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Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 09/28/23
If you want a comprehensive law school education, look no further than the country’s top schools. But what are the T14 law schools? Read on to learn more!
The T14 law schools are the top 14 schools in the US based on rankings. Among the T14, there isn’t much movement in these rankings year after year. We’ll teach you what each T14 law school is and what you need to know about them while you craft your school list.
This list is ranked in order according to US News World and Report’s ranking of Best Law Schools, and shares distinguishing features as well as the GPA and LSAT requirements for the T14 law schools in the nation.
Stanford Law School (SLS) claims the spot for the best law school in the country. The school’s teaching approach centers on students, “defined by the needs and ambitions of future graduates and customizable to each individual student.” In keeping with this effort, students can:
SLS is well-known for its close-knit community, collaboration, and support between faculty members and students. With small class sizes, reading groups, seminars, and team-drive clinics, Stanford offers an intensive yet supportive learning experience.
Stanford understands the value of interdisciplinary learning for a truly comprehensive legal education. That’s why its JD program focuses on an innovative approach to allow students access to other courses outside the law school across Stanford University’s sprawling campus.
Stanford law students can explore courses and deepen specialized legal understanding in 14 interest areas:
Your specialized law education awaits!
SLS’ acceptance rate is a low 6.9%. The GPA and LSAT score distribution of enrolled students is as follows:
If you’re passionate about building your own joint degree program or crave an interdisciplinary law education, Stanford Law may be a perfect choice.
Yale Law School, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is ranked as the nation’s best law school as well. The school is committed to “an unmatched environment of excellence and educational intimacy,” through:
The three-year JD program encourages in-depth investigation into your ideas and law interest areas through numerous opportunities for writing, independent study, and student-organized seminars. With help from faculty, each student can write and publish two major research papers throughout the program.
Perhaps one of the most attractive elements of Yale Law School is its commitment to collaboration over competition. All classes are ungraded in the first term. After that, classes are graded on a “honors/pass/low pass basis.” Although Yale Law School is in a league of its own, the grading system can be less stressful for first-years.
Yale offers students 12 areas of study, so you can choose courses that best align with your career goals and passions:
Read on for Yale Law class profile data.
With the lowest acceptance rate on this list, Yale only admits around 5.7% of its applicants. The GPA and LSAT score percentiles of first-year JD students are:
If you love the idea of small class sizes, teaching assistant opportunities, and the chance to publish your own research, Yale Law School will make an excellent addition to your list.
The University of Chicago Law School claims the No. 3 spot in the T14 law school ranking. UChicago Law’s educational mission is to “train well-rounded, critical, and socially conscious thinkers and doers.” The cornerstones of this mission are:
You’ll receive interdisciplinary teaching at UChicago Law that blends law education with the humanities, social science, and natural sciences. The school emphasizes participatory learning and not confining students to one viewpoint.
UChicago Law values exposing students to contrasting perspectives to equip them with the necessary tools to choose and develop their own views. By the time you graduate, you’ll understand law’s interdisciplinary nature, key concepts in substantive law, legal theory, and procedure, and be familiar with the processes of legal reasoning.
The school uses the Socratic Method to ask questions until a contradiction is introduced, thus proving the fallacy of assumption. The Socratic Method’s purpose is not to intimidate students but to teach them valuable critical thinking skills and to approach law as intellectuals.
UChicago Law’s acceptance rate is 14.2%. GPA and LSAT score percentiles demonstrate the school’s selectivity:
If you’re interested in a more philosophical approach to law and understanding different perspectives, UChicago Law is an excellent choice.
Claiming the No. 4 spot in the ranking of best national law schools is UPenn Law (Carey Law School). The school is renowned for its:
JD.. students can choose from nearly 60 experiential courses to satisfy degree requirements. Students must fulfill requirements including:
UPenn Law was one of the first schools to require mandatory pro bono work of its students.
UPenn Law has a selective acceptance rate of 9.7%. GPA and LSAT score percentiles from incoming students can help you compare your stats:
If you’re a community-oriented person committed to helping others and molding the future of the legal profession, UPenn Law may be for you.
Duke University School of Law is ranked No. 5 in the T14. The school’s mission is to “prepare students for responsible and productive lives in the legal profession by providing a rigorous legal education within a collaborative, supportive, and diverse environment.”
