If you want to learn how to get into Duke Law School in 2024, you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, you’ll get the exact steps you need to take to stand out in the admissions process and get accepted.
Ready? Let’s get started.
How hard is it to get into Duke Law School?
With an acceptance rate of just 10.7%, Duke Law is one of the ten hardest law schools to get into.
Now, before you think, “I’ll never get in,” let me be the first to tell you that you absolutely can.
You just have to know how to approach the application process and have an effective application strategy.
We’ll talk about what that means in a later section. For now, let’s take a look at what Duke Law offers.
What programs does Duke Law School offer?
Duke Law offers five-degree tracks:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Laws in Law & Entrepreneurship (LLM)
- Master of Laws for International Students (LLM)
- Master of Judicial Studies (MLS)
- Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
Students can also pursue dual degrees, such as JD/LLM in International and Comparative Law.
For today, we’ll just be focusing on how to get accepted into the J.D. program.
That starts with meeting the criteria that Duke Law has set forth. We’ll talk about it in the next section, so keep reading!
What qualifications do you need to get into Duke Law School?
With such a low acceptance rate, you’re probably wondering who gets into Duke Law.
Who gets into Duke Law School?
A total of 6,205 people applied to be part of the incoming J.D. Class of 2026.
Of those, just 244 enrolled.
They represent more than 100 different undergraduate institutions and span 35 states and eight countries.
Let’s take a closer look at the class profile:
- 56.1% are female
- 43.5% are male
- 0.4% identify as nonbinary
- 22% are part of the LGBTQ+ community
- 49% are students of color
- 72% have some post-college experience
- 6% have earned a graduate degree
- 12% are first-generation college students
- 13% are international students
What GPA do you need for Duke Law School?
The J.D. Class of 2026 has an average GPA of 3.87.
The GPA scores for the Class of 2026 are:
- 75th percentile: 3.96
- 50th percentile: 3.87
- 25th percentile: 3.78
This means that, among Duke Law students, a 3.96 GPA is considered high, and a 3.78 is considered low.
What LSAT score do you need for Duke Law School?
On average, the J.D. Class of 2026 scored 170 on the LSAT.
Their scores are:
- 75th percentile: 172
- 50th percentile: 170
- 25th percentile: 168
So, for first-year Duke Law students, an LSAT score of 172 is high, while 168 is low. The average score (170) falls exactly in the middle.
Both the GPA and LSAT scores among Duke Law students are high, but remember – you don’t have to score as high to get accepted!
It just means you have to be more strategic in your application, which we’ll talk about next.
How do you get into Duke Law with a lower GPA or LSAT scores?
The truth is that when you’re applying to law school, there’s always some wiggle room when it comes to GPA or LSAT scores.
Let’s take another look at the scores we just talked about.
The highest accepted GPA among Duke’s Class of 2026 was 3.96, and the lowest was 3.78 – that’s almost a full two-point difference.
Likewise, there’s a four-point difference between the highest LSAT score (172) and the lowest (168).
But you really just need a score within reach of the average scores. For example, a 3.6 GPA or 165 LSAT score would likely be okay, but a 3.2 GPA or 160 LSAT score probably wouldn’t.
Don’t forget that the admissions team at Duke Law takes a holistic approach to their process.
That means that they look at more than just your test scores when considering your application – other things, like your coursework and letters of recommendation, also matter.
There are some other strategies to consider in the face of low scores.
Retake the LSAT
Ideally, you’d only take the LSAT once, but retaking it is an option!
Just take it at most three times, or it could damage your chances.
Take the GRE
If you want to avoid retaking the LSAT, the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) is a viable option, as Duke Law will also accept this score.
Use an addendum
If you feel like your scores don’t accurately reflect your ability as a law student, Duke Law will accept an addendum.
But I rarely recommend this route unless you have a genuine reason for including it, such as:
- Significant change in your LSAT score
- An odd pattern in your scores
- Significant responsibilities (such as working a full-time job or raising a child)
- No access to necessary support or resources for standardized tests
I talk more about who should use an addendum and how to write one in this guide.
At the end of the day, you still have a chance of getting accepted to Duke Law as long as you can prove that you have what it takes to succeed and can be successful despite lower scores.
I see my clients do it all the time!
One of my clients got into Georgetown with a 3.6 GPA, lower than the average of 3.85.
And another got into Berkeley with an LSAT score six points below the average.
How did they do it? By creating the most effective applications possible.
I’ll show you how to do that in a later section. Before we get there, let’s talk about how to apply to Duke Law.
