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Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 1/12/24
New York is well known for being a legal hotspot, so attending law school here will surely open a world of opportunities for you. Read on to learn about the best law schools in New York to access these resources!
There are multiple reasons students complete their JDs in New York. Besides the opportunity to work in the thriving business hub of the Big Apple, New York is known for its unparalleled diversity, robust entertainment, and amazing food!
With so much to offer legal students, New York law schools typically make the cut for students’ top law school choices. To help you decide which New York law school(s) to add to your list, this guide will go over the best law schools in this state!
Here’s a brief overview of the top 15 law schools in New York:
Now let’s go over each one in a bit more detail!
Source: NYU Law
Another one of the top law programs in the Big Apple is NYU. NYU ranks fifth in the nation and has many high-ranking legal programs.
NYU’s international, criminal, and tax law programs are ranked first in the nation. Its intellectual property law program is ranked third, corporate law and environmental law program is ranked fourth, and contracts and constitutional law programs are ranked fifth.
NYU is a highly respected and prominent university that is considered an intellectual powerhouse in legal education. With over 100 faculty members, 16 areas of study, 300 legal courses, 30 legal centers, and 80 student groups, it continues to redefine the field of law.
With such high esteem and rankings, it’s no surprise that NYU Law only accepts 16.8% of its applicants. This small percentage of accepted applicants typically has a median LSAT score of 172 and a median GPA of 3.9.
Source: Columbia Law
As the eighth-best law school in the nation, Columbia University is one of the coveted T14 law schools that aspiring law students are typically eager to join. As a top-ranking law school, Columbia Law alumni are highly sought after by employers, especially those in Big Law.
Columbia University is located in New York City. It provides students with hands-on legal experience, a world-class faculty, an extensive curriculum, and unrivaled career opportunities. Columbia students are encouraged to be bold thinkers and make an impact in the legal and civil fields!
As one of the top 14 law schools in the nation, getting into Columbia is challenging. With a highly selective acceptance rate of 12.2%, all applicants are held to high standards when being reviewed.
The median GPA of past accepted students is 3.9, and their median LSAT score is 173. Columbia is also the most expensive law school in the nation, with tuition costing $78,444 a year.
Source: Cornell Law
As the final T14 law school in New York, Cornell is another popular option amongst law students. It ranks 13th in the nation and is one of the oldest and most distinguished programs in international and comparative legal education.
Despite having such a great historical presence in New York, Cornell continues to push the legal boundaries and is known for having an innovative and robust curriculum. It offers students 23 clinics, several practicum courses, and a diverse range of externship and simulation courses.
Cornell’s curriculum and experiential learning approach are so impressive that it ranks as the number one law school for job placement at large law firms! Its small class environment also creates a sense of community and belonging, which in turn opens up many opportunities for students!
Source: Fordham Law
Fordham University ranks 29th in the nation but third for its part-time law program. Fordham faculty and students are described as curious, creative, and committed to the craft.
Located in the heart of New York City, Fordham University offers its students a vibrant and diverse community, unlimited opportunities, and dedicated faculty.
Focused on ensuring students hone their critical legal skills before entering the legal field, Fordham’s experiential education includes 18 renowned and unique clinics specializing in the following areas of law:
If you’d like to join Fordham to experience these clinics, as many students do, you’ll have to maintain a 3.75 GPA and score 167 on the LSAT.
Source: St. John’s University
St. John’s University, located in Jamaica, New York, is the 60th-best law school in the nation. This law school opened in 1925 and has since honed its curriculum to help students build essential practical skills and contribute to the community.
This university has also been dubbed the “go-to law school” for placing the most graduates in the 100 biggest law firms, assuring a bright future for their students.
St. John’s has an acceptance rate of 39.9%. To reap the benefits of this school, students should aim to score 162 on the LSAT and have a 3.66 GPA.
Source: Cardozo Law School
The sixth-best law school in New York is the Cardozo Law School, affiliated with Yeshiva University. This law school ranks 69th in the nation and 5th for its part-time program. It is best known for its dispute resolution concentration, in which it ranks fifth.
With the guarantee that all professors know their students' names, Cardozo is strictly student-focused. It’s dedicated to ensuring students have access to the right resources and support to explore their interests and create career-building connections.
Compared to the previous schools on this list, Cardozo Law School has a promising acceptance rate of 33.8%, making it only moderately difficult to get into. GPAs of 3.76 and LSAT scores of 164 are considered competitive at this school.
Source: Albany Law
Albany Law ranks 105th in the nation and has been committed to making an impact and serving the public since 1851. Part of the Albany advantage includes its diverse legal clinics:
Around 54.9% of all applicants are accepted into Albany Law, the majority of which have 3.47 GPAs and LSAT scores of 155.
