Employment for lawyers is projected to increase by 8% over the next decade. However, many law graduates face challenges in securing positions that justify the considerable time and financial investment made in their education.
Rankings of top law schools aim to address this issue by evaluating institutions based on their success in placing graduates. Nearly 60% of the rankings formula focuses on successful job placement, while the remaining criteria include academic metrics such as faculty resources, the achievements of incoming students, and evaluations from law schools, lawyers, and judges regarding the overall quality of the program.
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List of Top 10 Law Schools in the U.S.
A school's overall ranking among the Best Law Schools should be one factor among many when deciding where to apply. While these rankings reflect academic quality and graduate success—key considerations for prospective students—they don't capture all important aspects. Personal factors such as location, campus culture, the strength of specific programs, and the cost of tuition and financial aid are also crucial in making an informed decision. Here is the complete list:
| University | Location | Rank | Tuition and Fees | Enrollment (Full-Time) | Median LSAT (Full-Time) | Application Fee |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 1 | N/A | 575 | 173 | $85 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 2 | $73,865 | 633 | 175 | $85 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 3 | $77,952 | 594 | 173 | N/A |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | 4 | $75,738 | 754 | 170 | $80 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 5 | $75,008 | 1,758 | 174 | $85 |
| University of Pennsylvania (Carey) | PA | 6 | $76,934 | 808 | 172 | $80 |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | 7 | $71,200 (in-state), $74,200 (out-of-state) | 898 | 171 | $85 |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | 8 | $81,292 | 1,357 | 173 | $85 |
| New York University | New York, NY | 9 | $80,014 | 1,413 | 172 | $85 |
| Northwestern University (Pritzker) | Chicago, IL | 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
In fall 2023 and early 2024, U.S. News surveyed nearly 200 ABA-accredited law schools, with 144 responding. Data from schools' annual ABA disclosures was also used. Rankings, reflecting data as of March 22, 2024, were calculated using 10 ranking factors. Schools were scored, standardized, weighted, and rescaled so the top school received a score of 100, with others receiving a percentage of that. This year, U.S. News increased the emphasis on outcomes and reduced focus on reputation and resources. Rankings also incorporated two years of bar passage and employment data and included additional lawyer and judge assessments.
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Top Law Schools in the USA
1. Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School (SLS), part of Stanford University near Palo Alto, California, was founded in 1893. With a 6.28% acceptance rate in 2021, it had the second-lowest rate among U.S. law schools. George Triantis is the current Dean.
2. Yale Law School
Yale Law School (YLS) is part of Yale University, a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut, founded in 1824. With a 4% acceptance rate in 2020–21, it has the lowest rate among U.S. law schools. Its 87% yield rate is consistently the highest in the country.
3. University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School, part of the University of Chicago, is a private research institution in Illinois. It has over 180 full-time and part-time faculty and more than 600 students in its Juris Doctor program. The school also offers degrees such as the Master of Laws, Master of Studies in Law, and Doctor of Juridical Science.
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