Like many midwestern states, Kansas is suffering from a severe shortage of attorneys. In fact, many of the state’s 105 counties have fewer than five active lawyers! The problem isn’t going unnoticed, and the state is taking action to address it. In cooperation with law schools in Kansas, the state legislature passed a bill that would allow law students to receive a $3,000 stipend if they agree to practice law in rural communities. The bill—just signed into law by Governor Laura Kelly— also provides $20,000 each year (for five years) in loan forgiveness to lawyers who reside and practice in rural districts.
If you’d like to help Kansans by becoming a lawyer in the Sunflower State, there are two top-rated law schools you can apply to. Keep reading to see if you meet the required GPA and LSAT scores and if attending law school in Kansas is right for you.
Top Law Schools in Kansas
1. University of Kansas School of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #46
Tuition: $26,865 (in-state) $33,975 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.85
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 162
Acceptance Rate: 39.1%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 92.2%
Go Jayhawks! Founded in 1878, the University of Kansas School of Law tops of our list of law schools in Kansas. This school has a proud tradition of standing up for the disadvantaged that goes back to the 19th century. In 1896, twelve KU students formed a “law firm” to handle cases for people who couldn’t afford a lawyer. The Defender Project, started by students in 1963, provides legal services to poor inmates incarcerated in the infamous Leavenworth Penitentiary. And last but not least, in 2018 the school launched a free bar prep program, so students could prepare for their exam without having to hand over big bucks. As they say, charity starts at home.
According to U.S. News and World Report, KU comes in at:
- #18 in Environmental Law
- #23 in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Federal Clerkships
- #28 in Legal Writing
- #41 in Dispute Resolution
- #54 in Contracts/Commercial Law
First-year classes at KU Law include Civil Procedure, Contracts, and Criminal Law. You’ll also take Introduction to Constitutional Law, Lawyering Skills I & II, Property, and Torts.
The school offers certificates in:
- Advocacy Skills
- Business and Commercial Law
- Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources
- International Trade and Finance
- Social Justice
- Tax Law
Legal clinics at KU Law include (the):
- Legal Aid Clinic
- Project for Innocence
- Veterans Legal Support Clinic
- Tribal Judicial Support Clinic
In addition to the clinics, there are a variety of other hands-on learning programs you can participate in. These include the Pro Bono Program, in which students help low-income residents do their tax returns and get past criminal convictions expunged from client records. Students can also advocate for children in foster care, work in government agencies, with prosecutors, and in public defender offices throughout Kansas.
Second-year students can participate in KU’s Moot Court Competition. This is a one-credit course in which students give a mock argument before a panel of judges and write an appellate brief.
The 6th Semester in D.C. Program offers students a pathway to public service and leadership roles. You’ll spend the spring semester of your third year living and working in the nation’s capital. There you can connect with the extensive KU alumni network in Washington and start a career in public service.
KU School of Law also operates the Polsinelli Transactional Law Center, the Tribal Law and Government Center, and the Shook, Hardy, and Bacon Center for Excellence in Advocacy.
There are two student-edited journals at this school: the Kansas Law Review and the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy.
Finally, there are over two dozen student organizations you can join, including (the):
- Business and Tax Law Society
- Federal Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Society
- KU Law Chess Club
- Sports Law Society
Summary:
The median undergrad GPA of program entrants is a 3.85, so you’ll need excellent grades to get in. That said, the median LSAT score for program entrants is 162, which while well above the national average of ~153, is doable for many applicants. The school also has a relatively high acceptance rate of 39.1%. It may be an especially good option if you want to specialize in environmental law, get a federal clerkship, or start a career in Washington D.C.
2. Washburn University School of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #108
Tuition: $28,980 (in-state) $42,810 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.68
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 155
Acceptance Rate: 46.5%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 71.1%
Completing our list of law schools in Kansas is the Washburn University School of Law. This public law school, established in 1903, has played a very important role in American history. In 1951 it was three Washburn Law grads—Charles Scott, John Scott, and Charles Bledsoe—that initiated the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka. In 1954 the Court sided with the plaintiffs, ending legal school segregation in the United States forever. It was one of the most consequential decisions in U.S. history, and Washburn alumni made it happen!
According to U.S. News and World Report, Washburn Law comes in at:
- #9 in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Public Interest Law
- #22 in Legal Writing
- #66 in Clinical Training, Trial Advocacy
- #69 in Environmental Law
- #109 in International Law
In their first week, students enroll in what’s called the Academic Skills Program, which gives them the support they need to succeed in law school. It also gives them tips on how to pass the bar and start a law practice.
Washburn students take Criminal Law, Property, Torts, and Research & Writing I during their first semester. In the second semester, they enroll in Civil Procedure, Contracts, Constitutional Law, and Research & Writing II.
As they progress through the curriculum, Washburn students can earn a variety of dual degrees, including a JD/Master of Accounting, JD/Master of Business Administration, JD/Master of Social Work, and JD/Master of Criminal Justice.
Students can also earn certificates in:
- Advocacy
- Business & Transactional Law
- Children & Family Law
- Estate Planning
- Intellectual Property & Technology Law
- International & Comparative Law
- Law & Government
- Natural Resources Law
- Oil & Gas Law
- Tax Law
- Workplace Law
The Pro Bono Program lets you gain invaluable experience while helping those in need. You can participate in projects like the Shawnee County Youth Court and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Participating in the program is a great way to have a real impact on the community and do some networking.
The school has a law clinic that functions as an in-house general practice law firm and provides representation in the areas of family law, criminal defense, and small business transactions.
Washburn operates a number of legal centers, including (the):
- Business and Transactional Law Center
- Children & Family Law Center
- Center for Excellence in Advocacy
- Center for Law & Government
- Center for Oil & Gas Law, Intellectual Property & Technology
- Center for International & Comparative Law
There are two student-edited journals at this school, The Washburn Law Journal and the Washburn Agricultural Law and Tax Report.
Finally, there are over 40 student organizations you can join!
These include (the):
- American Constitution Society
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Artificial Intelligence Law Association
- Children and Family Law Society
- Environmental Law Society
- International Law Society
- Pro Bono Society
- Washburn Law Chess Club
Summary:
The median undergrad GPA of program entrants is 3.68, so you’ll need good grades to get into Washburn. However, the median LSAT of program entrants is 155, which is slightly above the national average of ~153. So keep the school in mind if your grades are high but you did about average on the LSAT. If you’re especially interested in public interest law or legal writing, the school could be a good option.
How do I get into a law school in Kansas?
Whether you’re applying to law schools in Kansas or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, all of them have median LSAT scores that give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class. Remember, law schools want to attract the best of the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate shot by getting a high LSAT score.
Prepare for Law School
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