University of Virginia School of Law

Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia, UVA Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. University of Virginia School of Law ranks among the top 10 law schools. UVA is a public school, though the Law School does not receive state funding through an agreement called financial self-sufficiency.

History

Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, Virginia Law is one of the oldest legal institutions in the United States. Students can enjoy the attractions of Charlottesville and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains while attending school near the major legal markets of the East Coast, such as Atlanta and New York. They also attend a school with a national reach in placing its graduates with a strong network of alumni in the judicial and private sectors. The school's reputation for frattiness is overblown. The hardworking students here are easily some of the smartest law students in the country and have amazing job prospects after graduating compared to students in inferior law schools. UVA Law is easily the most chill out of its peer t-14 schools due in large part to its great Southern location. Charlottesville's strongly conservative leanings have been overstated, and despite recent news, KKK marches are definitely the exception rather than the norm.

Current students say there is nothing like living in Charlottesville and that even minorities can thrive there. In fact, it is a big draw for prospective students, as it has been rated as one of the country's best places to live. The city offers a lower living cost than other cities with top schools. This helps make the law school experience less stressful for students, as graduates from Virginia Law carry less debt than graduates from any other top law school.

Apart from the school's chill vibe, Virginia Law offers what a top law school ought to offer-an exceptional legal education, outstanding faculty, an intelligent and diverse student body, and many opportunities for employment upon graduation.

Admissions

Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Law School offers a full-time three-year program. Their curriculum gives students the tools to understand the law, then put what they have learned into practice. Our students refine their practice skills through our extensive clinical offerings, externships, and other experiential learning opportunities. Their concentrations give interested students opportunities to develop interdisciplinary expertise in their fields of interest. Virginia Law students design their legal education and their intellectual life.

Applications for the J.D. program will be accepted beginning September 1, 2022. Those who apply on or before the March 1, 2023 priority deadline are guaranteed to receive an admissions decision no later than April 14, 2023.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	164 - 170 - 172	166 - 171 - 173
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.49 - 3.9 - 3.96	3.64 - 3.91 - 3.97
Acceptance rate	14.1%	9.7%
Applications received	5458	7047
Acceptances	767	681
Matriculants	2025	1746

The 1L class at the University of Virginia has a median LSAT of 171. The 25th percentile LSAT is 166 and the 75th percentile LSAT is 173. The median GPA is 3.91. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.64 and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.97.

Acceptance Rate

Out of the 10,713 people who applied to NYU during the 2022 admissions cycle, 1,556 were offered admission. Of that offered admission, 458 accepted and ended up attending the school, meaning that 29.43% of those offered admission ultimately attended NYU.

Application Fees and Waivers

The application fee is $85 and is paid directly to LSAC. Applicants serving in an established public service commitment such as Teach for America, the Peace Corps, Americorps/VISTA, CityYear, a Truman Fellowship, or military service may have the application fee waived. If you received a waiver for the LSAT or CAS fees from the LSAC, you qualify for waivers from UVA Law. We are also happy to waive the application fee for candidates for whom the fee poses a financial hardship. E-mail us at admissions@law.virginia.edu for waivers.

What To Do to Increase Your Chances

Apply early. Dean Trujillo unequivocally stated, "You want to apply when no offers have been extended [instead of when] several hundred offers have been extended."

Anticipate and eliminate possible "questions in the file reader's mind." If you have a downward GPA trend, you should submit an addendum. If there are any periods when you have been neither in school nor working, you should submit an addendum. Otherwise, Trujillo said, "negative inferences" can be made by the person who reads your file. You do not want a file reader to imagine lazing around your mom's house or drug muling when you legitimately took time off from school. Addendums will help keep the file reader's imagination from running wild.

Get only stellar letters of recommendation. If a letter is "lukewarm, or says something along the lines of brilliant, but lazy,' or has trouble expressing his viewpoint in a non-confrontational manner, that will be a mark against that applicant." Trujillo wanted students to know that such letters of recommendation could give him pause, and he has waitlisted or even rejected some applicants on this basis. To avoid this, he advised ask only "someone who knows you well" to write a recommendation, not someone with an impressive-sounding title "who doesn't know you as well."

For additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.

