University of Washington - School of Law

Situated in the hip, relaxed seaside city of Seattle, the University of Washington School of Law is arguably the top law college in the Pacific Northwest. Deemed a “veritable paradise” by one student, the “regional powerhouse” has “huge respect” and its “reputation helps [students] . . . [compete] with [students from] other schools for internships and jobs.” With a 115-year legacy, “left-leaning” UW prides itself on its “strong focus on social justice and minority issues” and the students in general “care a lot about doing good” via forty-five-plus student-run organizations and a required sixty hours of public service legal work. Still, attendees find that the administration is “geared at getting students . . . high-paying jobs at big firms” and ultimately encourages students to “[pursue] . . . [careers] in big law.” Career services, however, “are not the strongest part of UW Law,” with several students lamenting that it’s difficult to find jobs outside of the Seattle area with a UW Law degree.
The school is one of only a handful in the country on the quarter system, which some believe makes for “tighter . . . schedules.” UW Law offers eight concentration tracks: Asian law, business law, dispute resolution, environmental law, health law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, and public service law. Curriculum highlights include a “range of course offerings . . . that give ample room for exploring different interests” and a “well-developed legal writing program.” Students happily share that the “1L experience is well-tailored to helping students transition into a new environment,” as “the school . . . sets up 1Ls with a professional mentor from the Seattle community and a faculty member.” But classes are certain to be vigorous—the curve is apparently “absurd”—and some students wished that the school “[helped] guide students in their practice area selection.” But there are “tons of opportunities for involvement in the community” (such as internships and externships) and more than 60 percent of UW Law students participate in at least one out of thirteen clinics.
“Rigorous, prestigious, and [known for bringing] immense intellectual insight to the classroom,” the faculty includes “top-notch professors who are accessible and supportive” and who know how to make “even boring topics more approachable and enjoyable, thanks to their enthusiasm.” Plus, “most . . . have been or still are highly successful practitioners,” “many have Supreme Court experience,” and “almost all instructors publish.” And they’re primarily there to teach: “Despite [their] amazing credentials, the professors have an astounding ability to break down the subject matter and help the students to understand and excel academically.” The student-faculty ratio is also an awesome 9:1, so students “get individualized attention when [they] need it.”
Housed in the new, modern William H. Gates Hall (which is named after Bill Gates’ father), UW’s facilities are reportedly breathtaking. “Beautiful and full of light,” the “world-class” Gallagher Law Library boasts “tons of materials” (technically, 650,000-plus volumes, making it one of the largest law libraries west of the Mississippi) and is an envy-inducing “gem in every other law school’s eye,” staffed by “friendly research librarians.” The “classrooms are well-maintained” (with “fairly ergonomic chairs,” no less) and “offer state-of-the-art technology for pedagogical use.”

What’s the one thing pretty much all UW Law students have on their wish list of school improvements? Diversity. While “just about everyone can find a group of people to call their friends,” attendees remark that there sure are “a lot of white, privileged individuals at the school” (though some students noted that it’s a problem endemic to law school in general, not just UW).
Otherwise, the scene “is much less competitive and more supportive than most law schools” and the “friendly and good-natured” students “do a pretty good job of looking out for each other”—all without too many “overt personality clashes.” As for the social calendar, “parties or pot lucks happen almost every weekend as a nice break from the day to day stresses” and “student organizations sponsor happy hours and mixers.” With its coffee house culture and exposure to art and music, the city of Seattle also provides plenty of opportunities to blow off steam.