George Washington University Law School: A Comprehensive Overview of Rankings, Academics, and Opportunities

The George Washington University Law School (GW Law), situated in the heart of Washington, D.C., is a private research university with a rich history and a strong presence in the legal field. This article delves into various aspects of GW Law, including its rankings, academic environment, faculty, student life, and career prospects.

Understanding GW Law's Ranking

It's important to approach law school rankings with a critical eye. Rankings, such as those published annually by U.S. News & World Report, should be viewed as a "snapshot" providing information about factors to analyze and compare schools, but these factors will vary in their importance depending on an individual applicant’s interests and goals. There are numerous sources of information available to help students choose the right school for them. Spivey Consulting Group, which has provided services to GW, offers a free, interactive tool to help students decide what criteria matters most to them and then compare the law schools that meet them.

GW Law's overall rank resulting from this year’s algorithm was #41; under last year’s algorithm, GW Law ranked #35. In 2024, GW Law rose to No. 31 in the country from No. 41 last year, after dropping 16 spots from 2022’s rankings. GW Law’s No. 31 ranking tied with four other law schools including George Mason University, universities of Alabama and Utah and the College of William & Mary.

It is noteworthy that several of GW Law programs ranked in the top 10 this year: intellectual property law (at #5) and international law (at #9). GW Law’s part-time program was ranked #3 in the country.

A Look at Recent Ranking Trends

GW has experienced fluctuations in its rankings in recent years. The rise in rankings marks a reversal of a downward trend in GW’s graduate and law school rankings since 2022, when the law school ranked No. 25, the business school ranked No. 55, GSEHD ranked No. 51 and SEAS ranked No. 74. The School of Business rose by one place to No. 61, the Graduate School of Education and Human Development rose by three from last year to No. 73 and the School of Engineering & Applied Science rose by 18 places, from No. 92 in 2024 to No. 74. The School of Nursing’s master’s degree program is unranked as well as the School of Medicine & Health Sciences’ research and primary care programs, which were ranked No. 58 and No. 106 in 2024. GW’s public affairs program remained ranked No. The criminal law program fell eight places, from No. 24 last year to No. The Milken Institute School of Public Health dropped one place from last year to No. SEAS’s 18-place rise from No. 92 to No. 74 is the largest single-year climb from last year among schools ranked in the top 100 for engineering, according to a SEAS release.

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Importance of Individual Assessment

Matthew, from GW Law, said the rankings offer a “snapshot,” presenting “some information about factors that form the basis to analyze and compare schools. But different factors will vary in their importance depending on an individual applicant’s interests and goals.

Academics and Faculty

GW Law is known for its stellar academics, with a curriculum that mixes theory and practice, placing an emphasis on didactic ability. Classes offer an experience, and while the Socratic Method is used, it is used very gently, and tends to create more of an open discussion format than a fear-invoking grilling process.” However, students would like to see their torts class expanded to two semesters.

Renowned Faculty

The professors at GW are first-rate; there are “so many ‘must-takes’ here that you are guaranteed a great professor (at least by reputation) for each major doctrinal course.” Indeed, GW Law professors are well-known locally and nationally, and “it’s not unusual to attend a professor’s class, and then later see him or her on the television that evening.” These superstars are approachable as well, and “you would be hard-pressed to go to a student function and not find a friendly face from the faculty and staff enjoying time away from the formal school setting and lending their wisdom and wit to the outside student life.”

The scholarly impact of the faculty who teach GW Law’s students is 18th nationally-12th for faculty under the age of 60. GW Law’s Dean is a “terrific fundraiser and cheerleader,” and even normally teaches a 1L Criminal Law class. student panel on the Faculty Appointments Committee, where students’ views as reflected in their reports to the faculty are “given serious consideration during the appointment process.”

Intellectual Property Program

GW Law has one of the oldest intellectual property programs in the US. Its alumni have contributed to various technological advancements, including involvement in the patent for the Wright brothers' flying machine, granted on May 22, 1906.

Student Life and Environment

GW Law fosters a close-knit, high-energy" environment. At this large law school, “there is a group (or clique) for everyone,” and while “most law students are naturally type-A,” the school is not competitive, possibly because most students have a job when graduating. There is a genuine atmosphere of camaraderie, where “students are colleagues not just in the classroom, but in the outside world as well.” The Student Bar Association is one of the best in the nation, which is a reflection of the close relationship between the students and the administration, who “make a clear effort to engage students on the decisions of the law school.”

Location and Facilities

Only a few blocks from the National Mall and a short walk to Georgetown and Dupont Circle, GW has the perfect location for the social, career, and academic needs of students. The somewhat high enrollment means “at times it feels a bit crowded” at GW, but the law school complex is very big, and the school has done a good job of expanding spaces, having recently developed a café for students and enlarging student conference spaces. In addition to the excellent law library, at one’s fingertips on any given day there are lectures, panels, and workshops. The law school currently occupies nine buildings on the main campus of The George Washington University. The law school's main complex comprises five buildings anchored by Stockton Hall (1924) located on the University Yard, the central open space of GW's urban campus. Renovated extensively between 2001 and 2003, these buildings adjoin one another, have internal passageways, and function as one consolidated complex.

Admissions and Student Body

For the class entering in the fall of 2025, 2,644 out of 9,718 J.D. applicants (27%) were offered admission, with 595 matriculating. In the 2018-19 academic year, GW Law had 1,525 J.D. Students enrolled in the J.D. By many measures, she noted, GW Law is performing better than ever. Current students have the best LSAT scores in the school’s history, and more students than ever go on to rewarding jobs after graduating. The ratio of students to faculty members is exceptional.

Key Statistics

GW Law ranks #29 in LSAT composite (166.7), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT scores (162 · 168 · 170). GW Law ranks #44 in GPA composite (3.78), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile GPAs (3.55 · 3.86 · 3.93).

Career Opportunities and Bar Passage

The caliber of the “limitless” resources available to a George Washington University law students are outstanding, and the location cannot be beat; its various connections to federal agencies, lobbyists, firms, and judges in the area make it easy to find some area of law that will interest any student, as well as allowing for a wealth of outside placement and internship possibilities. “I have enough room in my schedule to go hear oral arguments at the Supreme Court or the Federal Circuit Court,” says a student. “Nearly everyone I know has had the opportunity to intern in the federal or D.C. courts or some federal agency,” says another. Even if students aren’t happy with the Career Development office (and many outside of the top 15 percent of the class are not), there’s the matter of the upstanding reputation with employers. “People that don’t get jobs that attend GW either (1) didn’t try hard enough to diversify where they were applying (particularly, geographically-people seem to forget there are jobs outside D.C., New York, and the coasts), or (2) aren’t trying hard enough period,” says a 3L. Add to that stellar academics, and this “close knit, high energy” school is definitely on the move, though the price tag can be steep.

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GW Law ranks #44 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (90.2%), and it outperforms by +7.5% the District of Columbia's overall bar passage rate of 82.7%. A national comparison on bar passage should be taken with caution because every state has a different bar passage rate. The most meaningful comparison is between a school's passage rate and the state's overall rate for the same exam administration.

Cost of Attendance

GW Law ranks #52 in terms of highest tuition among full-time law students ($75,420).

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