Personal Statements

Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself. It may address your intellectual interests, significant accomplishments or obstacles overcome, personal or professional goals, educational achievements, or any way in which your perspective or experiences will add to the richness of the educational environment at the Law School.

Statements are allowed to be "generic," that is, contain broad explanations or narratives about why or how law became the path for you. However, Trujillo said, "We have people stating they want to be at Virginia Law for a particular reason, and that can be persuasive. It need not be in the personal statement, though, and can instead be part of an addendum." Indeed, the admissions office, while it does not require or explicitly ask for one, accepts a "why Virginia" statement.

If you choose to write such a statement, you should double-check the essay to ensure it is addressed to the correct school. Trujillo admits that he gets "several Why X Law School' essays all the time, where X is (accidentally) not Virginia Law. That is a sure way to get yourself waitlisted or rejected." Nobody wants their application to go up in smoke because of a clerical error.

So, whatever you do, proofread carefully and do not write anything at the last minute. A personal statement that is "poorly written, bland, contains spelling or grammatical errors, or otherwise shows a lack of care" will damage even the best of applications.

In that vein, you should treat your personal statement as a unique piece of the application puzzle. In other words, do not to rehash the material in your resume or addendums. Trujillo says his office wants writing that "gives us something we cannot find elsewhere in your application. We do not conduct interviews, so use the personal statement as a substitute." He encourages applicants to "tell me something about yourself that you would want me to know if you had 10 minutes with me."

This advice may not make the personal statement any easier to write, but it is a good prompt for students interested in Virginia Law. For more information on personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.

Binding Expedited Decision

UVA Law offers a Binding Expedited Decision process for applicants who are confident that UVA Law is their top choice. With this option, candidates will receive their decision within 21 business days of receiving all necessary components of the application, and the file is marked complete. Candidates admitted under the Binding Expedited Decision option commit to enrolling at UVA Law in the upcoming fall semester, withdrawing existing applications to other law schools regardless of status, and initiating no new applications after admission. Those who fail to abide by this agreement may be subject to consequences for misconduct in the admissions process.

Students who fall below Virginia Law's medians can increase their chances of admission by applying for Early Decision. Trujillo said:

If we are going to "reach" someone, it will often be through the early decision process. Virginia is, for some applicants, truly their dream school and they apply early decision. If I can make that person's dream a reality, I will strive to do so.

If you fall into this category and are worried about obtaining scholarship money, have no fear. Applying ED does not affect an applicant's merit scholarship prospects. In fact, Trujillo stated:

I treat the ED applicants the same as if they applied for regular decisions. If I did not, word would spread pretty quickly, and I'd expect far fewer ED applicants the following year. Some who apply ED and receive scholarship assistance are quite shocked. For example, I gave $20,000+ in scholarships to two ED applicants, who were quite surprised.

To read a TLS article about deciding between ED and RD (or Regular Decision), click here.

Waitlisted Applicants

If you have been waitlisted for admission to the University of Virginia, you may submit a letter of continued interest. This is an opportunity to let the school know that you are still interested in attending and would accept an offer of admission if given a chance. Keep in mind that the admissions office receives a large volume of materials, so it is unnecessary to submit more than one letter of continued interest. If you are still in school, update your grades with LSAC so they will be reflected in your CAS report. Letters of continued interest can be submitted in pdf format to admissions@law.virginia.edu.

Dean Trujillo had the following to say about the unpredictable nature of the wait list:

We typically make at least several hundred wait-list offers. In the years I have been doing this, we have filled zero to more than 20 percent of the class via the waitlist. So, in some years, I have made zero wait-list offers, and in one year, I made 92. It's crazy. You just can't predict it, and you have to be prepared.

Transferring

Regarding incoming transfer students, about 200 applications are received each year; from those, 20 or fewer are accepted. The most important factors, naturally, are "class rank and the relative difficulty of the school." Trujillo noted: "If you want to transfer to Virginia, you should work as hard as you can at your present law school. LSAT and undergraduate GPA are discounted in favor of your law school performance. It is a good way for someone to get a fresh start."

Prospective students should never enter law school with the expectation of transferring. Keep in mind that wherever you go, there is a 90% chance you will be outside the top 10%.

