Duke Law School

General Info

Duke University logo

The Duke University School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States. One of Duke's 10 schools and colleges, the School of Law was established in 1930. The School features programs in Business, Comparative and International Law, Environmental Law, and Intellectual Property, among others. The School has approximately 640 J.D. students and 75 students in the LL.M. and S.J.D. programs. Admission to Duke Law is highly selective, with fewer than 21% of applicants accepted. In 2006, the incoming class posted a median LSAT score of 168 and a median GPA of 3.78. On average, 95% of students are employed at graduation, with a median salary of $125,000. Over 400 law firms annually offer positions to Duke Law students.

Contact information

Duke Law School Admissions

Duke Law School is considered a Moderately Competitive law school, which accepts only 24% of its applicants. Comparatively, Duke is Significantly Higher than the average cost for law school.

Applications Offers Matriculated
Class of 2027 4819 1122 (23.28%) 225 (4.7%)
25% Median 75%
GPA 3.56 3.76 3.84
LSAT 166 169 170

Tuition And Financial Aid

In-State Resident Non-Resident
Full Time $57,717 $57,717
Part Time N/A N/A

Living Expenses

  • Living on-campus: $21,834
  • Living off-campus: $21,834
  • Living at home: $21,834

Important Dates

  • Early Decision 1: 11/13
  • Early Decision 2: 01/08
  • Regular Decision: 02/15
  • Application Fee: $70

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Duke Law School COMPARISON TOOL

Duke Law School

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Duke Law School Community

Duke Law School is considered to have a Highly Favorable student to faculty ratio. The average class size for 1L sections is approximately Above Average compared to other law schools. Student diversity at Duke is Below Average.

Student body

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Faculty Statistics

  • Full Time: 79
  • Part Time: 71

Faculty

  • # Female Faculty: 55
  • # Minority Faculty: 18

Ratio

8.7 Students

1 Faculty

Housing Options

  • On Campus Housing: No
  • Graduate Housing: No
  • Law Specific Housing: No

Duke Law School Curriculum

The size of 1L sections affects the quality and consistency of teaching in law schools. Generally with smaller 1L section sizes, students receive more individualized attention. Duke Law School 1L section size is 36% larger than law schools in North Carolina and 31% larger than all PRIVATE law schools.

1L Section Size Comparison

Duke Law School: 211
North Carolina Average: 136
PRIVATE School Average: 146

Positions Available in Advanced Courses

  • Simulation Courses: 1062
  • Faculty Supervised Clinics: 214

Students Involved in Advanced Activities

  • Field Placements: 64
  • Law Journals: 394
  • Moot Court/Mock Trials: 0

Attrition Rates

  • First Year: 3.2%
  • Second Year: 0.4%
  • Third Year: 0.0%
  • Fourth Year: 0.0%

Duke Law School Employment

Deciding to attend law school requires a large financial investment with the goal of securing employment upon graduation. The Duke Law School class of 2022 had an employment rate of 97% with 0% pursuing an additional degree.

Employment Comparison

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In 2022, 84.2%% of students reported their employment status 9-months after graduation.

Type of Employment

  • Law Firms: 65.0%
  • Business: 5.0%
  • Government: 8.0%
  • Public Interest: 3.0%
  • Academia: 1.0%
  • New York: 27%
  • District of Columbia: 12%
  • California: 11%

Bar Passage Rates

  • Reporting: 84.2%
  • First Time Takers: 221
  • Average School: 94.1%
  • Average State: 76.0%
  • Pass Difference: 18.1%

Top Bar Jurisdiction

  • New York: 78.6%
  • Passed: 82 of 87 (94.3%)
  • State Average: 76.0%
  • Difference: 15.7%