2025

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 28, 2025— On Aug. 18, Santa Clara University School of Law welcomed 264 exceptional new first-year law (1L) students from all walks of life and from over the U.S. and the globe. 

The class includes more than a fourth who were the first in their families to earn a four-year degree; 20% who are pursuing their law degrees partially online, through the school’s Flex J.D. program; and record cohorts for the school’s competitive Public Interest J.D. and Tech Edge J.D. cohort programs. 

Record interest in competitive, cohort-based certificate programs 

This year, a record 362 students applied for the Tech Edge J.D., a unique program started in 2018 for students in technology law to combine legal, business, and technology education with hands-on skills development and individualized mentorship. The strong interest resulted in a record cohort of 52 students in the Tech Edge J.D. 

The Public Interest J.D. cohort certificate program also saw strong interest among the 1L students. The program is geared for those interested in criminal, environmental, human rights, racial justice, immigration, or anti-discrimination law. This year, it drew a record  358 applications, resulting in the largest-ever cohort, 20 students. 

“We are delighted to welcome this class of talented and accomplished students to Santa Clara Law,” said Dean Michael Kaufman. “As our students have  quickly realized, Santa Clara is not just a law school. We are a transformative learning community built on an ethic of loving-kindness. Our students have remarkable credentials and character. They strive to use their formidable talents to achieve rewarding careers, overcome today’s challenges to democracy and the rule of law, and build a more just, humane, sustainable, and hope-filled world.” 

In addition, 51 incoming students opted to join Santa Clara Law through its three-year-old Flex J.D. program, which allows students to take up to one-third of their classes in an asynchronous online format, with on-campus days scheduled in concentrated segments to accommodate busy schedules. The format enables students to pursue a law degree whose working and family commitments would not otherwise allow them to do so. With this year’s class, the total number of Flex students at the law school is at a record 134 students.

Other features of the incoming first-year class: 

• Fifteen percent have advanced degrees already, including 22% of the Flex J.D. students, who hold Ph.D.s in areas from political science to chemistry.
• Twenty-six percent were the first in their families to earn a four-year college degree
• They hail from 27 states and 4 U.S. territories.  
• Nine percent are global or international students
• The 75th percentile LSAT scores for the overall class is 162
• The median LSAT score for the Flex J.D.  students is 160. 

About Santa Clara University School of Law
Santa Clara University School of Law is dedicated to educating lawyers who lead with a commitment to excellence, ethics, and social justice. Santa Clara Law offers students an academically rigorous program including certificates in high-tech, international, public-interest and social-justice, privacy, and sports law, as well as numerous graduate and joint degree options. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara Law is nationally distinguished for its faculty engagement, preparation for practice, and top-ranked programs in intellectual property. For more information, see law.scu.edu.

Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Communications | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121