Applicants applying for transfer admission must apply electronically via LSAC by submitting a Virginia Law transfer application.

• Applications Accepted Beginning: May 15, 2023
• Priority Deadline for Applications: June 15, 2023
• Final Deadline for Applications: June 26, 2023

To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

Tuition and Expenses

In 2022, tuition is $89,936 for Virginia Residents and $92,936 for non-residents (tuition plus living expenses). The University Financial Aid Committee in line with federal aid regulations sets the cost of attendance budget for law students each year. A student's total financial aid package (including scholarships, grants, and loans) is based on this budget and covers the academic year.

Financial Aid, Scholarships and Loans

The Office of Financial Aid works with students to identify sources of financial support and develop realistic budgets to meet their goals. Click How to Apply for Financial Aid for the process.

Scholarships for law students are provided through the generosity of alumni and friends of the School of Law, as well as from general funds allocated by the Law School and the University. Scholarships are awarded to entering students and are automatically renewed for the second and third year of law school enrollment as long as the student remains in good academic standing and continues to maintain a standard of behavior characteristic of a prospective member of the legal profession. The renewal of scholarships awarded to law students pursuing dual degrees is subject to adjustment following the policies and agreements governing dual-degree programs. Students enrolling in a dual-degree program should contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional scholarship information. Merit Scholarships
Scholarships awarded solely based on merit are given to incoming students each year. These scholarships range from $5,000 to full tuition (see the Karsh-Dillard Scholarships). All applicants who have been admitted will be automatically considered for these scholarships; no separate application is necessary. Need-Based Scholarships
Scholarships at the University of Virginia School of Law are based on financial need. Students can apply for loans to cover costs; sometimes, scholarships may be available. All students who wish to be considered for scholarships that take financial need into account must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Unmarried students who are 30 years old or younger when they enroll must provide parental financial information on the FAFSA. However, there may be some circumstances where this requirement can be waived. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Law School Culture

While the atmosphere may become intense during exams, one 1L said, "The atmosphere [at UVA] is, in my judgment, about as relaxed as law school can be." A typical day can look like anything; another 1L said: "I can spend 12 hours working if I have a memo or none if I already completed the assigned reading and feel like relaxing."

The law school has a rigorous curriculum, and all students eventually crack their casebooks open and do their work. Many professors will cold-call, which helps keep classes on their toes.

Two factors help maintain the relaxed atmosphere. Classes are graded on a B+ curve, which is generous, and to keep competition less cutthroat, no class rank is issued. The lack of ranking, a first-semester student said, "means no direct rivalry; you're not looking at a list and seeing a couple of other students directly above [you] and getting an urge to sabotage them to help yourself." Accordingly, students tend to freely share notes and information, supporting one another wherever possible.

Still, by looking at GPA, students can get a sense of who is at the top of their class (those above a 3.7 or A-) and who is at the median (those with a 3.3 or B+).

Because of the school's "laid-back nature," the sociability of the student body, and the alcohol-centric nature of some of its events, the school has been branded as a "party school." However, many events are purely law-related and meant to enrich every student's experience. For example, the school offers guest lecturers (in the past, John Grisham and Ronald Dworkin); JAG panels; discussions on issues such as legalizing drugs, women in the judiciary, or diplomatic immunity; and everything else that falls between the moot court, law review, and a pie and cookie social.

One student described the culture during 1L as: "Very friendly. You tend to hang out with your small section (roughly 30 students) a lot, and your section is often paired with another section on a Friday night so you can meet other people. There is more social stuff in the fall as everyone gets settled in. In the spring, people tend to have made more friends outside of their section as well, but you are still close to your section mates." Finally, one student said that though "the sections regularly have play dates … that involve copious amounts of liquor," there is a "path less traveled" available to all students, "which is traveled surprisingly frequently":

The library is spacious, the building is quiet and open late, and the help staff is always on point. There is a coffee machine and enough nooks and crannies to not see another person for a very long time. If you so desire, you can easily find someone who loves studying as much as you do, and before you know it, you'll be emailing each other Crim Law hypos while pretending to your friends that you haven't done the reading in months. Everyone pretends to be carefree and such, but nobody got here by being a spaz. Even the crazy party people go home, buckle down, and do their work. Despite that and the economy, nobody appears to be conniving or trying to make others fail.

