What tier is DePaul Law school?

Asked by: Prof. Idella Fadel III  |  Last update: June 15, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (12 votes)

DePaul Law School is generally considered a strong Tier 2 law school, ranked around 133rd nationally by U.S. News & World Report for 2025, placing it just outside the traditional Top Tier (T14) but well-regarded, especially in Chicago for its part-time program and specific specialties like Trial Advocacy. It's often discussed alongside other Chicago schools like Loyola and Kent (Chicago-Kent), with DePaul noted for its clinics and public interest focus.

What rank is DePaul Law school?

DePaul University 2025 Law & Specialties Rankings

DePaul University is ranked No. 133 out of 195 in Best Law Schools and No. 34 out of 67 in Part-time Law.

Is DePaul a Tier 1 university?

A not for profit university. For 2011 and 2012, US News & World Report ranked DePaul in the Top Tier (Tier 1) of national colleges and universities. US News & World Report has twice ranked DePaul undergraduate students #1 in the USA (most recently in 2004) in terms of satisfaction with their college experience.

Are Tier 2 law schools good?

Law school tiers categorize law schools based on factors like reputation, faculty qualifications, bar passage rates, and graduate employment outcomes. Tier 1 schools are the most prestigious and competitive, while Tier 2 and Tier 3 schools offer strong programs with varying selectivity.

What is considered a tier 1 law school?

It is generally accepted that the Tier 1 Law Schools are the same as the T14 Law schools. T14 law schools are the schools that are consistently ranked between 1 and 14 by USNews. Traditionally the T14 schools are: Yale Law School (always #1) Stanford Law School (#2–3)

Why Choose DePaul College of Law?

25 related questions found

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially partners at large firms, top corporate lawyers, or specialized trial attorneys, but it's not typical for the average lawyer, whose median salary is much lower, requiring significant experience, specialization (like IP or M&A), and business acumen to reach that high income level.
 

Is DePaul law school hard to get into?

Getting into DePaul Law School is competitive, considered moderately selective, requiring strong LSAT scores (median around 158-160) and GPA (median around 3.6), with an acceptance rate typically in the 45-50% range, though it varies and holistic review considers much more than just scores, looking at essays, recommendations, and experience for a diverse class. 

Is DePaul R1 or R2?

DePaul University is recognized as a R2 research university (Carnegie Classification of Institutions in Higher Education) and ranked as #2 on the list of “most innovative schools” in Illinois as well as #42 in the country according to the 2020 Best Colleges.

What are the big 3 law schools?

The "Big Three" law schools traditionally refer to Yale, Harvard, and Stanford, known for their extreme selectivity, prestige, and leading placement in BigLaw, though rankings shift, with Chicago, Columbia, and NYU often forming an adjacent elite tier (T-14) with strong BigLaw outcomes. These top schools, especially Yale, Harvard, and Stanford, consistently boast the lowest acceptance rates and attract the most top-tier applicants for lucrative careers in large law firms, academia, or federal clerkships. 

Who are the Golden 5 law firms?

The "Golden 5" law firms usually refer to London's elite "Magic Circle" firms: A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May, known for their high profitability and corporate law expertise, a term coined by legal journalists in the 1990s. While some US firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins dominate in revenue and size, the Magic Circle remains the benchmark for UK-based global corporate law.
 

What are the Tier 1 law firms?

Tier 1

  • Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
  • Cravath Swaine & Moore.
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell.
  • Mayer Brown.
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
  • Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.
  • Sullivan & Cromwell.

What does L1, L2, and L3 mean in law school?

1L, 2L, and 3L are shorthand for a law student's year in law school: 1L is the first year, 2L is the second year, and 3L is the third and final year, replacing traditional terms like freshman, sophomore, and junior/senior. These labels help differentiate the intense foundational learning of the first year (1L), the increased complexity and job searching of the second year (2L), and the focused preparation for the bar exam in the final year (3L). 

Is DePaul Law school worth it?

Depaul Law School, commonly known as DePaul, is a prestigious JD program located in Chicago, Illinois. In the competitive 2024 law school rankings, Depaul Law School was ranked 133 by US News & World Report, making it a strong option for prospective law students in the current application cycle.

What is the easiest law school to get into Chicago?

While "easiest" is relative, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Law often appears easier to get into compared to others in Chicago, boasting a higher acceptance rate (around 70%) and lower median LSAT (152) and GPA (3.39) figures, making it a more accessible public option, especially with its flexible part-time evening program. Other Chicago schools like Chicago-Kent and DePaul are more competitive but still offer opportunities for strong applicants. 

Is DePaul considered prestigious?

DePaul University isn't typically considered "prestigious" in the Ivy League sense but is a well-regarded, large private university known for specific strong programs, particularly in business (MBA, entrepreneurship), film/arts, and technology/game design, with high rankings in these areas and a strong Chicago location, leading to good career outcomes, especially in its strong program areas.

Is it harder to get into DePaul or Loyola?

It's generally considered slightly harder to get into Loyola University Chicago than DePaul based on acceptance rates (Loyola ~79%, DePaul ~75-76%), but both are considered lightly selective, meaning meeting their general GPA/score requirements makes admission likely, with DePaul often seen as easier based on rates, though Loyola's higher selectivity for some programs (like business) might exist, while DePaul emphasizes professional/creative programs and Loyola focuses on social justice/ethics. 

Is pepperdine R1 or R2?

– Pepperdine University has earned the distinguished Research 2 (R2) designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, signifying the University's commitment to high research activity.

Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?

Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.

Is a 157 a bad LSAT score?

A 157 LSAT score isn't "bad"; it's a solid score, placing you above average (around the 66th-71st percentile) and competitive for many ranked law schools (often above the 25th percentile for T-50 schools), but generally below the medians for T-14 schools, requiring a strong application and essays to stand out for higher-ranked programs. Whether it's "good" depends on your target schools' medians, but it's a strong baseline that can lead to acceptance, especially with excellent GPA and compelling personal statements. 

What is the richest type of lawyer?

The richest types of lawyers are often specialists in high-stakes fields like Corporate Law, Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Law, and Medical Malpractice/Personal Injury, especially those with science backgrounds or who handle massive litigation, with top earners often found in BigLaw or as successful plaintiffs' attorneys. While IP lawyers (especially patent attorneys with STEM degrees) command high fees for complex inventions, large corporate mergers, or complex personal injury settlements, overall wealth can also come from strategic business investments or big-ticket litigation.
 

Why do lawyers take 33%?

Lawyers often take around 33% (a third) in contingency fees, especially in personal injury cases, because it's a risk-sharing model where they only get paid if they win, covering upfront costs like experts and investigations, and the fee reflects the significant time, resources, and risk involved, with percentages sometimes increasing to 40% if the case goes to trial. This allows clients without upfront funds to access legal representation, as they pay nothing if they lose.