Admissions Office, 1329 Biolchini Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Phone: 574.631.6626; Fax: 574.631.5474
E-mail: lawadmit@nd.edu; Website: law.nd.edu
With a rich history that dates to its founding in 1869, Notre Dame Law School today enjoys a national and international reputation for preparing consummate professionals—men and women who are extraordinarily competent in their professional endeavors and who commit themselves to serve their clients and the profession effectively and honorably. Distinctive among nationally regarded law schools as a result of the school's and the university's Catholic heritage and tradition, faith and values, and community spirit, the Law School inspires students to examine their practice of law within the context of their responsibilities as members of the bar, as leaders within their respective fields, and as citizens of the world community.
The student body represents the national stature and international nature of the programs of the Law School and the university. Our student body of approximately 575 students represents nearly all states and a number of foreign countries. The small size of the student body fosters a sense of community and allows significant interaction between faculty and students.
Faculty members come to Notre Dame Law School with experience in private practice and government service, and represent a wide range of undergraduate institutions, law schools, and state bars. Members of the faculty are well regarded for their commitment to teaching, as well as their accessibility to students outside of the classroom as advisors and mentors. At the same time, these premier scholars publish in leading journals and are invited to participate in academic conferences around the world.
In January 2009, the Law School moved into the Eck Hall of Law, a beautiful and spacious three-story, 85,000-square-foot building. It is connected to the existing building by a covered walkway and chapel, with a common area above. The design captures the Law School's commitment to shaping the minds, hearts, and souls of the next generation of Notre Dame lawyers. In June 2010, the equally beautiful gothic structure that has been home to the Law School since 1930, reopened after undergoing a major renovation. Biolchini Hall houses an expanded Kresge Law Library, several administrative offices, four journal offices, and additional classroom space.
The Kresge Law Library is among the top American law school research libraries. The staff is noted for its service to law school faculty, students, staff, and the larger university community.
The Law School provides significant computing support for students and other members of the law school community. Five full-time technology professionals offer assistance for both hardware and software, in addition to other computing and technology needs.
The JD curriculum provides a strong foundation in those areas that have proven to be fundamental to the actual practice of law in every American jurisdiction, while giving students the opportunity to tailor coursework to particular career aspirations. The law school offers programs of study in Business Law; Criminal Law; Global Law; Law, Ethics, and Public Policy; and Public Law; as well as interdisciplinary programs in Church, State, and Society; Constitutional Structure and Design; Family Law Mediation; Law and Economics; and Law and Human Development. In addition to the JD degree, the Law School confers three graduate law degrees: an LLM in International and Comparative Law, an LLM in International Human Rights, and a JSD (also in International Human Rights). The LLM in International and Comparative Law is offered exclusively at the Law School's London Law Centre.
Notre Dame Law School recognizes that today's legal practice increasingly involves problems that the law of no one nation can resolve. Hence, JD candidates may augment their legal education by participating in study-abroad programs offered by the Law School through its London Law Centre. Second-year students who wish to immerse themselves in comparative and international law, as well as in the traditions of the American and British common-law systems, can study in the only yearlong overseas program offered by an American law school. Students who desire a shorter international-study experience and who have completed their first year of law school can spend a semester or summer in London.
The sense of community and the quality of student life at Notre Dame have developed out of long-standing traditions that make the Notre Dame Law School experience different: admission policies that emphasize the importance of qualitative factors such as service to others; a mission that focuses on teaching, scholarship, and service in the legal and Judeo-Christian traditions; and an emphasis on forming and nurturing collegial relationships between students and faculty. The Law School is centrally located on the Notre Dame campus, and law students fully participate in athletic, cultural, religious, and social events on the campus. Law students also manage to find a comfortable balance between their studies and involvement in the Law School's four law journals and any of 30 organizations that reflect the professional and personal interests of the student body.
Notre Dame is committed to providing a legal education of the highest quality at a tuition structure that compares favorably to other nationally regarded private law schools. Additionally, law students benefit from the low cost of living in northern Indiana.
In recent years, scholarship assistance has been provided annually to approximately 60–70 percent of entering students on the basis of merit, commitment to the Law School's mission, and financial need. Scholarships are renewable for all three years of legal study if the student remains in good standing.
Many single law students choose to live on campus in graduate-student housing. Married students with children can live in the unfurnished University Village apartments. Students who wish to live off campus can find reasonably priced accommodations near the campus and can secure on-campus parking for a nominal additional charge.
Notre Dame Law School graduates have, in recent years, found rewarding work all over the country and in a wide variety of practice areas. Employers participate in interviews exclusive to Notre Dame law students in Los Angeles; Washington, DC; and New York, as well as on campus. Employers are interested in interviewing Notre Dame law students because of the Law School's reputation for preparing extraordinarily competent lawyers. A national network of over 8,000 Law School alumni and friends assists students and graduates in finding employment opportunities across the country.
Graduates of Notre Dame Law School have been successful in terms of obtaining judicial clerkships. These highly sought-after positions provide graduates with a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the inner workings of the judicial system, while at the same time allowing them to hone important legal skills and problem-solving abilities.
The Career Development Office (CDO) also coordinates a variety of initiatives to encourage students who wish to be employed in public interest work following graduation. These include a variety of informational programs and services, including participation in our campus-wide, nonprofit career night. The CDO also participates in public interest law career fairs across the country and is a sponsoring and coordinating school for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference in Chicago. Additionally, the office coordinates a comprehensive summer stipend program that provides funding for over 100 students working in public interest positions each summer. The Law School's Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) assists eligible law school graduates who choose to work in public interest, public service, or other similar positions after graduation. The Law School seeks to help reduce the financial pressures that can discourage graduates from pursuing positions in public interest and public service employment.
Please visit our website for the most current employment information.
Each year, the Law School Admissions Committee employs a whole-person review philosophy to create a class from a large number of highly qualified applicants. We seek to enroll multidimensional students with a wide range of talents, backgrounds, experiences, accomplishments, and points of view. Academic ability, as reflected in the LSAT score and academic performance in college, are important; however, the committee considers a broad array of elements in addition to these two quantitative measures. Notre Dame Law School officials involved in the admission process are mindful of the school's objective to produce lawyers who are competent, compassionate, and committed to serving their clients with integrity. The admission process is highly selective and seeks to enroll men and women of exceptional ability. We do not provide an applicant profile grid because it would be based solely on LSAT and GPA.