Northeastern Law Welcomes Record-Setting Incoming Fall 2023 Class
10.10.23 — Northeastern University School of Law is delighted to welcome the fall 2023 incoming class of JD and FlexJD students, which boasts the strongest academic profile in the school’s history. The median LSAT for the class is 163 and the median GPA is 3.72. While these numbers are impressive, the school was drawn to this diverse class based on their wide variety of talents, life experiences and passion for using the law to make the world a more equitable place.
“At Northeastern, we’re looking not only for academic success but for well-rounded individuals with exciting experiences and a true passion for justice,” said Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Enrollment Sarah Rethage.
This is a diverse class: 37 percent identify as people of color, 67 percent are women and 30 percent identify as members of the LGBTQ community. The average age is 25, with students in their twenties, thirties, forties and fifties. While many have ties to Massachusetts, as a group they represent 29 of the 50 states, five different countries and the District of Columbia.
The students are well connected to the global community, having worked, volunteered and studied around the globe in nations from Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates, and 60 countries in between: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Martinique, Mexico, Morroco, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saipan, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Martin, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. Among this group, there are more than 33 different languages spoken.
The first-year students attended more than 139 different undergraduate institutions with more than 53 different majors, and 27 have already earned master’s or doctorate-level graduate degrees. Approximately 77 percent have been out of college for at least one year. Some have worked inside the world of the law with district attorneys and public defenders, judges and counsels, advocates and administrators and at law firms of every size as legal assistants, interns, clerks and paralegals. Others have worked in sales, healthcare, public relations, scientific research and social services. Among the class members are advocates, case managers, clinicians, coaches, coders, consultants, chefs, engineers, entrepreneurs, financial analysts, firefighters, investigators, researchers, restaurant workers, software engineers, scientists, teachers and writers.
One has has served on the USA Women’s National Team for Ice Hockey and another competed internationally in synchronized figure skating for Team USA. Two perform stand-up comedy. One has released an album on Spotify and another has authored a cookbook. Another person is a master at the harp and has performed in orchestras across the US. They have worked for the general good whether in the military, such as the Army, Navy and Marine Corp, or through national service organizations, including the Peace Corps, City Year and AmeriCorps.
They have also given their time and talents to such worthy causes as the ACLU, Big Brothers Big Sisters, crisis centers, shelter homes, food banks, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Societies, Planned Parenthood, prison reform initiatives, the Red Cross, Relay for Life, Special Olympics and the Volunteer Lawyers Project. One even founded their own non-profit to provide education and clean water for young girls in Pakistan.
About Northeastern University School of Law
The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern guarantees its students unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,000 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.
For more information, contact d.feldman@northeastern.edu