Hofstra University School of Law: Academics, Admissions, and Rankings

The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, also known as Hofstra Law School and colloquially as Hofstra Law, is a law school located in Hempstead, on Long Island, in New York, United States. Founded in 1970 and accredited by the ABA in 1971, the school offers JD, MA, and LLM programs, as well as joint degrees. Hofstra University Law School stands out for its commitment to diversity and hands-on learning, bridging theory and real-world practice.

A Brief History

Hofstra Law was founded in 1970 by Malachy Mahon, the law school's first dean, and the youngest law school dean in the country at age 34. At the time, Hofstra Law was the first law school started in New York in 45 years. Mahon left a position at Fordham Law School to become Hofstra Law's administrator in 1968 and was responsible for choosing all of the faculty and developing the curriculum for the school. The school was renamed the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.

Location and Facilities

Located on the 244-acre campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, Hofstra Law is 25 miles east of New York City in suburban Long Island. The law school is on the southern part of the 244-acre (0.99 km2) Hofstra University campus. Few, if any, law schools can match the combination of Hofstra Law’s green campus and its easy access to New York City, the hub of the nation’s legal profession.

Kushner Hall and Koppelman Hall contain most of Hostra Law's classrooms, faculty offices and administrative offices, as well as the two level Barbara and Maurice A. Deane Law Library, Law, Logic and Technology Lab, the Weitz & Luxenberg Trial Courtroom, and the Sidney R. Siben and Walter Siben Moot Courtroom. In the early 1990s, the school added a new building, Joan Axinn Hall, which houses its growing clinical programs and Enrollment Management.

Academics and Curriculum

The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is a distinguished institution committed to both theoretical depth and practical application. The faculty, a mix of respected scholars and practitioners, equips students with essential tools for navigating modern legal complexities. In this vibrant community, aspiring lawyers not only grasp the law but also develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and communication skills.

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Hofstra University Law School supports aspiring legal scholars pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree through scholarships and loans. The Juris Doctor (JD) program at Hofstra Law School is the cornerstone, of providing a comprehensive legal education.

Hofstra Law has historically been at the forefront of legal education, first as a pioneer in fully integrating clinical education into a traditional law school curriculum, and then as one of the first law schools in the country to develop a legal technology center in 2010. Today, Hofstra Law has expanded its offerings to include courses in cybersecurity, cryptocurrency and courtroom technology, as well as a legal-tech fellowship program.

The emphasis on experiential learning, clinics, and internships underscores Hofstra’s commitment to producing knowledgeable legal professionals capable of confidently navigating the complexities of contemporary legal practice. Hofstra Law offers experiential programs for students to gain hands-on experience. At Hofstra Law, you can learn from experienced faculty to hone your skills while representing individuals facing real legal challenges by counseling clients and advocating in court. Students have the opportunity to work in one of Hofstra Law’s 8 clinics.

Hofstra Law’s Weitz & Luxenberg Trial “Courtroom of the Future” allows students to experience contemporary trial practice. This includes software used in trials, digital presentation and preservation of evidence, and videoconferencing for off-site witnesses and experts.

Degree Programs

At Hofstra Law School, you’ll find a variety of programs, from the foundational Juris Doctor (JD) to specialized certificates and advanced degrees. In addition to its JD Program, Hofstra Law offers an ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate Program, an Online MA in Health Law and Policy, and three LLM Programs: American Legal Studies; Family Law; and Online LLM in Health Law and Policy.

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The Juris Doctor (JD) Program: The cornerstone of Hofstra Law, providing a comprehensive legal education.

Paralegal Certificate Program: For those aiming for a career as a paralegal, Hofstra offers a specialized Paralegal Certificate Program.

Online Master of Arts (MA) in Health Law and Policy: Catering to those passionate about healthcare legalities.

LLM Programs:

American Legal Studies
Family Law: For those with a keen interest in family law, the LLM program at Hofstra Law School offers specialized expertise.
Online LLM in Health Law and Policy: Provides the same expertise as the on-campus version but with the added advantage of online accessibility.

Joint Degree Programs

In addition, Hofstra Law offers joint degree programs including a JD/MBA with Hofstra's Frank G. Zarb School of Business, JD/MALFL (Master of Linguistics: Forensic Linguistics), JD/MA in Bioethics or a JD/MPH (Master of Public Health).