Professors

Virginia Law, in its materials, claims to have professors that "build intellectual and personal relationships with students." Indeed, one recent graduate described professors with an overwhelmingly positive range of adjectives: "one of the funniest [Cushman] … absolutely amazing … charismatic [O'Connell] … very intimidating, but entertaining if you can stand the heat [Kraus] … incredible [Coughlin]." Many students have similar praise for their professors, with a current student stating that "everyone I talk to about professors (current students, recently graduated students, alums) all have the same feelings about the quality of the professors here. They are enthusiastic, often leaders in their field, and like to teach."

Studying at the University of Virginia puts students in front of some of the most active members of the Charlottesville community. Professors may be accomplished in academic circles such as Frederick Schauer, one of America's most influential legal educators. Others may spend time directing a legal clinic or hosting a fundraiser for students interested in summer public interest work. Faculty members are often more than just professors-they are philanthropists, legal scholars, policy experts, career advisers, and mentors. Above all, they are clearly dedicated to their students and to a rigorous study of the law.

In 2022, UVA faculty ratio is 6.6:1, which is pretty average for a college. Student-to-faculty ratio means that there are 6.6 students per faculty member at UVA. This is important because it means that professors have more time to dedicate to each individual student, and it also allows for smaller class sizes. This can be beneficial because it allows for more personal interaction between professor and student and also allows students to get more individualized attention. It also means that professors are more accessible to students outside of class, which can be helpful for office hours or getting help with assignments. Overall, the student-to-faculty ratio at UVA is about average. However, it is still a good number that indicates that professors can give students the attention they need.

Classes

Sections

Virginia Law splits its students into small sections of about 30 students each. The larger lectures range from 60 to 120 students. The total class size usually ends up at around 370.

Required first-year courses include civil procedure, contracts, criminal law, torts, constitutional law, property, and legal writing. Students must also choose two electives, so there is some leeway in the first year.

One student described sections as follows: "During the first year students take all of the required first year courses with their section. One of those required courses in fall semester is your "small section class" where the class is solely your section (30 students) . In the other required classes, your section is paired with one or two other sections (60-90 students)."

1Ls take all of their first semester courses with the members of their smaller section, fostering a sense of community within the larger class. Sections will often form softball teams. According to one 1L, there is "lots and lots of softball … I understand there's some kind of tournament [at the end of the year] where we compete for bragging rights. That kind of thing also helps bring us together to bond, as a section and a team."

The sense of camaraderie among students is helped by the "generous and level grading curve" that "nearly negates competition." The only exception to the B+ curve is a pass/fail legal writing course in the first year. Otherwise, the curve is curriculum-wide, unlike other programs that limit it to primary courses (not those offered for clinical or seminar credit). Although students regard Virginia's curriculum as challenging, they are quick to point out the faculty's good intra-section vibes and strong teaching abilities.

The Socratic Method

Students report various things about the use of cold calling-that is, picking out students at random to answer questions-and the prevalence of the Socratic Method, a more dialectical, back-and-forth method of inquiry:

My professors vary in their adherence to the Socratic Method, but they all cold call.

Socratic Method is present in every class but is so varied that it can't even be called the Socratic Method in some classes. Where it is utilized well, there is kinetic energy to the lecture because everyone comes to class prepared and pays full attention the entire time.

For the core classes, I've got two that cold call and two that don't. The ones that do, I would say, definitely are very Socratic. They use cold calling to push kids to reason through a case and different variations of it, like you heard law school is like. One of my professors likes to use cold calls to ask kids about random pop-culture trivia, which he then works into one of his example stories, and it can be kind of frustrating or confusing because he's asking you stuff that has nothing to do with the case or the law. One of the professors that don't cold call just uses volunteers when he asks questions and goes on and explains the answer himself if nobody volunteers it. So it's kind of semi-Socratic. If nobody wants to participate, it'd just turn into a lecture, but usually, there's at least someone in class trying to answer.

