best schools for law in us

Harvard University

Harvard University, a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has about 6,800 undergraduate students and about 15,250 post-graduate students. Established in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, clergyman John Harvard, Harvard is the United States’ oldest institution of higher learning. Its history, influence and wealth have made it one of the world’s most prestigious universities.

The Harvard Library system comprises nearly 80 individual libraries holding over 18 million items. The University is cited as one of the world’s top tertiary institutions by various organizations.

Stanford University

• Location: Stanford, California
• Ranking: 2
• Admission requirements: Must complete an application to Stanford Law School, which includes a personal statement. Applicants must submit a resume and an official transcript of all undergraduate coursework. Applicants must also take the LSAT. Students are encouraged to submit letters of recommendation.
• Tuition: $55,362 per year (in-state); $59,197 per year (out-of-state)

Yale University

A private Ivy League research university, Yale is a highly selective school that focuses on both undergraduate and graduate instruction. The university’s schools of art, drama, engineering, forestry and environmental studies, as well as its 12 professional schools were all ranked in the top 10 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in 2016. In addition to its professional programs, Yale also offers joint-degree programs through which students can earn two degrees simultaneously or pursue a degree at another university while simultaneously earning one at Yale. Its colleges include Berkeley College and Branford College (both residential), Davenport College (residential) and Jonathan Edwards College (residential).

University of Chicago

If you are looking to apply to a university of high regard and prestige, the University of Chicago is certainly one of those universities. Founded in 1890, the law school is consistently ranked amongst the best in the nation. They offer full- and part-time programs that allow students flexibility while receiving an excellent education. The curriculum at University of Chicago offers a much more tailored approach than other schools, such as Harvard and Yale, who have standard first year courses for all students.

Admissions for both programs are very competitive and are on the more selective side when compared to other schools. Applications for 2018 admitted around 10% of applicants, with an LSAT score range from 167–173 and GPA from 3.75–3.95 out of 4.0.[1] When compared to Yale Law School’s admitted 1% acceptance rate with an LSAT score range from 170–176 and GPA 3.93–3.98 out of 4.0,[2] which shows just how competitive admission here is (but also how prestigious it will be once you graduate).

Columbia University

Columbia University Law School is one of the oldest law schools in the United States. Established in 1858, Columbia Law School is ranked 6th overall by U.S. News & World Report as of 2021. In addition to its overall ranking, Columbia is also ranked 2nd for arts and humanities, 3rd for social sciences, and 5th for clinical, pre-clinical and health by U.S. News & World Report as of 2021.

New York University (NYU)

New York University’s School of Law is located in the heart of Manhattan and is a top-ranked law school. NYU’s tuition for the 2014-2015 school year was $50,464 and average class size was 14 students. Alumni from this particular school include: 367 attorneys, 192 managers, 168 judges and 728 other professionals.

University of Pennsylvania

In 2019, the US News and World Report ranked Pennsylvania at number 7 for best law schools in the country. The university has more than 20,000 students, with a 10% acceptance rate. With an annual cost of $58,578 for tuition and fees, it’s considered among the most expensive universities in the United States. However, many graduates enter into high-paying professions that allow them to quickly pay off their student loans.

The school has also placed highly in other national rankings. In 2019, they were ranked 6th by Forbes magazine and 8th by Business Insider. In recent years they have established joint degree programs with several other institutions of higher education including The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Imagine yourself in a courtroom, decked out in your best suit and standing before an intimidating panel of judges. You’ve argued your case to the best of your ability and are feeling confident as you await their verdict. Then they pronounce you an “attorney at law,” and you can finally relax knowing that all those years of hard work have paid off. For thousands of aspiring lawyers, this dream began with a legal education obtained from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. Originally founded in 1817 as the Catholepistemiad (which means the “University of Michigan”) but was changed just one year later to its current name, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor is considered by many to be one of the most respected academic institutions for undergraduate study in the country. The school currently holds a student enrollment figure close to 15,000 undergraduates and has an acceptance rate slightly below 30%. Known for its especially large amount of research facilities spread across its main campus and beyond, UMich has produced some notable alumni over time including former President Gerald Ford and acclaimed actor James Earl Jones. The University is also home to several libraries with nearly 11 million books on hand between them all. Although students interested in law will be primarily concerned with UMich’s Law School—which houses 16 academic centers and many scholarship opportunities—they should find plenty else to occupy themselves while not studying there as well. If any prospective applicants are unsure where they should apply next year, UMich might very well be worth checking out!

Duke University

Duke Law School is connected to Duke University, a private liberal arts school with a focus on research. The university is located in Durham, NC, about 40 miles northwest of Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Ranking: 9th

Approximate number of students: 600

Specialties: constitutional law; environmental law and policy; international and comparative law; cultural property and antiquities law

Northwestern University (Pritzker)

The Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, usually referred to as “Northwestern Pritzker School of Law,” is a private American law school in Chicago, Illinois. Located in the North Side’s Streeterville, it is one of the constituent schools of Northwestern University. The law school was founded in 1859 as the Union College of Law of the Old University of Chicago. The first law school established in Chicago, it became jointly controlled by Northwestern University in 1873 and fully incorporated into Northwestern in 1891.

Cornell University

Cornell University is a private research university that provides an exceptional education for undergraduates and graduate and professional students. Cornell’s colleges and schools encompass more than 100 fields of study, with locations in Ithaca, New York, New York City and Doha, Qatar.

top schools for law

When choosing the right law school for you, it’s important to consider which program will best prepare you for your career. A good ranking system to consult is the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools List, where it is easy to find the top programs in different areas of specialty. For this article, we will focus on those top schools specifically for law students.

If you are looking to attend a law school located in New York, New York University (NYU) is a great choice and ranks first overall in the U.S. News list of Best Law Schools 2019. Yale Law School comes in second place and is located in New Haven, Connecticut, but some of their most notable alumni also include former Presidential candidates such as Hillary Clinton and her opponent Donald Trump. If you’re looking to stay close to home while attending a great program then Harvard Law School should be your top choice because they have held onto the number three spot on this list since 2010 when they were bumped from the number two spot by Yale Law School! One interesting statistic about Harvard Law School is that only 12% of applicants receive admission which means that if you’re lucky enough to get admitted then your class might only consist of other people who ranked Harvard as their number one choice too!