Often considered a highly prestigious career, practicing law as a lawyer or working in another legal profession generally necessitates a law degree. A legal education, which can cost up to $48,828 per year and take about three years to complete, can lead to rewarding and challenging legal careers in a competitive field.
Graduates from these programs often go on to work as lawyers, earning a median annual wage of $145,760, but they can also work as judicial clerks, legal counsel for businesses, law professors, and policy developers.
How to Choose a Law Degree Program
Choose your area of study
Students aspiring to practice law typically complete a Juris Doctor (JD) program after completing their undergraduate degree. JD programs are postgraduate professional degrees that provide students with an understanding of substantive and procedural law and the ethical responsibilities of the legal system. They also help students develop analysis and reasoning, research, problem-solving, and communication skills in a legal context.
Accredited JD programs generally have similar curriculums as per the guidelines of the American Bar Association (ABA), but they may have some variances that can affect your decisions. Law schools offer students various concentrations, and it’s important to consider these options to choose a program that best aligns with your career goals. For instance, students interested in working with government agencies, non-profits, or other organizations on issues relating to environmental and natural resource regulation may prefer programs that offer an environmental law concentration. There are many other concentration options, including:
- Civil rights
- Criminal law
- Corporate and business law
- Health care law
- Animal law
- Employment and labor law
- Social justice
- Immigration law
While a Juris Doctor is a traditional degree for working in law, other tracks also assist with earning a career in the legal field. A Master of Laws (LLM) degree, for example, is typically a secondary degree after a JD degree that allows students to specialize in an area of law. A Master of Legal Studies or Doctor of Juridical Science may suit students wishing to work in academia, government, or business careers.
Research schools and programs
Accreditation is an essential part of school and program research, particularly for law degree programs. Law schools must hold accreditation from the ABA to ensure their curriculums meet educational standards and prepare students for legal professions. In most states, students must complete a law degree program with ABA accreditation to take the bar exam and practice law. Check the ABA’s list of approved law schools to find your preferred programs.
Regional accreditation, which ensures schools and programs meet the Department of Education’s standards, is also necessary to obtain federal financial aid. Students wishing to transfer to other law schools can typically only transfer credits from a regional and ABA-accredited program. Verify regional accreditation status with the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs and Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
You can find more information about schools, programs, and accreditation status on their websites. For further guidance, speak to admissions counselors and attend in-person or virtual information sessions, campus tours, and other events to gain insight into your short-listed schools and programs.
Prepare for tests and applications
Law degrees have many of the same admissions requirements as other professional degree programs, such as:
- Application form and fees
- Transcripts
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Personal essay or statement
- Resume or CV
- TOEFL (for students educated in a non-English language)
Applicants to law degree programs typically must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Many law students major in political science, history, English, philosophy, and other humanities or social sciences as they tend to complement law degree coursework, but most law degree programs don’t require a specific major.
Instead, law schools generally require a minimum 3.59 GPA to ensure students can match the program’s rigorous curriculum. Most ABA-accredited law schools require applicants to pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with a score of at least 150. Some law degree programs may also conduct applicant interviews during admissions to help evaluate their character and interest in the program.
Select your program
Once you’ve been accepted to one or more programs, revisit your needs and wants to determine the choice that best suits your professional and educational goals. Factors to consider include:
- Location
- Reputation
- Tuition and financial aid
- Course delivery options
- Faculty
- Practical experience opportunities
- Campus resources
These factors can carry weight depending on your circumstances. Many students prioritize hands-on experience gained from small class sizes, internships, clinical programs, and other opportunities. In contrast, students with work or other obligations outside of school may prefer a program with remote, self-paced, or other flexible course delivery options.
Determine how you’ll pay for your degree
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to access need-based federal scholarships, grants, loans, and other funding assistance. Other federal loans, such as Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, or private loans, can help supplement funding.
Private organizations, non-profit groups, and other parties may also provide merit or need-based scholarships and grants. Employers sometimes offer tuition assistance benefits to help employees offset costs while upgrading their skills. Speak to a financial aid officer or admissions counselor for information about tuition and financial assistance.
Best 50 Accredited Law Degree Programs
Discover More Options
How we rank schools
This list features some of the best law degree programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for postsecondary education. The programs on our list are accredited by the American Bar Association, which assesses law degree programs for educational excellence.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for on-campus students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of law degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
What Can You Expect From a Law Degree Program?
Law degree programs help students develop the foundational knowledge for legal practice and skills to connect with communities as legal professionals. Students explore civil procedure, constitutional law, criminal law, and legal reasoning. Most curriculums also feature mandatory research and writing courses. Second- and third-year curriculums typically allow students to build on their first-year skills by completing courses, seminars, and clinics in specialized legal studies.
JD degree programs may prioritize the application of these concepts through moot court courses or competitions. Students generally must satisfy experiential credit requirements through clinics, externships, pro bono work, simulations, and other opportunities, which allows them to refine their skills and connect with mentors and legal communities. Programs may culminate in a capstone project, thesis, or dissertation.
Law degree programs require 24 to 85 credits. For ABA-accredited JD programs, students must complete at least 83 credit hours, with at least 64 of these credits earned from courses that require attendance of classroom sessions or faculty instruction. These programs typically require three years of full-time study.
Potential courses you’ll take in a law degree program
- Criminal Law. This course provides students with an understanding of the criminal process, including criminal responsibility, defense strategies, and the corrections system. Through theories derived from criminology, social theory, and other areas, this course takes a critical approach to considering crimes regarding the purposes of punishment, the role of criminal sanctions, and the judicial system’s application of law.
- Constitutional Law. Constitutional law examines the structure of the Constitution and reviews theories of constitutional interpretation and enforcement. Topics may include individual and group rights, constitutional amendments, the history of judicial interpretation, state and federal limitations, and constitutional consent.
- Legal Writing. To satisfy ABA writing requirements, students research and analyze legal concepts through written assignments. Students complete writing assignments within the context of seminar discussions, conferences, or workshops, or they may complete a single research paper to demonstrate competency in legal citation rules.
- Contracts. Students learn about how contracts are formed, interpreted, enforced, and breached. They’ll discuss employment, family agreements, warranties, sales of goods or lands, and legal doctrines governing contracts.
Law Degree Program Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to a law degree program?
Most law schools require students to submit applications through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Undergraduate students progressing to law school may have a prelaw advisor assist with their application process, but LSAC can also connect you with an advisor.
Once you’ve passed the LSAT, you may need to sign up for the Credential Assembly Service to streamline your submission of transcripts and other documents. After uploading a personal statement and resume, completing applications, and paying application fees, LSAC sends your application to your selected schools.
How much does a law degree cost?
The total cost of a JD program averages $220,350, and tuition costs approximately $146,848 or $48,828 per year. LLM degree tuition averages $20,513 per year.
Many factors can influence the total cost, such as the prestige of the institution or the local cost of living. Scholarships, grants, loans, and educational work experience can also affect total and upfront costs.
How long does it take to earn a law degree?
JD degrees require at least 84 credits and three years of full-time study. An LLM degree takes about one year to complete. Some programs offer part-time, accelerated, or other course delivery and logistics methods that can influence the total study period.