Top 10 Law Schools in the US and UK

For students hoping to pursue a degree in law, finding your best-fit law school is step one. We've compiled a list of the top-ranking law schools in the US and UK, many of which are among the best in the world, to serve as a starting point for aspiring law students.

However, before we take a look at some of the world’s top law schools, there are a few factors beyond rankings you should strongly consider prior to deciding where to study law.

Do you want to study a specific kind of law?

Most law schools will have a range of different programs for you to choose from. If you are interested in a certain type of law — such as criminal law, environmental law, corporate law, family law, or a slew of other areas — make sure you research the best programs in that field. If you haven’t decided yet, but know you want to study law in general, a broader list of rankings such as this one will do!

Where do you want to practice law?

Where you study and where you practice don’t have to be the same, but it can certainly be beneficial. You will have better access to top local law firms and a much larger alumni network in the city you went to school in; therefore, you will have a greater chance of securing a desirable job in that location.

Beyond networking and employability, the country you choose to study in will also impact your potential earnings as a lawyer. Take a look at the variations in average salary for lawyers in 10 different countries:

Now that you know a bit about what to consider when searching for potential law schools, here’s a list the top 5 law schools in the US followed by the top 5 law schools in the UK — all of which fall into the top 25 law schools in the world! Compare admissions statistics, entry requirements, costs and more to help you determine your personal priorities when it comes to pursuing a degree in law.

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United States

5. Columbia UniversityColumbia’s ‘Legal Methods’ course does a great job at helping with the transition to a law student's life. The class, which you will take in your first three weeks, is graded on a pass/fail basis and will teach you about how Columbia’s law program works, all while getting to know your professors, classmates, and New York City on a deeper level.

Acceptance Rate: 18.4%

Entry Requirements: LSAT, all university transcripts (graduate and undergraduate), 2 letters of recommendation, Dean’s letter (if applicable), CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: 171

Average GPA: 3.7

Student Teacher Ratio: 4.5:1

Number of Students: 1244

Program Length: 3 years

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): USD 274,620 for 3 years

4. University of ChicagoUChicago has mastered the intersection of economics and law. Similarly, the only law professor ever to win the Nobel Prize taught law and economics there!

Did you know that UChicago Law School's Supreme Court Review is one of the most cited legal journals in the world?

Acceptance Rate: 15%

Entry Requirements: LSAT, character and fitness, all university transcripts (graduate and undergraduate), letters of recommendation and evaluation, CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: 171

Average GPA: 3.89

Student Teacher Ratio: 5.1:1

Number of Students: 633

Program Length: 3 years

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): USD 276,021 for 3 years

3. Stanford UniversityUnlike many top law schools, Stanford places more emphasis on student collaboration and less on independent learning. Fierce classroom competition and extreme academic pressure give way to teamwork and intellectual stimulation.

You have many options at Stanford, such as creating a joint degree and picking your courses.

Acceptance Rate: 9.1%

Entry Requirements: LSAT, all university transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: 169

Average GPA: 3.93

Student Teacher Ratio: 4.1:1

Number of Students: 572

Program Length: 3 years

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): USD 277,866 for 3 years

2. Harvard UniversityHarvard Law School is one of the most widely recognized law schools in the world, and it houses an incredible number of resources. If you want to pursue a specific degree, take a particular course, or participate in a specialized extracurricular activity, Harvard Law probably offers it.

Having such a large student body means that a) your classmates will be quite diverse, b) there are more courses offered at Harvard than any other law school, and c) your sections will be extensive.

As of the Class of 2018, Harvard Law accepts the GRE in place of the LSAT to broaden its applicant pool and give more people from diverse backgrounds and lower socioeconomic statuses the chance to attend.

Acceptance Rate: 15.6%

Entry Requirements: LSAT or GRE, all university transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: 173

Average GPA: 3.9

Student Teacher Ratio: 7.2:1

Number of Students: 1990

Program Length: 3 years

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): USD 277,350 for 3 years

1. Yale UniversityMany of Yale’s graduates lean towards academia instead of practicing at a large law firm in, let’s say, New York City. Law at Yale is remarkably prestigious, whether you choose criminal or constitutional law.

