Attending any of the best law schools is a perfect way to build a successful legal career. Regardless of the type of law you wish to study, these 35 best law schools in the world have a suitable program for you.
The best law schools in the world are known for high bar passage rate, several clinic programs, and most of their students work with reputable companies or people.
However, nothing good comes easy, admission to the best law schools is highly selective, you will need to score high on LSAT, have a high GPA, have a good understanding of English, and a lot more depending on your study country.
We figured out that a lot of law aspirants may not know the type of law degree to choose. So, we decided to share with you the most common law degree programs.
Table of Contents
Types of Law Degrees
There are several types of law degrees depending on the country you wish to study. However, the following law degrees are mostly offered by many law schools.
Below are the most common types of law degrees:
- Bachelor of Law (LLB)
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master’s of Law (LLM)
- Doctor of Judicial Science (SJD).
1. Bachelor of Law (LLB)
A Bachelor of Law is an undergraduate degree offered mostly in the UK, Australia, and India. It is equivalent to a BA or BSc in Law.
A Bachelor of Law degree program lasts for 3 years of full-time study. After completing an LLB degree, you can enroll for an LLM degree.
2. Juris Doctor (JD)
A JD degree allows you to practice law in the US. The JD degree allows is the first law degree for someone who wants to become an Attorney in the US.
JD degree programs are offered by American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law schools in the US and Canadian law schools.
To be eligible for a JD degree program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree and must pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). A Juris Doctor degree program takes three years (full-time) to study.
3. Master of Law (LLM)
LLM is a graduate-level degree for students who wish to further their education after earning an LLB or JD degree.
It takes at least one year (full-time) to complete an LLM degree.
4. Doctor of Judicial Science (SJD)
A Doctor of Judicial Science (SJD), also known as Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) is considered the most advanced law degree in the US. It is equivalent to a PhD in law.
A SJD program lasts for at least three years and you must have earned a JD or LLM degree to be eligible.
What Requirements Do I Need to Study Law?
Each law school has its requirements. The requirements needed to study law also depend on your study country. However, we will be sharing with you the entry requirements for law schools in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Netherlands.
Requirements Needed to Study Law in the US
The major requirements for law schools in the US are:
- Good Grades
- LSAT Exam
- TOEFL score, if English is not your native language
- Bachelor’s degree (4 years university degree).
Requirements Needed to Study Law in the UK
The major requirements for Law Schools in the UK are:
- GCSEs/A-level/IB/AS-level
- IELTS or other accepted English proficiency tests.
Requirements Needed to Study Law in Canada
The major requirements for Law Schools in Canada are:
- A Bachelor’s Degree (three to four years)
- LSAT Score
- High School Diploma.
Requirements Needed to Study Law in Australia
The major requirements for Law Schools in Australia are:
- High School Diploma
- English language proficiency
- Work experience (optional).
Requirements Needed to Study Law in Netherlands
Most of the Law Schools in Netherlands have the following entry requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- TOEFL or IELTS.
Note: These requirements are for first law degree programs in each country mentioned.
35 Best Law Schools in the World
The list of the 35 best law schools in the World was created considering these factors: academic reputation, first-time Bar exam passage rate (for law schools in the US), practical training (clinics), and number of law degrees offered.
