Class of 2022: Tulane Law, New Orleans was place to thrive

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More than 200 new first-year law students arrived at Tulane Law Aug. 19 for orientation, spending a week preparing for what will be a fast-paced first semester of law.

“While, nationally, there has been a 3.2 percent increase in applicants to law school this year, applicants are being more selective about where they choose to apply," said David Weinberg, Assistant Dean of Admission.

"As I look at the stories told in their applications, this class seemed particularly focused on understanding the importance of finding a place where they would thrive.  It has been a pleasure to meet this new group of Tulanianians on paper, and I am excited to see how they grow as future legal professionals.”

The class trends a bit younger, with a median age of 23; 56 percent are women, 29 percent are students of color and 10 percent identify with the LGBTQ community.  Almost 70 percent of the incoming class would be the first lawyer in the family.

The class comes from 34 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Among the first years are a number of students with post-graduate degrees, including an MFA, several MBAs and a PhD. The class members come from diverse career paths, including a math teacher from Louisiana, a Peace Corps member who taught in South Africa, an AmeriCorps member who managed Volunteer Income Tax assistance for low income families, a police officer from the West Coast, a ship’s captain, a West Coast solar program manager, a petty officer in the U.S. Navy and a Marine Corps security officer for a U.S. embassy, among others.

During their orientation, the class took the Oath of Professionalism, administered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby (L’87), who encouraged them to challenge themselves and make the most of their law school years.

Class Snapshot:

  •  From 34 different states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
  • 77% from outside of Louisiana (17% from Texas,  8% from Florida, 7% from California, 4% from New York)
  • 56% are women, 10% identify with the LGBTQ community
  • 29% underrepresented minority groups in the legal profession
  • Represent more than 100 different colleges and universities. Tulane (15%) LSU (5%), UT Austin and Texas A&M (4 % each).
  • 12% are first-generation students. Nearly 70% would be first in their family to become a member of the legal profession. 

 Also, Tulane this summer welcomed 39 new LLM and SJD candidates who come from the U.S.,  Israel, Germany, Liberia, Ghana, Panama, China, Nigeria, India, Morocco, Russia , Brazil and Turkey. LLMs and SJD candidates are generally already lawyers in their countries but take an additional year of law at Tulane for professional advancement.