A new class of 211 JD students entered Seattle University School of Law this week to begin a challenging yet rewarding journey to become lawyers. Although they represent diverse backgrounds and life experiences that brought them to this moment, the students share a strong passion for the law.
The new JD class includes 151 full-time students and 60 students in the Flex JD Program, a part-time, hybrid-online JD program for students with jobs and family commitments.
The composition of this year’s class is particularly diverse. More than a third are students of color. Female students make up nearly two-thirds of the class at 65%, while 33% are male and 2% identify as non-binary. Members of the LGBTQ+ community comprise 28% of the class.
Additionally, the average age is 28 years old, 7% are veterans, and 36% are the first in their families to attend college, an all-time high at Seattle U Law.
The incoming class also has strong academic qualifications, with a median LSAT score of 157 and a median GPA of 3.53.
Washingtonians make up 68% of the class, while 32% hail from other states.
Before enrolling at Seattle U Law, students worked in health care, technology, and legal services. Some worked as teachers, while others were community organizers. They earned their undergraduate degrees at 95 different colleges and universities, including Harvard University, the University of California – Los Angeles, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Con Nagy ’27 is a commercial airline pilot who had been considering law school for years but could not find a program that would allow him to continue flying for three to four days per week. It was when he was seated next to Dean Anthony Varona as a passenger on a flight that he learned about the Flex JD Program. Upon graduation, he hopes to work in aviation law, combining the skills of both an attorney and a subject matter expert.
“Usually, aviation lawyers have to develop their understanding of the industry through years of experience, but I come with those years of experience now,” he said. “And the JD perspective gives better experience and understanding of the way the system works and where the pitfalls are that subject matter experts don’t understand, so they step into lawyers’ traps. If I’m a subject matter expert as well as a lawyer, then I’m not walking into those traps.”
Corinne Bennett ’27, also a Flex JD student, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who now works in the technology sector.
“I’m excited to be at Seattle U School of Law because this school looks a lot like me — fun, professional, a little eccentric, and serious about changing the world for the better,” she said. “Going to law school is a dream come true for me, and I’m looking forward to growing alongside my cohort as we navigate this adventure together.”
Mohammed Najarali ’27 comes to Seattle U Law from Ontario, Canada, where he worked in marketing.
“The people that I’ve connected with have been welcoming and supportive. As an international student, I was concerned with fitting in. However, I quickly noticed that there were people from many different backgrounds and life experiences that help contribute to the education and overall experience,” he said. “The faculty have been great resources of knowledge and support as we navigate the intricacies of our first year of law school."
At Wednesday’s Welcome Barbecue and Student Organization Fair, the new students were eagerly exploring opportunities to get involved around campus. Amy Diaz ’27 plans to join the Latinx Law Student Association and is deciding which among the school’s four law journals to possibly join.
“I'm honored to be part of the Seattle U Law community. With such rigorous material this 1L year, it is empowering to be surrounded by supportive faculty who want to see students succeed,” she said. “I'm excited to see what this year brings and continue to grow alongside my classmates.”