University of Wisconsin--Madison

Law School Overview

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

Rank Category Name #33 Best Law Schools

Law School Overview

The Law School at University of Wisconsin--Madison has an application deadline of April 1. The full-time program application fee at the Law School at University of Wisconsin--Madison is $56. Its tuition is full-time: $21,347 per year (in-state); full-time: $40,043 per year (out-of-state); part-time: $1,784 per credit (in-state); and part-time: $3,342 per credit (out-of-state). The student-faculty ratio is 10.9:1. The Law School at University of Wisconsin--Madison has 111 full- and part-time faculty on staff.

The University of Wisconsin—Madison Law School takes a “law in action” approach to instruction. Students learn the fundamentals of the law, as well as the role of law in society. Wisconsin Law offers simulation courses, such as Lawyering Skills, for students to learn techniques including negotiation, oral advocacy, and problem solving. Students interested in a dual degree have a variety of options, including a J.D./M.B.A. through the Wisconsin School of Business and a J.D./Ph.D. in Political Science through the Department of Political Science.

The law school has a large clinical program, as well as experiential learning opportunities including public interest work and study abroad programs. There are three law journals: the Wisconsin Law Review, the Wisconsin International Law Journal, and the Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society. Each year, Wisconsin law school and medical school students face off in the Dean’s Cup, competing against each other in basketball, golf, chess, and more. Law students also come together yearly for Stuart’s Law Revue, a student-run annual comedy and musical production. About 60 percent of law students are from Wisconsin.

Notable alumni of Wisconsin Law School include Tom Barrett, former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, and Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin and the first non-incumbent, openly gay person elected to Congress.

To see which law firms rank the highest, please visit U.S. News Best Law Firms.

Year founded	1868
Public/private	Public
Law school designation	National

Admissions

Application deadline	April 1
Full-time program application fee	$56
Part-time program application fee	N/A
Admissions Phone	(608) 262-5914
Admissions E-mail	admissions@law.wisc.edu
Web site	http://www.law.wisc.edu

Academics

Full- and part-time faculty	111
Student-faculty ratio	10.9:1
Total faculty	126

Student Body

Enrollment (full-time)	690
Gender distribution (full-time)
J.D. candidates graduating in 2011-2012	284

Cost

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $21,347 per year (in-state) Full-time: $40,043 per year (out-of-state) Part-time: $1,784 per credit (in-state) Part-time: $3,342 per credit (out-of-state)
Room and board	$9,790

Careers

Employed at graduation 2	46.5%
Median private sector starting salary	$70,000
Median public service starting salary	$49,500

Library

Total volumes and volume equivalents

640,109

* Law School Overview details based on 2012 data