The class atmosphere is generally extremely positive. None of my professors are harsh cold callers; most are lobbing softball questions or are asking tough questions they don't necessarily expect you to answer with much clarity - they're using what they can get out of you to launch into what the REAL answer or explanation is. Chances are, if you've read the case and given it any thought, you will not be embarrassed. Even if you do fall flat on your face, no one cares. People vary in their cold call ability, and apparently, it has very little correlation with how smart they actually are, how well they actually know the law or the grades they'll eventually receive. So, no worries.

Laptops

The law school requires incoming students to own a laptop computer with a wireless card. The school has put together computer "bundles" that it recommends that incoming students purchase. The Financial Aid Office can grant a one-time allotment of $2,500 in additional loan money for students who wish to purchase a laptop. This is granted only after a written request and supporting documentation are provided to the office.

One 2L gave the following advice on laptops: "For some reason, people tend to stress about getting a laptop for law school. Don't. All you need is a laptop that can connect to the internet and run a word processor."

Curriculum

The law school has eighteen different concentration areas that cover just about everything. If you want to focus on business, constitutional, criminal justice, environmental, family, health, intellectual property, public policy or tax law, Virginia will allow you to do so.

UVA's faculty have helped to build strong commercial, constitutional, corporate, securities, and labor law focuses. Tax and intellectual property are also highlights of the Virginia Law program. The law school also offers a significant basis for study in human rights and environmental law for those less geared to the private sector. Virginia Law enjoys a strong reputation for public service work. Many meet the Pro Bono Program's "Virginia Law Challenge," which asks each student "to provide at least 25 hours of free legal work annually."

Joint Degree Programs

A complete listing of Virginia Law's combined-degree programs can be found here. If you are absolutely sure you need a joint degree for your career, you can obtain one in accounting, business, English, government, public health, or urban and environmental planning. The law school also has partnerships with Princeton (for public affairs), Tufts (for Law and Diplomacy), and Johns Hopkins (for international relations).

It should be noted that joint degrees are generally expensive, time-consuming, and rarely necessary (often a hindrance) to getting a job as a lawyer.

Clinics

Virginia Law highlights a few of its clinics on promotional materials, including the Innocence Project, a yearlong clinic that investigates "three potential wrongful convictions of incarcerated individuals in Virginia." Other notable offerings include the Family Mediation Clinic, another yearlong clinic where students represent clients in negotiations or, if those fail, in litigation, and the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, in which students identify recently decided state supreme court or U.S. Court of Appeals cases for SCOTUS review, research them, draft petitions, and send them to the Supreme Court.

The law school also has clinics that involve students in Advocacy for the Elderly, Child Advocacy, First Amendment Law, and Mental Health Law. Some clinics, such as the Immigration Law Clinic, are only a semester long. A full list (with links to a description and, in many cases, a short video) is available here.

Employment Prospects

In 2022, JD graduates from the University of Virginia make $190,000 (median) upon graduation if they work in the private sector. If they go into the private sector, a grad can expect to make $64,649. 69.5% of law graduates from the University of Virginia go directly to work for law firms, while 20.3% clerk for a judge. 4.8% of graduates go into public interest. 98.4% of University of Virginia graduates pass the bar on their first try.

Geographic Placement

Students come from 38 states and the District of Columbia. The J.D. candidates also include citizens of China, India, South Korea, Egypt, Australia, the Czech Republic, Peru and Hungary. In addition to Virginia, the following states are represented by five or more students:

California	33	Washington, D.C.	9
Texas	20	Maryland	7
New York	19	Massachusetts	7
New Jersey	14	Louisiana	6
Illinois	12	South Carolina	6
Pennsylvania	12	Arizona	5
Florida	11	Connecticut	5
Georgia	11	Tennessee	5
North Carolina	10

1L Summer Placement

Most students will work in Charlottesville, Washington, or Richmond for summer jobs. A select few will find summer work in another big city, such as New York City or Chicago. Some jobs are academic, though most students work in a law firm, in the federal government, or in a judicial capacity.

The Public Interest Law Association (PILA) awards fellowships to about 100 students who choose to work in low-paying summer jobs or service internships. A full list of where these students worked can be found here, though a glance shows many positions in the federal, state, and local government as well as in nonprofits and public interest organizations.

Quality of Life

UVA is situated in what can, by all measures, be called a college town. Charlottesville is small and packed with greenery. Chances are high that you will see someone you know while walking around the city or shopping at the mall. The law school is a short drive from the airport and not too far from the Appalachian Trail. Many find the intimate surroundings a welcome relief from the bustle of a big city lifestyle.

