Like Yale, UC Berkeley does not use letter grades or GPAs, and students are not ranked against their peers. The program offers specialized curricular programs in areas such as Energy and Clean Technology Law, as well as unique survey courses such as Wine Law. Due to student-run clinics and opportunities to become locally involved, Berkeley is a great school for those who want to practice law in the Bay Area after graduating.
T-14 Law Schools: How to Get In (2023)
What are the top 14 law schools? Learn strategies to get into the best law schools in the U.S.
Introduction
Part 1: Top-14 law school rankings
Part 2: How to get into top law schools
Final Thoughts
Introduction
Students planning on applying to law school have many options to choose from. Currently, there are over 200 law schools in the United States accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
However, since the number of law school graduates continues to exceed the number of JD-requiring positions available each year, attending a top-ranked law school can help you stand out from the competition when it’s time to enter the legal job market.
Many applicants aspire to get into “T-14 law schools,” or schools that are ranked in the top 14 by U.S. News & World Report. Graduates of T-14 law schools go on to hold high-level positions in government, work for prestigious Big Law firms, or serve as executives for Fortune 500 corporations.
In this guide, we’ll go over which schools are considered T-14 and then discuss the strategies you’ll need to follow to get an acceptance letter from any of them.
Part 1: Top 14 law school rankings
Let’s start by taking a look at the top law schools to see the kind of stats you’ll be competing against. Below are the 2023 T-14 rankings and some of the most important admissions statistics.
Note: The information presented in the following table reflects the most recent publicly available data published by the schools as of May 2023. In the event that the information was not available on the school’s website, the school’s Standard 509 Information Report was used.
| Top 14 Law Schools | US News Ranking | Location | Acceptance Rate | Annual Tuition & Fees | Median GPA | Median LSAT | First-Year Class Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Law School | 1 | New Haven, CT | 5.62% | $100,009 | 3.94 | 175 | 197 |
| Stanford Law School | 2 | Palo Alto, CA | 6.88% | $112,633 | 3.92 | 173 | 178 |
| University of Chicago Law School | 3 | Chicago, IL | 14.24% | $106,563 | 3.91 | 173 | 203 |
| Columbia Law School | 4 (tie) | New York, NY | 11.80% | $110,450 | 3.87 | 173 | 402 |
| Harvard Law School | 4 (tie) | Cambridge, MA | 9.99% | $111,000 | 3.92 | 174 | 559 |
| University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | 6 | Philadelphia, PA | 9.74% | $100,772 | 3.90 | 172 | 246 |
| NYU School of Law | 7 | New York, NY | 15.65% | $109,290 | 3.88 | 172 | 376 |
| University of Virginia School of Law* | 8 | Charlottesville, VA | 12.88% | $101,586^ | 3.94 | 171 | 315 |
| University of California Berkeley School of Law* | 9 | Berkeley, CA | 13.70% | $117,815^ | 3.83 | 170 | 279 |
| University of Michigan Law School* | 10 | Ann Arbor, MI | 13.51% | $92,628^ | 3.83 | 171 | 334 |
| Duke University School of Law | 11 | Durham, NC | 10.74% | $105,382 | 3.85 | 170 | 225 |
| Cornell Law School | 12 | Ithaca, NY | 17.44% | $97,703 | 3.87 | 172 | 208 |
| Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law | 13 | Chicago, IL | 15.05% | $104,564 | 3.89 | 171 | 238 |
| Georgetown University Law Center | 14 | Washington, DC | 17.00% | $108,200 | 3.86 | 171 | 593 |
T14 Law School Rankings 2023-24
Considering applying for law school? There are currently 197 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, so it can be difficult to know where to begin. Different programs specialize in particular areas of law—criminal law, constitutional law, or environmental law, for example—so they may open opportunities for different kinds of jobs after graduation. For many applicants, it’s also important to attend a law school with a high ranking, in particular one of the top 14 law schools (often referred to as T14 law schools). These 14 law schools, ranked by the U.S. News & World Report, are known to set students up for high-level positions in government and prestigious jobs at law firms.
