New York University School of Law is one of the largest and most diverse law schools in the US and top of the New York law school rankings. NYU Law provides students with a customizable program experience with 16 available areas of study. This interdisciplinary approach functions effectively with the experiential and clinical aspects of the program, giving students an opportunity to address real-world issues. In this article, we will discuss admissions requirements, law school admissions statistics, academic curriculum, and other information to help you prepare your application to NYU Law School.
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Mission Statement and Strategic Plan
Admissions Statistics
Acceptance Rate: 15.65%
LSAT Scores: 174 in the 75th percentile, 172 in the 50th percentile, and 168 in the 25th percentile
GPA: 3.96 in the 75th percentile, 3.90 in the 50th percentile, and 3.77 in the 25th percentile
90% of students graduated from their most recent degree within 5 years of application and 8% hold a graduate or professional degree.
Available Programs at NYU Law
- Master’s programs: NYU Law offers eight different LLM specializations as well as the customizable Master of Laws program. The specialization options include Competition; Innovation & Information Law; Corporation Law, Environmental & Energy Law; International Business Regulation, Litigation & Arbitration; International Legal Studies; International Taxation; Legal Theory; and Taxation. The Master of Laws general program allows students to customize their learning experience with over 300 course options; adaptability is an essential component of its determination to allow students to align their intellectual and professional goals.
- JD program: The Juris Doctor program at NYU Law encompasses a foundational curriculum during the first year of study. Classes are kept small at approximately 26 students, which enables a more collaborative and supportive class structure. Some of the introductory courses include torts, criminal law, procedure, contracts, and property and constitutional law. Students can also take any of the following spring electives: income taxation, international law, criminal procedure: police practices, corporations, constitutional law, and intellectual property. Students enrolled in this program also have access to over 80 student groups designed to help them contribute and belong to the NYU community.
- Dual programs: The dual degree programs offered at NYU Law give students the opportunity to complete a JD and a master’s degree in a condensed time frame. If students are interested in pursuing a dual degree, they must submit an application to both schools. Note that admissions decisions will be made independently, which means acceptance by one school does not guarantee acceptance by the second. Here are the following dual degree options:
NYU Law: Academic Curriculum
The curriculum at NYU Law combines a series of foundational courses in the first year with externship fieldwork. For the first-year curriculum, the following courses are required: contracts, criminal lawyering, legislation and the regulatory state procedure, torts, and an elective. Elective options include constitutional law, corporations, criminal procedure: police practices, income taxation, intellectual property, international law, and property.
Aside from the core curriculum, students must also satisfy a writing requirement. For the writing requirement, students must produce an analytical paper of no less than 10,000 words under the supervision of a faculty member or two more condensed 5,000 word research papers for separate courses
To fulfil the experience requirements, activities are offered in the form of simulation courses, field placements, and clinics. Offerings for each of these experience categories can change each semester and season, so make sure to check availability on the course description webpage at NYU Law. Examples of simulation courses include alternative dispute resolution, contract drafting, and family practice simulation. Clinics involve both seminars and fieldwork.
NYU Law Tuition, Financing, and Scholarships
Financing and scholarships are two important factors to consider when you’re applying to law school. NYU Law presents a breakdown of anticipated expenses for enrolled students:
- Tuition: $79,954 USD
- Health, registration, service, and tech fees: $3,198
- Room and board: $26,930
- Books and supplies: $1,600
- Health insurance: $4,177
- Transportation: $1,188
- Loan fees: $220
- Total: $118,137
International students will have additional expenses besides the ones mentioned above. Here’s a breakdown of some of the estimated costs for international students.
Note that all fees are subject to change based on the year, semester, program, and other factors. Students should talk to a law school advisor and estimate their own projected fees using NYU Law’s Expense Budget calculator.
Students who wish to apply for financial aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). The FASFA will become available after October 1st of each year, so you should apply as early as possible to have your submission reviewed quickly.
Most of the JD scholarships are derived from Dean’s Award scholarships, which are also merit-based. These scholarships can amount to full-tuition coverage. A smaller proportion of outstanding students will be considered for Vanderbilt scholarships; these scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, professional and extracurricular accomplishments, and potential to become a leader in the legal profession. Admitted students can apply for these scholarships through NYU Law’s financial aid application.
How to Apply to NYU Law
The Application Process
Students applying to NYU Law must submit their application materials via the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). There are several steps to be aware of as you’re assembling your materials ahead of the deadlines to apply.
NYU Law Selection Factors
Transcripts
Your transcripts contain information on law school requirements such as GPA and coursework. GPA is an important metric of your academic potential and as one of the best law schools, NYU law is selective . However, NYU Law applicants will be reviewed based on a myriad of characteristics that go beyond GPA; so, if you’re wondering how to get into law school with a low GPA, there’s a chance to compensate with other factors..
While there are some majors that are better for law school, NYU Law does not explicitly require any major or coursework. They are looking for students with strong reading, writing, and analytical skills, so make sure you have coursework that contains these components.
