UCLA School of Law is one of the premier law schools on the West Coast, combining academic strength with the energy and opportunity of Los Angeles. Known for its excellence in entertainment law, environmental law, critical race studies, public interest, and trial advocacy, UCLA Law benefits from its location in one of the largest and most diverse legal markets in the country. The class of ~328 students makes it a large program, but the school’s clinical offerings, faculty accessibility, and strong sense of community distinguish it from other schools of its size.
This guide walks you through how to get into UCLA Law.
1. UCLA Law Admissions Numbers and Statistics
UCLA Law Class of 2028:
- LSAT: 75th percentile: 172 | Median: 171 | 25th percentile: 166
- GPA: 75th percentile: 4.00 | Median: 3.95 | 25th percentile: 3.73
UCLA Law Class of 2027:
- LSAT: 75th: 171 | Median: 170 | 25th: 165
- GPA: 75th: 4.00 | Median: 3.95 | 25th: 3.69
UCLA’s LSAT rose across the board: the median went from 170 to 171, and both the 25th and 75th percentiles each climbed one point. GPA held steady at the median and top end, with the 25th percentile rising from 3.69 to 3.73. The class grew by about 4% from 315 to 328. These are consistent upward movements that reflect UCLA’s strengthening position.
If you are at or above both medians, you are competitive. The 166 at the 25th LSAT percentile means applicants in the mid-to-high 160s with strong applications can gain admission. UCLA is somewhat more GPA-flexible at the bottom of the range than LSAT-flexible, given the 3.73 at the 25th GPA percentile.
For context on how medians affect your strategy, see How to Build a Smart Law School List.
2. UCLA Law Application Essays
UCLA requires a personal statement and offers several optional attachments.
Personal Statement (required)
“Discuss any matters relevant to your ability to succeed in law school and the practice of law, and any attributes, experiences, or interests that would enable you to make a distinctive contribution to UCLA Law or the legal profession.”
No more than two double-spaced pages. No less than 11-point font. Submit as an electronic attachment.
UCLA’s prompt is broader than it looks. It asks about both your ability to succeed and your ability to contribute. The best responses ground themselves in real experience and connect to a clear sense of purpose.
Personal Statement Examples | Personal Statement Guide
Challenges Addendum (Diversity / Adversity / Perspective / Lived Experience Statement)
“Please share any information about adversity or challenge that you would like UCLA to consider about your personal life experiences. This may include socio-economic challenges; educational challenges; health issues; disability; immigration status; surviving abuse; or complex family circumstances like an incarcerated parent, homelessness, living in foster care, or others.”
This is a separate, truly optional addendum for applicants who have overcome significant hardship. If you have a story of adversity that does not fit elsewhere, this is where it belongs. It also functions as UCLA’s primary diversity/perspective statement for applicants with relevant backgrounds.
Diversity Statement Examples | Diversity Statement Guide
Programmatic Contribution Essay (optional)
If you believe you can make a distinctive contribution to a specific UCLA Law specialization, academic program, journal, institute, or research area, you may submit an additional essay identifying that program and describing your relevant training or background. Upload under the “Programmatic Contribution” attachment.
This is UCLA’s version of a Why X essay. If your interests align with a specific UCLA program (entertainment law, environmental law, critical race studies, public interest), use this space to demonstrate fit and expertise.
Addenda and Character & Fitness (if applicable)
Standard: brief, factual explanations for any issues. UCLA also accepts optional disability-related supplemental information.
3. UCLA Law Resume Requirements
Submit a current resume as an electronic attachment. 1-2 pages. Focus on outcomes and impact.
4. UCLA Law Letters of Recommendation
UCLA requires exactly two letters of recommendation. At least one should be from a professor or someone who can speak to your academic abilities. Submit through LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation Service.
5. UCLA Law Interview Process
UCLA does not conduct standard admissions interviews. However, finalists for the Distinguished Scholars Award and Achievement Fellowship may be invited to participate in interviews as part of the scholarship selection process.
6. UCLA 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
UCLA 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
AI prohibition: UCLA explicitly states that the use of any artificial intelligence tools to assist in completing the application is prohibited.
