Overview
Test Scores
(enrolled students)
Deadlines
Application Process
Other Admission Factors
LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Essay / Personal Statement
Selectivity Rating
Faculty Information
Students Say
Academic complaints often revolve around the legal writing program, which “needs a massive overhaul” and, “while informational, [can] feel more like fifth grade English in the way [it is] approached.” Fortunately, the “very distinguished” yet “easily approachable” professors “are very receptive to students and concerned with [their] learning” and “make an effort to be available.” They are “demanding of their students,” but “interesting and entertaining in the classroom.”
Professors “make the classroom experience fun,” gushes one student. “My civil procedure exam was one of the funniest things I have ever read, with witty undercurrents and subtle political satire.” Opinions of the administration vary considerably. Some students say the deans seem “distant at times, but whenever you need them, they’re available and helpful.” Others tell us that the administration “does not care about the students” and gripe about “bureaucratic inefficiencies.”
Job prospects are very promising for SMU grads. Career Services is “actually concerned with helping you find a job.” “Dallas is a wonderful market that pays salaries on par with New York, but the quality of life is so much better,” according to students. “If you want to stay and practice in Dallas, you could not go to a better school.” SMU’s “exceptionally strong relationship with the Dallas legal market” provides an “extensive network of attorneys” “in every field imaginable.” “The alums are very supportive and willing to help out.” “A lot of doors are opened by attending the SMU Dedman School of Law, regardless of your class rank.” “I was able to secure a six-figure job without being on law review or moot court,” says a 3L. “There is definitely a huge hurdle” for students to face who do not want to practice in Texas, though.
The “gorgeous” campus is full of “very pretty, collegiate-looking brick buildings” and “nestled in one of the nicest, most affluent neighborhoods in the Dallas area.” “The law school itself is further cloistered away from the rest of the university and, once inside, it is easy to forget you are sitting in the middle of a bustling metropolis.” “Large oak trees provide shady walkways, and outdoor study places are ample.” “The majority of classrooms are “very comfortable and accommodating,” and the “nearly flawless” wireless signal is “strong in every corner of the law school.” The library is “amazing,” “both with regard to holdings and ease of use.”
Career overview
Career Services
Graduates Employed by Area
Graduates Employed by Region
Prominent Alumni
Dates
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Campus Life
Students Say
Regarding social events on campus, students say, “There’s a club for everyone, whether you’re a gun-toting Second Amendment crusader or a die-hard liberal.” “The students put together a lot of fun activities,” ranging from happy hours to baseball games to tailgating events. “The highlight of everyone’s week is Bar Review where the Student Bar Association gets drink specials at a different local bar every Friday.” There’s also “a picnic/sports spectacular every semester.” SMU’s ritzy location is “great” in terms of safety but “can make finding student housing right next to school virtually impossible.” Beyond the neighborhood surrounding campus, “Big D” is one of the liveliest cities in the South and “a fun place to live.” “You get a great all-around legal education and have the resources of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex right at your doorstep.”
More Information
Admissions Office Contact
Assistant Dean for Admissions
Dallas, TX 75275-0110