How do you apply to Duke Law?
These are the application requirements for Duke Law’s J.D. program:
- Resume
- Personal statement
- One or two short answer essays (250-500 words)
- Optional essay
- Recommendation letters (at least two, up to four)
- Test scores (LSAT or GRE)
- Transcripts for any undergraduate and graduate work
This also applies to the J.D. dual degree and specialty programs.
The deadline for Regular Decision is February 15, but you can submit your application as early as September 1. Applications can be submitted after February 15 only if there’s space available in the class.
Early Decision applications will be submitted by early November or early January, depending on which round you’re in.
If you want to learn more about relevant application deadlines, requirements, or materials, head to Duke Law’s J.D. admissions page.
So, how do you make sure you stand out in the application process? Let’s talk about it.
Write a personal statement
A personal statement is an essential part of your application.
Think of it as a chance to introduce yourself to the admissions committee while highlighting your accomplishments and explaining how you think.
In other words, it’s how you’ll get their attention.
What is Duke Law looking for in a personal statement?
The committee wants to hear about “what you think have been your most significant personal experiences beyond what may be reflected in your academic transcripts and on your resume, and your personal and career ambitions.”
In other words, they want to learn about what you haven’t included in your transcript or resume – like your passion, purpose, and why you’re an ideal candidate.
Still trying to figure out where to start?
The most important thing about writing a compelling personal statement is choosing a single topic that’s informative, easy to understand, and supportive of your application.
In other words, it should illustrate why you want to attend law school without needing much explanation or background information.
Some personal statement topic ideas include:
- A story that sets you apart
- An accomplishment that you wouldn’t add to your resume
- Why you’re applying to law school and what you want to accomplish after graduation
- Any unique skills, talents, or characteristics that set you apart
- Something most people don’t know about you
Duke Law also requires applicants to submit at least two recommendation letters. Keep reading to learn about how – and who – to ask for them.
Get letters of recommendation
Duke Law requires applicants to submit two letters of recommendation, but you can submit up to four.
Three recommendation letters will give a holistic view of who you are.
Because in the same way a personal statement does, letters of recommendation paint a clearer picture of who you are.
But they go one step further and highlight your work ethic, intelligence, and academic ability – in other words, it shows the admissions committee that you can be a successful Duke Law School student.
Who do you ask for one? Not friends or family.
Instead, at least one should be written by a former teacher who has seen your academic work firsthand.
In addition to academic recommendations, you can ask for “professional” recommendation letters (from bosses, internships and so on).
In fact, the other letter should be written by someone who can speak to what you’ve accomplished in your career, including your leadership skills and involvement.
But getting any is not always possible.
Sometimes, applicants have been out of school for too long to get a letter from a former professor.
While you should always try to get at least one academic recommendation, you can also include more “professional” recommendation letters. Duke Law School accepts two professional letters.
I explain more about how to ask for letters of recommendation in this guide.
And, finally, the last piece of the puzzle: creating a compelling law school resume. I’ll walk you through it in the next section.
Write a law school resume
Writing a law school resume is different from writing a standard resume.
Unlike on a typical resume, you can leave elements like your objective and summary of qualifications out of your law school resume.
Instead, you’ll use your resume to share how you spent your time after getting your undergraduate degree, your qualifications, and your interests.
It’s also important to note that Duke Law says that your resume should include the following:
- Significant work experience
- Educational history
- College and community activities
- Honors or awards
- Any prior affiliation with Duke
The important thing is figuring out how to organize and frame these elements in a way that works with the rest of your application’s theme.
I always recommend that my clients use the following for their headers:
- Education
- Professional Experience and/or Employment
- Accomplishments
- Activities
- Community Engagement
- Publications
- Skills/Interests
But you should also highlight things like your:
- Analytical and writing abilities
- Work ethic
- Language skills
- Creativity
- Volunteer experience
After you’ve decided what to include, you’ll also need to consider the formatting, language, and even font you’ll be using.
I know it’s a lot to consider, but I’ll walk you through the resume-writing process and even show you real-life examples in this guide.
Next steps
There you go – everything you need to know about how to get into Duke Law School’s J.D. program!
Remember, even though it’s one of the most competitive law schools in the country, you can get into Duke Law.
But you need the right kind of strategy and a great application to set yourself apart.
If you need guidance on how to do it, I’m here to help. I help my clients get into their top law schools, and I can help you, too.
Ready to make it happen?
Apply for admissions consulting here.
Read more:
What Law School Can You Get Into?
How to Get into Top Law Schools
How to Get Into New York Law School
