The Best Law Schools in the U.S.: The Top 10 by Specialty [2021]

There are thousands of law schools to choose from in the United States. But only a few of them are considered the best.

Before you begin studying for the LSAT, deciding where you will apply can give you an idea of the score you’ll need to get into law schools on your list.

Many firms base hirings off of the law schools that their candidates attended. The law school you choose really does matter, especially nowadays, when there are more law graduates than jobs.

There are two very important things you’ll want to consider when choosing a law school: the specialty you’re interested in, and how much hands-on experience you want. Once you have these two decisions made, you can narrow your choices down. The law school application timeline is an important one, so you’ll want to get your shortlist together as soon as possible.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the top ten law schools in every category, compiled from the U.S. News best law school rankings. 

The Top 10 Law Schools in the US

There’s a reason certain schools are on high-achievers’ short lists. A degree from one of these top 10 law schools in the U.S. will open a lot of doors, setting you up for a career in higher or lower courts and partnerships at prestigious firms. 

Here’s more info on each.

Yale University

Yale University is located in New Haven, CT. It enrolls about 630 students a year. It is a well-known Ivy League school with small class sizes (less than 20 students). Tuition is currently $66,128.

Application deadline: February 28

Stanford University

Stanford University is located in Stanford, CT. It enrolls about 567 students a year. It is also a familiar American institution and Ivy League school. Stanford has a 4:1 student-faculty ratio and tuition is currently $64,554.

Application deadline: February 1

Harvard University

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA. It enrolls about 1,740 and is regularly ranked as a top 3 law school. An Ivy League School, Harvard is renowned for turning out top politicians and legal minds. The tuition is currently $67,081.

Application deadline: February 3

Columbia University

Columbia University is located in New York, NY. It enrolls about 1,244 students a year. It sits comfortably (and competitively) with the rest of the Ivy League schools from the NE, listed above. It ties with University of Chicago for the fourth best law school in the United States. The tuition is currently $72,465.

Application deadline: February 15

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL. Ranked the same as Columbia (#4), U of C enrolls about 614 students a year. It is strategically situated in one of the largest northeastern metropolitan areas and has an outstanding reputation. The tuition is currently $66,651.

Application deadline: March 1

New York University

New York University is located in New York, NY. It enrolls about 1,379 students a year. NYU law has a Lawyering program, which helps students acclimate to the academically rigorous program while also making practical application. The tuition is currently $68,934.

Application deadline: February 15

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania (Carey) is located in Philadelphia, PA. The Carey Law School has an enrollment of about 772. Its unique offering is a cross-disciplinary legal education, which gives reciprocal access to law classes for students in different programs. The tuition is currently $67,998.

Application deadline: March 1

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville Virginia. It enrolls about 964 students. Similar to the University of Pennsylvania, students can earn joint degrees between the School of Law and Darden School of Business. The tuition is currently $66,200.

Application deadline: March 3

Northwestern University

Northwestern University (Pritzker) is located in Chicago, IL. It enrolls about 747 students, making it the smallest among the top 10 law schools. The School of Law offers an accelerated J.D. program and a joint program with the Kellogg School of Management. The tuition is currently $66,806.

Application deadline: February 15

University of California – Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA. It enrolls about 986 students. The school doesn’t use GPAs or letter grades. It is known for pioneering the fields of intellectual property law, Environmental Law and Energy and Clean Technology Law. The tuition is currently $55,346.

Application deadline: February 15

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor 

The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI. It tied with University of California – Berkeley for 9th place on this list. It enrolls about 1,024 students. There are some unique joint degree programs and numerous study abroad legal tracks. The tuition is currently $64,944.

Application deadline: February 15

Top 10 Business & Corporate Law Schools

Business and corporate law programs mainly concentrate on different aspects of business management. Students studying business law may take classes on corporate taxation, real estate, commercial litigation, or accounting. Business lawyers may work in private firms, corporate offices, non-profits, or banking institutions. 

