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Are you applying to law school and looking for the best law schools in the US? In this article, we will go over the top law schools in the country and their admission requirements.
It’s no secret that going to the best law school in the US can be a fantastic way to kickstart your future in the legal profession. Attending an Ivy League or other top law school can open many opportunities that other schools may not provide.
This article will cover law schools that offer a top-notch education. We will go over what LSAT score, GPA, and application components you’ll need to get into the top US law schools.
Choosing the best law school is no easy feat. To help you make the right decision, we’ve outlined more details about each US law school below.
Stanford Law School is in Stanford, California. Stanford is not only the best law school in California—it’s also the best law school in the nation, with an acceptance rate of 8.85%.
Stanford Law School is known for its collegial culture. Students, alumni, and faculty support and collaborate with one another to ensure success at Stanford Law School. Classes are small, and students can explore and contribute to the world through their education in law.
Stanford Law School believes in focusing on the future rather than the past. The academic program at Stanford addresses emerging opportunities in the legal profession and has students and alumni working together as partners to change the world through law. They offer full-time classes, and tuition is $74,475.
Yale Law School, located in New Haven, Connecticut. At this Ivy League law school, grades do not exist. Students are not given any grades during their first term at Yale Law School. However, afterward, they are graded only by honors, pass, low pass, credit, or failure.
At Yale Law School, students can tailor their course selections to fit their interests. Students may also obtain joint degrees with other graduate schools at Yale. Class sizes are small and intimate, allowing students to learn closely with their professors. Yale Law School offers full-time classes, and tuition is $74,044.
The University of Chicago School of Law School is in Chicago, Illinois. The school offers professional education that combines law and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The law school at the University of Chicago is a small, tight-knit community, and learning is participatory. The law school challenges students by proposing alternative viewpoints and styles of thought. They offer full-time classes, and tuition is $79,539.
Ranked #4 among the leading law schools, the University of Pennsylvania (Carey) Law School, situated in Philadelphia's University City, is renowned for its excellence. Tuition is $74,688, and a low student-faculty ratio of 4.8:1 ensures personalized attention.
What sets this school apart is its commitment to interdisciplinary learning. Penn Law students can take courses from other departments and vice versa. Certificate programs make specialization easy, and students can earn dual degrees in fields like business, bioethics, or planning.
Duke Law School, a prestigious institution, offers a full-time program with a tuition fee of $77,100. The school boasts an impressive student-faculty ratio of 6:1, ensuring a close and personalized learning environment.
Duke University has secured its place among the top-tier law schools, holding the impressive ranking of #5 in the list of best law schools. This ranking reflects the institution's commitment to providing high-quality legal education and underscores its reputation as a respected leader in the field.
Harvard Law is one of the most well-known law schools in the States and comes in at #6 on our list. Students who hope to attend Harvard Law will have to pay $80,760 in tuition with over $38,000 in additional, indirect costs.
However, Harvard Law makes up for these costs by being a top-notch educational institution that strives to produce lawyers who are vibrant and collaborative. It is the oldest law school in the US and houses the biggest academic law library in the entire world!
Source: Wikipedia
The University of Virginia School of Law is another top options. UVA Law is the second-oldest continuously-operating law school in the US, and costs $74,078 in tuition (for Virginia residents).
UVA Law strives to produce lawyers who are committed to leadership, integrity, and community service. Students at UVA will participate in a collaborative, close-knit environment with a 5.7:1 student-faculty ratio, allowing them to build a strong network before they graduate!
Columbia Law School is another New York-based law school that makes the top 10 list. Ranked at #8, Columbia Law is a highly selective school with only an 11.75% acceptance rate.
Columbia is widely recognized as a leading institution in legal education and scholarship. They take an interdisciplinary approach and help their students engage with different community members through classes, clinics, externships, and more.
Coming in at #9 is NYU School of Law, one of the top law schools in New York. NYU Law is a leader in international law and is known for its top programs in interdisciplinary research and teaching.
Law students at NYU should be prepared to pay $79,954 in tuition. Be sure to note that international students are often subject to additional fees and expenses!
The Pritzker School of Law at Northwestern University takes the final spot in the top 10 list of best US law schools. Northwestern Pritzker specializes in interdisciplinary and social justice teaching. In fact, they boast the highest number of interdisciplinary research faculty in the nation!
To attend Pritzker, you’ll need to submit an application that’s strong enough to stand out among the over 6,000 applications they typically receive. You should also be prepared to pay $76,704 in tuition.
Below, you will find a chart that explains what each of the top ten US law schools requires of applicants and the average GPA and LSAT scores.
If you’re applying to law school in the United States, it’s safe to assume that you’ll need to submit several standard requirements. These include your transcripts with your undergraduate GPA, your LSAT score, recommendation letters, a personal statement, and an updated resume.
To write a strong law school personal statement, remember to stay genuine in your writing and focus on what makes you unique. Be sure to also choose recommenders who can speak to your academic prowess, your intellectual skills, and your competency and potential to be a good lawyer.
Also note that there are many excellent law schools not on this list. You should consider many factors when deciding which law school to attend, including location, cost, and available programs.
For example, If you’re interested in studying law in the southern US, consider applying to one of Texas’s leading law schools. The University of Texas School of Law offers a top-notch legal education and is one of the nation's leading public law schools. Ultimately, the best law school for you will depend on your individual goals. To strengthen your application, don't hesitate to ask experts for review of your materials before submission.
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and confused when choosing the right law school for you. If you’re still feeling that way after reading this article, hopefully, these frequently asked questions on the best American law schools can help you out.
Stanford Law School comes in as the #1 law school in the US, although Yale University Law School follows closely behind.
Yale Law School is widely regarded as the most prestigious law school in the US thanks to its strong reputation, rich history, distinguished faculty, and influential alumni. However, it's important to consider what aspects of a law school matter most to you when assessing prestige.
Stanford and Yale are the law schools that are the most difficult to gain admission to due to their exceptionally high competitiveness and low acceptance rates.
The LSAT score you need depends on which law school you want to get into. If you want to get into one of the top law schools in America, a score of at least 172 (the median LSAT score of most enrolling students at these top schools) or higher can help you become a more competitive applicant.
Deciding and applying to law schools can be very stressful and intimidating. Remember that looking for the right law school for you is the most important thing. There are many excellent law school options, so you can compare and contrast depending on your own personal aspirations!
Hopefully, this article has helped you decide which law school you should apply to. With a good GPA, a high LSAT score, and a standout application, you can make your law school dreams a reality!
David Merson was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Senior Law School Admissions Advisor & Litigation Attorney, USC Gould School of Law
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