Washington University School of Law Excellence in Legal Education

The Washington University School of Law (WashU Law) is the law school of Washington University in St. Louis, a private research university located in St. Louis, Missouri. Established in 1867, it holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating law school west of the Mississippi River.

History and Legacy

Founded in 1867, WashU Law has a rich history of inclusivity. It was the first undergraduate division of the University to admit women, and is believed to be among the first U.S. law schools to do so. In 1869, Lemma Barkeloo and Phoebe Couzins enrolled, with Couzins earning her LL.B. in 1871, becoming one of the first women in the country to achieve this degree.

Originally located in downtown St. Louis, the school relocated to the Danforth Campus in 1904. In January 1997, the school moved into Anheuser-Busch Hall, which architecturally mirrors the classic style of the Washington University Danforth Campus.

Admissions and Student Profile

For the fall 2025 entering class, the school admitted 258 matriculants. The admissions process is highly competitive, with a median LSAT score of 175 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.96. The acceptance rate for JD candidates in 2025 was 18.96%.

Employment Outcomes

WashU Law graduates enjoy exceptional employment outcomes. According to 2023 ABA-required disclosures, 98.2% of 2023 graduates secured full-time employment within nine months of graduation. Notably, 63.7% of graduates found employment in firms of more than 250 lawyers (Big Law) or secured federal judicial clerkships.

The median starting salary for the Class of 2023 graduates in the private sector was reported as $205,000 by U.S. News & World Report.

Academic Programs

Juris Doctor (JD) Program

The JD program requires 86 semester hours of credit for graduation. The first year focuses on core legal foundations, including Contracts, Property, Torts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, and Criminal Law, alongside Legal Practice and Legal Research Methodologies. The second and third years offer greater flexibility, allowing students to customize their curriculum with seminars and ethics requirements.

Advanced Legal Degrees

• Master of Laws (LL.M.): Offers specialized programs in U.S. Law for international students, Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property & Technology Law, and Taxation. Online options are also available.
• Master of Legal Studies (MLS): A graduate program specifically designed for non-lawyers.
• Juris Scientiae Doctoris (JSD): A research-intensive program emphasizing original research and writing.

Rankings and Honors

WashU Law is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the world. The 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools ranked it tied for #13 overall. It also excels in specialty rankings, such as being tied for #8 in Clinical Training and #9 in Law Schools with the Most Graduates in Federal Clerkships.

Student-Run Legal Journals

The school sponsors four scholarly journals, providing students with an opportunity to engage in deep legal research and publishing:

• Washington University Law Review: The flagship scholarly journal.
• Washington University Journal of Law and Policy: Focused on urban development and land use.
• Washington University Global Studies Law Review: Dedicated to international and comparative law.
• Washington University Jurisprudence Review: The only student-edited, in-print journal of law and philosophy.