2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311-4505
Phone: 800.44.DRAKE, ext. 2782 or 515.271.2782; Fax: 515.271.1990
E-mail: lawadmit@drake.edu; Website: www.law.drake.edu
Drake University Law School can trace its history back to 1865, making it one of the nation's 25 oldest law schools. Accredited by the ABA, the Law School provides a personal education with a low (14:1) student-to-faculty ratio. Our commitment to an education that balances theory and practice has earned the Law School a reputation for training proven practitioners.
Drake Law School is the only law school in Iowa's capital city. The close relationship between Drake Law School and the greater Des Moines area legal community provides students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of state government; the federal courts; federal and state administrative agencies; and a wide array of law firms and businesses.
The Drake Legal Clinic, housed in the beautiful Neal and Bea Smith Law Center, is one of the best training facilities in the country. The center operates much like a real law firm providing incomparable hands-on experience to students who participate. This state-of-the-art facility includes a technologically enhanced courtroom, office space for students, a library, and seminar rooms.
The only program of its kind in the country, the Trial Practicum adds an important experiential learning dimension to the first-year curriculum. During the spring semester, students observe an actual state court trial—from jury selection to verdict—in the courtroom of the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center. Breakout discussion groups and post-trial debriefings of the attorneys, judges, and jurors poignantly illustrate how law on the books becomes law in action.
Agricultural Law Center—Our internationally recognized agricultural law program addresses the important issues in American and international law and policy regarding food production. Students conduct research, publish an agricultural law journal, and write articles on a wide range of topics. The center frequently hosts international agricultural law scholars who teach courses on international issues and topics such as farmland preservation, legal issues in biotechnology, and tax planning for agricultural businesses. The center also offers a series of one-week courses for students and attorneys in the Summer Agricultural Law Institute. The center offers a Food and Agricultural Law Certificate program, the first of its kind at an American law school.
Business Law Certificate Program—The Business Law Certificate Program is designed to guide and further the interests of students in a business or transactional practice and prepare them for careers in business law, including private practice, with state or federal agencies, or as inside counsel for private and public companies. The certificate provides formal recognition of the knowledge, experience, and skills achieved by students who complete coursework and activities related to business, commercial, and transactional practice.
Constitutional Law Center—Drake is one of only four schools selected to receive a congressional endowment for the establishment of a Constitutional Law Resource Center. The center sponsors a lecture series and annual symposia featuring nationally recognized constitutional scholars. The nationally renowned Dwight D. Opperman Lecture in Constitutional Law has been delivered by 11 current and former justices of the United States Supreme Court. The center also offers a Constitutional Law and Civil Rights Certificate program and conducts the Summer Institute in Constitutional Law, a program designed for first-year students interested in getting their law school careers off to an early start. Students beginning in the Summer Institute who elect to take additional summer courses may accelerate their studies and graduate in December of their third year.
Intellectual Property Law Center—Our dynamic center offers an innovative curriculum, providing students with a solid foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of intellectual property law. The center serves as an international research hub, fostering partnerships with leading research institutions from around the world. Every year, the center sponsors groundbreaking symposia and distinguished lectures, hosts eminent speakers and internationally recognized experts, publishes books and an occasional paper series, and develops international research and outreach programs.
Center for Legislative Practice—Drake is one of only a few schools in the country that offers a Legislative Practice Certificate. Classroom study and a wide range of internships expose students to the underpinnings of legislative and rule-making processes. Students who complete the program are uniquely prepared to work for administrative or government agencies, to research and draft legislation, to represent businesses and organizations with government interests, or to work in a variety of other public policy making positions. Drake's close proximity to the State Capitol and other state and federal offices, trade associations, union headquarters, and public interest group agencies provides students with numerous opportunities to learn firsthand how these institutions operate.
The Middleton Center for Children's Rights pursues a broad agenda, advancing children's rights through the legal process, training, public information, and public policy formation. Drake Law students learn the interdisciplinary process essential to addressing the complex issues involved in child welfare and children's rights.
The International and Comparative Law and Human Rights Certificate program combines coursework in Drake's international and comparative law and related course offerings with a required study-abroad experience.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution Certification—Drake Law School has achieved a well-deserved reputation for its education and training of future litigators, mediators, negotiators, and judges. Our alumni are well represented among the nation's leading trial and appellate lawyers and on both the federal and state courts. The Litigation and Dispute Resolution Certificate program capitalizes on the school's traditional strengths in advocacy and dispute resolution.
Add an international element to your legal education by participating in our summer program at the University of Nantes Law School in France. Classes in comparative and international law and on-site visits to European legal institutions allow you to absorb and experience another country's legal system and be better prepared to practice law in a global society.
Students may combine their Juris Doctor degree with the Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration, or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University. Students may also combine the JD degree with a Master of Arts in Political Science or Master of Science in Agricultural Economics (in cooperation with Iowa State University); a Master of Social Work (in cooperation with the University of Iowa); a Master of Health Care Administration; or a Master of Public Health (in cooperation with Des Moines University).
Drake Law students participate in many student organizations and cocurricular activities. Drake students publish two journals, the Drake Law Review and the Journal of Agricultural Law. Drake Law Review was named among the nation's 35 most-cited legal periodicals by the courts from 2003 to 2010. Drake moot court teams consistently win regional competitions and finish strongly in national competitions. The award-winning Student Bar Association and honorary societies provide students with leadership, public service, and learning opportunities. Drake students have also formed approximately 30 organizations around their special interests, including Drake Law Women, Black Law Students Association, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, Hispanic Latino Law Student Association, LGBT Student Association, International Law Society, Christian Legal Society, Environmental Law Society, Federalist Society, American Constitution Society, Intellectual Property Law Society, Agricultural Law Society, Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, and Business Law Society.
Drake Law School alumni practice in all 50 states and several foreign countries. The Career Development Office has a comprehensive, national alumni network set up to assist students with their career plans no matter where they want to go. Attorneys who participate in the alumni career network help students learn about the job market in their state and help ensure a smooth transition for students from law school to practice. Many area alumni also participate in our Partner's Program, which pairs first-year law students with practicing attorneys.
The Career Development Office offers career planning and counseling services, assistance with résumés and cover letter preparation, salary and geographical employment statistics, nationwide job postings, and state bar examination information. The office also arranges interviews—both on and off campus—and exchanges job listings with over 100 other law schools around the country.
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 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LSAT score 170–174 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| LSAT score 165–169 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 17 |
| LSAT score 160–164 | 34 | 33 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 94 |
| LSAT score 155–159 | 33 | 32 | 67 | 65 | 69 | 65 | 38 | 36 | 28 | 26 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 266 | 238 |
| LSAT score 150–154 | 37 | 25 | 66 | 51 | 67 | 42 | 68 | 32 | 49 | 14 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 325 | 172 |
| LSAT score 145–149 | 19 | 5 | 31 | 8 | 35 | 7 | 39 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 182 | 24 |
| LSAT score 140–144 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 2 |
| LSAT score 135–139 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| LSAT score 130–134 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| LSAT score 125–129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| LSAT score 120–124 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 138 | 105 | 200 | 150 | 206 | 133 | 178 | 85 | 133 | 49 | 70 | 17 | 35 | 5 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 1003 | 554 |
Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.