Emory University School of Law is a top-30 law school in the heart of Atlanta, one of the fastest-growing legal markets in the Southeast. Known for its strength in health law, environmental law, law and religion, business law, and an increasingly strong public interest orientation, Emory combines a mid-sized program with the resources of a top research university. The class of 2028 grew dramatically (from 267 to 391 students, a 46% increase), making this a school in transition.
This guide walks you through how to get into Emory Law.
1. Emory Law Admissions Numbers and Statistics
Emory Law Class of 2028:
- LSAT: 75th percentile: 168 | Median: 166 | 25th percentile: 162
- GPA: 75th percentile: 3.87 | Median: 3.82 | 25th percentile: 3.68
Emory Law Class of 2027:
- LSAT: 75th: 167 | Median: 165 | 25th: 162
- GPA: 75th: 3.88 | Median: 3.81 | 25th: 3.63
Emory’s LSAT median rose from 165 to 166, with the 75th percentile ticking up to 168. GPA held roughly steady. The most striking change is the class size: it grew by 46%, from 267 to 391 students. This is one of the largest single-cycle expansions at any ranked law school, and it has implications for both the student experience and the competition for scholarships.
If you are at or above both medians, you are competitive. The larger class means Emory is admitting deeper into the applicant pool, which can benefit applicants who are at or slightly below the medians but have strong softs. However, the scholarship pool may be spread thinner.
For context on how medians affect your strategy, see How to Build a Smart Law School List.
2. Emory Law Application Essays
Personal Statement (required)
Emory requires a personal statement, and the prompt has specific framing: you should describe any skills or traits that you have had an opportunity to develop to an unusual level and discuss any significant activities or work experience that might enrich your study of law. You may choose to write about any topic(s) you believe would be most helpful to the Admission Committee. Two typed, double-spaced pages is the limit; the school notes that applicants will disadvantage themselves by exceeding it.
Best Practices:
- Lead with a real experience, not a philosophical statement
- Show, do not tell. Let the reader draw conclusions from your story
- Connect your narrative to why law
- Write with voice and specificity
Personal Statement Examples | Personal Statement Guide
Supplemental Statement (Diversity / Perspective / Identity Statement)
Emory does not have a formal diversity statement prompt. The school’s personal statement is open-ended and is the primary place to introduce yourself and elaborate on the diversity you bring. However, you may submit an optional supplemental statement if there are additional perspectives or experiences you want the committee to consider that do not fit in your personal statement.
Diversity Statement Examples | Diversity Statement Guide
Why Emory Statement (optional)
Emory does not have a formal Why X prompt in its standard application. However, applicants are welcome to submit supplemental materials or addenda that address their interest in Emory. If you choose to do so, name specific programs, clinics, or faculty. Connect them to your goals. Do not waste the space on generic praise.
Addenda (if applicable)
Factual, brief explanations for LSAT, GPA, or other issues.
Character and Fitness (if applicable)
Disclose any relevant disciplinary, criminal, or academic misconduct history with a brief, honest explanation.
3. Emory Law Resume Requirements
Submit a professional resume. 1-2 pages. Focus on outcomes and impact.
4. Emory Law Letters of Recommendation
Emory requires two letters of recommendation through LSAC. Do not submit more than two. Academic letters are preferred for recent graduates; professional letters are appropriate for experienced applicants.
5. Emory Law Interview Process
Emory does not conduct formal admissions interviews as part of the standard application process. Check the school website for any updates to this policy.
6. Emory Law Deadlines and Early Decision
Note: The deadlines below are based on the 2025-2026 admissions cycle. Applicants should verify all dates on the school’s official admissions page, as deadlines may shift slightly from year to year.
Testing Policy
Emory accepts the LSAT or GRE. JD-Next alone is not sufficient for admission. I strongly recommend taking the LSAT regardless of what else a school accepts. LSAT vs. GRE for Law School: Why the GRE Is a Bad Choice
- Early Decision Deadline: February 15 (binding, with early notification and scholarship consideration). Every ED admit receives a minimum merit scholarship of $15,000 per academic year. Decisions are typically issued within 14 business days after the file is complete.
- Regular Decision Deadline: March 15.
- Transfer Deadline: June 30.
Applications received after March 15 may be reviewed on a space-available basis. Emory also offers a Junior Deferral Program (JDP) for college juniors who want to secure admission but defer enrollment for two years to gain professional experience.
For a full breakdown of early decision strategy, see Should You Apply Early Decision to Law School?
7. Emory Law Scholarships and Financial Aid
Merit Scholarships
All admitted applicants are automatically considered. Emory offers generous merit awards, though the 46% class size increase may affect the per-student scholarship budget.
Named Scholarships
Emory offers several named full-tuition and partial-tuition awards. The Woodruff Scholars Program (university-wide) provides full tuition, mandatory fees, and a $5,000 annual stipend. Additional law school-specific awards are also available.
For more on scholarship strategy, see How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships.
8. Emory Law Joint Degree Programs
Emory Law offers joint degrees across Emory University:
- JD/MBA with Goizueta Business School (four years)
- JD/MDiv with Candler School of Theology (four years)
- JD/MTS (Master of Theological Studies) with Candler School of Theology (four years)
- JD/MPH with the Rollins School of Public Health (three and a half years)
- JD/MA in Bioethics with the Graduate School
- JD/PhD in select departments
Students must apply and be admitted to each program separately.
