Top 20 Law Schools in the US

Law as a career option has seen a steady increase in popularity, with hundreds and thousands of aspirants taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) every year. This has made the search for the right law school more intense than ever.

So what makes law so attractive to students? Is it the crisp suits, fancy degree, fat paychecks, pleasure of serving the society or the bundle of famous TV shows that we can’t stop watching? Whatever it is, there’s no denying that many students want to pursue this degree and add that prestigious qualification (J.D.) to their name. But which are the best law schools in the country?

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Top 20 Law Schools

(Note: The statistics given below are of the academic year 2015-2016)
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  1. Yale Law School New Haven, Connecticut

Yale Law School is dubbed as one of the premier law schools in the world with a highly acclaimed faculty. It has an excellent study environment, with smaller classrooms and a strong sense of public service. Students here get to represent clients right from the first year.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $58,050

Acceptance %: 9.70

Bar Pass %: 91.90

Median LSAT score: 173   

  1. Stanford Law School, California

The Stanford Law community offers its students a closely knit, collaborative culture that places emphasis on practical learning. It brings together the faculties, students, alumni and staff who work closely, promote different ideas and contribute to the society.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $54,183

Acceptance %: 11.30

Bar Pass %: 90.10

Median LSAT score: 171

  1. Harvard Law School Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard Law School is the most prestigious and the oldest law college operating in the US, founded way back in 1817. It has the most experienced full-time faculties and boasts an accomplished list of alumni including the likes of Ted Cruz, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $58,242

Acceptance %: 17.90

Bar Pass %: 95.30

Median LSAT score: 173   

  1. University of Chicago Law School, IL

The Law School primarily focuses on a style of teaching whereby, the students are exposed to contrasting viewpoints of a situation. It values participatory learning and offers rigorous training to help students excel in their choices.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $56,916

Acceptance %: 21.90

Bar Pass %: 92.10

Median LSAT score: 170   

  1. Duke Law, Durham, NC

Duke Law is a community of scholars who promote innovation and creativity across various disciplines of the subject. The published law journals, high-tech facilities and a strategic expansion in faculties ensure that the knowledge acquired gives you an edge over others.  

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $57,717

Acceptance %: 23.30

Bar Pass %: 94.10

Median LSAT score: 169   

  1. University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA

Students of Penn Law graduate with a Certificate Of Study in complementary fields alongside their general law degrees. This adds an added advantage and gives better direction to their choice of career paths.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $58,918

Acceptance %: 18.80

Bar Pass %: 98.40

Median LSAT score: 169  

  1. Columbia Law School, New York

Columbia Law School prepares their students with a cosmopolitan worldview and trains them to excel in the various interdisciplinary resources on offer. The law graduates are capable of taking issues of global legality and cross-border jurisdictions head-on.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $62,700

Acceptance %: 21.90

Bar Pass %: 92.10

Median LSAT score: 170   

  1. University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA

Virginia School of Law instills community service and is a renowned training place for law professionals. The law college is the second oldest, and was established by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. Virginia is famous for it’s different colleges and is a preferred destination for all education.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: in-state ($54,000), Out of state ($57,000)

Acceptance %: 20.20

Bar Pass %: 93.50

Median LSAT score: 168   

  1. Berkeley Law, University of California, California

Berkeley Law is known to produce the best quality of lawyers who go on to serve the Government and society. This justifies their popular alumni that includes Earl Warren who is the Chief Justice of the US, Chief Justice of California Supreme Court Cruz Reynoso, the US attorney general Edwin Meese and Secretary of State of the US, Dean Rusk.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: In state ($48,679), Out of state ($52,630)

Acceptance %: 21.20

Bar Pass %: 87.80

Median LSAT score: 166   

  1. NYU Law, New York

NY Law is tagged as an intellectual powerhouse. They train their students to be practice ready, and have introduced programs such as NYU Law Abroad, Leadership and Financial Literacy, and Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $59,330

Acceptance %: 33.10

Bar Pass %: 95.70

Median LSAT score: 169   

  1. Michigan Law, University of Michigan, St. Ann Arbor, MI

Michigan Law School have a strong commitment to excellence and welcome diversity. The graduates have great career prospects serving in the private, public and academic sectors. 

Stats:

Last Annual Fee:  In state ($53,112), Out of state ($56,112)

Acceptance %: 28.00

Bar Pass %: 93.20

Median LSAT score: 168   

  1. UCLA Law, LA

UCLA Law is ranked as the youngest top law school in the US and is reputed for its innovation, scholarship and teaching.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee:  In state ($45,254), Out of state ($51,778)

Acceptance %: 29.70

Bar Pass %: 81.90

Median LSAT score: 166   

  1. Texas Law, Austin

Texas Law gives students a good practical exposure to legal complications where they get to advise real clients but under the supervision of experts. It may not be a top ranked college but there is a collegial learning culture away from the cut throat competition seen in the top schools.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: In state ($33,162), Out of state ($45,244)

Acceptance %: 21.90

Bar Pass %: 88.40

Median LSAT score: 167   

  1. Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY

Cornell features among the best research universities in the world. The law school too has a global emphasis, encouraging interdisciplinary study and international educational partnerships and collaborations.  

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $59,900

Acceptance %: 30.60

Bar Pass %: 91.60

Median LSAT score: 167   

  1. Northwestern, Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL

The Northwestern University is located in Chicago, a large legal market in the US. Its close proximity with courts, business clients and public interest activities make it easy for students to witness the actual law practice.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $58,398

Acceptance %: 22.60

Bar Pass %: 87.00

Median LSAT score: 168   

  1. Vanderbilt Law School, Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt Law School is for all those students who seek a first rate academic institution in a liveable city with a great quality of life. You can explore its beautiful campus located in an arboretum, with ample space to sit and study.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $51,360

Acceptance %: 38.10

Bar Pass %: 92.50

Median LSAT score: 166   

  1. Georgetown Law, Washington D.C.

At Georgetown Law, students get to study and practice law in a city where the actual laws are made. The college is situated very close to the Supreme Court and the Capitol, and the legal clinic here is famous world over.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $55,255

Acceptance %: 24.50

Bar Pass %: 87.80

Median LSAT score: 167   

  1. USC Gould School of Law, LA

Los Angeles is the nation’s top legal market and is home to some of the top law firms. Students here get to experience a diverse culture and be a part of a large alumni body of 10,000 graduates.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $58,022

Acceptance %: 29.90

Bar Pass %: 86.80

Median LSAT score: 166   

  1. Boston University School of Law, Boston, MA

Boston School of Law is famous for its moot courtrooms rich with advance technology and modern libraries. Students also get to be a part of the many student associations and affinity groups.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $49,330

Acceptance %: 37.90

Bar Pass %: 92.80

Median LSAT score: 163   

  1. Washington University Law, St Louis, Missouri

WU Law is a place to go for the students who are really curious in nature. It promotes an effective student participation with its mock trials and moot court activity and develops students’ legal practice skills with Negotiation Competitions.

Stats:

Last Annual Fee: $51,626

Acceptance %: 26.90

Bar Pass %: 84.30

Median LSAT score: 164   

We hope the above list helps you to make a better decision and get into a law school that’s perfect for you. Here’s hoping this list has made the choice easier for you. Do let us know.