Here are the top 10 business/corporate law schools as ranked by U.S. News:

1. Columbia University
2. Harvard University
3. New York University
4. University of California – Berkeley 
5. Stanford University
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. University of Chicago
8. Georgetown University
9. University of California – Los Angeles 
10. University of Virginia

Top 10 Clinical Training Schools

As a law student in any school, you want to get as much experience as possible. Many law schools offer law clinics to their students in exchange for credits. These clinics are typically offered through professors who are providing pro-bono work to the general public. 

Essentially an internship, law clinics provide the hands-on real-life experience that firms look for on a résumé. 

U.S. News has ranked the top 10 law clinical training programs: 

1. Georgetown University
2. American University
3. CUNY
4. New York University
5. Yale University
6. Northwestern University
7. University of Maryland
8. Stanford University
9. University of California – Berkeley 
10. University of California – Irvine 

Top 10 Constitutional Law Schools

Constitutional lawyers are people who study constitutional law work to interpret and define the laws and powers listed in the Constitution. Attorneys who practice constitutional law may later become members of the judiciary, work for non-profits, or work for the government. 

A constitutional law student may take classes on important Supreme Court rulings, judicial review, and allocated federal and state powers. Take a look at the top ten constitutional law schools as ranked by U.S. News:

1. Yale University
2. Harvard University
3. Stanford University
4. University of Chicago
5. Columbia University
6. New York University 
7. University of California – Berkeley 
8. University of Virginia
9. Duke University
10. Georgetown University

Top 10 Contract & Commercial Law Schools 

Commercial law focuses on monetary exchanges, trades, purchases, and sales of products or services. Contract law—a subdivision of commercial law—typically looks at employment contracts, franchises, and labor laws. Contract and commercial lawyers typically work for private firms or corporations. U.S. News has ranked the top ten contract and commercial law schools, here they are:

1. Columbia University
2. University of Chicago
3. Harvard University
4. New York University
5. University of California – Berkeley 
6. Stanford University
7. University of Pennsylvania
8. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
9. University of Texas – Austin
10. Yale University

Top 10 Criminal Law Schools

Criminal lawyers have been dramatized (a lot) in the media. Criminal law may not be as exciting in real life as it is on screen, but it does deal with all types of crime.

There is a wide variety of types and degrees of criminal acts. Because of this, criminal justice lawyers tend to specialize or focus in only a few areas. 

Criminal lawyers may work in a private firm, as an appointed attorney, or with a non-profit. Students who pursue criminal law will typically take classes examining federal and state laws. 

Here are the top ten criminal law programs as defined and ranked by U.S. News:

1. New York University
2. Stanford University
3. Harvard University
4. University of California – Berkeley
5. Georgetown University
6. Columbia University
7. University of Pennsylvania
8. University of Virginia
9. Yale University
10. Duke University

Top 10 Dispute Resolution Schools

Dispute resolution is a practice in which lawyers will facilitate negotiations as a neutral third party. There are three different kinds of dispute resolution: mediation, arbitration, and negotiation. 

Divorce and family lawyers are the most common practitioners of dispute resolution law. People studying dispute resolution may take classes in psychology, de-escalation, and negotiation. 

U.S. News has identified and ranked the top ten dispute resolution programs in the United States:

1. Harvard University
2. Ohio State University
3. Pepperdine University
4. University of Missouri
5. Yeshiva University
6. Mitchell Hamline School of Law
7. Northwestern University
8. Texas A&M University
9. University of Nevada – Las Vegas
10. Arizona State University

Top 10 Environmental Law Schools

Environmental law focuses on environmental policies, conservation, energy usage, natural resources, protected lands, and global warming. Environmental lawyers may work for non-profits, indigenous tribes, and the federal or state government. 

Environmental law has become increasingly popular in the wake of climate change activism. 

Take a look at the top ten environmental law schools as ranked by U.S. News. 

