Best universities in the US for law degrees 2024
Find the best universities in the United States for law degrees through Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings data
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Top 10 universities in the US for law degrees 2024
Scroll down for the full list of best universities in the US for law degrees
| US law rank 2024 | Law rank 2024 | University | State |
| 1 | 1 | Harvard University | Massachusetts |
| 2 | 2 | Stanford University | California |
| =3 | =4 | Columbia University | New York |
| =3 | =4 | New York University | New York |
| 5 | 6 | University of California, Berkeley | California |
| 6 | 9 | The University of Chicago | Illinois |
| 7 | 10 | Yale University | Connecticut |
| 8 | 15 | Georgetown University | Washington DC |
| 9 | =21 | University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| 10 | 24 | Duke University | North Carolina |
There are a number of world-renowned law schools in the US, making the country one of the top places to go to if you wish to study for a law degree.
Students who complete a course of study at a law school in the US will graduate with a juris doctor (JD) degree. The JD programme normally lasts three years for full-time students and four years for part-time students. Teaching is based on the British system of common law, which is not used in every country, so international students might not necessarily be able to practise in their home country without taking further courses or exams.
The US legal system consists of judicial, regulatory and governmental authorities that work together to enforce laws across federal, state and local levels. Every state has its own government, which holds legal and administrative jurisdiction within its limits.
These are the best universities in the US for law degrees.
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5. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley's law school offer the JD programme, the LLM programme and a range of doctoral programmes.
The main areas of study taught within the school include social justice and public interest, business and start-ups, law and technology, environmental law, criminal justice, international and cooperative law, constitutional and regulatory and law and economics.
The university's curriculum usually allows students to study one of the topics above in more depth and at a more advanced level. JD students usually study in this way in the first two years of this course, then taking more specialised courses in their third year alongside a research project.
LLM students are able to choose elective units in a broader range of topic areas.
=3. New York University
New York University’s School of Law was established in 1835.
The School of Law offers the JD for undergraduate students. Also offered are dual JD degrees in various fields such as taxation, international law, economics, history, philosophy or politics and French studies. There are a number of graduate programmes available, as well as LLM dual degrees with other schools including the National University of Singapore.
There are more than 40 clinics and externships at NYU such as the Centre for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and the Centre for Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law, which give students the opportunity to gain real-life legal experience.
Students also have the opportunity to study abroad as part of NYU Law Abroad in Buenos Aires and Paris.
=3. Columbia University
The law school at Columbia University offers the JD programme, the JSD programme, the LLM programme and the executive LLM programme.
There are also a range of dual and joint degrees that can be taken across other schools at the university including the schools of public health, journalism, social work and business.
The university also offers international programmes where students have the opportunity to study abroad in countries such as Paris and the Netherlands.
What can you do with a law degree?
2. Stanford University
Stanford Law School was established in 1893 and has since become one of the world’s leading law schools.
There are three types of joint degree programmes available at Stanford Law School: JD/master’s; JD/MD and JD/PhD. These degrees are offered across 21 different subject areas.
The school also offers four advanced degree programmes: master of laws; the Stanford programme in international legal studies; master of legal studies; and the doctor of the science of law degree.
Stanford Law School works closely with the Mills Legal Clinic. Within this are 11 clinics where students work on real cases in areas including criminal defence, environmental law, immigrants’ rights and religious liberty. All the clinics are directed by faculty members.
Stanford Law School set up the law and policy lab to encourage students to engage in public policy. Under the guidance of staff, students advise clients on a range of areas including energy and the environment, education, and copyright and patent reform.
1. Harvard University
Harvard University Law School offers a JD Programme, an LLM programme and and SJD programme.
Students are also able to study for a joint law degree with other subjects including public health, business and urban planning.
There are more than 400 courses, seminars and reading groups available. Many of these courses have less than 25 students enrolled meaning that students will benefit from working in smaller groups. Some of the courses available include advertising law, animal law, criminal law, critical race theory, cyberlaw and many more.
There are also a range of clinical and pro bono programmes which allows students to allows students to gain practical legal experience under the supervision of licensed lawyers.
Top universities in the US for law degrees 2024
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