How to Get into Georgetown Law: The Definitive Guide

Are you among the thousands of hopefuls aiming to get into Georgetown Law School this year?

Then you’ve come to the right place.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know the exact strategies to use to earn that Georgetown Law acceptance letter.

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Is it hard to get into Georgetown Law? 

Georgetown Law is considered one of the best law schools in the country. 

It’s ranked alongside top law schools like UCLA and Cornell.

And because it’s only a short walk from places like the US Capitol and the Supreme Court (where lawmaking occurs), it’s a highly popular choice for future lawyers.

But it might not be as difficult to get into Georgetown Law as you think.

As of 2024, the Georgetown Law acceptance rate is 19.6%, which is higher than some of the other T14 schools.  

That said, you still need to approach your application strategically to really stand out to the admissions team.

What does that mean exactly? 

Well, you’ll want to write a powerful personal statement, get great letters of recommendation, and create an effective law school resume. 

I’ll tell you more about all of that in a bit.

But first, let’s talk about everything Georgetown Law offers, including degrees and programs.

What programs does Georgetown Law offer? 

Georgetown Law offers a few different degree programs:

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
• Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)

If you’re looking to specialize in a specific area, you can participate in certificate or transnational programs. You also have the option of pursuing a joint JD/LLM degree. 

But if you’d rather combine your JD with another type of advanced degree from Georgetown, you can pursue one in areas like business, public health, government, or philosophy.

Another thing I want to point out about Georgetown Law is that it’s home to the highest-rated clinical programs in America, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for hands-on, immersive learning.

Wondering what it takes to get into Georgetown Law as a JD student? Keep reading to find out.

What qualifications do you need to get into Georgetown Law? 

Thousands of students apply to get into Georgetown Law each year. 

In fact, it typically receives more JD applications than any other law school in the country.

So who gets in, and what do they offer? Let’s talk about it.

Who gets into Georgetown Law? 

Of the 11,296 students who applied to be part of the Class of 2027, only 627 enrolled.

Who makes up the class? Well, there are:

• 89 Opportunity Scholars
• 20 military members
• 11 teachers (3 from Teach for America)
• 11 Americorps members
• 7 Fulbright Scholars
• 7 PhDs

There are also journalists, actors, Grammy nominees, and even a former CIA analyst.

Altogether, students represent 16 countries, 47 states, and 217 colleges and universities.

While gender and race breakdown data isn’t available for the Class of 2027, data for the 2023 entering class shows:

• 59% were female
• 41% were male
• 35% were students of color

Now, let’s check out the average GPA and LSAT scores of accepted students.

What GPA do you need to get into Georgetown Law? 

The latest GPAs for Georgetown Law are:

• 75th percentile: 3.97
• 50th percentile: 3.91
• 25th percentile: 3.7

So, among students who get into Georgetown Law, a 3.97 GPA is high, a 3.7 is low, and the average is 3.91.

Learn more: What GPA do you need for law school?

What LSAT score do you need for Georgetown Law? 

Here are the latest LSAT scores of Georgetown Law students:

• 75th percentile: 173
• 50th percentile: 171
• 25th percentile: 166

On average, students scored 171, with 173 being a high score and 166 being a low sore.

Learn more: What is a good LSAT score?

So, those are the average scores of students who get into Georgetown Law.

But don’t panic if your scores aren’t as high. 

It doesn’t mean you can’t get into Georgetown Law. It just means you have to be slightly more strategic in your approach.

How do I know?

Because I’ve helped my clients do just that.

For example, when my client D.C. applied to Georgetown, the median GPA was 3.85.

D.C. had a 3.6 GPA – so he was two-and-a-half points lower than the average.

But… he got in!

And that means you can, too.

I’ll tell you how to do it in the next section, so keep reading.

How do you get into Georgetown Law with lower GPA or LSAT scores? 

Here’s what people don’t realize about applying to law school:

While your scores would ideally be within reach of the averages, there’s always a little wiggle room, even at a school like Georgetown Law.

Take another look at the scores I just shared.

The 25th percentile GPA is 3.7 – almost three full points below the 75th percentile (3.97).

And the 25th percentile LSAT score is 7 points below the 75th percentile.

Also, Georgetown Law doesn’t “use numerical cutoffs, and there is no minimum GPA or LSAT, GRE, GMAT (or GMAT Focus) score required for admission.”

That said, if your scores are lower than you’d have liked, you do have some options.

Retake the LSAT 

Ideally, you’d only have to take the LSAT once to get your best score.

But that doesn’t always happen – and there’s no shame in retaking it to improve your score.

In fact, of those who took the test during the 2023-2024 cycle, only 49% were first-time takers.

Which means over half were retaking it!

And if your dream is to get into Georgetown Law, I recommend retaking it to get a score within reach of the average.

But there is a catch.

While you can take it five times in five years and up to three times in a testing year, I don’t recommend taking it more than three times. 

Otherwise, you’ll need to write an addendum explaining why you took it so many times. 

I break all of this down in my guide to retaking the LSAT.

Take the GRE 

If you don’t want to retake the LSAT, Georgetown Law does accept GRE scores received in the last five years.

While the LSAT is specifically for law school admissions, the GRE looks at a broader range of academic backgrounds while still testing your analytical and critical thinking skills. 

Just be sure to take a few practice tests to figure out if the GRE is for you.

Submit an optional statement 

Georgetown Law also accepts optional statements if you want to give the admissions team a clearer picture of who you are outside of your scores.