1. Lewis & Clark College
2. University of California – Berkeley
3. Pace University
4. University of California – Los Angeles
5. Vermont Law School
6. Columbia University
7. New York University
8. University of Oregon
9. University of Utah
10. Georgetown University

Top 10 Health Care Law Schools

Health care law focuses on malpractice, health insurance claims, public health, pharmaceuticals, and much more. With the healthcare policy landscape constantly changing, these specialists play an important role in both defense and prosecution. 

Health care lawyers may work with private firms, non-profits, hospitals, and medical centers. Healthcare law students will take classes on HIPAA, medical malpractice, and current healthcare policy. 

U.S. News has listed the top ten healthcare law schools:

1. Saint Louis University 
2. Georgia State University
3. Loyola University – Chicago
4. University of Houston
5. Boston University
6. Stanford University
7. Georgetown University
8. University of Maryland
9. Case Western Reserve University
10. Harvard University

Top 10 Intellectual Property Law Schools

There are many different kinds of intellectual property. IP law includes regulations for copyrights, trademarks, patents, language, logos, and various artwork. Intellectual property law students will learn the ins and outs of intellectual property policies. 

Intellectual property lawyers may work for companies, independent artists, and non-profits. 

Here are the top ten intellectual property law programs as ranked by U.S. News.

1. University of California – Berkeley
2. Stanford University
3. New York University
4. Santa Clara University
5. George Washington University
6. University of Houston
7. University of New Hampshire
8. Texas A&M University
9. University of Pennsylvania
10. American University

Top 10 International Law Schools

International law programs focus on international courts, diplomatic issues, and transnational collaborations. International law students will have to take many classes on international trade, military, human rights, and business. International law students typically work for federal and state organizations. 

Take a look at U.S. News’ top ten ranked international law school programs:

1. New York University
2. Harvard University
3. Georgetown University
4. American University
5. Columbia University
6. Yale University
7. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
8. George Washington University
9. Duke University
10. Stanford University

Top 10 Legal Writing Schools

Legal writing is crucial for any lawyer to learn, and many underestimate its role in the profession. Most of a lawyer’s work consists of writing depositions and briefs, as well as researching for upcoming cases. Legal writing programs prepare a lawyer for this important aspect of the job. 

Here are the top ten legal writing schools as ranked by U.S. News:

1. University of Nevada – Las Vegas
2. University of Oregon
3. Seattle University
4. Stetson University
5. Suffolk University
6. Wake Forest University
7. Arizona State University
8. University of Denver
9. University of Illinois – Chicago
10. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Top 10 Tax Law Schools

Tax law assesses and enforces local, state, and federal taxation policies. These policies could include corporate, property, transaction, income, and license taxes. Tax law students will typically take classes on these different tax policies, tax evasion and fraud, and the implementation of taxes. 

Tax lawyers may work for state and federal offices, as well as large corporations and businesses. 

U.S. News has ranked the top ten tax law schools in the United States:

1. New York University
2. Georgetown University
3. Northwestern University
4. University of Florida
5. University of California
6. University of Virginia
7. Harvard University
8. Stanford University
9. University of Chicago
10. Columbia University

Top 10 Trial Advocacy Schools

Trial advocacy is one of the most important parts of a lawyer’s training. Trial advocacy training teaches law students how to be effective in the courtroom through opening statements, witness questions, cross examinations, and closing statements. 

Many schools offer trial advocacy competitions through mock trials. For students who intend to pursue courtroom-heavy legal specialties, it is helpful to attend a school known for their trial advocacy programs. 

From U.S. News, here are the top ten ranked trial advocacy programs:

1. Stetson University
2. Baylor University
3. Temple University
4. American University
5. Illinois Institute of Technology
6. Loyola Marymount University
7. Samford University
8. South Texas College of Law Houston
9. Fordham University
10. University of Denver

Applying to a Top-Ranking Law School?

The first vital step in your journey to law school is doing well on the LSAT. If you are gearing up to take the LSAT, trying again for a better score, or just want to do all of your due diligence before you start, be sure to bookmark this blog. 

We regularly publish great info on the best LSAT review courses and LSAT study tips that will help you succeed. We can even help you pick the best laptop for law school!