As you prepare to apply, it’s important to remember that these T14 law schools are very competitive. Most accepted students have very high GPAs (at least 3.8) and LSAT scores (at least 170), which fall into top LSAT percentiles (check out this article for more on LSAT percentiles). If you’re looking into more ways to prepare to apply for a T14 law school, find out about undergraduate feeder schools and pre-law summer programs.
So, what are the T14 Law Schools?
In this list below, you can find information about the law schools ranked in the Top 14. Keep in mind that while these are ranked by U.S. News & World Report (based on a variety of factors), they are all excellent programs, and there are many more excellent programs not featured on this list that could be a great fit for you.
1) Stanford University Law School
With the highest ranking in Intellectual Property Law and number two and three in Criminal Law and Constitutional Law, Stanford ties with Yale for number one Law School overall. The program is student-centered with a close-knit community and collaboration between students and faculty. SLS students often build their own joint-degree programs as they take courses across campus, and they have access to unique interest areas such as American Indian & Indigenous Law and International & Comparative Law.
- Location: Stanford, California
- Acceptance Rate: 6.9%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: Not listed
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.92
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 173
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 4.6:1
- Top Areas of Law: Intellectual Property Law, Criminal Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Constitutional Law
2) Yale University Law School
Yale Law School is tied with Stanford for the number one law school, according to the U.S. News listing. With more than 20 legal clinics, students can immerse themselves in real-life law experiences as early as their first year, representing clients in a variety of cases, as well as writing and publishing major research papers under faculty mentorship. Though there are no areas of concentration at Yale, students can tailor courses to their interests. Additionally, this law school has a commitment to collaboration over competition among its student body. As part of this effort, classes are ungraded the first term, and following, they are graded on a “honors/pass/low pass” basis.
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- Acceptance Rate: 5.7%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: 71,425
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.94
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 175
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 4.5:1
- Top Areas of Law: Constitutional Law, International Law, Clinical Training, Business/Corporate Law, Criminal Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Health Care Law
3) University of Chicago Law School
This program is also structured with an interdisciplinary approach, and a particularly philosophical one. Blending law education with humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, the University of Chicago Law School aims for students to gain valuable critical thinking skills and better understand legal reasoning.
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Acceptance Rate: 14.2%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $74,607
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.91
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 173
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5.6:1
- Top Areas of Law: Business/Corporate Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Tax Law
T14 Law School Rankings (Continued)
4) University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Carey Law students can enroll in courses in other academic areas, from East Asian Studies to Gender Studies. Students can even earn another degree alongside a J.D., including a business degree through the Wharton School. Students must complete 70 hours of pro bono work before they graduate, making this one of the more community-oriented T14 law programs.
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate: 9.7%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $73,008
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.9
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 172
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
- Top Areas of Law: Corporate/Business Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law
5) Duke University School of Law
Duke Law School’s mission is “to prepare students for responsible and productive lives in the legal profession.” Serious about creating “whole lawyers,” this program values community, work-life balance, intellectual engagement, and purposeful living as students study a wide range of legal topics.
- Location: Durham, North Carolina
- Acceptance Rate: 10.7%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $72,632
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.85
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 170
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5.9:1
- Top Areas of Law: Criminal Law, Intellectual Property Law, Tax Law, Constitutional Law, Environmental Law
6) Harvard University
Harvard Law School’s legal clinics are among the largest of any law school in the world, and students must complete at least 40 hours of pro bono or volunteer work before graduating. With an emphasis on putting skills to work early on in the program, students work on cases from their first years, which range from helping musicians understand copyright laws to representing prison inmates at disciplinary hearings. HLS offers study abroad options or participation in a joint program with University of Cambridge in the UK. The program also has a Low Income Protection Plan to help students manage their loans.
