University of Washington

WA · Public · Pacific

Acceptance rate: 20% (3,412 applicants)
Median LSAT: 165 (middle 50%: 162–167)
Median GPA: 3.76 (middle 50%: 3.60–3.86)
Tuition: $57,810 (per year, nonresident)
Bar passage: 92.6% (+9.7 pts vs. state average)

Deadlines

Application deadline: July 15, 2027

Essays

Personal statement (750 words)

The University of Washington School of Law aspires to be the best public law school in the nation and one of the world's most respected centers for interdisciplinary legal studies. We strive to be lawyer-leaders by shaping and defending just and sustainable laws and policies through our scholarly discovery, ethical advocacy, inspired teaching, and generous public service. The primary goal of the admissions process is to enroll students who strive to be leaders; demonstrate outstanding academic, professional and leadership promise; are committed to generous public service and ethical advocacy; and who have background and experiences that will enhance the diversity of the student body, thereby enriching the law school educational environment. As such, applicants are invited to write a personal statement that describes their potential contributions to our vibrant community.

Supplemental statement, option 1 (500 words)

What life events or experiences have had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why?

Supplemental statement, option 2 (500 words)

Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership, whether in a classroom, workplace, organization, or personal context. What did you learn from that experience, and how will your leadership skills contribute to our law school community and the legal profession?

Supplemental statement, option 3 (500 words)

What is a strength, trait, or experience you possess that might not be immediately visible in your application but is essential to understanding who you are?

Why UW statement (Brief; no limit stated)

Though optional, applicants are encouraged to include a brief statement explaining why they are interested in attending UW Law. We encourage applicants to make this statement specific and genuine, focused on the particular experiences, interests, goals, personal connections, or opportunities that draw them to UW Law. Rather than restating general characteristics of the law school, or converting a version prepared for another law school, use this opportunity to tell us what makes UW Law a meaningful fit for you.

JurisPath optional statement (250 words)

All applicants are invited to submit an optional statement explaining why they chose to apply through JurisPath and provide additional context about their qualifications. Examples include: focus on past academic performance and growth, evidence of law school readiness beyond testing, and/or barriers to testing.

Editor's notes

Three routes, two of them binding. JurisPath (Sept. 15, no LSAT) and early decision (Dec. 1) both commit you before you see a scholarship. Regular decision keeps your options open, and the March 1 priority date is the one to aim for, not July 15.
Write the personal statement to UW's prompt, not your generic one. It asks for your potential contributions and spells out what counts: leadership, public service, ethical advocacy. A why-law essay that never gets to what you'd do there misses the question.
Don't skip the optional pieces. The supplemental statement gives you 500 more words, and the Why UW answer is where a recycled essay shows. UW's instructions tell you so directly.
Decide on public service before you apply. The Gates scholarship covers full cost for a five-year public service commitment, Gregoire points toward corporate practice, and you can't apply for both.