Executive Summary
The Law School has a distinguished 136-year legacy as one of the nation’s preeminent public law schools. Known for its world-class faculty, exceptional law library, clinical and experiential education programs, and student-centered culture, Minnesota Law is currently 16th in the influential U.S. News rankings, and 5th among public law schools.
Accordingly, the Law School is highly selective. The fall 2023 entering JD class represents 36 states, D.C., and seven countries; the median undergrad GPA is 3.85 and the median LSAT score is 168 (94th percentile). Our graduates consistently pass the bar examination at high rates and earn prestigious judicial clerkships. The Law School also offers an LL.M. degree for foreign-trained lawyers, an M.S. in patent law for scientists, and courses for the University’s undergraduate and graduate students.
Minnesota Law graduates secure permanent employment at high rates (97 percent full-time, long-term, JD required/JD advantage jobs for the Class of 2022). Some 14,000 living alumni work in all 50 states and more than 70 countries — in law firms, corporations, government, and beyond. Sixty percent stay in Minnesota upon graduation, building the bench and bar of our community.
Enrollment: Fall 2023
| Undergrad | Graduate and Professional | Non-Degree | Total | %BIPOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 719 | 16 | 735 | 23.4% |
Headcounts: Fall 2023
Faculty count includes 105 part-time adjunct faculty who are lawyers and judges
All Grad Assist/Prof-in-Training employed as Legal Project Assistants
Top 5 - Law Student Outcomes
- 97% of the Class of 2022 are in full-time, long-term, JD required/JD advantage jobs
- 92% of the Class of 2023 passed the bar on their first try
- 44% of the Class of 2022 started in government agencies or nonprofit organizations, including in judicial clerkships
- 164 alumni have secured federal judicial clerkships in the last 10 years
- 97,433 hours of free legal services provided to the community by students last year
Degrees, Retention & Graduation Rates
2022-2023 Degrees & Certificates Granted
| Undergrad Degrees | Masters Degrees | Doctoral Degrees | Certificates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 30 | 207 | 0 |
- Official Degrees
- school-provided data
* Excludes $1.7M in sponsored revenues
Revenue does not include carryforward or net transfers.
Key Areas of Strength & Strategic Opportunities
Strength: Distinguished Faculty & Law Library
The Law School’s faculty is comprised of accomplished and highly cited scholars with a deep commitment to teaching and mentoring. Numerous faculty have been inducted into the American Law Institute. Nearly two-thirds have received teaching awards. Minnesota Law was ranked first among all law schools for citations of faculty in journals outside of law, including work published in medicine, economics, and philosophy. These engaged academics also serve the public as advisors at every level, from the United Nations to the Minnesota Attorney General. Our Law Library is the eighth-largest academic law library in the U.S. and the largest in the state, serving the bench and bar. The Law School is the only academic unit on the UMTC campus that supports its own library.
Strength: Clinical and Experiential Training
Minnesota Law is nearly unique among top law schools in pairing its rigorous intellectual education with nationally recognized clinical and experiential instruction. We place fifth in the National Jurist’s comprehensive national ranking of practical training in law schools. In our 28 law clinics, students, supervised by faculty, offer free legal services to our community in everything from civil rights to tax. The Binger Center for New Americans, supported by a record $25 million gift made in 2017, serves asylum seekers and other immigrants throughout the state and partners with law firms and local nonprofits.
Strategic Opportunity: Admissions Competition & Diversity
Minnesota Law continues to prioritize admitting academically accomplished and diverse students. Entering students’ credentials and diversity both reached record highs in each of the last several years. Our fall 2023 entering class once again was the most diverse class ever (52 percent of the class identifying as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or first-generation college graduate) and also had the best academic credentials ever. However, our peers are equally committed to attracting outstanding students, creating pressure on admissions and resources for financial aid, especially in light of tuition ($46,000 resident/ $56,000 nonresident). In recent years we have created new staff positions to further support our students: an assistant dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion; a director of academic and bar success; and a student wellness coordinator.
Strategic Opportunity: Philanthropy
Minnesota Law has tremendous momentum in its philanthropic efforts. We received the largest known gift to any institution for clinical legal education ($25 million), raised more than $106 million on our $80 million goal for the Driven to Lead campaign, and set a Law School record in annual giving last year. Sustaining this progress and preparing for the next capital campaign will require continued support for development and alumni relations efforts.