St. Louis University Law School Overview
St. Louis University School of Law (SLU Law) is an ABA-approved private law school. It’s also an Association of American Law Schools member and one of the most popular schools in Missouri.The law school has been around since 1843 and was the first law school west of the Mississippi River.
SLU Law holds the record for the highest law student enrollments in Missouri and has a rich history of championing civil rights. For instance, SLU Law was the first St. Louis ABA-approved law school to admit Black students.
The school’s reputation for academic excellence is also impressive, especially in fields such as:
- Healthcare law
- Criminal law
- Environmental law
- Business/corporate law
- International law
- Tax law
- Constitutional law
- Contracts/commercial law
- Intellectual property law
Another unique feature of St. Louis University Law School is the variety of JD programs the school offers. For instance, the school offers full-time and part-time JD programs to meet the unique requirements of many students. The part-time program is an attractive choice for students who can’t attend school full-time due to family, work, or other obligations. It’s also more affordable than the full-time program.
You can also opt for a dual-degree program that lets you obtain one of ten degrees at the same time as your JD.
Then there’s the 3+3 Program, which eliminates the time and cost of completing a four- or five-year undergraduate program before applying to law school. Instead, students enroll in a single program that consists of three years of undergraduate coursework and three years completing law courses.
For foreign lawyers who want to practice in the U.S., St. Louis University School of Law makes things easy with a two-year JD program. The school also has an attractive merit-based scholarship program, which includes 10 full-tuition scholarships for the most deserving students.
When it comes to the quality of teaching, the school scores high points with a student-faculty ratio of 8:1. The relatively low number of students per lecturer creates a learning environment that enables lots of one-on-one interactions.
The school’s examinations also offer more leeway than most law schools. For instance, after the first year, students can self-schedule their exams. Students also have the option to handwrite their exams or use a computer.
Aside from its engaging academic learning, SLU Law offers extensive professional skills programs that prepare students for real-world legal practice. Some of its programs include legal clinics, trial advocacy, and moot court.
The legal clinics are especially popular because they provide free legal services to the community. Students will get to appear in court cases permitted by the Missouri Student Practice Rule, such as cases involving:
- Landlord-tenant law
- Intellectual property
- Children’s advocacy
- Civil rights
- Appellate advocacy
- Criminal defense
- Juvenile law
- Consumer rights
The presence of several student organizations also livens up social life within the school. Some of the more prominent organizations are:
- Phi Delta Phi (PDP)
- OUTLAWS
- Phi Alpha Delta (PAD)
- Women Law Students’ Association
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- Asian American Law Students Association (AALSA)
- Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA)
- Hispanic Law Student Association
- Sports and Entertainment Law Association
St. Louis University Law School Rankings
A law school’s ranking says a lot about the school’s value. For example, schools ranked in the top 20 are usually harder to get into, more expensive, and offer more employment opportunities.
Public Legal is one of the more respected law school rankers, and it ranks institutions based on their:
- Minimum GPA and LSAT
- Acceptance rates
- Student-to-faculty ratios
- State and bar passage rates
- Employment rates after graduation
- Law library volumes
- Gender, race, and ethnicity diversity
After taking all of the above into consideration, the Public Legal 2020 Raw Data Law School Rankings Report ranked Saint Louis University School of Law 92nd out of 200 law schools.
Similarly, the U.S. News & World Report rankings placed Saint Louis University School of Law 90th on its 2021 Best Law Schools list. It also ranked the school’s part-time law school program 37th in the country.
While these rankings are far from the top 20, SLU Law is nonetheless a reputable school with an impressive bar passage and employment rate for graduates. That means attending it can further your legal ambitions without costing you as much as attending a top 20 law school.
St. Louis University Law School Admissions
What Is the St. Louis University Law School Acceptance Rate?
Schools generally accept only applicants who meet their minimum LSAT and GPA requirements. For a school like SLU Law, the minimum LSAT score and GPA to get in are 152 and 3.17, respectively.
But since hundreds of applicants apply each year, scoring the minimum may not be enough to get you admission. You can improve your chances by scoring higher than the minimum LSAT and GPA requirements. You can also strengthen your application by submitting an inspiring personal statement and pairing it with glowing recommendations from notable personalities.
Besides LSAT and GPA scores, another factor that affects acceptance rates is the number of applicants a law school receives. For instance, SLU Law has a full-time program capacity of about 470 students. If the school receives a thousand applications, and each applicant’s LSAT and GPA exceeds the requirements, the acceptance rate will drop.