One exuberant 1L offered the following assessment of Charlottesville:

I love it so far. It's a great town, at least in my opinion. The city feels very friendly; it's very green (lots of trees and natural spaces), and there's plenty of stuff going on. It's largely a college town and has a lot of typical college-town stuff (bars and clubs near the main grounds, intramural sports, and clubs all over the place, college-student discounts at grocery stores, etc). It's old and historic and has a great relaxed feel to it.

You're not far from Monticello, which I have already visited, and it's an incredible place to see. But the city also has most of the retail outlets you'd expect, a Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Best Buy, Office Depot, a mall with Macy's and J.C. Penney's, pretty much everything you could need. It's not that small of a city; it's pretty big, certainly big enough that you can find whatever you need. It's a good compromise between a small rural area and a big urban metropolis, and in many ways has the best of both. It's not "too big" or "too small," but in many ways, it's just right.

The weather is pleasant, and there is nothing like watching the campus change color with the seasons. Charlottesville itself offers a variety of dining and nightlife options. Students also report the high quality of the facilities is a major selling point for the school.

Facilities

The law school moved from the iconic rotunda to its current location in 1974. Accordingly, the main building is relatively new, which gives it a distinctively modern Jeffersonian look in direct contrast to the classic gothic towers of other top schools. Some students are not that impressed with the stony, blank facade, though the sense of grandness inspires others invoked when walking through the pillars of its main entrance.

The locus of school-wide activity is Caplin Pavilion, where lectures and other events or receptions are held. Otherwise, most students will spend their time in the law library, a state-of-the-art facility with several quiet study areas and a coffee bar where students can get a quick caffeine fix.

The Student-Faculty Center, opened in 2002, has a light-filled lobby, a student study lounge, and informal and formal dining areas where students and faculty have been known to congregate. In addition, there is an outdoor terrace where students can sit and eat. It is one of many study areas available to students. The grounds of the University of Virginia also allow students plenty of room to meander, find a quiet spot, and catch up on schoolwork.

Housing

As far as options near or on campus go, one helpful law student provided the following information:

UVA offers family housing in the Copeley complex, which is about as close to campus as possible. [You can view floor plans here.] Its offerings include apartments with one, two, or three bedrooms.

The University Gardens are a little farther away (across from Highway 29, I think) and do not offer three-bedroom leases. [View a floor plan here.] Otherwise, the nearby Ivy Gardens has 1- and 2-bedroom apartments that are slightly pricier and a little farther away from the law school grounds than Copeley but still closer than U. Gardens.

You should also check out Huntington Village if you don't mind adding 5 minutes to your walk-they are townhomes instead of apartments and give the advantages of a more home-like feel and less noise from neighbors.

One graduate offered the following:

Many law students and 1Ls especially live close to the school. The most popular place is Ivy Gardens-it's almost like law school dorms. I didn't live there because they were full by the time I started looking, but it's very convenient, and it's just easy. It's within walking distance, which is nice, and many events are held there-dinners, potlucks, parties, etc. I wound up having to drive over all the time anyway. Jeffersonian Apartments are also very close-anything off of Arlington Blvd. will be right by the school. A little closer to the school year, you'll find law students looking for roommates. Craigslist is useful, too-there are plenty of law students on there.

The cost of housing is low in the city, with one-bedroom apartments near campus running as low as $700 and two-bedroom apartments as cheap as $400 per person. Students will find little stress from the city itself, a boon for those who cannot stand the heightened pace and high prices of the likes of New York City, Los Angeles, or Chicago.

One current student gives the following breakdown for prices:

While it depends on your shopping habits, rent for sharing a two-bedroom would probably be $400 to $600, and rent for a one-bedroom would be $700 to $900. These would be for nice places and/or places close to the law school; knock off $100 or $200 if you're living farther away in non-luxury digs. Electricity runs me about $60-$75 a month during hot months.

