Are you one of the thousands hoping to get into Berkeley Law School this year?
If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Today, I’m going to tell you all about the strategies you can use to help you stand out and earn that acceptance letter.
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
How hard is it to get into Berkeley Law School?
Berkeley Law School is highly selective and has an acceptance rate of just 12.5%.
I know that’s low, but don’t forget that Berkeley is ranked by US News and World Report as one of the top 14 law schools in the country, alongside schools like Yale, Stanford, and Harvard.
It was also named the ninth-best law school in the world by QS World University Rankings for its reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, and research citations.
Although it’s difficult to get into Berkeley Law School, you can still get in if you’re strategic in your application.
We’ll cover this and the acceptance requirements, such as GPA and LSAT scores, later on.
Before we get there, let’s talk about the programs that Berkeley Law offers.
What programs does Berkeley Law School offer?
Berkeley Law offers several programs:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD)
- Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy (JSP)
And there are plenty of areas of study to choose from, too:
- Social Justice and Public Interest
- Business and Start-Ups
- Law and Technology
- Environmental Law
- Criminal Justice
- International and Comparative Law
- Constitutional and Regulatory
- Law and Economics
Students can pursue concurrent or combined degrees. They can also apply to take their third year at Harvard Law School in the Berkeley-Harvard Degree Program.
This guide will focus on how to get into Berkeley Law as a Juris Doctor (JD) student.
And meeting the acceptance requirements is the first step.
Keep reading to learn more.
What qualifications do you need to get into Berkeley Law School?
As a Tier 1 school, Berkeley Law is selective in its admissions process.
But who gets in, and what do they bring to the table?
Who gets into Berkeley Law School?
In total, 6,719 students applied to be part of Berkeley Law School’s JD Class of 2026. Just 341 enrolled.
Altogether, the JD class represents 42 states and eight countries.
Here’s a closer look at who they are:
- The average age is 24
- 4% are over the age of 30
- 62% are female
- 34% are male
- 4% identify as nonbinary
- 57% are students of color
- 25% identify as LGBTQIA+
- 14% are the first in their family to get a college degree
- 15% earned a degree in STEM
- 7% have advanced degrees, including Master’s and PhD degrees in STEM
- The most common undergraduate majors are political science, philosophy, humanities, history, and economics
Those in the class of 2026 also have incredible resumes, which is crucial if you want to get into Berkeley Law School. Their experience includes:
- Fulbright English teacher abroad
- Fellow at the UN Institute for Global Health
- Public Policy Fellow for the Superintendent of Schools
- Advocate for domestic violence survivors
- Intern for a presidential campaign
- Entrepreneur and founder
- Corporate Paralegal
You can take a look at the complete profile of the entering class here.
What GPA do you need for Berkeley Law School?
Berkeley Law’s JD Class of 2026 has an average GPA of 3.87.
But, of course, there’s a range of scores to consider.
The GPA scores for the Class of 2026 are:
- 75th percentile: 3.97
- 50th percentile: 3.87
- 25th percentile: 3.77
In other words, a 3.97 GPA is considered high among those who apply to and get into Berkeley Law School.
On the other hand, a 3.77 is viewed as a low GPA.
This guide can help boost your chances of getting into law school with a low GPA.
What LSAT score do you need for Berkeley Law School?
On average, Berkeley students score 170 on their LSAT.
It’s a high score, but it’s not everyone’s score. It’s just an average.
Of those who get into Berkeley Law School, their LSAT scores fall in the following range:
- 75th percentile: 173
- 50th percentile: 170
- 25th percentile: 168
Put simply, a high LSAT score among first-year students at Berkeley Law is 173, and a low score is 168.
The average student scores 170, which sits comfortably between the two.
Read more: What is a Good LSAT Score?
So, most students who get into Berkeley Law School have higher than average GPA and LSAT scores.
But if you don’t have an above-average score, don’t assume you can’t get into Berkeley Law School.
The truth is, you don’t need scores this high to get accepted.
Let’s see how you can get into Berkeley Law School with lower scores.
How do you get into Berkeley Law with a lower GPA or LSAT scores?
The admissions team itself has said that your scores won’t make or break your chances of getting into Berkeley Law School.
Here’s what they say about it:
“Although we are one of the most selective law schools in the country, our admission philosophy reflects a commitment to admitting human beings and not simply numbers. We hope that the following profile provides some sense of the excellence and diversity that define us. Berkeley Law students are astoundingly accomplished and come from a wide range of backgrounds, interests, life experiences, and perspectives.”
