How to Get Into Loyola Chicago Law (2026-2027 Guide)

Loyola University Chicago School of Law combines a downtown Chicago location with full-time and Weekend JD programs. Its Jesuit identity informs strengths in child advocacy, health justice, community representation, and business and compliance law.

This guide walks you through how to get into Loyola Chicago Law.

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Admissions numbers
Application essays
Resume
Recommendations
Interviews
Deadlines and testing
Scholarships and cost
Programs and curriculum
Employment outcomes
Areas of study
Clinics and experience
Faculty and journals
Student life

1. Loyola Chicago Law Admissions Numbers and Statistics

Loyola Chicago Law Class of 2029:

LSAT: Median: 162
GPA: Median: 3.75

Loyola Chicago Law Class of 2028:

LSAT: 75th: 163 | Median: 161 | 25th: 159
GPA: 75th: 3.83 | Median: 3.70 | 25th: 3.55

Loyola's fall 2026 entering-class medians rose to 162 and 3.75 from 161 and 3.70 in fall 2025. The 2025 figures combine 256 full-time and 40 part-time entrants. Both median increases make the newer numbers the stronger benchmark for your application.

Aim to be at or above at least one median to be competitive. Above both puts you in a stronger position. Below both medians, this is a prayer, not a reach.

For context on how medians affect your strategy, see How to Build a Smart Law School List.

2. Loyola Chicago Law Application Essays

Personal Statement (required)

The school's instructions:

“We want to know your motivation for continuing your schooling, your career aspirations, and how you believe our program will help you meet your goals. Your two-page statement can be submitted through the online application.”

For more on addressing school interest within this personal statement, see my Why X Essay Guide.

For more on how to write a personal statement, see my Personal Statement Examples and Personal Statement Guide.

Background, Perspectives and Experiences Statement (optional)

The school's instructions:

“The admissions committee takes into consideration any number of factors that could place your application in context. You may choose to submit a one-page optional statement of background, perspectives and experiences to supplement your application.”

For more on how to write a diversity or perspective statement, see my Diversity Statement Examples and Diversity Statement Guide.

For more on making all of these essays work together, see my Cohesive Narrative Guide.

Addenda and Character & Fitness (if applicable)

General addenda are limited to one page. Affirmative character and fitness answers require detailed written explanations, including dates, circumstances, and sanctions; without them, the application is incomplete. Official documents do not replace your explanation. The duty to update your disclosures continues after submission and throughout enrollment.

I'll be publishing a guide to addenda and character and fitness.

3. Loyola Chicago Law Resume Requirements

A current resume or curriculum vitae may be uploaded with the application. Include your employment, education, and service experience, particularly work that supports the career direction described in your statement.

For more on preparing your resume, see my Resume Examples and Resume Guide.

4. Loyola Chicago Law Letters of Recommendation

Loyola requires one letter through LSAC. Your recommender should address your ability to succeed in legal studies.

For more on recommendations, see my LOR Guide (Applicants) and LOR Guide (Writers).

5. Loyola Chicago Law Interview Process

Child and Family Law Fellowship finalists must interview. This is a separate award-selection step for admitted students, focused on a fellowship for applicants interested in child and family law.

6. Loyola Chicago Law Deadlines and Decision Options

Testing Policy

Loyola requires the LSAT and considers your highest score from the past five years. The GRE cannot substitute for the LSAT.

Registering for a future LSAT places your application on hold even when an earlier score is available. You may ask admissions to review the file with the existing score instead.

Application Dates and Fees

Applications Open: October 1 for fall entry.
Recommended Completion Date: March 1, including supporting materials.
Specialized Scholarship and Fellowship Deadline: March 15.
Application Deadline: May 1.
Application Fee: None. LSAC CAS fees still apply.
Decisions Begin: Late January, following review beginning in December.

Admissions are rolling. March 1 is the recommended complete-file date, not the final application deadline. Applicants seeking specialized scholarships and fellowships must already be admitted by March 15, so waiting until that deadline to apply for admission does not work.

Program Formats

The Weekend JD generally takes four years. Beginning with fall 2026 entrants, approximately 70% of instruction is online, with four campus weekends per semester. Earlier cohorts retain their existing format. Choose full-time or Weekend when applying; enrolled students must complete their first full year before becoming eligible to change divisions.

7. Loyola Chicago Law Scholarships and Financial Aid

Merit Scholarships

All admitted full-time and Weekend applicants receive automatic consideration. Awards renew for students in good standing, without an additional academic-performance condition beyond good standing.

Cost of Attendance

For 2026-2027, full-time tuition is $61,250 and the estimated total budget is $95,636. Weekend tuition is $45,970, with a $79,720 estimated budget. These totals include estimated living expenses, not just university charges.

Specialized Fellowships

Child and Family Law Fellowships provide $24,000 over three years. A separate application and finalist interview are required. Health Law Fellowships and Intellectual Property Fellowships also require applications; the IP award is $2,500.

Loyola Community Service Scholarship

This award provides $5,000 for the first year. Applicants need at least one year of service, broadly defined to include employment, advocacy, volunteering, and military service. Academic ability and leadership potential also matter.

Need-Based Aid

Submit the FAFSA, preferably by March 1. The Bernstein Scholarship Series supports full-time admitted students with demonstrated need. Specialized scholarship and fellowship applications are due March 15.

For more on scholarship strategy, see How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships.

8. Loyola Chicago Law Dual Degree Programs

Loyola offers four JD dual-degree combinations:

JD/MBA with the Quinlan School of Business, generally four years, with the JD completed in three.
JD/MSW with the School of Social Work, generally four years, including social work field placements.
JD/MPP with Loyola's Master of Public Policy program, designed for three years with careful planning and a public service externship.
JD/MA in Political Science with the Department of Political Science, combining legal study with political analysis and research.