Below is a table showing the 35 best law schools in the world:
| RANK | NAME OF UNIVERSITY | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| 2 | University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| 3 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| 4 | Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| 5 | Stanford University | Stanford, United States |
| 6 | New York University | New York, United States |
| 7 | Columbia University | New York, United States |
| 8 | The London School of Economics and Political sciences (LSE) | London, United Kingdom |
| 9 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Queenstown, Singapore |
| 10 | University College London (UCL) | London, United Kingdom |
| 11 | University of Melbourne | Melbourne, Australia |
| 12 | University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| 13 | KU Leuven - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven | Leuven, Belgium |
| 14 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California, United States |
| 15 | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York, United States |
| 16 | King's College London | London, United Kingdom |
| 17 | University of Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| 18 | Duke University | Durham, North Carolina, United States |
| 19 | McGill University | Montreal, Canada |
| 20 | Leiden University | Leiden, Netherlands |
| 21 | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, United States |
| 22 | Humboldt University of Berlin | Berlin, Germany |
| 23 | Australia National University | Canberra, Australia |
| 24 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, United States |
| 25 | Georgetown University | Washington United States |
| 26 | University of Sydney | Sydney, Australia |
| 27 | LMU Munich | Munich, Germany |
| 28 | Durham University | Durham, UK |
| 29 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States |
| 30 | University of New South Wales (UNSW) | Sydney, Australia |
| 31 | University of Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 32 | University of Hongkong | Pok Fu Lam, HongKong |
| 33 | Tsinghua University | Beijing, China |
| 34 | University of British Columbia | Vancouver, Canada |
| 35 | University of Tokyo | Tokyo, Japan |
Top 10 Law Schools in the World
Below are the top 10 Law Schools in the World:
- Harvard University
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Yale University
- Stanford University
- New York University (NYU)
- Columbia University
- The London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE)
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- University College London (UCL).
1. Harvard University
Tuition: $70,430
First-time Bar exam passage rate (2021): 99.4%
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.
Established in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the US and among the best universities in the World.
Founded in 1817, Harvard Law School is the oldest continuously operating law school in the US and is home to the largest academic law library in the World.
Harvard Law School boasts of offering more courses and seminars than any other law school in the World.
The law school offers different types of law degrees, which include:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Law (LLM)
- Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
- Joint JD and Master Degree Programs.
Harvard Law School also provides law students with Clinical and Pro Bono Programs.
Clinics provide students with hands-on legal experience under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
2. University of Oxford
Tuition: £28,370 per year
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university located in Oxford, UK. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
University of Oxford Faculty of Law is one of the largest law schools and among the best law schools in the UK. Oxford claims to have the largest doctoral program in Law in the English-speaking world.
It also has the only graduate degrees in the world that are taught in tutorials as well as in classes.
The University of Oxford offers different types of Law Degrees, which include:
- Bachelor’s of Art in Law
- Bachelor’s of Art in Jurisprudence
- Diploma in Legal Studies
- Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL)
- Magister Juris (MJur)
- Master of Science (MSc) in Law and Finance, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Taxation e.t.c.
- Post Graduate Research programs: DPhil, MPhil, Mst.
Oxford University offers an Oxford Legal Assistance program, which provides an opportunity for undergraduate law students to get involved with probono legal work at the University of Oxford.
3. University of Cambridge
Tuition: from £17,664 per year
The University of Cambridge is a collegiate research university located in Cambridge, UK. Founded in 1209, Cambridge is the fourth-oldest university in the World.
The study of law at the University of Cambridge began in the thirteenth century, making its Faculty of Law one of the oldest in the UK.
University of Cambridge Faculty of Law offers different types of law degrees, which include:
- Undergraduate: BA Tripod
- Master of Law (LLM)
- Master’s Degree in Corporate Law (MCL)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law
- Diplomas
- Doctor of Law (LLD)
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Law.
4. Yale University
Tuition: $69,100
First-time Bar Passage Rate (2017): 98.12%
Yale University is a private Ivy League research university located in New Haven, Connecticut, US. Founded in 1701, Yale University is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the US.
Yale Law School is one of the first law schools in the World. Its origin can be traced to the earliest days of the 19th century.
Yale Law School currently offers five degree-granting programs, which include:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Law (LLM)
- Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD)
- Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Yale Law School also offers several joint degree programs like JD/MBA, JD/PhD, and JD/MA.
The School offers more than 30 clinics that provide students with hands-on, practical experience in the law. Unlike other law schools, students at Yale can begin taking clinics and appearing in court during the spring of their first year.
5. Stanford University
Tuition: $64,350
First-time Bar Passage Rate (2020): 95.32%
Stanford University is a private research university located in Stanford, California, US. It is among the largest universities in the US.
