $200,000 at major firms, sustained demand remains strong—although the timing of interviews has shifted earlier, with OCI programs now routinely beginning in May–June. Because of Stanford's place in legal education, firms will adapt to it, so this should become less of a worry as time goes on. Here is the Law Firm Interview Tips.
Clerkships
Stanford remains a strong feeder for the judiciary. In 2024, approximately 19% of JD graduates secured federal judicial clerkships and an additional 4–5% landed state or local clerkships. Notably, Stanford had the fourth-highest percentage of federal clerks among all U.S. law schools—at 17.6% . With sustained institutional reputation and strong mentor support, clerkship placement is expected to remain solid in 2025.
Academia
Though a smaller segment, Stanford Law continues to prepare graduates for legal academia. In 2024, around 0.5% of graduates accepted academic positions funded by the law school or university—a trend consistent with prior years. Given Stanford’s exceptional scholarly faculty and strong placement record—including a top-five per‑capita placement of alumni into law teaching posts—those pursuing academic careers benefit from an enriched environment and mentorship .
Tuition and Expenses
For the 2025–2026 academic year, Stanford Law School tuition is $76,608, payable in three installments across the year. The estimated total cost of attendance for a single student living on campus is approximately $121,194, which includes housing, food, personal expenses, books, transportation, and required university fees. For students living off-campus, the estimated total is slightly higher at $122,577. These figures reflect a comprehensive budget to help students plan for both academic and living costs while attending Stanford.
Financial Aid
Stanford Law School is committed to making its legal education accessible to students from all financial backgrounds. Approximately 75–80% of students receive financial aid, with the average tuition fellowship ranging from $25,000 to $28,000 per year. In addition, about 55–56% of students receive need-based grants averaging $35,805 annually. The school offers strong financial support for students pursuing public interest careers, including summer funding, specialized fellowships, and generous loan repayment assistance programs. Students from low-income families who meet specific income and asset thresholds may qualify for full tuition coverage along with student services and health fees.
Curriculum and Specialties
Stanford Law School offers courses in various legal subjects, including environmental law, international law, and tax law. The school also offers joint degree programs with other Stanford University graduate schools.
Stanford Law’s curriculum in 2025 offers a robust and flexible legal education that spans core doctrinal courses, advanced seminars, clinical experiences, and policy-oriented classes. Students can deeply explore areas like environmental and natural resources law, with offerings in Administrative Law, Environmental Justice, Energy Law, and the Environmental Law Clinic. Unique global learning programs, such as the Global Quarter starting in 2026, emphasize immersive studies in international business law, comparative law, and overseas practicum. Through clinics like the Cyberlaw Clinic and International Human Rights Clinic, plus participation in journals (e.g., Stanford Environmental Law Journal, Journal of International Law), students can tailor their legal education to match their passions.
Stanford also facilitates interdisciplinary learning, allowing up to nine non-law quarter units to be counted toward LL.M. and LLM/JSM/JSD degrees from other Stanford schools, including the Graduate School of Business, IPER, and the School of Medicine. Over two dozen joint degrees are available—like JD/MBA, JD/MPP, JD/MS in Epidemiology—to enable custom cross-disciplinary tracks
Public Interest Program
Many students are quick to mention the emphasis the administration puts on public interest. Beginning in a student's first year, pro bono opportunities abound, and over 80% of students take part in pro bono and public interest opportunities in one way or another through the Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law. Students may put their new legal skills to work assisting survivors of domestic violence, at-risk youth, or senior citizens, among others. Students point out, though, that public interest is not pushed on the class. Students who choose not to participate or who are dead-set on private practice are not stigmatized. Rather, the administration merely gives students "ample opportunity to try both and see what they are like."
Those who wish to make a career out of public interest law can rely on Stanford's Loan Repayment Assistance Program, which the school claims is more generous than those of its peers.
Business and Corporate Law
While the cooling economy has lessened the demand for corporate lawyers, Stanford Law School still excels in producing lawyers expert at representing technology companies and venture capitalists. For those with strong work experience prior to law school, the combined JD/MBA degree may open some doors and has been the launching pad for many entrepreneurs.
Many students at SLS gravitate toward business law, but it does not dominate the school's atmosphere. As one student explained, "Most people expect to go to a firm, but the I have to make partner' mindset is absent. A lot of people see firms as a stop on the way to the in-house job of their dreams, or are just going public interest after graduation."
Stanford has multiple programs dedicated to corporate law, including the Rock Center for Corporate Governance. Students especially interested in business law may wish to join the Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance.
Intellectual Property Law
Stanford Law School's proximity to Silicon Valley helps explain its expertise in intellectual property law. In 2000, SLS founded the Center for Internet and Society, which examines the interrelationships between the Internet and our society and the many constitutional and public policy legal issues that are being raised by the Internet. In the same vein, students may participate in the Cyberlaw Clinic.
Environmental Law
Environmental conservation is a top priority in beautiful Northern California. As a result, Stanford has built a solid reputation and course offerings in environmental law. Students interested in environmental law may participate in the Environmental Law Clinic or join the Stanford Environmental Law Journal.
International Law
Because of the great number of exports and imports that flow out of the Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay area, Stanford Law School is well-positioned to be among the top law schools for international law. Students interested in human rights or immigrant issues may participate in the International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic, or the Immigrants' Rights Clinic. They may also wish to join the Stanford Journal of International Law.
Contact Information
Crown Quadrangle
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
Office of Admissions:
Email: admissions@law.stanford.edu
Phone: 650-723-4985
Summary
| Established | 1893 |
| Location | Stanford, CA |
| Dean | George Triantis |
| 2025 US News Ranking | 1st |
| LSAT Median Score | 173 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.92 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 96.7% (2025) |
| Employment Rate | N/A (2025) |
| Cost | $76,608 |
| Average Debt | N/A |
| Application Deadline | N/A |
Forum and Discussion
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References
Stanford Law School
https://www.bcgsearch.com/bcgguide/stanford_law_school.php
LSD Law
Ranked #1
Guide to Fee Waivers
LSAC Guide
BCG Attorney's Advice for Associates
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans
Forum: Stanford 1L taking questions for a bit