The MBA, MSW, and MPP require separate admission. JD/MA applicants submit a Graduate School application, but admission to the political science dual program is automatic for admitted law students.

9. Loyola Chicago Law Employment Outcomes (Class of 2025)

Loyola Chicago Class of 2025 employment outcomes (reported to the ABA, measured 10 months after graduation):

Full-time, long-term bar-passage-required employment (ABA): 79.7%
BigLaw (firms with 101+ attorneys): 27.6%
Federal clerkships: 0.8%
Public service (including government): 18.0%

Illinois dominates Loyola's placement, followed by much smaller groups in California and Florida. The BigLaw share makes larger-firm practice a meaningful part of the school's employment picture, while government and public interest also account for a substantial group. For a Chicago-focused applicant, evaluate Loyola across those paths rather than treating federal clerkships as its defining outcome.

10. Loyola Chicago Law Areas of Study and Specializations

Health Law: The Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy supports a JD health law certificate and coursework covering healthcare finance, compliance, bioethics, and public health. The Health Justice Project connects that classroom work to patients' legal needs.

Child and Family Law: The Civitas ChildLaw Center combines specialized study with direct representation and policy work. Students can explore individual advocacy through the ChildLaw Clinic and broader reform through the Legislation and Policy Clinic.

Business and Compliance: The Center for Business Law and Center for Compliance Studies support corporate, regulatory, and transactional interests. The Business Law Clinic adds supervised work for entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations to that academic foundation.

Consumer and Competition Law: The Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies offers a student fellowship and a JD certificate in Competition and Consumer Protection Law. Its programming addresses mergers, consumer protection, and the structure of competitive markets.

Intellectual Property: Cynthia Ho directs the Intellectual Property Program, connecting patent and other IP coursework with mentoring and the Chicago Intellectual Property Colloquium. Her work on biotechnology and access to medicine also links IP to Loyola's health law offerings.

11. Loyola Chicago Law Clinics and Experiential Learning

Loyola's clinics include individual representation, transactional counseling, and policy work:

Health Justice Project: Work with medical and social work partners on benefits, housing, medical debt, and other legal problems affecting patients' health.
Civitas ChildLaw Clinic: Represent children in abuse, neglect, and high-conflict parenting matters through counseling, case planning, written advocacy, and court appearances.
Legislation and Policy Clinic: Research problems affecting children and families, investigate facts, draft advocacy materials, and present policy proposals with community partners.
Community Law Center Clinic: Investigate contested guardianships, interview relevant parties, prepare guardian ad litem reports, and advocate for children's best interests in probate court.
Federal Tax Clinic: Represent low-income taxpayers in IRS disputes involving audits, appeals, collections, and relief, while also providing taxpayer education.
Business Law Clinic: Counsel entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits on transactional matters. The clinic does not provide litigation representation.
Immigration and Human Rights Clinic: Provide immigration legal services through the Holistic Immigration Hub's interdisciplinary work with medical and social work partners.

Pro Bono and Experiential Learning

Students must complete six experiential credits after the first year, including at least three in live-client work. Externships offer supervised practice in person, remotely, or through hybrid arrangements. Placements have included the ACLU of Illinois, Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, and the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy. Weekend scheduling does not eliminate daytime client obligations: the Civitas ChildLaw Clinic requires availability during regular working hours.

12. Loyola Chicago Law Notable Faculty and Journals

Faculty

Cynthia M. Ho: Clifford E. Vickrey Research Professor and Intellectual Property Program director. Studies patents and access to medicine; co-founded the Chicago Intellectual Property Colloquium.
Spencer Weber Waller: Justice John Paul Stevens Chair in Competition Law. Directs the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies and writes on domestic and international antitrust.
Anita Weinberg: Curt and Linda Rodin Clinical Professor of Law and Social Justice. An attorney and social worker who founded the ChildLaw Policy Institute and directs the Legislation and Policy Clinic.
Samuel D. Brunson: Georgia Reithal Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Studies taxation and nonprofits; author of God and the IRS.

Journals

Loyola University Chicago Law Journal: Analysis of current legal issues and developments.
Annals of Health Law and Life Sciences: Scholarship on health care delivery, regulation, bioethics, pharmaceuticals and patient rights.
Children's Legal Rights Journal: Interdisciplinary scholarship on issues affecting children and families.
Loyola University Chicago International Law Review: Scholarship on international and comparative law.
Journal of Regulatory Compliance: Analysis and commentary on the regulatory landscape.
Loyola Consumer Law Review: Articles on legal issues involving businesses and consumers.
Public Interest Law Reporter: Reports on legal issues affecting underrepresented populations and causes.

The Student Journal on Rule of Law for Development is associated with the separate PROLAW program.

13. Loyola Chicago Law Culture and Student Life

Loyola's Philip H. Corboy Law Center sits at the Water Tower Campus, near the Magnificent Mile. Full-time students and working professionals in the Weekend JD bring different schedules and experiences to the community. The school's Jesuit mission emphasizes service, reflected in its child advocacy and community-facing programs.

Chicago gives students access to firms, courts, healthcare institutions, and legal aid organizations during the academic year. That is particularly useful for interests that cross practice settings, such as health law or child advocacy. Budget for downtown living and the travel your placement requires.

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Note: While I try to keep this guide up to date, always verify deadlines, requirements, and policies at the Loyola Chicago Law website before applying.

Think you spotted an outdated requirement or something that doesn't look right? Email moshe@sharperstatements.com with the school and a link to the current information.