That’s because the school can’t accept beyond its capacity and will have to thin the herd by using the strictest standards to select applicants. On the other hand, acceptance rates will be high if the school receives just 300 applications, and every applicant has at least the minimum LSAT and GPA score.
In 2017, SLU Law’s acceptance rate was 66.3%. In 2020, there was a slight drop to 64.3%. These figures indicate getting into SLU Law is competitive, but not as cutthroat as the top 10 law schools with acceptance rates under 20%.
The below tables paint a clearer picture of SLU Law’s acceptance rates.
| Applications | Offers | Matriculated | |
| Class of 2023 | 806 | 520 (64.52%) | 170 (21.1%) |
| 25% | Median | 75% | |
| GPA | 3.17 | 3.44 | 3.66 |
| LSAT | 152 | 155 | 158 |
| Applications | Offers | Matriculated | |
| Class of 2019 | 835 | 499 (60%) | 168 (20%) |
| 25% | Median | 75% | |
| GPA | 3.18 | 3.45 | 3.68 |
| LSAT | 152 | 155 | 158 |
St. Louis University Law School LSAT Percentiles
| 75th percentile | 158 |
| 50th percentile | 155 |
| 25th percentile | 152 |
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2023 Entering Class Profile
| Number of Students | 495 |
| LSAT Score | 155 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.44 |
| % Women | 50.30% |
| % Students of Color | 7.1% |
What Is the Tuition For St. Louis University Law School?
| In-State Resident | Non-Resident | |
| Full Time | $39,195 | $39,195 |
| Part Time | $28,525 | $28,525 |
What Are The Living Expenses at St. Louis University Law School?
| On-Campus | $21,474 |
| Off-Campus | $21,474 |
What Are The Housing Options at St. Louis University Law School?
| On-Campus | No |
| Off-Campus | Yes |
Bar Passage Rates at St. Louis University Law School
| Reporting | 73.4% |
| First Time Takers | 274 |
| St. Louis University Law School Average | 84.1% |
| Missouri Average | 87.6% |
| 2019 National Average | 79.64% |
Application Deadlines
When will St. Louis University Law School application materials be available?
Application materials consist of all the documents you must submit with your law school application before the application deadline. Some of the required documents include:
- SLU Law Application
- LSAC Law School Report
- Personal Statement
- Resume
- Two letters of recommendation
Foreign applicants must also have a TOEFL Score.
When does St. Louis University Law School begin accepting applications?
St. Louis University Law School is open to applications from September 1. Any application received after September 1 will undergo processing for the upcoming fall term. Because the school admits applicants on a rolling basis, it is best to complete your application early.
How are applications to St. Louis University Law School submitted?
St. Louis University Law School recommends submitting applications and materials via LSAC, the Law School Admission Council. You can also register for the LSAT through this organization.
Does St. Louis University Law School have an “early admission” or an “early decision” process?
If a law school offers early admission, you can use it to apply ahead of other students and have your application prioritized. However, St. Louis University Law School doesn’t have an “early admission” process.
How much is the application fee and when is the deadline?
| Application Fee | None |
| Early Decision Deadline | n/a |
| Regular Decision Deadline | 12/1 |
Does St. Louis University Law School grant interviews?
Interviews are not part of SLU Law’s admission process. That means you have to make an impression with your personal statement. Keep it brief, but don’t neglect to showcase your personality, writing ability, academic performance, and career history.
Employment after St. Louis University Law School
| 2020 Median Salary Private Sector | $70,000 |
| 2020 Median Salary Public Sector | $45,000 |
The employment numbers for St. Louis University Law School graduates are promising for future applicants. In 2019, 73.4% of graduates had jobs within nine months of graduating. For 2020, the numbers are even more impressive – 61% of graduates had jobs immediately after graduation, while 86.4% had jobs within nine months of graduating.
56% of these graduates ended up in law firms, while 22% went into business. 14% work for the government, and 1% work in academia. Only 2% of the graduates pursued an additional degree after getting their JD.
The median salary for SLU Law graduates in the private ($70,000) and public ($45,000) sector is not as high as those that graduate from a top 10 law school. Nonetheless, SLU Law graduates’ salaries are still competitive, meaning applicants can expect to have fulfilling careers.