Source: Brooklyn Law School
As the 111th-best law school in the nation with the 27th-best part-time program, Brooklyn Law is another option for students interested in attending law school.
The New York-based law school was ranked as another “go-to law school” because of its high percentage of graduates being employed at the nation’s biggest law firms.
Luckily, Brooklyn Law School has a high acceptance rate of 49.6%. Students should aim to score 160 on the LSAT and maintain a GPA of 3.56 to be considered attractive applicants at this school.
Source: Syracuse Law
Syracuse University is one of the top research institutions and top law schools in New York. As a whole, Syracuse ranks #122nd but boasts of its unparalleled opportunities and passionate faculty despite this ranking.
With small classrooms, Syracuse offers students the chance to form close connections with their professors. These relationships are critical in the classroom and essential in connecting with highly sought-after career and externship opportunities.
To join this valuable networking system, students should have a 3.58 GPA and an LSAT score of 157. Around 42.6% of students meet these requirements and gain acceptance into this leading law school.
Source: New York Law School
New York Law School is another excellent law school option that helps students answer the call for compassionate, practice-ready lawyers. With a 53.1% acceptance rate, you’ll have a moderate chance of getting in.
They offer plenty of legal clinics for students to get hands-on learning experience, including their asylum clinic, cyberharassment clinic, housing rights clinic, and veterans justice clinic, among many others.
Source: University at Buffalo SUNY
The University at Buffalo School of Law ranks 125th in the nation, tied with NYLS, and aims to produce excellent, ethical, and engaged lawyers. A large part of this mission relies on UB’s cutting-edge legal clinics:
With an acceptance rate of just over 40%, UB Law is moderately selective. You’ll need a GPA above 3.7 and an LSAT score of 156 to be competitive.
Source: Pace University
Haub Law School at Pace University is a place for debate and inquiry, a school that is committed to serving its students’ needs and preparing lawyers to be innovative and influential in the law field.
As a practice-based law school, Pace offers various clinics, externships, simulation courses, moot court experiences, and opportunities for taking a semester in practice.
Haub Law School is also ranked #1 in Environmental Law by US News. Their environmental law program offers over 40 courses, and they boast faculty who have been pioneers in the development of environmental law. Pace encourages their students to become advocates for the environment themselves.
Source: Hofstra University
If you’re seeking a law education that’s rich in both theory and skill development, then Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is a great option!
You can choose from over 200 courses at Hofstra to help you zero in on your interests and skills. Students can also take advantage of hands-on clinics and practicums to gain real-world legal experience.
Deane Law School’s acceptance rate of 50.4% indicates that you have a moderate chance of getting in. To be a competitive applicant, you should aim for a 3.6 GPA and an LSAT score of 156 or higher.
Source: CUNY Law School
CUNY School of Law is the #1 public interest law school in the US and seeks to produce exceptional public interest attorneys. Diversity is a core value at CUNY, and through promoting diversity in the legal field, they hope to transform the very idea of justice.
If you want to compete with recent incoming class statistics at CUNY, you should aim for a GPA of at least 3.4. You should also have a minimum LSAT score of 153.
Source: Touro Law Center
The Touro Law Center, located on Long Island, offers the opportunity for students to participate in a dynamic legal landscape. The Center is adjacent to both a state and a federal courthouse, which provides a unique hands-on learning experience.
As part of their commitment to experiential education, Touro guarantees clinical and externship opportunities for credit to all students. This allows their students to get real-world experience to develop the professional skills they need.
To get into Touro, you’ll need a GPA of 3.2 and an LSAT score of 151. These numbers will make you a competitive applicant!
For any remaining questions about the top law schools in New York, read on to find your answers!
Yes, New York has several excellent options for aspiring law students, including three T14 schools!
The highest-ranking law school in New York is NYU.
Yes, many law students dream of studying in New York because of its abundant career opportunities. New York City, in particular, offers a legal hotspot, and many New York law schools offer work or volunteer opportunities that allow students to get their foot in the door!
There are 15 accredited New York law schools.
Columbia University is the most expensive law school in New York and the entire nation. Its tuition costs $78,444 a year.
To get into one of the best law schools in this state, you'll need an LSAT score in the 156-174 range, depending on which law school you’d like to apply to.
Fordham University has the third-best part-time law program in the nation, making it the best program for busy students with several commitments!
Touro University is the easiest law school to get into in New York. It has the lowest LSAT median, 151, and GPA median, 3.22.
There are several part-time law schools in the Big Apple:
Any one of these schools would be an excellent option for busy students!
New York is home to some of the best law schools in the nation. If you’d like to study in this bustling state, use this guide to help you choose the perfect school to kickstart your legal career!