Here’s what they say about it:

“At Georgetown Law, we have always taken great pride in having an admissions process that focuses on the individual – We do this one at a time. If you would like to share any additional personal perspectives, reflections, or experiences – whether positive, challenging, a combination of both, or something else entirely – that have contributed to who you are as a person and as a future legal scholar and lawyer, we invite you to do so in an additional statement.”

You can also submit an optional 250-word statement for any of these questions:

1. What’s the best (or worst) advice you’ve ever received?
2. If you could “uninvent” one thing, what would it be?
3. Tell us about a moment in your life that you regret.
4. Describe your perfect day.
5. Share a top ten list.

But remember, your application doesn’t hinge solely on your scores.

Components like your personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation also play a role.

So, let’s cover these application requirements next.

Application requirements for Georgetown Law 

To get into Georgetown Law, you’ll need to submit:

• Application form (LSAC is preferred, but paper applications are accepted)
• Resume
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• LSAT, GRE, or GMAT (or GMAT Focus) score from the last five years
• Letter of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Conduct statement (if necessary)
• Optional statement
• Optional responses
• One-minute video (optional)

It costs $85 to apply to Georgetown Law, but fee waivers are available.

The school starts accepting both Regular and Early Decision applications on September 5th. 

While there’s no hard deadline, the “strongly recommended” deadline for both is March 3rd. 

Early Decision applicants will usually receive a decision in about four weeks. But Regular Decision applicants will wait a bit longer – around 8 to 12 weeks.

Keep in mind that Georgetown Law admissions operate on a rolling basis, which means that applications are reviewed as they’re received. 

In other words, the earlier you can apply, the better.

If you do get accepted, deposits are due May 1st and June 3rd (you’ll need to pay these to secure your place at Georgetown Law).

Now, what about financial aid? 

After all, tuition for 2024-2025 is $79,672.

If you want to apply for loans, incoming JD students can apply between June 1st and July 15th. 

Some other priority deadlines to keep in mind include:

• Yellow Financial Aid Application: March 31st
• Green Financial Aid Application: July 15th
• Need-Based Grant Assistance: February 1st

Now, let’s dive into the actual components of your application.

Write a personal statement 

Georgetown Law has two interview programs, but they’re both invitation-only.

If you’re not invited, your personal statement is your best shot at standing out.

I know firsthand that a good personal statement can make all the difference. 

My own scores weren’t the median at any of my dream schools.

But I wrote a great personal statement and ended up getting into UPenn.

So, how do you write one that will help you get into Georgetown Law? 

A successful personal statement tells a cohesive story that:

• Is focused on one theme
• Clearly explains why you want to go to law school
• Demonstrates your critical thinking skills

Figuring out what story to tell can be overwhelming.

After all, when you can write about anything, how do you choose? 

Some potential personal statement ideas are:

• What sets you apart
• Your childhood
• An “undercover” accomplishment not listed on your resume
• What you want to accomplish as a lawyer

What you don’t want to do is try to cram everything in or use an over-the-top story.

There’s no page limit, but Georgetown recommends “around two pages double-spaced.”

I’ll show you exactly how to write a personal statement in this guide (and tell you which topics to avoid in this one).

Get letters of recommendation  

You also need to include a letter of recommendation to get into Georgetown Law.

Only one is required, but there’s no limit to how many you can submit.

If you want to give the admissions team a holistic view of who you are, I recommend sending three.

But who do you ask?

Well, Georgetown Law prefers that you submit one from a professor.

It makes sense – who better to speak to your abilities as a student than someone who’s taught you?

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have been top of the class.

If you took a challenging class or one that you were particularly interested in, that’s likely enough to ask for a recommendation.

But what do you do if you’ve been out of school for five or more years?

Well, if you’ve been out getting real-world experience, your best option is to get letters from employers or close colleagues.

Just don’t ask for recommendations from friends or family.

Trying to figure out who, when, and how to ask for letters of recommendation?

This guide is for you.

Write a law school resume 

As part of your application, you’ll also have to write a law school resume.

But here’s the thing:

It’s not a typical resume.

After all, you’re not hoping to land an interview for a job. You’re trying to get into Georgetown Law!

Your resume, which should be one to two pages, speaks to your work experience, extracurricular and/or volunteer activities, education, and academic honors or rewards.

And even though this seems technical (and maybe even boring), it’s a great way to stand out and support the themes you’ve created throughout your application. 

Why?

Because your resume speaks to the qualifications, traits, and experiences that make you an ideal JD candidate. It shows your:

• Work ethic and ability to juggle multiple responsibilities
• Analytical and writing abilities
• Creativity & innovation
• Leadership
• Community engagement
• Work ethic
• Language proficiencies

With this in mind, your headers should go in this order:

• Education
• Professional Experience and/or Employment
• Activities
• Community Engagement
• Publications
• Accomplishments
• Skills/Interests

I’ll tell you everything you need to know about writing a resume that will help you get into Georgetown Law in this guide.

Next steps 

So that’s it!

The exact steps you need to take to get into Georgetown Law.

It all boils down to strategy.

Which is where I come in.

I’ve helped clients get into Georgetown Law and other schools like it, and I can help you, too.

Learn what it’s like to work with me here.

Read more:

How Many Law Schools Should You Apply To?

The Full Guide to Law School Requirements & Prerequisites

How to Get into Duke Law School