Best Law Schools in the U.S.A. - NewBalancejobs
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Best Law Schools in the U.S.A.

You want to know which colleges and institutions are the best if you’re getting ready to apply to law schools in the U.S.A.

The rankings for law schools in America are by far the most consistent; they have rarely changed over the past 20 years.

The leading ten colleges are typically listed in a slightly different order each year, and this is frequently the only variance.

You may argue that admission to a top law school in the U.S., regardless of which one it is, is the only thing that matters.

American law schools and colleges have a strong legacy of academic excellence.

While annual rankings are significant, you should base your ultimate decision on your criteria.

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Best Law Schools in the U.S.A.

These are the best law schools in the U.S.A. below:

1. The Chicago University School of Law

Chicago University School of Law has produced many prominent alums, including Carol Mosley Braun, James Comey, Amy Klobuchar, and Studs Terkel.

The law school has a 99% employment rate within ten months of graduation, guarantees $5,000 summer fellowships for first- and second-year students, and grants 76 full-tuition scholarships.

Former President Barack Obama taught before becoming a senator.

2. Duke University

This University was founded in 1850 in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, North Carolina, and is one of the country’s best law schools.

Duke Law has a 97% bar exam passing rate and a demanding program for J.D. students (environmental law, criminal law, health care law, etc.).

You can combine your J.D. with graduate degrees in environmental management, medicine, divinity, and more. Duke Law admits only 20.2% of applicants and has one of the highest median incomes for private-sector graduates. 

3. Columbia University School of Law

Columbia University School of Law is an Ivy League and one of the nation’s oldest.

This curriculum includes 14 specialized areas, a unique methodology, and a world-class staff.

Columbia Law has a 4.9:1 student-faculty ratio and active legal research centers.

Columbia Law has a 16.8% acceptance rate, yet graduates pass the bar test 97% of the time. 

4. Cornell Law School

The Cornell Law School’s website boasts that it’s #1 in prominent law firm employment placement.

Cornell, another Ivy League school, has a modest law school in Ithaca, NY. Human rights law, criminal and civil law, corporate law, and financial regulation are among the six primary study areas.

More than 4,000 applications are accepted, and graduates pass the bar exam 95% of the time.

Cornell Law students benefit from a diverse visiting faculty of international legal researchers and educators. 

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5. Yale Law School

Yale Law School is one of the country’s best Ivy League law schools. This New Haven, CT, the school has world-renowned teachers, facilities, and clinical offerings from Yale Law School.

Yale Law School has graduated two U.S. presidents, many senators, 10 Supreme Court justices, four foreign presidents, prime ministers, authors, and journalists since 1810.

Yale Law accepted 236 of 4,200 candidates in 2022 or 7%. More than half of Yale Law students are women and people of color.

76% of students receive financial aid; in 2022, established Tuition-Free Scholarships for the neediest.

The school uses a Pass/Fail system, and the first-time bar test pass percentage is 99%.

6. University of Michigan

Michigan Law in Ann Arbor, MI, was the first law school to allow women (1859). The institution admits less than 20% of its applications and has 151 faculty members (49% women and minorities).

19 Michigan Law clinics will give you real-world experience in advocacy, child welfare, community, environment and sustainability, human trafficking, and more.

These clinics give you valuable experience in addition to your classroom learning, as shown by the school’s 98% graduate employment rate in private enterprises, clerkships, government, and public interest. 

7. University of Virginia School of Law

Thomas Jefferson created the University of Virginia School of Law in 1819, the nation’s second-oldest continually running law school after Harvard.

The Princeton Review ranks U.V. Law in the top 5 for Best Faculty, Best for Federal Clerkships, and Best Career Prospects.

U.V. Law offers J.D., LL.M., S.J.D., and dual J.D. degrees in M.P.H., M.D., and M.B.A. 2021 graduates passed the bar exam 94.8% of the time.

The school’s career services department provides dedicated counselors who prepare you for private practice, judicial clerkships, public service, etc. U.V. Law alum head 100 leading firms and top 500 companies. 

8. Harvard Law School

Since 1817, Harvard Law School has graduated two presidents, one first lady, 16 supreme court justices, and countless attorneys general. Harvard Law School is famous.

Harvard Law School’s faculty is renowned. In addition to a 3.5-year Cambridge LL.M. and Harvard J.D., Harvard Law offers dual J.D. programs in government, business, and public health. Harvard Law Review has been student-edited since 1887. 

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Conclusion

Finding the school best suits your needs is the first step toward a legal career.

You can focus your search by location, tuition, school size, and test scores using the U.S. News rankings of the best law schools.