Aug. 25, 2008 -- Kendrick Hall is buzzing with activity as students begin their first week of classes today. The USF School of Law opens its doors to 236 first-year students, chosen from nearly 4,200 applicants. The entering class includes 186 full-time and 53 part-time students. Thirty Master of Law students are also embarking on advanced degrees.

The new JD class is comprised of approximately 38 percent students of color and 52 percent women. "The law school recognizes the importance and value of diversity in the classroom as well as in the legal profession," said Admissions Director Alan Guerrero."We also recognize that students who come from diverse and varied racial and ethnic communities, geographical locations, and professional experiences will enhance the educational experience at USF for both students and faculty."

Diversity and academic excellence can go hand in hand, said Guerrero, pointing to the academic statistics of the entering JD class. The median LSAT score of newly enrolled students is 159, which ranks in the 78th percentile nationally. The median GPA of newly enrolled students is 3.32, and rises to 3.51 for students in the 75th percentile.

"We are very proud of our new students, all of whom have already demonstrated academic success. They are an extremely talented, academically sound, and capable group who will continue to enhance our law school's long-standing tradition of academic excellence and commitment to social justice."