- Application Opens: September 2, 2026
- Binding Early Decision Priority Deadline: November 14, 2026
- Distinguished Scholars Award Deadline: November 14, 2026
- Achievement Fellowship Deadline: December 15, 2026
- Regular Decision Deadline: January 30, 2027
- Application Fee: $75
Binding Early Decision
UCLA has two binding early decision pathways. The first is the standard Binding Early Decision Program, with a priority deadline of November 14. If admitted ED, you must withdraw all other applications and commit to attend. Priority ED applicants must take the LSAT or GRE by October 31, 2026, and will receive decisions by the end of December 2026. Students applying Early Decision after November 14 must take the LSAT or GRE by January 31, 2027, and will receive decisions on a rolling basis. No merit scholarships are available through the standard ED program (need-based aid is possible). You may not apply to any other early decision programs in the same cycle. If denied through ED, you are not reconsidered in regular decision. If waitlisted, you are released from the binding commitment.
The second is the Distinguished Scholars Program, which is also binding. This is UCLA’s full-tuition merit award. The application deadline is November 14, 2026. LSAT or GRE must be taken by October 31, 2026. Finalists are typically interviewed. If you are considering either pathway, understand that these are two separate tracks with different financial outcomes.
For a full breakdown of early decision strategy, see Should You Apply Early Decision to Law School?
7. UCLA Law Scholarships and Financial Aid
Merit Scholarships
Admitted students must complete the Dean’s Scholarship Consideration Form for merit review. In determining the scholarship amount, both merit and financial need can be considered. Students seeking the need-based component must complete the Law School Financial Need Application and upload tax documents. Tuition for 2025-2026 is approximately $59,084 for California residents and $71,329 for nonresidents.
Distinguished Scholars Award
See the Early Decision section above. This is a binding, full-tuition merit award with a November 14 deadline.
Achievement Fellowship
For high-achieving students who have overcome significant personal, educational, or socioeconomic hardship. Requires an additional one-page essay describing obstacles you have overcome and why you are a strong candidate. Deadline: December 15, 2025. LSAT or GRE must be taken by November 30, 2025.
Graton Scholarship
A three-year, full-tuition scholarship for students interested in pursuing legal careers in Native American law. Funded by a $15 million gift from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. To apply, include a maximum 1,000-word addendum with your application describing your record of commitment to advocating on behalf of Native Nations and your career aspirations in the field. Both Native and non-Native students are eligible. Deadline: January 31, 2026 (awards made on a rolling basis; apply early). The scholarship connects students with the Native Nations Law and Policy Center and the Tribal Legal Development Clinic.
Emmett Family Environmental Law Scholarship
A three-year, full-tuition scholarship for one exceptional incoming student who demonstrates a dedicated commitment to pursuing a career in environmental law. To be considered, include an addendum expressing your interest in UCLA Law’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment with your application. No separate deadline; submit with your regular application.
Need-Based Aid
UCLA participates in federal financial aid. File FAFSA.
For more on scholarship strategy, see How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships.
8. UCLA Law Joint Degree Programs
UCLA Law offers joint degree programs across UCLA:
- JD/MBA with the Anderson School of Management (four years)
- JD/MPP with the Luskin School of Public Affairs (four years)
- JD/MPH with the Fielding School of Public Health (four years)
- JD/MA in African American Studies (four years)
- JD/MA in American Indian Studies (four years)
- JD/Master of Urban and Regional Planning with the Luskin School (four years)
- JD/PhD in Philosophy
- JD/MSW with the Department of Social Welfare (four years)
UCLA also allows students to propose individualized joint degree programs with other UCLA departments, subject to approval.
Students must apply and be admitted to each program separately.
9. UCLA Law Employment Outcomes (Class of 2024)
UCLA Class of 2024 employment outcomes (reported to the ABA, measured 10 months after graduation):
- Full-time, long-term bar-passage-required employment (ABA): 91.7%
- BigLaw (firms with 100+ attorneys): 57.8%
- Federal clerkships: 4.8%
- Public service (including government): 17.7%
UCLA places primarily into Los Angeles and the broader California market. The 57.8% BigLaw rate is strong and continues to trend upward.
10. UCLA Law Areas of Study and Specializations
Entertainment and Media Law: UCLA’s Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law is one of the most prominent programs in the country, drawing directly on Los Angeles’s entertainment industry.
Public Interest and Social Justice Law: UCLA has one of the strongest public interest cultures on the West Coast. The David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy provides scholarships, programming, and career support.
Critical Race Studies: UCLA’s Critical Race Studies program is a nationally recognized specialization covering the intersection of race, law, and social justice.
Environmental Law: UCLA’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment supports coursework, clinical work, and scholarship on environmental and energy law.
Business and Corporate Law: UCLA’s Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy supports transactional practice training and connections to the Southern California business community.
