Best Law Degree Programs of 2023

Yale Law School's Juris Doctor program features world-renowned faculty and alumni, including two presidents and numerous Supreme Court justices. Students have opportunities for independent research, writing, and student-organized seminars. They work closely with faculty to complete two major research papers, many of which go on to publication, and may also work with faculty members as research and teaching assistants. First-term classes are ungraded. After that, all classes are graded on an honors/pass/low basis. Yale's academic life is enriched by dozens of centers, programs, special projects, and workshops, such as the Center for Global Legal Challenges and the Information Society Project. One of the most selective institutions in the world, its acceptance rate for 2020-21 was four percent. There are numerous housing options for students on campus and in surrounding neighborhoods.

Stanford Law School offers an intensive, interdisciplinary J.D. program taught by legal experts on a full range of topics, from net neutrality to criminal procedure. Eleven full-time clinics provide hands-on learning and a Law and Policy Lab that allows students to assess policies and legal pathways. Global opportunities are available for students who wish to travel and immerse themselves in international law and finance. Students can study innovative, cutting-edge legal topics such as digital law, cyber security, and artificial intelligence. A program called the Knight-Hennessy Scholars offers full funding to students who qualify. February 15 is the deadline for submitting applications to SLS, and all applicants must take the LSAT or the GRE.

University of Chicago Law School is noted for its prestigious alums, many of whom work in government in the U.S. and abroad, including three U.S. attorneys general. They are also known for their stellar faculty, including President Barack Obama and Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens, and Elena Kagan. The J.D. program is a full-time, three-year course with nine academic quarters. All students begin their studies in late September; applications are accepted a year before the student wishes to start their studies. The curriculum allows for significant flexibility. Although there are no concentrations, students may choose from areas of study, including law and economics, law and philosophy, international law, and legal history.

Columbia University Law School is highly regarded for its Juris Doctor program, earning the top spot on National Law Journal's Go-To Law Schools ranking. The ranking looks at the percentage of graduates who go on to the most prestigious law firms in the U.S. Students may choose from a broad range of areas of study, including data analytics, corporate, business, and transactional law, and social justice and human rights. Externships and clinics offer real-world experience for all students, while Columbia's research centers enable them to help solve legal and policy questions around the world. A three-year joint JD/MBA program is available for students interested in business law. Columbia's partnerships with law firms, Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, and educational institutions, along with an array of career resources, help the school to achieve a 98 percent employment rate within a year of graduation.

Harvard Law School's J.D. program is one of the most competitive in the country, with an acceptance rate of 6.8 percent for the class of 2024. Those accepted find a robust curriculum that provides a solid intellectual foundation in the first year, with courses in contracts, criminal law, legislation and regulation, property, and torts. A January Experiential Term gives students a chance to take skills-based courses that rely on teamwork and practical training. Upper-level students may focus on an area of particular interest, such as science and technology, law and history, or law and social change. The programs allow students to structure their coursework to gain exposure to the law, policy, theory, and practice in their chosen area. Third-year students focus on a capstone learning experience with advanced seminars, clinical practice, and writing projects.

University of Pennsylvania Law School is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the U.S., dating back to the late 1700s. Today, the school has a strong commitment to cross-disciplinary learning, advocacy, service, and academic excellence. 99.6 percent of the class of 2020 were employed full-time within a year following graduation, with a median salary of $190,000. Students in the J.D. program complete eighty-six credits of coursework during the three-year program, which includes a course in professional responsibility, six credits of experiential learning, a pro bono requirement, and a senior research and writing project. Seventy-seven percent of the Law School's students complete a joint degree or certificate program in addition to their major field of study, with 35 programs. Seventy percent of the Law School's faculty hold a graduate degree in a field other than law in addition to their legal training.

NYU Law School offers a broad range of programs, including J.D., LL.M., and JSD degrees. Within the J.D. degree program, students can focus on areas of particular interest, whether it's technology, business, or another specialty. The school's global programs are particularly strong, with the Guarini Institute for Global Legal Studies offering opportunities for students to explore international issues and the Hauser Global Law School Program, which incorporates non-U.S. and transnational legal perspectives into the curriculum. NYU Law has 104 full-time faculty and 1,370 full-time day students, with 353 courses on offer and 40+ clinics and externships available for students. The J.D. program is intended to be taken full-time, with classes held during daytime hours. NYU Law's bar passage rate is 98.7 percent, one of the highest in the U.S.

Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, UVA Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the U.S. It's also one of the largest, with enrollment in the J.D. program at 922 as of 2021. The student-faculty ratio is 6.6:1, and there are ten student-run academic journals that students may participate in. The school has more than 20,000 alumni worldwide, many of whom participate as alums in creating opportunities for students to excel. All first-year students take a series of core courses in civil procedure, contracts, criminal law, and more. After curricular requirements are met, students can choose from intensive short courses, seminars and advanced theory courses, and practical, hands-on courses that include clinics, trial advocacy, and public speaking. Studying abroad options, dual-degree programs, and externships allow students to work while earning credit.

Berkeley Law's three-year J.D. degree program is the cornerstone of the school. The Law School accepts roughly one out of every ten applicants, offering students a challenging curriculum and faculty members with extensive practical experience in legal fields. Some areas of study for which it is best known include intellectual property, international law, social justice, and environmental law programs. The first-year classes include civil procedure, contracts, and torts, and there are required courses in legal research and writing and written and oral advocacy. Students who wish to explore interdisciplinary contexts may pursue their J.D. degree in conjunction with a master's degree in other departments at Berkeley or other institutions. Possible dual programs include law and Asian studies, law and energy, and law and business. Those taking dual programs can earn their degrees in four years. Applications are accepted until February 15 for students who will be incoming the following fall.

Duke Law School is one of the top schools for training leaders in the legal field. Alumni and faculty include judges and lawyers at national and state levels, including at least one Supreme Court justice. Duke encourages scholarships for faculty and students and provides resources such as a Student Scholarship Workshop, where students present written works to others for critical review to improve their writing skills and develop arguments. A summer scholarship grant also supports student research and is open to J.D. students. First-year courses include constitutional law, legal analysis, research and writing, and property law. Students must complete a substantial research and writing project and undertake a minimum of six credits in simulation courses, clinics, or externships.