Concentrations

At Hofstra Law, we give you the opportunity to find your focus in a particular legal area. You could add a concentration in business law, corporate compliance law, criminal law and procedures, family law, health law, intellectual property law or international law.

Read also: Excellence at Hofstra University

Clinics

Hofstra Law has 10 national and global centers of excellence to foster your research, education and action on critical issues facing today's society. These centers are just a part of a massive network of resources that will help you build your skill set and get the hands-on experience you need to stand out in the legal marketplace. Hofstra Law has 8 clinics:

Asylum Clinic
Community and Economic Development Clinic
Clinical Prosecution Practicum
Defender Clinic
Deportation Defense Clinic
Law Reform Advocacy Clinic
Hofstra Medical Legal Partnership (MLP)
Robert W. Entenmann Veterans Law Clinic

Centers and Institutes

Hofstra Law has 10 national and global centers of excellence to foster your research, education and action on critical issues facing today's society.

Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies
Center for Applied Legal Reasoning
Center for Children, Family and the Law
Intellectual Property Law Center
Center for Legal Advocacy
Monroe H. Freedman Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics
Gitenstein Institute for Health Law and Policy
Law, Logic & Technology Research Lab
Weitz Mass Tort Institute

Journals

Hofstra Law Review (Est. 1972)
Hofstra Labor and Employment Law Journal (Est. 1983)
Hofstra Journal of International Business and Law (Est. 1999)
Family Court Review
American College of Trust & Estate Counsel Journal (ACTEC)

Admissions

Entering Hofstra University School of Law requires navigating an admissions process that considers academic achievements, standardized test scores, and personal attributes. To qualify for the legal community at Hofstra, ensure you meet the Law School Requirements.

Based on the 2025 ABA 509 Report, 2448 candidates submitted JD applications to Hofstra Law School and 993 received acceptance letters. This means that of the 993 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 260 chose to enroll. Acknowledge the competitive nature of admissions with Hofstra’s acceptance rate of 44.70%.

For a competitive law school application to Hofstra Law School, students should aim to meet or exceed the median statistics shown below.

Hofstra Law ranks #105 in GPA composite (3.61), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile GPAs (3.35 · 3.65 · 3.83).
Hofstra Law ranks #118 in LSAT composite (157.0), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT scores (154 · 157 · 160).

The LSAT is a pivotal element of your application. Hofstra Law School considers the LSAT and its scores crucial for admissions, assessing an applicant’s readiness for law school challenges, especially in analytical reasoning. Begin your LSAT preparation by enrolling in LSAT Prep Courses. With a comprehensive LSAT Prep Course, you can ace the LSAT and secure your spot at Hofstra Law School. For a more individualized approach, explore LSAT Tutoring services. Achieve your best LSAT score with personalized guidance from our expert tutors, and pave your way to Hofstra Law School. Familiarize yourself with the LSAT format and question types using official practice materials. Engage in Law School Admissions Consulting to gain strategic insights into the application process. Get the competitive edge in your Hofstra Law School application with our professional admissions consultants by your side. Efficient time management is crucial in the LSAT. Leverage online LSAT resources for additional practice and support.

Secure Law School Letters of Recommendation that speak to your character, work ethic, and potential as a law student.

Starting law school at Hofstra University goes beyond grades - it’s about showcasing your whole self as a future legal professional.

Key Statistics

Explore Hofstra Law School’s academic landscape through key statistics.

LSAT/GPA data reflects Fall 2025 entering class.
Historical LSAT, GPA, and acceptance rate data from ABA 509 reports.
LSAT and GPA bands show 25th/50th/75th percentiles; acceptance rate is lower = more selective.

Rankings and Reputation

Hofstra Law School’s rankings are influenced by various key factors. Academic reputation plays a significant role, reflecting the institution’s standing within the legal education community. The school’s bar passage rates and employment outcomes for graduates also contribute to its rankings, showcasing the practical success of its alumni. Additionally, faculty credentials, student-to-faculty ratios, and the quality of facilities contribute to the overall perception of the institution.