In other words, there’s a bit of breathing room when it comes to your GPA or LSAT scores.
Let’s back up for a second and look at those scores again.
Among Berkeley Law students, the highest GPA is 3.97. The lowest is 3.77, a full two points below – and a point lower than the median of 3.87.
Sure, that might not seem like a lot, but a point is a point.
The same goes for LSAT scores.
The highest accepted LSAT score was 173, three points above the median score (170) and five points above the lowest accepted score (168).
So, as long as you’re within the range of the average scores, your scores likely won’t lessen your chances of getting into Berkeley Law School.
Chances are, a 3.7 GPA or 163 LSAT score would probably be okay, but a 3.4 GPA or 158 LSAT score wouldn’t be.
And remember that the Berkeley admissions team takes a holistic approach to their review process.
That means that when they review your application, they also consider who you are as a person.
They “want to know you are, where you come from, what matters to you, and why.”
Regardless, the best way to get into Berkeley Law School with lower scores is to be strategic in your application and approach the process carefully.
Let’s look at some strategies to help balance out lower scores.
Retake the LSAT
Ideally, you would only take the LSAT once, get your dream score, and be done.
But, unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world.
So, retaking it in hopes of getting a higher score is an option.
And if you’re set on attending Berkeley Law, I recommend retaking it to reach your full potential.
You can take the LSAT five times in five years (since 2019) but are limited to three times in a testing year (August to June).
And, finally, you can’t take it more than seven times over your lifetime.
However, I recommend taking the LSAT no more than three times. If you do, you’ll need to consider writing an addendum in your Berkeley Law School application explaining why.
I’ve put together a list of tricks to boost your LSAT score in this guide.
And everything you need to know about retaking it is in this handy guide.
Take the GRE
In addition to the LSAT, Berkeley also recognizes the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations).
So, if you’ve taken the LSAT and found that it isn’t for you, a good score on your GRE can help you get into Berkeley Law School instead.
What’s the difference between the two?
The LSAT is designed specifically for law school admissions.
The GRE is designed to accommodate a wider range of academic backgrounds but still paints a clear picture of your analytical and critical thinking skills — which you’ll need to be a successful law student.
It’s important to note that when it comes to LSAT and GRE scores, Berkeley Law School will consider both, even if you only want to apply with one.
Use an addendum
Supplementing your application with an addendum is another helpful way to boost your application and get into Berkeley Law School.
You might want to use an addendum if your scores don’t reflect your ability as a law student or if you can’t achieve the scores you’re aiming for.
It’s also a great way to provide context for the difference in your LSAT and GRE scores.
However, I tend to caution my clients against using an addendum to get into Berkeley Law School.
Why?
Because most people don’t have a genuine reason for including one — and not being a great test-taker doesn’t count.
When I say genuine reason, I mean things like:
- There was a significant change or odd pattern in your scores
- There’s a noticeable difference between your LSAT or GRE scores
- You were shouldering responsibilities that hindered your ability to study effectively, such as a full-time job, raising a child, or dealing with a family death
- You didn’t have access to the support or resources needed to be successful on standardized tests
Keep in mind that some applicants will be required to write an addendum to explain incidents involving their character, such as academic probation, honor code violations, crime, or gaps in education.
Law school addendums should be brief, state the facts (don’t lie), and not include a sob story.
This guide can help you decide whether or not you should include an addendum and then walk you through how to write one.
Examples of successful applicants
Being able to prove that you have what it takes to be a successful law school student will help you get into Berkeley Law School even if you have lower scores.
I’ve helped dozens of clients do exactly that and get into the law school of their dreams.
E.O. was one of them. Even with a 163 LSAT score — seven points lower than the 170 median — they managed to get into Berkeley Law School.
Why?
Because they created a strategic application that proved their scores didn’t define them and that they could be successful.
And they’re not my only client to do so.
D.C. applied and got into Georgetown with a 3.6 GPA, more than two points lower than the average GPA of 3.85.
It all boils down to this.
If you want to get into Berkeley Law School, you must put together the most effective and strategic application you can.
But how do you apply to Berkeley Law School? Keep reading to find out.
How do you apply to Berkeley Law?
You’ll need the following materials when applying to Berkeley Law School:
- Bachelor’s degree
- LSAT or GRE taken within the last five years but no later than the January test date
- Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report from LSAC, such as your transcript
- Personal statement
- Resume
- Optional statements
- Addendum (if required)
- Letters of recommendation (at least two, up to four)
And make sure you don’t forget important deadlines.