Stanford University officially known as The Leland Stanford Junior University was founded in 1885.
The University introduced its law curriculum in 1893, two years after the school was established.
Stanford Law School provides different law degrees in 21 subject areas, which include:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Stanford Program in International Legal Studies (SPILS)
- Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
- Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD).
6. New York University (NYU)
Tuition: $73,216
First-time Bar Passage Rate: 95.96%
New York University is a private university located in New York City. It also has degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.
Established in 1835, NYU School of Law (NYU Law) is the oldest law school in New York City and the oldest surviving law school in New York State.
NYU offers different degree programs in 16 areas of study, which include:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD)
- Several joint degrees: JD/LLM, JD/MA JD/PhD, JD/MBA e.t.c.
NYU Law also has joint programs with Harvard University and Princeton University.
The Law School offers more than 40 clinics, which provides students with the hands-on practical experience needed to become a lawyer.
7. Columbia University
Tuition: $75,572
First-time Bar Passage Rate (2021): 96.36%
Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university located in New York City. Founded in 1754 as King’s College which was located in a schoolhouse in Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan.
It is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and one of the oldest institutions of higher learning education in the US.
Columbia Law School is one of the first independent law schools in the US, established in 1858 as Columbia College of Law.
The Law School offers the following law degree programs in about 14 areas of study:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Executive LLM
- Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD).
Columbia University provides clinic programs, where students learn the practical art of lawyering by providing pro bono services.
8. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Tuition: £23,330
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university located in London, England.
LSE Law School is one of the world’s top law schools. The study of law began when the school was founded in 1895.
LSE Law School is one of LSE’s largest departments. It offers the following law degrees:
- Bachelor of Law (LLB)
- Master of Law (LLM)
- PhD
- Executive LLM
- Double Degree Program with Columbia University.
9. National University of Singapore (NUS)
Tuition: From S$33,000
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a public research university located in Singapore.
Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Maley States Government Medical School. It is the oldest tertiary institution in Singapore.
The National University of Singapore Faculty of Law is Singapore’s oldest law school. NUS was initially established in 1956 as the Department of Law at the University of Malaya.
NUS Faculty of Law offers the following law degrees:
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Graduate Coursework Diploma.
NUS launched its Law Clinic in the 2010-2011 academic year, and ever since then, professors and students from NUS Law School have assisted more than 250 cases.
10. University College London (UCL)
Tuition: £29,400
UCL is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest universities in the UK by total enrolment.
UCL Faculty of Laws (UCL Laws) started offering law programs in 1827. It is the first faculty of common law in the UK.
UCL Faculty of Laws offers the following degree programs:
- Bachelor of Law (LLB)
- Master of Law (LLM)
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
UCL Faculty of Laws offers the UCL Integrated Legal Advice Clinic (UCL iLAC) program, where students can gain valuable hands-on experience and develop a greater understanding of Legal needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Country has most of the Best Law Schools?
US has more than 10 law schools ranked among the 35 best law schools in the world, which include Harvard University, the best law school.
What Do I Need to Study Law?
Requirements for law schools depend on your study country. Countries like US and Canada LSAT score. Having solid grades in English, History, and Psychology may also be required. You must also be able to prove English language proficiency, if English is not your native language.
How long does it take to study and practice Law?
It takes about 7 years to become a lawyer in the US. In the US, you will have to complete a bachelor's degree program, then enroll in JD program which takes about three years of full-time study. Other countries may not require up to 7 years of study before you can become a lawyer.
What is the No.1 Law School in the World?
Harvard Law School is the best law school in the world. It is also the oldest law school in the US. Harvard has the largest academic law library in the World.
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Conclusion
Getting into any of the best law schools in the world requires a lot of work because their admission process is very selective.
You will receive high quality education in a very safe environment. Studying in one of the top law schools will cost a lot of money, but these schools have provided a lot of scholarships for students with financial needs.
We have now come to the end of this article on 35 best law schools in the world, which of these law schools do you wish to study in? Let us know in the Comment Section.
