While researching law schools in Iowa, we came across a surprising fact about the Hawkeye State. It (along with other rural states) is currently suffering from a severe shortage of lawyers, especially public defenders. This means many poor Iowa residents who have been accused of a crime don’t have access to legal counsel. Some in the Iowa legal world are describing the situation as nothing short of a full-blown constitutional crisis, as indigent residents subject to prosecution are in effect being denied their Sixth Amendment right to an attorney.
The upshot of all this is that Iowa really needs new lawyers. And fortunately, the state is home to two highly ranked legal programs! Keep reading to see what schools made the list and how you can be a competitive applicant.
The Best Law Schools in Iowa
The following law schools have top-notch programs and high bar passage rates. Based on rankings obtained from U.S. News and World Report, we consider these two law schools to be the best in the state of Iowa.
1. University of Iowa College of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #32
Tuition: $33,489 (in-state) $54,736 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.78
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 164
Acceptance Rate: 44.4%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 91%
Topping our list of law schools in Iowa is the University of Iowa College of Law. Founded in 1865, the school played an important role in the fight for gender and racial equality in the years following the Civil War. Fun fact: Mary Beth Hickey—one of the first female law students in the country—graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1873. She was followed in 1879 by Alexander Clark Jr., one of the first black men in America to earn a law degree.
When it comes to law school specialty rankings, the Iowa College of Law comes in at:
- #20 in Contracts/Commercial Law
- #30 in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Federal Clerkships
- #35 in Criminal Law
- #39 in Environmental Law
- #41 in Business/Corporate Law and International Law
A key part of the school’s curriculum focuses on teaching students the writing skills they’ll need to be successful attorneys. The school has seven full-time writing faculty devoted to helping students acquire persuasive writing and analytical thinking skills.
As they make their way through their classwork, students at the Iowa College of Law can earn the following dual degree options:
- JD/Master of Arts in Library and Information Sciences
- JD/Master of Arts in Philosophy
- JD/Master of Arts in Sport and Recreation Management
- JD/Master of Business Administration
- JD/Master of Health Administration
- JD/Master of Public Affairs
Legal clinics at the Iowa College of Law include the Community Empowerment Law Project, the Federal Criminal Defense Clinic, Immigration Advocacy, the Federal Impact Litigation Clinic, and Technology Law.
The school has a number of legal centers that allow students, faculty, and staff to work on topics of interest to them. These include (the):
- Center for Human Rights
- Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative
- Innovation, Business and Law Center
- Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center
- Labor Center
- Law and Philosophy at Iowa
- Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center
- National Health Law and Policy Resource Center
Student journals at the Iowa College of Law include the Iowa Law Review, the Journal of Corporation Law, the Journal of Gender, Race and Justice, and Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems.
Finally, this school has lots of student organizations you can join! Among them are (the):
- American Constitution Society
- Equal Justice Foundation
- Legal Theory Reading Group
- Music, Entertainment, and Fashion Law Society
- Pro Bono Society and Dean’s Recognition
- Rural Interest Group
Summary:
Program entrants have a median undergrad GPA of 3.78 and a median LSAT score of 164, so getting in isn’t easy. Still, the Iowa College of Law has a high acceptance rate of 44.4%, so don’t count yourself out! It may be a good school to keep in mind if you’re interested in contracts/commercial law, getting a federal clerkship, or criminal law.
2. Drake University Law School
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #91
Tuition: $51,390 (full-time)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.67
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 156
Acceptance Rate: 54.8%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 85.7%
Next on our list of law schools in Iowa is the Drake University Law School. Located in the city of Des Moines, the school is one of the 25 oldest law schools in the United States. Founded by Iowa Supreme Court justices George Wright and Chester Cole, the school has a proud track record when it comes to gender and racial equality. In 1876, Martha Angle became the first woman to graduate from Drake Law School, and John Lay Thompson, the first black man to graduate from the school, did so in 1898.
Today, the school emphasizes the importance of practical experience when it comes to learning the law. As we’ll see, Drake students have a chance to observe actual cases during their first year of school thanks to the unique relationship the school has with local judges and attorneys.
When it comes to the school’s specialty rankings, Drake comes in at:
- #11 in Legal Writing
- #66 in Clinical Training
- #92 in Trial Advocacy
- #95 in Constitutional Law
- #101 in Business/Corporate Law
According to the school’s website, Drake Law School is the only law program in the United States that places first-year students in an actual courtroom for a week. This program, called the First-Year Trial Practicum, lets students observe a real state or federal trial in the Neal and Bea Smith’s Law Center Courtroom. Students can even speak with judges, lawyers, and members of the jury after the verdict.
Drake students can earn the following dual degree options:
- JD/Master of Business Administration
- JD/Master of Public Administration
- JD/Doctor of Pharmacy
The school also has 12 certificate programs, including the Artificial Intelligence Law Certificate, the Business Law Certificate, and the Intellectual Property Law Certificate.
Students enrolled in the Summer in France Program can earn six credits in comparative and international law. Classes are taught in English at the University of Nantes.
Through the Drake Legal Clinic, students that have completed the equivalent of three semesters of school can apply for an Iowa Student Practice License. This allows them to act (under faculty supervision) as counsel in civil and misdemeanor criminal cases before the Iowa Court of Appeals or the Iowa Supreme Court.
Law centers at Drake include (the):
- Agricultural Law Center
- Constitutional Law Center
- Legislative Practice Center
- Middletown Center for Children’s Rights
- Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation
Finally, there are dozens of student organizations you can join! Among them are (the):
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Business Law Society
- Consumer Antitrust Law Club
- Drake Journal of Agricultural Law
- First Generation Lawyers
- Military and Veterans Law Society
Summary:
This school has a very high acceptance rate of 54.8%. That said, you’ll still need a GPA around a 3.6 and an LSAT score in the ballpark of 156 to be competitive.
Drake may be a great choice if legal writing is a top priority for you. And the school offers first-year students the unique opportunity to attend trials and speak with judges, lawyers, and jurors. The school’s clinic allows you to get a Student Practice License so you can act as counsel under faculty supervision.
How Do I Get Into One of the Law Schools in Iowa?
Whether you’re applying to law schools in Iowa 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 to Ace the LSAT
Blueprint LSAT Prep has the best LSAT prep courses tailored to your individual learning style. From a DIY Self-Paced Online LSAT Course to a Live LSAT Class and even private LSAT tutoring, we have the LSAT course designed to increase your LSAT score by 15 points on average!
Don’t want to commit to a prep course right now? Get access to a bunch of free LSAT resources when you create a Blueprint LSAT account. And when you’re ready to make the jump into LSAT prep, we’ll be here to help!
