Cooley Law School

The information on this page was provided by the law school.

Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs

At Cooley Law School we provide a transformative practical legal education, grounded in the science of learning, that prepares and inspires our students to become lifelong learners and agents for positive change in their communities and our profession.

Cooley advances justice and equity by providing broad access to a legal education to diverse individuals who meet that opportunity with a commitment to achieving high standards of professional competency.

We are private, independent, non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt law school dedicated to teaching students the knowledge, skills, and ethics needed to succeed in both the law and its practice and to be valuable members of society.

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The JD Program

At Cooley Law you won’t just learn the law … you’ll live and breathe it.

Recognized by PreLaw Magazine as one of the best law schools for practical training for 2023.

With our rigorous academic programs, you’ll work hard, be challenged, and gain confidence — but you’ll also get real-world experience before you graduate.

We’ll give you the knowledge, practical skills and ethics to hit the ground running.

Learn more about the JD program at Cooley Law School

Social Justice Clinics

The Cooley Innocence Project
Public Defender Clinic

Community Service Clinics

Estate Planning Clinic
Debt-Relief Clinic

Externships

Cooley’s externship program furthers the school’s mission of practical legal scholarship by placing students with practicing lawyers throughout the United States and in various countries around the globe. Externships are learning opportunities for students placed with nearly 3,000 lawyers and judges who have agreed to provide a mentored learning environment. Student externs receive classroom training from faculty members in addition to supervision and evaluation by their attorney mentors.

Competitions

Cooley students can choose to hone their skills in competitions against other Cooley students and, and if selected, represent Cooley Law against students from other law schools. Faculty members coach the travel teams and accompany them across the country as students compete on skills including client counseling, negotiation, trials, and appellate advocacy.

Moot Court
Mock Trial
Practice Skill Competitions

Law Review

The Cooley Law Review's mission is to publish pragmatic and theoretical legal scholarship for judges, practicing attorneys, and students of law. The Law Review team is comprised of some of the highest achieving students from Cooley Law School. Together, they strive to produce a quality legal publication reflective of the caliber and diversity of students, faculty, alumni, and our school as a community. The goal is to publish articles that will be useful for practitioners and provide support and guidance for judicial opinions.

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Student Life

You can expand your leadership skills and develop lasting relationships with fellow students through involvement in student organizations. You may be interested in becoming the voice of students in the Student Bar Association, participating in organizations such as the Black Law Student's Association, or exploring the intersections of faith and the law in the Muslim, Christian, or Jewish student groups. You can also participate in organizations related to sports law, intellectual property law, criminal law, and a variety of other subjects.

Students, faculty, and staff generously serve communities not only where they live, but around the country. For instance: Hurricane and disaster relief; mentoring high school students; supporting children's literacy programs; veteran assistance programs; mental health initiatives.

Cooley coordinates with more than 30 programs that offer free legal assistance to people who cannot afford representation. Cooley faculty, staff, and students contribute hundreds of thousands of hours of free legal service per year through pro bono projects, externships, and clinics.

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Career Placement and Bar Passage

Cooley Law School works hard to help you reach your professional goals. Students are encouraged to visit the Career and Professional Development (CPD) Office early and often in their law school career to continue the career development process through graduation and beyond.

Job Postings

Students have access to #HireCooley for their daily publication of volunteer and paid positions, including summer associate, internships, fellowships, law clerk, judicial clerkships, and part-time and full-time employment openings throughout the world. Students access #HireCooley on the Careers page of the Cooley Connect portal.

Career Counseling

Personal appointments are encouraged for students. Topics of discussion may include:

General job search advice
Preparation or revision of resumes and cover letters
Interview preparation
Career exploration
Networking opportunities

Programs & Workshops

CPD hosts workshops and events designed to introduce you to career options and practice areas, prepare you for the rigors of a legal job search, and help you build a professional network. Each term, you can attend career exploration and development events like:

Mock Interview Programs
Guest Speakers
Excursions to the Legal Community
Cooley Volunteer Corps (CVC)
Interview Technique Workshops
Resume and Cover Letter Workshops
Specialty Job Fairs and Conferences

Career Resource Center

At each campus you have access to a library of career-related resources on topics including resume writing, interviewing, internships, job search, professional dress, and networking. Most resources are available for checkout with your student ID.

Recruitment Programs

CPD hosts year-round on-campus interviews for students interested in associate, summer associate, and law clerk positions. Listings are updated frequently and are posted on Symplicity.

Online Resources

All of our resources are included in Cooley's online library database. You can search the database by title, author, subject, or keyword. Cooley subscribes to leading national job bank services.

Reciprocity Policy

The Career and Professional Development Office is pleased to share its resources with, and accept requests for reciprocity from, students and graduates of other ABA accredited law schools.

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Tuition and Aid

Expense	Cost
Tuition	$1,580.00
Fees	$640.00

AWARDS OF UP TO 100% TUITION

At Cooley Law School you can earn a 10-100% tuition scholarship that is applied to all 90 credits required for graduation as long as you are in good standing (not on probation).

There are also scholarship opportunities after enrollment.

Learn more about tuition & aid at Cooley Law School

Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers

Cooley Law School has a rolling admission process and admits students twice per year in both September (days classes) and January (weekend and evening classes). Admission decisions at are based upon the applicants highest LSAT score and the UGPA as it is evaluated by LSAC. JD Next scores are also considered. In addition, we review personal statements, and encourage applicants to submit an optional impact statement.