JD Admissions Image Descriptions

JD Class of 2029 Profile 

Note: Numbers reflect the 2025-26 entering class as of August 17, 2026

Applications

  • 8,000 applications received

1L Class

  • 365 entering students

Academic Background

  • 5 most common undergraduate majors: Political Science, Economics, International Relations, History, Psychology
  • 11% enter with an advanced degree
  • 19% received a degree in a STEM field

GPA 

  • 3.85: 25th percentile
  • 3.93: median
  • 4.00: 75th percentile

LSAT

  • 169: 25th percent
  • 171: median
  • 173: 75th percentile

Age Breakdown

  • 8% are age 30 or over
  • 20-39 age range
  • 25 average age

Gender Breakdown

  • 59% female
  • 33% male
  • 8% are non-binary or did not indicate

Diversity Figures

  • 14% identify as first generation college graduates 
  • 33% are members of the LGBTQIA+ community
  • 55% are students of color

Geographic Representation

  • 35 states represented
  • 11 countries represented

 

Timeline for Applying

September

  • 9/1 – Regular and Binding Early Decision applications open on LSAC.org
  • 9/1 – Application Fee Waiver Request Form Opens
  • 9/9 – 9/12 – LSAT Administration 

October

  • 10/1 – Application Review Begins
  • 10/7 – 10/10 – LSAT Administration

November

  • 11/11 – 11/14 – Last LSAT for Binding Early Decision, BLOS and Public Interest Scholars Applicants
  • 11/16 – Last GRE / GMAT for Binding Early Decision Applicants, BLOS, and Public Interest Scholars applicants
  • 11/16 – Application deadline for Binding Early Decision Applicants 

December

  • 12/14 – Binding Early Decision application notifications
  • 12/15 – Deadline for BLOS and Public Interest Scholars

January

  • 1/1 – Application Fee Waiver Requests Deadline
  • 1/13 -1/16 – Last LSAT for Regular Decision Applicants
  • 1/31 – Last GRE / GMAT for Regular Decision Applicants

February

  • 2/15 – Application Deadline for Regular Decision Applicants

Binding Early Decision 

Requirements

  • CAS Report with all transcripts
  • Standardized Test taken by November 2026
  • 2-4 Letters of Recommendation
  • 2-4 Page Personal Statement and any required or optional addenda
  • Resume of any length
  • Signed Binding Early Decision Certification Form
  • **Optional Video Interview

Benefits of Applying BED

  1. Early Notification: admissions decisions are released in mid-December.
  2. No Denied Applications: If you are not admitted via BED, your application will be reviewed again in the regular decision pool. There is no application fee required.
  3. Gift Aid: If admitted, you will receive a guaranteed $120,000 scholarship, divided over all 3 years ($40,000 per year).
  4. Housing: If you plan on living in university housing, you will be the first to submit the housing application in February. 

Important Dates

  • September 1, 2026: Application Opens
  • November 2026: Last standardized test acceptable for BED
  • November 1, 2026: Recommended Submission Date
  • November 16, 2026: Deadline to Apply
  • December 14, 2026: Decisions Released

Berkeley Law Class of 2023 Employment Outcomes

2023 Berkeley Law Employment 9 Months After Graduation

  • 94.34% employed at 9 months 
  • 88% overall 2023 bar passage for first-time takers
  • 105 2023 Grads and Alumns who are clerking in the 2023 term
  • $215,000 median salary

Employment Statistics: 97% of all positions held are full-time and require bar admission. Of 336 total graduates: 317 were employed, 10 were seeking work, 4 were enrolled full-time in a degree program, and 5 are other/unknown. 

Job Type: Overall, 29% of graduates are working for non-profits, government agencies, or plaintiff-side firms. 63.41% are at law firms, 12% are in judicial clerkships, 18% are in public interest positions, 5.68% are in government, and less than 1% are in business or education. 

Salaries: The overall average salary is $161,040. The median salary is $215,000. The 25th percentile is $80,000, and the 75th percentile is $215,000.

Law firm jobs by firm size: 84.6% of the class entered a position in a Big Law firm (501 or more attorneys). The breakdown of other firm jobs by firm size is:

  • 1-10 attorneys: 7
  • 11-25 attorneys: 3
  • 26-50 attorneys: 5
  • 51-100 attorneys: 8
  • 101-250 attorneys: 8
  • 251-500 attorneys: 14
  • 501 or more attorneys: 156

Median salary by job types: 87.5% of graduates’ salaries were reported:

  • Public interest: $72,000
  • Government: $86,000
  • Judicial Clerkship: $72,000
  • Private Practice: $215,000