Overview

Applicants
3,748
Acceptance Rate
28%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.61
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
172

Test Scores

LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
160 - 166

Deadlines

Application Deadlines
April 1

Application Process

Rolling Admissions
Yes

Application Fee
$65

CAS Service Used
Yes

Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No

Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes

Deferred Admission
Yes

Other Admission Factors

Academic

LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Letters of Recommendation
Essay / Personal Statement
Non-Academic

Extracurricular Activities
Work Experience
Other Factors

Selectivity Rating

Faculty Information

Student/Faculty
7:1
Total Faculty
85

45
Female
22
Underrepresented Minorities


Students Say

The University of Colorado's Law School is a public program dedicated to providing a solid legal education based on practical training and “a positive, growth-focused experience.” The school's amenities include a state-of-the-art LEED-certified law building, 3 research centers (such as the renowned Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment), 7 dual degree programs, and 9 legal clinics (including the Technology Law and Policy Clinic and one of the first American Indian Law clinics in the nation). Additionally, the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship “is at the forefront of entrepreneurialism, technology, and telecommunications” and is “a huge asset to the school.” These create “diverse course opportunities [that] can help you develop skills that you need if you're willing to branch out.” Amidst all of these options, students participate in 5 to 7 mandatory courses through the school's Externship Program, working under close supervision and instruction from an attorney or judge during that time. Similarly, they also sign the school's Public Service Pledge, committing to at least 50 hours of law-related public service work. These “opportunities in government work and clerkships are fantastic,” says a student. Plus, credit—and even sometimes funding—is available for students competing on Colorado Law's moot court or mock trial teams. Overall, the school has excelled at “putting together classes that mesh really well” with the goals and ideals of its students.

At the helm of these courses are professors who “clearly care about students …, even going so far as to video chat or talk on the phone when they are traveling and coming in on the weekends to meet with students.” They “do a great job of promoting interest in their respective fields,” and students cite feeling “comfortable to speak up in the classroom and engage in dialogue with each other and the professors.” While “classrooms vary in style, [they] tend to be cooperative learning environments with relatively high engagement.” Many “use very interactive class structures that include debates based on assigned roles.” In addition to the professors, the administration “is receptive to our complaints,” creating “a setting for incredible learning and growth.”

Career overview

Pass Rate for First-Time Bar Exam
85%
Median Starting Salary
$70,000
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
87%
% of job accepting graduates providing useable salary information
97%

Career Services

On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes

On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes

# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
80

Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Arnold & Porter; Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck; Cooley LLP; Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP; Dorsey & Whitney LLP; Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP; Gibson Dunn & Crutcher; Hogan Lovells; Holland & Hart; Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP; Polsinelli PC; numerous local and regional firms; U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado; Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals; Colorado Supreme Court; Colorado Court of Appeals; Colorado State District Courts; various District Attorney offices; various Public Defender offices; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of the Interior; Department of Justice; Federal Communications Commission; and additional government offices.

Graduates Employed by Area

39%
Private Practice
15%
Government
15%
Judicial Clerkships
10%
Public Interes
5%
Business/Industry
2%
Academic

Graduates Employed by Region

86%
Mountain
5%
Pacific
4%
South
2%
MidWest
1%
South West
1%
New England

Prominent Alumni

Wiley B. Rutledge
former Associate Justice, US Supreme Court

Bill Ritter, Jr.
former Governor of Colorado

Betty Arkell
Equity Shareholder

Joe Neguse
US Representative from Colorado's 2nd Congressional District

Hank Brown
former US Senator from Colorado

Dates

Financial Aid Rating
Mar 1
Application Deadlines
Mar 15

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$39,693

% Students Receiving Some Aid
92%

Expenses per Academic Year

In-State Tuition
$31,518
Out-Of-State Tuition
$38,700
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$16,146
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$15,830
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$7,625
Fees
$1,908

Student Body Profile

Total Enrollment
526
Parent Institution Enrollement
35,528

Number of Foreign Countries Represented
4
Average Age at Entry
25

% Out-of-State
36%
% International
0%

Demographics

28.50%
% Under-represented Minorities

100% are full time
0% are part time
52% female
48% male

Campus Life

Students Say

Being “a small school in a big legal market, the community here feels “incredibly warm and supportive,” and it features a “liberal nature … [that] is very clear and present.” Moreover, “the culture is congenial and respectful,” and “people are passionate and excited to do things both in and out of school.” This “well-balanced environment” is paired with an equally balanced range of student representation: “The administration has focused on recruiting students with varied backgrounds both in terms of ethnicity or sexual orientation and in terms of life experience.” And regardless of where students are from, many regularly engage “socially outside of school, whether it be happy hours, speaker series, or skiing and hiking.” Many are quick to point out that Boulder “has a lot to offer outdoorsy types,” but even those who aren't as active that “the view of the mountains is soothing.” For the more urban-inclined, “Denver is a booming metropolitan area just a short bus ride away from campus.” Back on campus, “the facilities are amazing,” and “the classrooms, library, and study rooms have always been kept clean and available for law students to utilize.” Additionally, the three-story law library is housed within the building, and “access to … non-print resources is top of the line.” One student explains, “I've never wanted to access a source and been unable to do so.” Overall, this collaborative culture means “everyone wants everyone else to do well,” and there is “a collegial atmosphere that lends itself more to intellectual curiosity than concern for grades.”

More Information

% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%

Admissions Office Contact

Contact
Kristine Jackson
Senior Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management

Address
403 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0403

Phone
303-492-7203

Email
law.admissions@colorado.edu


Articles & Advice