About UW's Law Degree
UW’s College of Law offers an affordable and rigorous J.D. program that prepares students for impactful careers in law, government and the greater community. Our school is known for its small class sizes, excellent faculty mentorship and strong sense of community. Students benefit from hands-on skills training and a low student-to-faculty ratio. The J.D. curriculum is a three-year program designed to emphasize academic excellence and foster leadership, ethical practice and professionalism.
Students must complete a bachelor’s degree before matriculating into the UW College of Law. Along with an application, prospective students should submit their LSAT scores, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume and a personal statement.
Broaden your career options with a joint degree from UW. Whether you’re aiming to become a business leader, entrepreneur, public servant or environmental advocate, we offer combinations to help you reach your goals. UW offers a range of joint-degree programs that allow students to earn an additional master’s while working on their J.D. degree. These joint degrees include:
J.D./Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Earn a Juris Doctor and MBA in four years. This joint degree combines legal expertise and business strategy to prepare you to excel in corporate law, entrepreneurship and business administration. Students spend their 1st, 3rd and 4th years in law studies, while the 2nd year is dedicated to the full-time MBA program.
Admissions Process
Students must apply separately to the College of Law and the College of Business,
starting with the law application. Admission to the MBA portion is recommended in
the first semester of law school. Requirements include a bachelor's degree, transcripts,
resume, recommendations, interview/assessment and possibly a GMAT/GRE score. If you
have questions about MBA admissions, please contact (307) 766-2482 or cobgradprograms@uwyo.edu.
J.D./Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Prepare for a fulfilling career in government or nonprofit leadership by earning a JD and MPA in three to four years. Up to nine MPA credits count toward the JD and 12 JD credits apply to the MPA, reducing overall time to completion. This program emphasizes public service values, ethics and skills in policy, management and administration.
Admissions Process
Student must apply separately to the College of Law and MPA program, starting with the law application. Once admitted, those interested in the joint degree should meet with a Law Admissions professional to begin the MPA application process. Requirements for the MPA include a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, transcripts, resume, letter of interest, analytical writing response and two professional or academic recommendations. GRE/GMAT scores are NOT required.
J.D./M.A. in Environment and Natural Resources
Earn a JD and master's in environment and natural resources in just three to four years and tackle pressing environmental challenges with interdisciplinary training in policy, law and sustainability.
Admissions Process
Students must apply separately to the College of Law and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, starting with the law application. Once admitted to the College of Law, prospective joint degree students should meet with a Law Admissions professional to begin the ENR application process. If you have questions about the Haub School's admissions, please contact haub.school@uwyo.edu or Professor Temple Stoellinger at tstoelli@uwyo.edu.
What can you do with a law degree?
A law degree prepares you for meaningful careers both inside and outside the courtroom. You’ll be ready to pursue a career path as an attorney, judge, public defender or prosecutor. You can also use your degree to become a foreign service officer, policy advisor, environmental rights lawyer or law professor.
A J.D. opens the door to a wide range of careers both inside and outside traditional legal practice. Here is just a sampling of some of the paths you can take:
- Attorney/Lawyer (private practice, law firms, solo practice)
- Corporate Counsel/In-House Counsel
- Public Defender or Prosecutor
- Judge
- Legal Aid/Nonprofit Lawyer
- Government Attorney
- Policy Advisor or Legislative Counsel
- Mediator/Arbitrator
- Compliance Officer
- Lobbyist
- Contract Manager
- Law Professor or Lecturer
- Environmental Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Family Law
- Criminal Law
- International Law
- Employment and Labor Law
- Tax Law
- Real Estate Law
- Immigration Law
At UW, you’ll get personalized career guidance and plenty of opportunities to network with professionals in the field. College of Law faculty prioritize one-on-one mentorship to help ensure you launch your career in the area of law that interests you most. You’ll have opportunities throughout your degree program to meet with attorneys, judges and policymakers, both locally and across the globe, to maximize your employment opportunities upon graduation.
If you'd like to explore employment statistics and salary outcomes, we update this information annually on our website for each graduating class!
“One of my favorite experiences at the University of Wyoming College of Law has been the close relationships I’ve developed with several professors here. The faculty truly care about their students and want to see them succeed both in the classroom and the legal profession. I have received invaluable guidance and mentorship from faculty during my three years at the College of Law that has profoundly impacted my time in school and professional endeavors. That makes Wyoming Law unique; I don’t think most students across the country have the same mentorship opportunities as students at UW.”
- Jake Vogt | College of Law Graduate
