On August 21, faculty, staff and current students of the Law School welcomed the incoming class of 2027 for their first day of orientation on campus. Out of an applicant pool of over 6,000 candidates, the 221 new members of the BC law community hold a median profile of a 167 LSAT score and an undergraduate GPA of 3.8, the highest in the Law School’s history, breaking the previous academic record for the second year in a row.
“Today marks the first day of your professional legal career,” said Shawn McShay, the assistant dean for graduate enrollment management, in his welcome to the incoming class during the opening session. “This year, we collectively experienced another distinctive enrollment season, and it has been an absolute privilege to navigate the intricacies alongside you, an exceptional class. Today, your legal education begins in earnest, but this is the moment that we’ve been working towards. We are thrilled that you are here.”
“I know all of you will make an impact, for someone, in some part of the world,” said BC Law Dean Odette Lienau in her remarks. “Finding the right place to begin your journey is a big deal, and BC Law is a wonderful and unusual place. In the great tradition of BC Law students past, hold each other up as you all find your own way. We are here for you, and rooting for you, and excited for you! If you put in the attention and the hard work, this is a journey that can reward you with practical skills—useful to yourself and to others–and offer the kinds of insights and sense of meaning that last a lifetime.”
Women represent 58% of the class, and 64% are first generation college or professional. From aerospace engineering, to Fulbright scholars, to working as a Disney cast member, to creating their own brand of hot sauce, the class of 2027 includes diverse backgrounds and experiences, encompassing educators, thespians, mentors, PhD holders, and veterans of several branches of the US Armed forces. Representing countries such as Armenia, Bahamas, Denmark, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, Thailand, and Venezuela, Bipoc students comprise 30% of this year’s 1L community, and 18% of incoming students identify as LGBTQ+.
Nearly 30% of the incoming class hail from Massachusetts, with residents of an additional 32 states and the District of Columbia. New York, California, New Jersey, Washington State, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Florida are among the most highly represented.
This year’s class comes from 119 colleges and universities with 54 majors in the Baystate alone. Some of the top feeder schools in the local community include UMass Amherst, Tufts, Northeastern, Harvard, Boston University, and Boston College, as well as nationwide feeder schools like Colby, Georgetown, University of Florida, George Washington, Wisconsin, Michigan, Middlebury, and Wesleyan.
The average age of the 2027 class is 24, spanning a range of 17 years from the age of 20 to 37. Over 45% of the class is multilingual, fluent in over 33 different languages combined. 43 students are trilingual, 19 students speak four languages, and 12 students are polyglots, or fluent in over four languages. Additionally, three students speak or use American Sign Language.
“You’ve already demonstrated tremendous academic and leadership potential,” McShay said. “We are excited to see all that you will accomplish together. You have our support, and we proudly welcome you to Boston College Law School, a community of leaders.”