Areas of focus at Duke Law include:
JD students are encouraged to follow their passions at Duke Law to create their own adventures in the broad study of law. Duke Law has numerous options, whether you’re interested in incorporating pro bono work into your practice, pursuing a dual degree, or pursuing clinics or externships.
Duke Law’s acceptance rate is 10.7%. GPAs and test score data from incoming students show:
Since Duke Law is a T14 law school year after year, it’s an excellent option for future lawyers.
Harvard Law School (HLS) is tied with Duke Law as the No. 5 T14 law school. The school was founded in 1817 and is the oldest operative law school in the US, with the most extensive academic law library in the world.
Within Harvard Law’s JD program, first-year students take courses in:
These courses help provide the foundational knowledge you need to succeed in HLS’ rigorous program. First-year classes are divided into seven subsections containing 80 students each, with a faculty member acting as a leader for each respective section to provide extra support and guidance.
Since Harvard Law offers more courses than any other law school globally, selecting elective courses can be intimidating. Harvard encourages students to pursue their passions and consider how different opportunities can supplement their learning.
Harvard Law’s faculty developed “programs of study” to guide you through your three-year journey. Harvard Law’s current offerings include:
No sign-up is required, and you’re free to explore the programs as they relate to your passions.
HLS receives thousands of applications each year, but only admits around 10.1% of them. Regarding academic percentiles, HLS released data on enrolled students’ GPAs, LSAT scores, and GRE scores.
If you’d consider yourself a bit of a bookworm who loves boundless course offerings, Harvard Law School is a stellar addition to your school list.
The final fifth top law school is NYU School of Law. NYU Law considers itself “an intellectual powerhouse” with:
NYU Law emphasizes its commitment to public service, offering to fund 1L and 2L students working in government or nonprofit organizations. The school also offers more than 40 clinics.
The school is a leader in international law, so you can count on programs like the Hauser Global Law School Program and Guarini Institute for Global Legal Studies to help you gain a global understanding through a legal lens. If studying abroad is your style, you can go to Buenos Aires or Paris through NYU.
NYU Law offers 16 specializations, including:
These programs are designed to create close-knit communities and offer research opportunities to work directly with faculty members.
NYU only admits around 15.7% of its JD applicants. GPA and LSAT score percentiles of these admitted students are as follows:
Students interested in global education or study-abroad opportunities may want to add NYU Law to their lists.
Ranked as the country’s No. 8 law school, Columbia Law School’s position in the T14 law schools shows its prestige and quality. Columbia Law is renowned for its:
Fourteen study areas at Columbia Law prepare you for whatever career direction you plan to pursue:
Students can explore courses in various study areas to gain a truly comprehensive legal education.
As a prestigious law school, Columbia has a low acceptance rate just under 12%. Regarding GPA and LSAT score percentiles, data shows:
Columbia Law School is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a hands-on learning experience and an interdisciplinary approach to legal education.
The University of Virginia (UVA) School of Law is the country’s No. 8 law school. UVA Law was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, making it the second-oldest law school still operating.
JD students complete core courses in their first year before choosing from varied learning options, including:
You can choose from more than 250 courses/seminars each year at UVA Law. Although you don’t necessarily have to choose one, there are 18 concentrations you can choose from, such as:
The full list of concentrations also shows specific course names and codes you can use to complete a concentration; the possibilities are practically endless.
In a recent application cycle, UVA admitted almost 13% of its applicants. GPA and LSAT score percentiles of these applicants are as follows:
UVA Law may be right for you if you appreciate various instruction methods.
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law takes the No. 10 spot in the T14. Northwestern Law is well-known for its interdisciplinary and social justice research and teaching. The school boasts:
Northwestern Law offers more than just a standard three-year JD program. Other programs include:
JD students can begin taking electives as early as their first year: the second and third years of the program are almost completely open to fill with whatever courses you want to take.
With an acceptance rate of 15%, Northwestern has high expectations of its students. Just take a look at their GPA and LSAT percentiles:
Northwestern Law is an excellent choice if your dream is to work abroad or if you want a higher level of freedom in course selection.
Berkeley Law claims the No. 10 for best national law schools. At the core of Berkeley Law’s mission is:
The school’s public mission is to offer accessible, affordable education for all students.
Berkeley Law’s JD program’s distinctive quality is its focus on the real world. Through clinics and other hands-on opportunities, students gain the legal and public policy knowledge they need to succeed.