Hofstra Law ranks #65 in terms of highest tuition among full-time law students ($73,344).
Hofstra Law ranks #115 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (78.9%), and it underperforms by -6.8% the state of New York's overall bar passage rate of 85.7%.

In 2024, Hofstra Law was named one of the top 50 "go-to" law schools by law.com. In 2024, Hofstra Law was named one of the top 50 "go-to" law schools by law.com. PreLaw magazine awarded Hofstra Law an "A" rating for its Alternative Dispute Resolution offerings in its Spring 2025 issue (Vol. 28, No. 3).

Career Services and Employment Outcomes

Going to Hofstra Law will open many doors for you. Our alumni have gone on to become partners and chairs at major firms, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, sports agents, politicians, judges, professors, entrepreneurs and more.

Our ideal location offers you even more employment and internship opportunities in New York City and on Long Island. For the Class of 2021, the Law School reported its highest job placement numbers in the last decade for full-time, long-term, bar-passage-required and JD-advantage positions 10 months after graduation. For the Class of 2021, the Law School reported its highest job placement numbers in the last decade for full-time, long-term, bar-passage-required and JD-advantage positions 10 months after graduation. Dozens of the most prestigious law firms in New York City and Long Island recruit at the law school.

For the July 2023 New York bar exam, 80.15% of Hofstra Law graduates who were first-time exam takers passed the bar.

Employment Statistics

"Bar-Required" shows full-time, long-term positions requiring bar admission.
"Bar-required" jobs are full-time, long-term positions that require bar admission.
"JD advantage" positions are those where the employer requires a JD or considers it an advantage, but bar admission is not required.
The salary statistics are those of full-time, long-term employed law graduates for the Class of 2023, reported ten months after graduation, as self-reported by the graduates.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Law school tuition at Hofstra Law School is $146k annually (calculated from semester costs).

Hofstra University Law School supports aspiring legal scholars pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree through scholarships and loans. These opportunities aim to ease the financial challenges of legal education, making it more accessible for qualified students. The scholarships recognize academic excellence, leadership, and diverse achievements, offering a pathway for deserving students to excel in their legal studies. Additionally, Hofstra Law School provides access to law school loans, acknowledging the importance of financial flexibility in managing the costs of legal education.

Hofstra Law School has awarded annual merit law school scholarships from $5,000 to full tuition since the fall of 2017. Retention depends on class rankings: top 50% keep 100%, 50-65% retain 50%, and 65-80% retain 25%. Initial rankings for full-time and part-time students combine after the first year, and subsequent years require maintaining a cumulative academic rank within specified percentiles. Rankings are calculated yearly in spring and remain unchanged until the following year. Both undergraduates and graduates, enrolled at least half-time, can apply for federal student loans. Graduates qualify for unsubsidized Direct Loans, and subsidized loans are based on financial need. Undergraduates have a fixed 5.50% interest rate with a 1.057% origination fee (Oct 1, 2021 - Sep 30, 2023), while graduates face a 7.05% fixed rate with the same fee. The federal government covers interest on subsidized loans during specific periods, but borrowers must pay all interest on unsubsidized loans.

Campus Life and Culture

First-year students have all their classes with the same section, so “there is a sense that we are all getting through together.” This instantly creates a nice community for incoming students, who also appreciate their access to 2Ls and 3Ls that “are more than happy to help with information about classes and professors.” ""There is some small amount of competition, but that is what keeps us on our toes. It shouldn’t be frowned upon,” says a student. Students are encouraged to work in study groups (and the overwhelming majority do), and “there is a strong desire to help others understand”; students “get lots of support from…fellow law school brothers and sisters.” “We actually like one another!” says a 1L.

While the school’s location on the edge of the somewhat tucked-away neighborhood of Hempstead is far from ideal, “security on campus is very efficient.” Long Island is “a little boring,” but “there is ample opportunity for social activities,” as the law school itself has many different student organizations, “so it’s easy to find a group of people you can relate to and who have interest[s] in common with you.” Commuting to and from New York City, for school or for fun, is also an option. The school offers a free shuttle to the local train station and its a thirty-five minute ride on the train.

Notable Alumni

David Weprin ('80), member of the New York State Assembly since 2010.
Mary Matalin, political consultant for the Republican Party, advisor to former president George W. Bush.

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