Though the deadline for regular decision is February 15th, keep in mind that Berkeley Law School admissions are rolling — the earlier you apply, the better.
Regular and binding early decision applications open on September 1st, and review begins on October 2nd.
All early decision applications must be submitted by November 15th, and decisions will be made by December 4th.
If you want more information on application requirements, materials, or deadlines, head over to the JD application page.
We’ve covered how to apply. Now, let’s talk about how to stand out enough to get into Berkeley Law School.
Write a personal statement
Your personal statement is a pivotal part of your application.
Because Berkeley doesn’t offer interviews, it’s your best shot at getting the attention of the admissions committee.
The ultimate goal of a personal statement is to show them exactly who you are, what you’ve achieved, and how you think.
It should address your legal interests, area of intended study, plans after graduation, and why you want to attend Berkeley Law School.
You can also use it to express yourself outside of the application — in fact, it’s encouraged!
Berkeley puts it best: “The goal should be to nicely package who you are, try to cram yourself into the generic package you think we want to receive.”
Before you do anything else, choose a single topic that clearly illustrates why you want to attend law school but doesn’t require a lot of context or explanation.
In other words, keep it simple. It should be informative, easy to understand, and support your application.
If you’re unsure what to include in your personal statement (or even where to start), I’ve got you covered in this full guide.
In the meantime, here are some ideas to consider:
- What someone wouldn’t know about you
- Why you’re applying to law school
- Three personality traits that set you apart
- What you want to accomplish as a lawyer
Remember to take your time choosing your topic — this is what will prove that you should get into Berkeley Law School above the other applicants.
What you don’t want is a personal statement crammed with too much information or sensational stories.
Here are several resources on how to write the kind of personal statement that will help you get into Berkeley Law School:
- How to write a law school personal statement
- Law school personal statement mistakes
- Law school personal statement examples
Take a look at the personal statement that got my client _____ into ______:
Check out my FREE guide to writing a personal statement here:
Get letters of recommendation
Berkeley Law requires applicants to submit at least two letters of recommendation but no more than four.
Like your personal statement, your letters of recommendation are a way to offer a more nuanced view of your character, work ethic, intelligence, and academic abilities.
They’re what will prove to the admissions committee that you can be successful in the Berkeley Law School JD program.
That’s a tall order — so who do you ask?
The people who write your letters should be able to provide genuine and impartial insight into your academic abilities.
So you can’t ask your family or friends.
Instead, the best letters are written by former professors.
After all, nobody can speak to your academic potential or achievements better than someone who’s actually had you in their classroom.
But, if you’ve been out of school for a while, a letter from an employer or coworker also works.
If you choose to go this route, ask someone who can vouch for how you manage your work and thrive in a professional environment.
They should also be able to articulate what you’ve accomplished throughout your career, including any awards or publications.
You can read more on how to ask for letters of recommendation in this guide.
Write a law school resume
Law school resumes are an underrated part of your application.
They’re different from the kind of resume you’d use for a job.
Instead, to get into Berkeley Law School, your resume should list, chronologically, “information about your work experiences, extracurricular activities, honors and awards, volunteer experience, travels, and accomplishments.”
As you build your resume, make sure it fits with the overarching theme of your application.
To create a resume that will bolster your chance to get into Berkeley Law School, I recommend that you use these headers:
- Education
- Professional Experience and/or Employment
- Accomplishments
- Activities
- Community Engagement
- Publications
- Skills/Interests
The most thorough resumes will also touch on things like:
- Leadership
- Work ethic
- Cultural interests or activities
- Languages spoken
- Creativity
- Analytical skills
- Writing abilities
Think of your law school resume as an opportunity to craft a more effective personal narrative.
I’ll guide you through everything about your law school resume — from what to include to how to write and format it — in this guide.
Next steps
Well, there you have it.
That’s everything you need to know about how to get into Berkeley Law School in 2024.
As a Tier 1 law school, Berkeley Law admissions are competitive, but with a good strategy and a highly effective application, you can be one of the 12.5% who gets the chance to enroll.
I’ve helped dozens of clients create standout applications, and they have gone on to enroll at Berkeley Law School and others like it.
I can help you, too.
If you’re ready to get into Berkeley Law School, apply for admissions consulting here.
Read more:
What Law School Can You Get Into?
How to Get Into Top Law Schools