9. Emory Law Employment Outcomes (Class of 2024)
Emory Class of 2024 employment outcomes (reported to the ABA, measured 10 months after graduation):
- Full-time, long-term bar-passage-required employment (ABA): 88.2%
- BigLaw (firms with 100+ attorneys): 44.8%
- Federal clerkships: 3.8%
- Public service: 13.9%
Emory places primarily into Atlanta, with secondary markets in New York, D.C., and the Southeast. The 6.3% underemployment rate is higher than peer schools and worth monitoring.
10. Emory Law Areas of Study and Specializations
Health Law and Bioethics: Emory’s location in Atlanta alongside the CDC and major health systems makes it a leading school for health law. The program covers bioethics, FDA regulation, and health policy.
Business and Corporate Law: The Center for Transactional Law and Practice provides experiential training in deal work, contracts, and corporate transactions. Atlanta’s corporate market is strong and accessible.
Criminal Justice and Criminal Law: Emory’s criminal defense clinical offerings and prosecution externships provide hands-on training. Atlanta’s legal community, including the Northern District of Georgia and Fulton County courts, supports strong placement into criminal law practice.
International Law and Human Rights: Emory’s International Humanitarian Law Clinic is one of the few of its kind. The school also benefits from Atlanta’s role as a hub for international organizations and NGOs.
Public Interest and Government: Emory’s location in a major state capital market supports placement into government, legal aid, and advocacy organizations across the Southeast.
11. Emory Law Clinics and Experiential Learning
Emory Law operates a range of clinics:
- Turner Environmental Law Clinic: One of the premier environmental law clinics in the Southeast. Students handle environmental litigation and policy advocacy.
- International Humanitarian Law Clinic: Students work on international human rights and humanitarian law matters.
- Barton Juvenile Defender Clinic: Holistic legal representation for children in delinquency and educational advocacy proceedings.
- Emory Immigrant Legal Services: Student-led clinic providing legal advice and referrals to metro-Atlanta immigrants.
- International Refugee Assistance Project: Student-led clinic providing legal representation for refugees seeking resettlement.
- IP and Innovation Clinic: Intellectual property and innovation-focused clinical work.
Emory is also home to the Barton Child Law and Policy Center, one of the most respected child law programs in the country, which includes clinical components and focuses on legal advocacy, policy, and interdisciplinary research.
Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
Atlanta’s legal community provides robust externship opportunities at major firms, federal and state courts, the CDC, the Carter Center, and a wide range of public interest organizations. Emory encourages pro bono service through voluntary certificates and medals at 25 and 75 hours.
12. Emory Law Notable Faculty and Journals
Faculty
- Richard D. Freer: Dean and Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law. Civil procedure, federal jurisdiction, and complex litigation. One of the most decorated teachers in Emory’s history.
- Polly Price: Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law and Professor of Global Health. Immigration law, constitutional law, and public health law. Author of work on quarantine law and infectious disease.
- John Witte Jr.: Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law. Law and religion, human rights, and family law. Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion.
- Ani Satz: Professor of Law. Health law, disability law, and animal law.
Journals
- Emory Law Journal: The school’s flagship law review.
- Emory International Law Review
- Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal
- Journal of Law and Religion (co-published with the Center for the Study of Law and Religion)
13. Emory Law Culture and Student Life
Emory’s campus in the Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta is tree-lined and suburban in feel, distinct from the urban core. The law school community is collegial, with a culture that emphasizes collaboration over competition.
Atlanta is a major and growing legal market, serving as a hub for the Southeast. The city offers a vibrant food scene, cultural institutions, and a lower cost of living than coastal cities. Direct access to firms, courts, and public interest organizations makes placement straightforward for Emory graduates.
14. Tips for Your Emory Application
Research the school’s unique strengths. Emory does not have a formal Why X prompt, so you need to weave school-specific fit into your personal statement, any supplemental materials, or a brief optional addendum. Emory’s health law program, the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, and the Barton Child Law and Policy Center are distinctive. If your interests align, make the connection explicit.
Leverage Atlanta. If you have ties to the Southeast, a desire to practice in Atlanta, or connections to institutions like the CDC or Carter Center, say so. Location fit matters at schools outside the T14, where a significant percentage of graduates practice locally.
Address the class size expansion. You do not need to mention it directly, but understand that the school is growing. This makes school-specific fit even more important: admissions committees want to know that the larger class will still be composed of students who genuinely want to be at Emory, not applicants who are treating it as a safety.
Want Help Getting Into Emory Law?
Emory’s growth creates opportunity, but it also means the school is recalibrating. A sharp, focused application that demonstrates genuine fit will stand out.
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Note: While this guide is kept up to date, always verify deadlines, requirements, and policies at the Emory Law website before applying.
Related Reading
→ How to Build a Smart Law School List
→ Should You Apply Early Decision to Law School?
→ How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships
→ 6 Proven Steps to Get Off a Law School Waitlist
→ How to Get Into Law School Below Both Medians
→ What Holistic Law School Admissions Really Means
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