A current 2L gave the following overview:

Most 1Ls live close (walking distance) to the law school, but quite a few drive to school. Historically, The Jeffersonian and Ivy Gardens have been where most first years end up staying. However, this last year (the 2013/2014 academic school year), a new apartment building was built next to The Jeffersonian, called The Pavilion. Many first years stayed at The Pavilion, though it is much more expensive than other options. If I had to put a number on it, this last year, probably a third of the first-year class lived in The Pavillion, another third lived in The Jeffersonian and other privately owned apartments across the street on Arlington, half of the remaining third lived in Ivy, and the other half of the remaining third was spread out over the rest of Charlottesville.

Charlottesville

Despite its small population (43,475 in the city, 203,882 in the metro area), Charlottesville packs a lot of punch for a city its size.

Located in central Virginia, the city has been ranked by Frommer's as one of the best places to live in America. The ranking was in part inspired by its low cost of a living, strong sense of history, and high amount of cultural and intellectual activity (the city's website boasts of a good public school system and "more newspaper readers per capita than anywhere else in the nation"), gorgeous weather, and four colorful seasons that blend into each other in characteristic mid-Atlantic fashion.

The range of dining options is wide, as Charlottesville has some of the finer restaurants on the East Coast. It is not as much of a gustatory center as New York City or Los Angeles, but it does have some upscale options. As it is a college town, you can expect a motley assortment of bars, sandwich shops, pizza joints, cafes, and movie theaters. The movie theaters apparently leave something to be desired, according to a current 1L who offered this critique from a film major's standpoint:

Let me just say that the movie theaters here suck. I still haven't tried the Downtown Mall 6, but the other theaters (Carmike and Regal) are both old, small, and lousy. One is four-screen, and one is six-screen; neither has stadium seating or hard, uncomfortable seats. They're typical theaters designed in the '70s or '80s. Having come from a metropolis that had several nice, new 18-plus screen theaters, that's a hard adjustment to make for me.

Despite the aging movie theaters, Charlottesville has a new downtown performance space called the Charlottesville Pavilion and a new John Paul Jones arena, the home of UVA's basketball team. College basketball is a big draw for residents; like all of the university's sporting events, games are free for students. However, the arena is not limited to basketball games and has had acts as diverse as Jon Stewart, WWE, John Mayer, and the World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions.

For those looking to leave town, the law school is about 20 minutes from the airport and an hour from the state's capital, Richmond. Washington, D.C., is a bit of a drive, at two hours away, and for those who want to see the Atlantic and dip their toes into the sand or salty water, Virginia Beach is a three-hour drive.

Most students spend their spare time in or near the city and will volunteer for activities such as trail maintenance, community theater, city revitalization projects or whatever catches their interest. Charlottesville is a thriving cultural, artistic, and entertainment hub for Virginia, so chances are if you search for a creative outlet, others will be there to greet you with open arms.

Overall, students seem to enjoy living in the city and attending UVA. Three more opinions from current and past students are below:

I'm 28 and enjoying it so far. There is definitely that college atmosphere, but honestly, you can choose your level of acceptance. You can play on the softball team, go out drinking with your classmates, or whatever else is going on or spend time in the library studying instead. It depends on you and what you want, and people don't give you a hard time for not doing something. It's still a very professional and prestigious law school at its core. The fact that it can be more relaxed just makes it a little more comfortable.

So far, I'm enjoying the hell out of living here. It's a very friendly town with a great atmosphere. The traffic and parking suck; live near the law school, so you can walk even if you own a car.

As far as Charlottesville goes, I definitely like it. I don't have a car, but living on Arlington, it's not a problem. I can walk to school; I'm five minutes away from a shopping center that has pretty much everything I could want (two grocery stores, a ton of restaurants, a pharmacy, stores with school supplies, banks, clothing, etc). The city is not very pedestrian-friendly, but I can walk to the Corner [the University's main drag] if necessary. The university bus system is, surprisingly, very efficient, especially if you're not opposed to walking a few blocks to catch one. There's a bus that goes to the main grounds (and the Corner), and there's another nearby one that goes to the medical area, so I think the buses will enable you to get all of your needs taken care of.

