2255 E. Evans Avenue, Suite 115
Denver, CO 80208
Phone: 303.871.6135; Fax: 303.871.6992
E-mail: admissions@law.du.edu; Website: www.law.du.edu
The University of Denver Sturm College of Law opened its doors in 1892 and has been breaking ground in legal education ever since. Our faculty pride themselves in training students for successful careers as legal practitioners by offering a variety of challenging and exciting courses in addition to experiential learning opportunities through our Student Law Office, externships with law firms, and clerkships with judges. Our new building, with over 181,000 square feet spanning four stories, is the first law building to be awarded the Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the US Green Building Council. Downtown Denver—where the state legislature, courthouses, regional federal agencies, state agencies, and law firms are found—is 10 minutes away by Light Rail, and the Rocky Mountains are just a short drive to the west.
Denver Law provides a solid foundation of core classes on which to build your career in law. In addition, we offer a wide range of specialized classes that permit our faculty to bring their scholarship into the classroom.
Lawyering Process Program—The first-year curriculum includes an innovative Lawyering Process program, which provides first-year students an introduction to the law and the legal system, and teaches students how to research legal questions and write about them in several formats.
Environmental and Natural Resources Law—Drawing upon its location in one of the nation's natural resource and energy capitals, Denver Law offers a rich program in environmental and natural resources law. Extensive course offerings are supplemented with abundant opportunities for externships at local natural resource companies, environmental advocacy and protection groups, and government enforcement agencies. Students may also participate in our Environmental Law Clinic, student organizations, the Water Law Review, writing competitions, and natural resources moot court competitions.
International Legal Studies—The International Legal Studies program is designed for students interested in international comparative law, international organizations, or transnational business. Students in the program may work on the Denver Journal of International Law and Policy as staff members and editors. The International Law Society and Ved Nanda Center for International Law sponsor a rich schedule of outside speakers and an annual conference focused on a current issue in international law.
Corporate and Commercial Law—As one of the nation's biggest tourism magnets, Denver provides a practical backdrop for students interested in business and commercial law. In addition to foundation courses and specialized seminars, corporate internships and highly prized one-semester assignments with large local corporations are available for interested students to pursue.
Lawyering in Spanish—This program celebrates the globalization of Spanish culture by providing an opportunity to learn the specialized vocabulary and counseling techniques required to represent Spanish-speaking clients in the United States and abroad.
Clinics—In 1904 Denver Law launched the first Student Law Office (SLO) in the United States. The SLO offers the following clinics: Civil Litigation, Civil Rights, Community Law, Criminal Defense, Environmental, and Mediation/Arbitration. Students represent indigent clients at all levels of the dispute resolution process. If the case reaches the litigation phase, the student handles all aspects of pretrial, trial preparation, and the trial itself under faculty supervision.
Trial Advocacy—The Advocacy Department at Denver Law provides its students with the highest quality preparation for success in their professional careers by providing education and simulation in the four areas of advocacy—Client Advocacy, Pre-Trial Advocacy, Trial Advocacy, and Appellate Advocacy. The department achieves this through innovative professional skills courses, simulated courtroom situations, and competitive tournaments. The department's three national trial teams and eight moot court teams consistently garner awards and recognition at both regional and nationally ranked tournaments, and the school's Moot Court Board produces six competitions per academic year.
Journals—Five scholarly journals are edited at Denver Law, allowing students to participate in research in varied fields. Academic credit is awarded for work on the Denver University Law Review, Denver Journal of International Law and Policy, Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, Transportation Law Journal, and University of Denver Water Law Review.
Student Organizations—A wide range of student organizations contribute to the vibrant environment of the Sturm College of Law. Among those groups are the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Asian Pacific American Law Students' Association, Black Law Students' Association, Business Law Society, Christian Legal Society, Federalist Society, International Law Society, Intellectual Property Law Society, J. Reuben Clarke Law Society, Jewish Law Students Association, Latino Law Students Association, Native American Law Students Association, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Society, Phi Alpha Delta, Public Interest Law Group, and Sports and Entertainment Law Society.
All applications should be submitted online and reach the Sturm College of Law between September and February to receive maximum consideration for admission for the following August. Students may only begin law study in the fall semester. Applicants must take the LSAT and register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. LSAT scores and records of academic performance are individually evaluated in the admission process. The applicant's personal statement, résumé, and letters of recommendation are thoroughly reviewed as well as work experience, significant personal accomplishments, leadership roles, a commitment to community service, and other activities that show initiative, growth, and maturity.
All admitted students are considered for scholarships. No additional application is required, except for the Chancellor Scholarship. Scholarships offered to entering first-year students may be renewed each year based on satisfactory academic performance.
The Chancellor Scholar program is offered to students with a demonstrated history of excellence in scholarship and public service. The program awards full-tuition scholarships to a limited number of qualified students committed to public interest issues. The scholarships are available to entering first-year day-division and evening-division students.
Additional one-year scholarships may be offered to continuing students based on law school performance. Students may also apply for federal loans, up to the cost of attendance.
The Career Development Center (CDC) assists students and alumni in the formulation of career plans and connects potential employers with qualified applicants. Their services include educating students and alumni in developing necessary skills to locate and obtain satisfying and meaningful employment, connecting students and alumni to the world of work, and facilitating employers' connections with students and alumni.
On-campus graduate housing is available at the University of Denver. However, the majority of law students choose to live off campus.
This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.
| GPA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT Score |
3.75+ Apps |
3.75+ Adm |
3.50– 3.74 Apps |
3.50– 3.74 Adm |
3.25– 3.49 Apps |
3.25– 3.49 Adm |
3.00– 3.24 Apps |
3.00– 3.24 Adm |
2.75– 2.99 Apps |
2.75– 2.99 Adm |
2.50– 2.74 Apps |
2.50– 2.74 Adm |
2.25– 2.49 Apps |
2.25– 2.49 Adm |
2.00– 2.24 Apps |
2.00– 2.24 Adm |
Below 2.00 Apps |
Below 2.00 Adm |
No GPA Apps |
No GPA Adm |
Total Apps |
Total Adm |
| LSAT score 175–180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| LSAT score 170–174 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 19 |
| LSAT score 165–169 | 20 | 20 | 47 | 45 | 41 | 38 | 25 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 157 | 144 |
| LSAT score 160–164 | 80 | 78 | 103 | 98 | 106 | 97 | 115 | 112 | 57 | 54 | 24 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 507 | 464 |
| LSAT score 155–159 | 102 | 67 | 191 | 99 | 207 | 33 | 153 | 15 | 83 | 8 | 37 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 797 | 225 |
| LSAT score 150–154 | 61 | 33 | 97 | 52 | 135 | 18 | 137 | 9 | 76 | 1 | 43 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 591 | 116 |
| LSAT score 145–149 | 6 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 55 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 41 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 214 | 8 |
| LSAT score 140–144 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 86 | 1 |
| LSAT score 135–139 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| LSAT score 130–134 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| LSAT score 125–129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| LSAT score 120–124 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 280 | 203 | 480 | 298 | 570 | 188 | 501 | 164 | 303 | 80 | 142 | 25 | 79 | 8 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 12 | 2426 | 978 |
Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.