Notre Dame Law School is one of the most distinctive programs in legal education. Anchored by its Catholic intellectual tradition, a commitment to ethics and service, and a tight-knit community of ~185 students, Notre Dame offers a law school experience that feels different from most peer institutions. Known for its strength in constitutional law, religious liberty, international human rights, law and ethics, and an increasingly strong business law program, Notre Dame sends graduates to top firms, clerkships, government positions, and public interest roles nationally.
This guide walks you through how to get into Notre Dame Law.
1. Notre Dame Law Admissions Numbers and Statistics
Notre Dame Law Class of 2028:
- LSAT: 75th percentile: 171 | Median: 170 | 25th percentile: 166
- GPA: 75th percentile: 3.95 | Median: 3.89 | 25th percentile: 3.78
Notre Dame Law Class of 2027:
- LSAT: 75th: 170 | Median: 169 | 25th: 164
- GPA: 75th: 3.92 | Median: 3.85 | 25th: 3.74
Notre Dame’s numbers rose across the board. The LSAT median went from 169 to 170, and the 25th percentile jumped from 164 to 166. GPA moved up as well, with the median rising from 3.85 to 3.89. The class grew modestly from 181 to 185 students (2.2%). These increases reflect a deeper applicant pool alongside slight expansion.
If you are at or above both medians, you are competitive. The 166 at the 25th LSAT percentile means applicants in the mid-160s with compelling applications can still gain admission, but the school is clearly tightening. Reverse splitters have a slightly better path here than at some peer schools given the emphasis on holistic review and mission alignment.
For context on how medians affect your strategy, see How to Build a Smart Law School List.
2. Notre Dame Law Application Essays
Personal Statement (required)
Notre Dame gives considerable emphasis to the personal statement. The statement should provide insights about you and your interest in pursuing a legal education and career. The most effective statements provide further insight into the writer’s personality, background, professional interests, or matters not fully present elsewhere in the application. Notre Dame suggests considering the question: “In what ways have your culture, upbringing, or experiences inspired and motivated you and your pursuit of a legal education?”
No more than two double-spaced pages. The statement must include your name and LSAC account number in the header, titled “NDLS Personal Statement.” It must be your original work in your own words and included at the time of submission.
Best Practices:
- Lead with a real experience
- Notre Dame values character and service orientation. Let these come through naturally, not as calculated signals
- Connect your narrative to why law
- Write with genuine voice
Personal Statement Examples | Personal Statement Guide
“Different Kind of Lawyer” Statement (Diversity / Perspective / Lived Experience Statement)
This is Notre Dame’s version of a diversity/perspective statement. The school’s mission is to educate a “Different Kind of Lawyer,” one who sees law as a vocation in service to others. The prompt quotes Dean G. Marcus Cole’s charge to graduates and asks: “How have your experiences, identities, or communities positioned you to become a Different Kind of Lawyer?”
No more than two double-spaced pages. The header must include your name, LSAC account number, and be titled “DKL Statement.” If you write it, it must be included at the time of submission.
This is not a generic diversity statement. It is a mission-alignment essay with a diversity lens. Engage with the specific idea of “a different kind of lawyer” and connect it to something real in your background. Service orientation, ethical commitment, and community connection are natural themes, but ground them in what you have done, not just what you believe.
Diversity Statement Examples | Diversity Statement Guide
“Why Notre Dame Law School” Statement (Highly Encouraged)
Notre Dame highly encourages applicants to submit a Why NDLS statement and to use it to express why they wish to attend Notre Dame Law School specifically. If Notre Dame is a top choice, it can be noted in this essay. The prompt frames the essay through Notre Dame’s mission:
“Consistent with the Catholic mission of the University, Notre Dame Law School views the law as a vocation, a means by which we as lawyers can be of service to God and to humankind. Our Catholic faith also moves us to be open and welcoming to people of all viewpoints and all religious traditions. Please provide a response to one or both of the following:
- How can the unique legal education at NDLS (both in program and in mission) assist in your professional and personal formation?
- How do your actions and community involvement demonstrate your commitment to the values Notre Dame Law School promotes, e.g., law as a vocation, excellence with purpose, inclusion and belonging, and integration of reason and faith?”
This is a mission-alignment essay. Be specific: name clinics, faculty, programs, or cultural elements that connect to your goals and values. Engage with the specific questions rather than writing a generic Why X.
If you write this, it must be included at the time of submission. The header should include your name, LSAC account number, and be titled “Why NDLS Statement.”