Test Scores
Applicants have the option of taking either the LSAT or the GRE as NYU is one of the law schools that accept the GRE. You should know how to study for the LSAT or how to study for the GRE as these are two different tests. The GRE is more math-focused, so for individuals who completed a math undergraduate program, the GRE preparation might be easier. The LSAT is more about logical and analytical reasoning, so it may be more suitable for a philosophy major, for example. Look into sample questions for both the LSAT and GRE and see which appeals to you more.
Recommendation Letters
You must submit two law school letters of recommendation as part of your application to NYU Law. NYU Law provides very little instruction on letter writers, beyond suggesting your letter writers are either professors or employers. Since you have two letter writers, consider having one academic letter writer who can speak to your research and writing skills and one more professional reference who can speak to your ability to actually practice law. Most importantly your letter write must not have any direct personal connection to you such as a family member or friend.
Law School Personal Statement
The content of the NYU Law personal statement is at your discretion as no official guideline are provided beyond a limit of 500 words. It is a good idea to view other law school personal statement templates to get an idea of what to write about. You can discuss what led you to want to pursue a career in law, why you chose to apply to NYU Law in particular, or you may clarify any information on your application. This lack of structure can be challenging so make sure to review law school personal statement examples.
Law School Resume
You are required to submit a law school resume as part of your application. Your resume will mainly be used to review your work experience, your extracurriculars, and relevant academic information like publications or awards. If you are applying to a joint-program your resume should be formatted more like a Grad School CV, while if you are applying or the general program work experience is fine. You have a maximum of 2 pages, so make sure you only include relevant information that showcases you as a promising future lawyer. NYU Law also asks for explanation of any 3-month gap on your resume (not including time spent in school) so be prepared to address this in your resume or personal statement.
Law School Interview
NYU School of Law does not have an interview. While you will save time on law school interview preparation, this means all other sections of your application must be stellar to receive an offer of admission.
Admissions and Waitlist
You can check the status of your application at any time by logging into your NYU profile. Early applicants will receive an answer from admissions by late December. Note that early applicants are reviewed based on the same admissions criteria as all other applicants; although their enthusiasm for pursuing NYU is noted. Regular applicants will receive either an acceptance, denial, or waitlisted notification by late April. Some early applicants will have their applications reviewed as part of the regular application period if they don’t receive an offer in December.
Final decisions for waitlisted applicants may not be made until late summer, so be sure to check the status of your application frequently throughout the spring and summer. NYU Law does not publish the length of their waitlist nor the average number of spots that become available.
Campus and Faculty
NYU School of Law is located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The law school’s primary buildings, including Vanderbilt Hall, Furman Hall, and Wilf Hall, are situated around Washington Square Park, providing students with a vibrant and historic urban campus. This prime location places students in the heart of New York City, offering easy access to the city's numerous legal, cultural, and recreational resources.
Notable Faculty and Alumni
Among its distinguished faculty are Richard Epstein, a leading legal scholar known for his work in classical liberal theory and constitutional law, and Samuel Estreicher, an expert in labor and employment law who directs NYU's Center for Labor and Employment Law.
NYU Law's alumni include influential figures such as Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Other notable alumni include John Sexton, former President of NYU, and Eliot Spitzer, former Governor and Attorney General of New York.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Office of JD Admissions
Wilf Hall
139 MacDougal Street
New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212-998-6060
Email: [email protected]
Official website: https://www.law.nyu.edu/
FAQs
1. When does the application cycle begin for NYU Law?
The application deadline for early decision is November 15, and February 15 for regular applicants.
2. What does NYU Law look for in applicants?
NYU selection criteria include the following: intellectual potential, academic achievement, community involvement, character, and work experience.
3. How many letters of recommendation do I need?
You should submit two letters of recommendation from a qualified referee, such as a professor or employer. If you’re applying to certain specific scholarships, you may need to submit a third.
4. Does NYU Law use an interview as part of the application process?
NYU Law does not grant interviews during the application process, but you are invited to introduce yourself and discuss any vital information via the personal statement.
5. Should I submit the LSAT or the GRE?
NYU Law accepts both the LSAT and the GRE; note that all scores for both standardized tests must be submitted if you take either test more than once.
6. Do early applicants have an advantage over regular applicants?
Early applicants are not given any significant advantage over regular applicants, but the enthusiasm that an early application suggests will be considered in a holistic review of applications.
7. Are there any formatting requirements for the personal statement?
There aren’t any specified formatting requirements; the length and content are at your discretion. You may choose to clarify any of the information in your materials, or you may describe your motivation for pursuing NYU Law.
8. What dual programs are offered at NYU Law?
Dual degree programs include the JD/LLM in international law; JD/PhD or JD/MA in economics, philosophy, or politics; JD/MA in French studies; JD/MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies; JD/MBA; JD/MPA or MPU; or JD/MSU.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Disclaimer: Please note: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa.
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