Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas is probably most famous for consistently being one of the most challenging and competitive law schools in the country. A large part of that reputation comes from the school's "Practice Court," a mandatory trial advocacy program, which also happens to be one of the best in the country (currently ranked 4th by U.S. News and World Report).
Overall, Baylor Law is ranked 65th in the 2010 U.S. News rankings, but its graduates are some of the most sought after in Texas both for their high bar passage rate and because of the rigorous education they receive. Baylor also has notably small class sizes with under 500 students total enrolled as of Fall 2010.
Baylor Law's three-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) program operates from late August to late-July in quarters; there is no part-time or evening program. The school has housing information available on its website.
Contact Information
1114 S. University Parks Drive, 1 Bear Place # 97288
Waco, TX 76798-7288
(254) 710-1911
Email: Becky_Beck@baylor.edu
Website: http://law.baylor.edu/
Fast Facts (Entering Fall 2010)
-
Enrollment Information
Entering students: 105
Other Statistics (Entire Student Body)
Women: 47%
Minorities: 21%Student to Faculty Ratio: 1: 16.6
-
GPA/LSAT Scores (Entering Fall 2010)
LSAT Median: 162
LSAT 25th - 75th percentile: 162-164UGPA Median: 3.73
UGPA 25th - 75th percentile: 3.60-3.87 -
Tuition (2010-2011)
$13,048 per quarter; estimated total cost per quarter: $13,634.50
Application Procedures
Application fee: NONE
Application deadline: November 1 for Spring and Fall Early Decision program; February 1 for Summer; March 1 for Fall Regular Decision Program.
Applicants must apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). In addition to the application, applicants must submit:
- LSDAS report, including LSAT score
- Personal statement
- One letter of recommendation
For complete information on admission procedures at Baylor Law, see Apply 1. 2. 3.. You can also request a viewbook from the school's website.
Transfer Procedures
Baylor Law accepts transfer students, although the school's website notes that "[i]n most years, none are accepted."
For full information on transferring to Baylor Law, see Transfer Students.
Degrees and Curriculum
Baylor Law has one of the most structured curricula of any law school. For fuller details see Curriculum 1. 2. 3..
The first-year curriculum at Baylor Law varies by quarter; for fuller details see the joint degrees: JD/MBA, JD/MTax, and JD/MPPA.
Study Abroad
Baylor Law offers a study abroad opportunity with the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara; the school also recognizes study abroad credits earned through other ABA-accredited law schools.
Law Journals and Other Activities
Students have the opportunity to participate in the Baylor Law Review, as well as many student organizations.
Bar Exam Passage Rate
Most Baylor Law graduates take the Texas Bar Exam; in July 2009, they achieved a 94.12% pass rate while the state average was 89.41%.
Post-Graduation Employment
Baylor Law reports that 98% of the Class of 2008 was employed or pursuing graduate education less than a year after graduation. Sixty-five percent went to work in private practice, 12% accepted government jobs, 10% each to business/industry positions and judicial clerkships, 1% entered the public interest field, and 2% are listed as "other."
The median salary for those who work in private practice is $80,000 while the median salary for those who accepted government positions is $54,000.