Acceptance Rate: 9.7%

Entry Requirements: LSAT, all university transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: 173

Average GPA: 3.92

Student Teacher Ratio: 4.3:1

Number of Students: 676

Program Length: 3 years

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): USD 247,806 for 3 years

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United Kingdom

5. University of EdinburghEdinburgh’s LLM programme is the best choice for students wishing to expose themselves to diverse areas of advanced legal scholarship. They offer a very wide range of specialist courses, many taught by internationally recognised experts in their fields, and legal and industry professionals. They boast classes across all fields of law, from environmental to business & banking to criminal.

Entry Requirements: Academic transcripts, written work, 3 letters of recommendation, CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: N/A

Average GPA: 3.25

Student Teacher Ratio: N/A

Number of Students: 980

Program Length: 12 months

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): UK: USD 18,791, EU/Overseas: USD 32,919

4. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)LSE’s approach to the teaching of law combines views and experiences from different disciplinary practices and jurisdictions. This ensures that what LSE law students learn is relevant to legal study and practice in any specialization.

Courses are offered in a broad range of fields including arbitration, human rights, international law, corporate, commercial and financial law.

Acceptance Rate: 8.6%

Entry Requirements: Academic transcripts, written work, 3 letters of recommendation, CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: N/A

Average GPA: 3.7

Student Teacher Ratio: N/A

Number of Students: N/A

Program Length: 12 months

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): UK/EU: USD 23,769 Overseas: USD 34,607

3. University College LondonLocated in the heart of the bustling city of London, UCL features a diverse international community and has many law courses you can try your hand at, especially in your first year.

Acceptance Rate: 7.4%

Entry Requirements: Academic transcripts, 2 references (at least one academic), English proficiency (tested when needed), and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: N/A

Average GPA: 3.3 or the equivalent of Upper Second-Class Honours (2.1)

Student Teacher Ratio: 5.8:1

Number of Students: 460

Program Length: 12 months

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): EU/UK: USD 42,794, International: USD 51,106

2. University of OxfordOxford has the only graduate law program in the world taught through a combination of seminars, tutorials, and lectures, therefore giving you a closer connection to your professors and classmates.

Oxford has two main master’s programs; the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), designed for students from a law background, and a Magister Juris (MJur), designed for students new to law.

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Entry Requirements: Academic transcripts, written work, 3 letters of recommendation, CV, and a personal statement.

Average LSAT Score: N/A

Average GPA: 3.7

Student Teacher Ratio: N/A

Number of Students: 90 students a year

Program Length: 9 months

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): UK/EU: USD 35,283, Overseas: USD 41,417

1. University of CambridgeCambridge’s renowned Master of Laws program is a one-year graduate course consisting of four classes (papers) which you can tailor to your interests. There is also an option to take ‘general’ classes, which will allow you to take four courses in any number of legal fields, related or not.

Keep in mind that obtaining an LLM will not allow you to practice Law in the US; however, Harvard has a joint LLM/JD program with Cambridge that will give you a degree from both schools in three and a half years.

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Entry Requirements: First class degree in law, English requirement (IELTS or TOEFL), 2 academic letters of recommendation, and a CV.

Average LSAT Score: N/A

Average GPA: top 5%-10% of your class

Student Teacher Ratio: N/A

Number of Students: 154

Program Length: 9 months

Total Cost (tuition, board and personal expenses): UK: USD 28,961, EU: USD 29,360, Overseas: USD 40, 657

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Do you have big dreams of becoming a lawyer with a degree from one of these world-leading universities? Crimson can help you turn that dream into a reality! Crimson students are 2-4x more likely to gain admission to Oxbridge and the Ivy League compared to the average applicant. To learn more about how we can help you get started on the path to a prestigious law school, click the link below to schedule a free consultation with an Academic Advisor.