Immigration Law: The Immigration Law and Policy clinical programs and related coursework benefit from Los Angeles’s position as one of the country’s most important immigration law markets.
11. UCLA Law Clinics and Experiential Learning
UCLA Law offers a range of clinics providing direct client representation and policy advocacy:
- Criminal Defense Clinic: Students represent clients in misdemeanor and felony cases in Los Angeles courts.
- Immigrants’ Rights Policy Clinic: Policy advocacy and direct representation on immigration issues.
- Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic: Litigation and policy work on environmental justice and natural resources.
- Community Economic Development Clinic: Transactional legal services for nonprofits and community organizations.
- Veterans Legal Clinic: Legal services for veterans in the Los Angeles area.
- Documentary Film Legal Clinic: One of the few clinics of its kind, providing legal services to documentary filmmakers. Reflects UCLA’s entertainment law strength.
- Tribal Legal Development Clinic: Legal services for tribal nations and indigenous communities.
Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
Los Angeles provides one of the deepest markets for externships and pro bono work in the country. UCLA students extern at major entertainment companies, tech firms, federal and state courts, and a wide range of public interest organizations. The school’s public interest program provides summer stipends and career support for students pursuing public service.
12. UCLA Law Notable Faculty and Journals
Faculty
- Kimberlé Crenshaw: Distinguished Professor of Law and Promise Institute Chair in Human Rights. A founder and leader of critical race theory and intersectionality. One of the most influential legal scholars in the country.
- Ann Carlson: Shirley Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law and Faculty Director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Environmental law, climate change, and air pollution law and policy. Former chief counsel and acting administrator of NHTSA (2021-2024).
- Joanna Schwartz: The Honorable Harry Pregerson Professor of Law. Civil rights, police accountability, and qualified immunity. Author of “Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable.” Faculty Director of the David J. Epstein Program for Public Interest Law and Policy.
- Adam Winkler: Connell Professor of Law. Constitutional law, gun rights, and corporate rights. Author of “Gunfight” and “We the Corporations.”
- Angela Riley: Professor of Law. Director of the Native Nations Law and Policy Center. Federal Indian law, Indigenous peoples’ rights, and cultural property.
Journals
- UCLA Law Review: Highly regarded general law review.
- UCLA Entertainment Law Review
- UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy
- UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs
- UCLA Pacific Basin Law Journal
- Chicano-Latino Law Review (one of the oldest journals of its kind)
- UCLA Women’s Law Journal
- National Black Law Journal
13. UCLA Law Culture and Student Life
UCLA Law’s campus in Westwood, adjacent to the broader UCLA campus, gives students access to one of the most dynamic cities in the country. The student body is diverse, engaged, and community-oriented. UCLA’s culture leans progressive and public-interest-minded, though the school produces graduates across all sectors of the legal profession.
Los Angeles offers year-round weather, unmatched diversity, and a legal market spanning entertainment, tech, real estate, corporate, immigration, and public interest. The cost of living is higher than many peer cities, but UCLA’s in-state tuition rate makes it one of the best values among T14 schools for California residents.
14. Tips for Your UCLA Application
Use the Programmatic Contribution essay. This is UCLA’s Why X equivalent. If you are interested in entertainment law, reference the Ziffren Institute. If environmental law is your path, name the Emmett Institute. If critical race studies drives you, reference the Critical Race Studies Program. If Native American law interests you, mention the Native Nations Law and Policy Center and the Graton Scholarship. Be specific about the program and how your background connects.
The Challenges Addendum is worth writing if it applies. If you have a genuine story of adversity or hardship, this addendum gives you space to share it. It functions as UCLA’s primary diversity/perspective essay for applicants with relevant backgrounds. If your PS establishes your legal interest and narrative, the Challenges Addendum should add a different dimension: perspective, adversity, resilience, or context.
UCLA’s public interest orientation is real. The Epstein Program, the Immigrants’ Rights Policy Clinic, and the Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic reflect a school that takes public interest seriously. If your goals align, make the connection explicit.
Los Angeles is part of the value proposition. If you want to work in entertainment law, this is the city. If immigration law interests you, LA is one of the most important jurisdictions in the country. If you have ties to California or the West Coast, say so. Location fit matters.
Want Help Getting Into UCLA Law?
UCLA’s application gives you real essay space between the personal statement, programmatic contribution essay, and challenges addendum. Use what applies to build a coherent picture of who you are and what you want from law school.
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Note: While this guide is kept up to date, always verify deadlines, requirements, and policies at the UCLA 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
→ Blog Directory
