Hofstra Law School is in Hampstead, New York, about 25 miles outside of Manhattan on Long Island, and enjoys a good reputation in the New York metropolitan area, although its reach is somewhat limited beyond there. It is currently ranked 100th by U.S. News and World Report, tied with Gonzaga Law and the University of Maine Law School, which keeps it in the top tier (which consists of 100 law schools).
Hofstra Law boasts a legal writing program that is ranked among the best 25 in the country, but its tuition is relatively high for a school of its overall ranking. That said, about half of the class receives grants. Hofstra Law's acceptance rate for the Class of 2012 was around 39%.
Hofstra Law's three-year full-time day Juris Doctor (J.D.) program operates from mid-August to mid-May; there is also a part-time program.
Contact Information
121 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
(516) 463-5916
Email: lawadmissions@hofstra.edu
Website: http://law.hofstra.edu
Fast Facts (Class of 2012)
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Enrollment Information
Applicants: 4,800+
Enrolled: 400 (including full-time and part-time)Women: 48%
Students of Color: 30%Student to Faculty Ratio: 1: 16
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GPA/LSAT Scores
LSAT Median: 157
LSAT 25/75 Percentile: 155-159UGPA Median: 3.56
UGPA 25/75 Percentile: 3.27-3.7 -
Costs and Fees (2010-2011)
Tuition: $41,780 (full-time); $31,259 (part-time)
Application Procedures
Application fee: $75 (waived if applying online)
Application deadline: April 15 of the year in which you're seeking admission; November 15 for Non-Binding Early Action.
Applicants may submit applications online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) or request a paper application on the school's website. In addition to the application and fee (if applicable), applicants must submit:
- Personal statement
- LSDAS report
- Letters of recommendation are optional
For complete information on admission procedures at Hofstra Law, see J.D. Application Procedures (PDF).
Transfer Procedures
Successful transfer applicants to Hofstra Law are generally in the top 15% of their first-year class (A-/B+ average) of an ABA-accredited law school.
Transfer applications will be accepted until July 1; interested students should submit the application and fee of $60 (waived if applying online) as well as the following:
- Complete LSDAS report including transcripts
- Letter of good standing from current dean
For more information on transferring to Hofstra Law, see Transfer Regular Decision.
Degrees and Curriculum
In order to earn a Juris Doctor degree, a Hofstra Law student must earn 87 credits, and in addition to the first-year curriculum below, must also complete Constitutional Law I and II, an ethics course, two upper class writing requirements, and a skills requirement. For more detailed information, see Juris Doctor Degree.
The required first-year curriculum includes Contracts I and II, Criminal Law, Property, Torts, Civil Procedure I and II, Legal Research and Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Transnational Law.
Hofstra Law offers a joint J.D./M.B.A degree and also two LL.M. programs, one in Family Law and the other in American Legal Studies.
Study Abroad
Hofstra Law offers several study abroad opportunities in locations such as Italy, Germany, Australia, and Curacao in the Dutch Antilles. The school also takes part in international student exchanges, internships, externships, and grants.
Law Journals and Other Activities
Hofstra Law has four student-run journals: Hofstra Law Review, Family Court Review, Journal of International Business and Law, and Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal.
Along with many student organizations, the law school has specialized institutes and centers for specific legal interests, such as the Center for Applied Legal Reasoning; Center for Children, Families, and the Law; and Center for Legal Advocacy.
Bar Exam Passage Rate
A majority of Hofstra Law students take the New York Bar Exam and, in 2007, achieved a 73.6% pass rate. The overall pass rate for the New York Bar Exam was 77%.
Post-Graduation Employment
From the 2008 graduating class, 95% were employed nine months after graduation; Hofstra reports that 70% work in Manhattan. The median starting salary was $86,000 in the private sector and $49,000 in the public sector.