Indebtedness

In the year 2022, the average indebtedness of the University of Virginia School of Law will be $140,000. This is an increase of approximately $20,000 from the average indebtedness in 2021. The cost of attendance at the University of Virginia School of Law for the 2022-2023 academic year is estimated to be $85,000. The average indebtedness of the University of Virginia School of Law is determined by subtracting the estimated cost of attendance from the amount borrowed by students. The average indebtedness of the University of Virginia School of Law is significantly higher than the national average for law school graduates, which was $145,500 in 2020. The high cost of attendance at the University of Virginia School of Law is due to the high cost of living in Charlottesville, Virginia. The cost of living in Charlottesville, Virginia, is 18% higher than the national average.

The University of Virginia School of Law is committed to helping its graduates manage their debt responsibly and has various resources available to assist them.

For more information, please visit the University of Virginia School of Law website or contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Extracurricular

Law students have a variety of extracurricular activities from which to choose, including 10 academic journals, 60 student organizations, the Student Bar Association, and a range of social and athletic activities.

• Student Government
• Academic Journals
• Student Organizations
• Club Sports

When it comes to what students get together to do outside of the classroom, one thing comes to mind: softball. "Each section forms a softball team, and then sections play each other," according to one first-year. Each April, the law school hosts a softball tournament that draws law students from about 50 law schools.

Events like this give Virginia Law its reputation as a school that values camaraderie and fun. Law school is stressful, but tournaments and the like give students outlets to have a good time and let loose.

Virginia Law's Libel Show is an annual variety show held by students that makes light of just about everything related to law. The following advice is given to attending students:

[You should] participate in Libel Show all three years. I waited until a 3L year, and I regret that - it was so much fun. If you don't know, Libel Show is the annual comedy skit show that pokes fun at lawyers, professors, the school, and the legal field in general.

It's a bit of work, but it's fun. You can be involved in many ways, whether performing, writing, making props, playing instruments, or whatever. Just do it. Here are some good videos of Libel Show, though some jokes may be lost on non-UVA 0Ls. [Link 1] [Link 2] [Link 3]

[2008] It was the 100th year of the Libel Show, and we got Justice Scalia and Ted Kennedy to do the intro, which was pretty cool.

Pro Bono Work

There are 19 student-led organizations devoted to public service. Students take the challenge seriously to serve. Their community and the entire city benefit from the activities of law students. Volunteers have represented veterans to help them receive disability claims, performed legal intake with families at the UVA Children's Hospital, and represented indigent clients for issues related to divorce, domestic violence, family law, and immigration or asylum law.

Some of the legal work occurs in the iconic Rock House, where the Richmond-based firm Hunton & Williams LLP and UVA have established a pro bono partnership.

A recent graduate had this to say:

I love pro bono, and you get the chance to help people while you're in law school. I worked on a project at Legal Aid that gave legal help to prisoners. There's pretty much any group you can think of-take advantage.

Journals

Virginia Law is home to two noted specialty journals: the Journal of Law and Politics, described by the school as "the first and only nonpartisan publication devoted exclusively to examining the interaction between law and politics," and Virginia Journal of International Law, "the oldest continuously published, student-edited law review in the United States devoted exclusively to the fields of public and private international law."

A full list of journals can be found here. The website also includes a video on the process for journal selection.

Moot Court Competitions

Like every top law school, Virginia Law offers moot court and trial advocacy competitions. The law school's website has a video that gives some insight into the moot court competition.

About 150 2Ls participate in two-person teams for Virginia Law's most famous event, the William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition. According to Above the Law, the moot court board has been a source of embarrassment to the school in the recent past.

Contact Information

University of Virginia School
Office of Admissions
University of Virginia School of Law
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 924-7354
Fax: (434) 982-2128
Email: admissions@law.virginia.edu
www.law.virginia.edu/admissions

Summary

Established	1819
Location	Charlottesville, VA
Dean	Risa Goluboff
2022 US News Ranking	8th
LSAT Median Score	171
GPA Median Score	3.91
Bar Passage Rate	98% (2022)
Employment Rate	93% (2022)
Cost	$68,500
Average Debt	$160,306
Application Deadline	March 1, 2023

Forum and Discussion

University of Virginia School of Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums

References

University of Virginia School of Law
LSD.Law
Ranked #8
Guide to Fee Waivers
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans

Interview: Dean Jason Trujillo of UVA Law
Forum: UVA Law Students Taking Questions
News: Above the Law