Addenda and Character & Fitness (if applicable)
Standard: brief, factual explanations for any issues.
3. Notre Dame Law Resume Requirements
1-2 pages. Focus on outcomes, service, and leadership. Include professional, academic, and community involvement.
4. Notre Dame Law Letters of Recommendation
Notre Dame requires two to three letters of recommendation through LSAC. Academic letters are preferred for recent graduates.
5. Notre Dame Law Interview Process
Notre Dame’s Admissions Committee may request an interview with selected candidates, either before or after submission of an application. Interviews are conducted via telephone or Zoom. Applicants cannot request an interview; invitations come from the committee. If invited, be prepared to discuss your background, goals, and interest in Notre Dame.
6. Notre Dame Law Application Deadlines
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
Notre Dame accepts the LSAT or GRE. 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
- Application Deadline: March 1, 2027.
- Regular Decision: Rolling admissions. Apply early for best outcomes.
- Application Fee: $75.
Notre Dame eliminated its binding Early Decision program to promote a more inclusive admissions process. Applicants who consider Notre Dame a top choice should indicate that in their “Why Notre Dame Law School?” statement.
7. Notre Dame Law Scholarships and Financial Aid
Merit Scholarships
All admitted applicants are automatically considered. Notre Dame offers competitive merit awards, with a median scholarship of approximately $35,000 and 5% of students receiving full-tuition awards. Tuition for 2025-2026 is $70,606 per year.
For more on scholarship strategy, see How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships.
8. Notre Dame Law Joint Degree Programs
Notre Dame Law offers joint degrees within the university:
- JD/MBA with the Mendoza College of Business (four years)
- JD/MA in English (four years)
- JD/MS in Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship (ESTEEM)
- JD/Master of Engineering
- JD/Master of Global Affairs with the Keough School of Global Affairs
- JD/PhD in Political Science
Students must apply and be admitted to each program separately.
9. Notre Dame Law Employment Outcomes (Class of 2024)
Notre Dame Class of 2024 employment outcomes (reported to the ABA, measured 10 months after graduation):
- Full-time, long-term bar-passage-required employment (ABA): 93.0%
- BigLaw (firms with 100+ attorneys): 47.6%
- Federal clerkships: 16.6%
- Public service (including government): 16.6%
Notre Dame’s 16.6% federal clerkship rate is among the highest outside the T6 and reflects the school’s strength in appellate and constitutional law. Chicago, D.C., and Indianapolis are the top hiring markets.
10. Notre Dame Law Areas of Study and Specializations
Constitutional Law and Appellate Advocacy: Notre Dame’s 16.6% clerkship rate and faculty strength in constitutional and appellate law make it a top choice for students aiming for the judiciary. The Religious Liberty Initiative is a distinctive program.
Law and Ethics: Notre Dame’s Catholic intellectual tradition shapes a strong emphasis on the moral and ethical dimensions of legal practice. Coursework in jurisprudence, natural law, and legal ethics is a defining feature.
Business and Corporate Law: Notre Dame’s Business Law Forum and related coursework support students pursuing corporate and transactional practice, with placement into Chicago, D.C., and Indianapolis markets.
International and Human Rights Law: The Center for Civil and Human Rights and the JD/Master of Global Affairs with the Keough School provide a structured pathway for students pursuing international legal work.
Public Interest and Government: Notre Dame’s public interest programming and clinical offerings support placement into government and legal aid. The school’s strong alumni network in D.C. and the Midwest facilitates these pathways.
11. Notre Dame Law Clinics and Experiential Learning
Notre Dame Law operates ten clinics:
- Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic: One of the few clinics in the country focused on religious liberty litigation and advocacy. Directed by John Meiser, an associate clinical professor of law specializing in religious liberty, litigation practice, and federal courts.
- Exoneration Justice Clinic: Students investigate and litigate wrongful conviction claims. Directed by Professor Jimmy Gurulé.
- Immigration Clinic: Students represent immigrants in removal proceedings and humanitarian cases.
- Community Development Clinic: Transactional work for nonprofits and community organizations in South Bend.
- Intellectual Property Clinic: Legal services for startups and creators.
- Global Human Rights Clinic: Students represent individuals, organizations, and groups combating human rights violations worldwide. Directed by Professor Diane Desierto.
- Eviction Clinic: Represents low-income clients in eviction defense and related matters.
- Applied Mediation Clinic: Provides mediation services in civil matters including child custody, parenting time, and contract disputes.