Learning at UC Berkeley is student-centered, thanks to student-run clinics, journals, and labs where they can collaborate with “some of the most innovative thinkers in the legal profession.” Potential study areas at Berkeley Law include:
The Business and Start-Ups study area is particularly interesting and useful for future lawyers looking to make their marks in the Bay Area.
UC Berkeley has an acceptance rate of 12.5%. The incoming class reported the following GPA and LSAT score percentiles:
UC Berkeley is an excellent option if you want to work in the Bay Area or if its offerings align with your passions.
The University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor has operated for over 150 years and claims the No.10 spot among the top 14 law schools. UMichigan Law is well known for its commitment to collaboration and cooperation amongst its students, and the campus’ stunning physical beauty.
UMichigan Law has grouped all of its offerings into 22 interest areas, including:
What sticks out most from this list is the Detroit interest area. Students can participate in clinics such as the Michigan Innocence Clinic, Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project, and the Pro Bono Program.
UMichigan Law’s approach to instruction is blended; doctrinal and experiential teaching provides the tools you need to holistically evaluate complex legal issues.
UMichigan Law’s acceptance rate is 13.5%. These are the GPA and LSAT score percentiles of enrolling students:
If you’re particularly interested in Detroit or want to be a part of a tight-knit community on a beautiful campus, UMichigan Law may be a great choice.
Yet another Ivy League addition, Cornell Law School claims the No. 13 spot. Cornell claims it's a “little different” than other law schools. With only approximately 600 JD students in total, Cornell Law is a tight-knit community that thinks of itself as “serious, but not stuffy. Elite, but not elitist.”
Cornell Law students show an incredibly collaborative spirit between students and faculty. The career outcomes for Cornell Law graduates speak for themselves: Cornell ranks fifth in job placement among all law schools.
The school offers more than 170 courses through its JD program, small classes, and more than 20 clinics and practicum courses. You can pursue a concentration in one of seven areas:
These concentrations and their respective classes are meant to encourage you to spend your final year exploring a particular area.
A snapshot of the Cornell admissions profile shows the school accepted 17.4% of its applicants. GPA and LSAT percentiles from incoming students are as follows:
If you’re passionate about advocacy, or want to ensure you’re set for the career of your choice post-graduation, Cornell Law may be right for you.
UCLA is the final school on this list of the top 14 law institutions. It offers 18 study areas, including:
UCLA promises its students an unparalleled legal education and an immersive and inventive approach to learning. Their approach ensures that students are intellectually challenged and personally fulfilled!
UCLA admits around 15.5% of its applicants each year. GPA and LSAT score percentiles of full-time enrolling students are:
If you’re striving to become an excellent attorney working in the heart of California, UCLA will be perfect for you!
Keeping the three G’s in mind is how to get into a T14 law school! Here’s what we mean:
Getting into a top law school requires a combination of academic excellence, a strong LSAT score, a well-rounded application, and a genuine passion for the field of law. It isn’t simply about proving you can ace your LSAT or get straight A’s in your undergrad.
These schools want you to prove you’ll make an excellent addition to their school and are well-worth the world-class resources they can offer you!
Ensure you do your research and tailor your application to each school you apply to, showcase your unique strengths, and be prepared to demonstrate why you belong at one of these prestigious institutions! The application process will be long and arduous, but it’ll be well worth it when your acceptance letters start rolling in!
To help you create your list of best-fit choices, here’s a quick overview of each of the top 14 school’s LSAT scores, GPA, ranking, and other important information!
Now that you know what the T14 law schools are, we’ll answer any other burning questions you may have.
Given the LSAT data above, an LSAT score of 170 of higher will make you a competitive candidate at the top 14 law schools.
The short answer is sometimes. UT Austin is ranked as the No.17 law school, but it occasionally claims a top 14 spot.
The acceptance rate at every top 14 law school is below 16%. Given the data, it’s hard to get into a T14 law school in general, especially if the acceptance rate is a single digit.
Not necessarily, but many applicants apply to the T14 law schools due to their prestige and resources. Many other top law schools can provide the tools you need for success, but the T14 schools are great options.
T14 means “top 14,” just shortened to be more colloquial.
Attending a T14 law school is worth it if the curriculum and offerings align with your professional and personal goals. Enrolling at any law school is a sizable commitment.
What are the T14 law schools? They could be your window of opportunity to pursue the best legal education available and get you one step closer to your dream career. Achieving a high GPA and LSAT scores and perfecting your law school applications can help you get accepted at a T14 school. Good luck!
