Founded in 1925, the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University is an ABA-accredited law school in Dallas, Texas. Commonly referred to as SMU Law School, it provides a tranquil environment within Southern Methodist University, the parent institution. To apply to law school, you must submit an electronic application and a report from the CAS. Your file will not be reviewed until all required documents have been received. Letters of recommendation are optional, but if you submit, we only accept three. You can submit your letters of reference through the CAS Letter of Reference Service. Traditional law study in the first year at another law school may be completed by a student in order to apply for admission with advanced status to Suffolk University School of Law. A student who has been expelled from another school or who is on probation will not be admitted. Admission is selective. Transfer applications are considered for admission in the fall, spring or summer. In 2019, the National Law Journal ranked SMU Law School 27th among must-have law schools. Business Insider ranked the law school 21st among the law schools with the best alumni network — good relationships that can help graduates find law-related jobs. SMU has a class size of 1L of 226.

Of the 2,334 people who applied, 780 were offered admission. 224 of the 780 candidates offered were accepted, meaning that 28.72% of the candidates offered attended the school. The mean LSAT at SMU is 163 and the LSAT at the 25th percentile is 158. The GPA average is 3.76 and the 25th percentile GPA is 3.43. Southern Methodist University has a class size of 226 of 1L and an efficiency of 28.72%. 224 of the 780 admitted applicants accepted, meaning that 28.72% of those who were offered admission attended the school. The SMU Dedman School of Law is a law school located in Dallas, Texas. The school was ranked 58th by USNWR in 2022. Annual enrollment in Dedman EMS Law School is approximately 226.

The law school advocates for a diverse student body, with 32 percent of students arriving in 2021 being students of color and about 50 percent being women. We also have these student organizations active within the law school and community: Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA), Asian/Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) and OUTLaw Students Association. Visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website for more information. The SMU Dedman School of Law is one of two law schools in Dallas and is widely regarded as one of the best law schools in the Southwest. Located on a lush, tree-lined campus in Dallas` most prestigious neighborhood, SMU Law offers its students a wonderful environment in which to pursue their legal education. After graduation, these students enjoy huge career prospects in Texas — especially Dallas — and most choose to begin their legal careers in the state. For candidates hoping to do the same, SMU Law should be at the top of the list. The healthy employment rate is an expression of SMU`s commitment to helping students achieve their career goals through a personalized career development program. While most law school graduates choose to practice in Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, some graduates hold influential positions regionally, nationally, and internationally. At SMU, you`ll participate in one of the oldest international legal programs in the United States. SMU had a vision to become a global legal center long before the trend towards international legal studies.

Our students benefit from the Faculty of Law`s extensive experience and expertise in international law. Today, more than 2,000 international Law School graduates from more than 80 countries hold outstanding positions around the world in government, legal practice, business, justice and legal education. The main objective of the program is to improve the legal skills of the international student so that he or she can become a more effective lawyer and member of society. In this regard, the program aims to: The Board of Advocates is a student-led organization that promotes hands-on experience in written and oral advocacy through various competitions throughout the academic year. The BOA coordinates sham trials, mock trials, negotiations, client advice and mediation competitions open to all SMU law students. These competitions are judged by local practitioners and members of the Faculty of Law. The BOA also sponsors teams of students for national, national and international inter-school mixed trials, moot courts, negotiations, client advice and mediation competitions. SMU is a competitive law school that accepts about 42% of its applicants. When it comes to admissions, law school prefers excellent, well-rounded students with strong academic backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives that promise to enrich their educational community. The experienced staff of the Career Services Office help students obtain legal and legal employment with law firms, the judiciary, government, businesses and public benefit entities.

The office organizes seminars and speakers on relevant legal topics, educates students on job search and interviewing techniques, and sponsors on- and off-campus interview programs and career fairs that provide students with ample opportunities to meet practitioners. The Office of Career Services also works closely with employers to make the legal hiring process as easy as possible, helping to fill positions at all levels – from summer employees to lateral entrants. Many employers interact with our students during the school year through programs and events. Each year, several hundred private law firms, corporations, government agencies and public interest organizations come to Dedman Law EMS to recruit students for summer internships or internships and permanent positions. The Faculty of Law has its own dining room and a four-storey multi-storey car park with 500 parking spaces. The Faculty of Law has a worldwide reputation for training respected lawyers for the legal and entrepreneurial future. SMU Law School allows students to complete a full-time JD in three years or a part-time JD in four years. Attendance cost (CoA) is the total estimated amount you need to spend each year to go to school. Unlike tuition, the CoA includes expenses such as rent, food, and insurance.

The school reviews each component of the application to determine acceptance. Components include LSAT score, undergraduate performance, work experience, graduate education, personal statement and letters of recommendation. SMU`s location in University Park, a prestigious Dallas neighborhood, contributes to the high quality of life students enjoy at the university and law school. The law school facilities are self-contained and located on the beautiful green university campus and have recently been modernized through extensive renovations. Law students benefit from a newly constructed parking garage and dining room at the law school and have access to the many facilities of the larger SMU campus, including child care, housing options, and the fitness center. Law students praise on-campus housing, and off-campus housing options are affordable and appropriate near the law school. In terms of nightlife, law students enjoy the variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants typically available in major metropolitan areas like Dallas, and participate in weekly happy hours hosted by the Student Bar Association. Traffic can be avoided by using Dallas` efficient public transit system, and safety is rarely an issue at or around law school. SMU Law School requires JD students to complete at least 30 hours of pro bono work prior to graduation.

The law school is also home to five independent law journals: Robert Dedman, founder of ClubCorp, Inc., is one of SMU Law School`s distinguished alumni. Other notable graduates of the school include Edward Rust, president and CEO of State Farm Insurance, and Angela Braly, CEO of healthcare company WellPoint, Inc. The reason this report is called the “2020” report is that our 2020 Law School Ranking Report and 2020 Law School Profiles are of considerable interest to potential law school applicants who wish to enroll in courses starting in fall 2020. At the time of publication of this report in spring 2019, these employment statistics reflected the most recent data available. The campus is located about five miles north of downtown Dallas. The location is ideal for students who wish to pursue their law studies in a friendly study environment close to a lively city centre. The six-acre free-standing law school quadrilateral provides law students with convenient access to all law school facilities. The Faculty of Law established its graduate programs more than 65 years ago. They are designed to enhance careers in private legal practice, teaching and public service by providing university-level education and training opportunities. Programs are designed to enhance the student`s understanding of legal theory and policy, broaden the student`s legal horizons, and foster the development of legal research and writing skills. LLM programs are open to lawyers who have graduated from recognized law schools and whose academic and professional records indicate a likelihood of successful completion of legal studies.