- Special Education Clinic: Students represent families in special education matters.
- Veterans Law Clinic: Launched in 2025, the clinic provides free legal assistance to U.S. military veterans in matters such as disability claims and appeals.
Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
Notre Dame has a strong pro bono culture, with extensive opportunities through clinics, the GALILEE program, and community legal service placements. The school’s location in South Bend provides direct access to underserved communities, and the clinic program and externship opportunities connect students with legal service organizations regionally and nationally.
12. Notre Dame Law Notable Faculty and Journals
Faculty
- G. Marcus Cole: Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law. Contracts, venture capital and private equity, empirical law and economics.
- Richard Garnett: Paul J. Schierl Professor of Law. Director, Program on Church, State & Society. Constitutional law, criminal law, the First Amendment, and law and religion.
- Nicole Stelle Garnett: Associate Dean for External Engagement. John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law. Property, land use, education law, and urban development.
- Jeffrey Pojanowski: Biolchini Family Professor of Law. Administrative law, jurisprudence, and legal interpretation.
- Derek Muller: Professor of Law. Election law, voting rights, election administration, and the Electoral College.
Journals
- Notre Dame Law Review: Highly regarded general law review.
- Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy
- Journal of Legislation
- Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law
13. Notre Dame Law Culture and Student Life
Notre Dame Law’s small class (~185) creates one of the tightest communities in legal education. The school’s Catholic identity is part of the culture, not just the branding: questions of ethics, purpose, and service are woven into the academic experience. Students describe the environment as genuinely collaborative and supportive.
South Bend is a small city, and the law school experience is centered on campus. If you thrive in a close-knit, campus-oriented environment, Notre Dame delivers that. If you need a major metropolitan area, this is a factor to consider honestly. That said, Notre Dame’s placement reach extends well beyond Indiana: graduates work in major markets nationwide, particularly Chicago, DC, and New York.
14. Tips for Your Notre Dame Essays
Notre Dame gives you two optional essays beyond the personal statement: the “Different Kind of Lawyer” statement and the “Why Notre Dame Law School” statement. Both are worth writing.
Tips for the DKL Statement
Do not write a generic diversity statement. The DKL prompt asks how your experiences position you to become a “Different Kind of Lawyer.” Start from your background, but move quickly to how it shapes your approach to legal work and service. The emphasis is on what kind of lawyer you will be, not just where you come from.
Engage with the specific language. “Different Kind of Lawyer” means something at Notre Dame: law as vocation, not just career. If you have a service orientation, ethical commitments, or a vision of law that goes beyond billable hours, this is where it belongs. Ground it in action. A summer at a legal aid clinic says more than a paragraph about caring deeply.
It is fine to build on your personal statement. If your PS establishes your legal interest, the DKL statement should show the values and character behind that interest. Just make sure you are adding a new dimension, not summarizing.
Tips for the Why NDLS Statement
Do real research. Talk to current students or alumni. Look into a professor whose work connects to your goals. Identify a clinic where your background would let you contribute. Notre Dame’s Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, Exoneration Justice Clinic, and the London Law Program are all distinctive, but only cite them if they connect to your actual interests.
Connect your goals to what Notre Dame specifically offers. If you are interested in religious liberty, reference Professor Meiser’s work and the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic. If criminal justice reform drives you, the Exoneration Justice Clinic is a natural fit. If international law is your path, the London Law Program (the oldest study-abroad program at any American law school) is worth mentioning.
The small class is a feature, not a limitation. Show that you understand what a 185-person class means for community, mentorship, and access to faculty.
South Bend is part of the deal. If you want to apply to Notre Dame, address why the location works for you, or at least do not leave it as an open question. Notre Dame’s placement reach extends well beyond Indiana (Chicago, DC, and New York are top markets), but the three years of law school will be spent in South Bend.
You do not need to be Catholic. Notre Dame welcomes students of all backgrounds. But you should be comfortable engaging with questions of ethics, values, and the role of law in a just society. Mission alignment matters here more than at most schools.
Want Help Getting Into Notre Dame Law?
Notre Dame is a school where fit and mission alignment carry real weight. The numbers matter, but so does demonstrating that you understand and value what makes Notre Dame different.
If you want my help, you know what to do.
Explore my services
Send an inquiry
Note: While this guide is kept up to date, always verify deadlines, requirements, and policies at the Notre Dame Law website before applying.
Related Reading
→ How to Build a Smart Law School List
→ How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships
→ 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
→ Blog Directory