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Acceptance Rate: 10.1%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $71,734
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.92
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 174
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 7.3:1
- Top Areas of Law: Business/Corporate Law, Constitutional Law, Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, International Law, Health Care Law, Environmental Law
T14 Law School Rankings (Continued)
7) NYU School of Law
NYU Law students can earn joint degrees with other NYU schools, such as the Stern School of Business, as well as with outside institutions such as Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Though New York City is extremely expensive, law students can live on the residential campus. They can also participate in foreign exchange programs (NYU is a leader in International Law, offering students the chance to study at 15 universities worldwide).
- Location: New York, New York
- Acceptance Rate: 15.7%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $76,290
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.88
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 172
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6.3:1
- Top Areas of Law: Criminal Law, International Law, Tax Law, Intellectual Property Law, Environmental Law, Business/Corporate Law
8) Columbia University
Columbia Law is known for its tight-knit community and hands-on learning approach, with many opportunities for students to work with real clients and cases. Students often take courses in a combination of different subject areas for a comprehensive legal education.
- Location: New York, New York
- Acceptance Rate: 11.9%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $78,278
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.87
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 173
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6.2:1
- Top Areas of Law: Business/Corporate Law, International Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Criminal Law
9) University of Virginia
This program was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, making it the second-oldest law school still operating. Students choose from over 250 courses each year in a wide variety of concentrations. Students can tailor their education at unique institutes such as the Center for Oceans Law and Policy or National Security Law, and it is the only school with an Animal Law program. Many students study abroad in their second or third years.
- Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
- Acceptance Rate: 12.9%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $68,500 (in-state), $71,500 (out-of-state)
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.94
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 171
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6.4:1
- Top Areas of Law: Constitutional Law, Tax Law, Criminal Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Business/Corporate Law, International Law
T14 Law School Rankings (Continued)
10) Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Possibly the most interdisciplinary of programs in terms of research faculty, Northwestern is known for its low student-to-faculty ratio, social-justice-oriented research and teaching, and mentoring programs for students from underrepresented groups. The program has 5 legal journals for students to join and over 30 student organizations, as well as career counseling through the Bluhm Legal Clinic. Though campus housing is limited, Northwestern helps students locate off-campus housing in Chicago.
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Acceptance Rate: 15%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $72,212
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.89
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 171
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
- Top Areas of Law: Tax Law, Clinical Training, Dispute Resolution, Contracts/Commercial Law
11) University of California, Berkeley
Like Yale, UC Berkeley does not use letter grades or GPAs, and students are not ranked against their peers. The program offers specialized curricular programs in areas such as Energy and Clean Technology Law, as well as unique survey courses such as Wine Law. Due to student-run clinics and opportunities to become locally involved, Berkeley is a great school for those who want to practice law in the Bay Area after graduating.
- Location: Berkeley, California
- Acceptance Rate: 12.5%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $59,306 (in-state), $67,816 (out-of-state)
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.83
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 170
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1
- Top Areas of Law: Intellectual Property Law, Environmental Law, Business/Corporate Law, Constitutional Law, Contracts/Commercial Law
12) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Law students at U of M can get a head start on their legal education by enrolling in the Summer Start program, which aims to help ease the transition into law school and provide more flexibility with course selection later on. Michigan also has a special Detroit interest area, through which students can participate in programs such as the Michigan Innocence Clinic and the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project.
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Acceptance Rate: 13.5
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $66,808 (in-state), 69,808 (out-of-state)
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.83
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 171
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 7.2:1
- Top Areas of Law: Legal Writing, Contracts/Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, Clinical Training, Business/Corporate Law
T14 Law School Rankings (Continued)
13) Cornell University School of Law
Cornell Law is a tight-knit community with a collaborative culture between students and faculty. With over 170 courses, small classes, and clinics, students can concentrate in one of seven areas. The program takes pride in its global reach with international professors, speakers, and conferences, as well as its many dual degree and study abroad opportunities.
- Location: Ithaca, New York
- Acceptance Rate: 17.4%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $72,183
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.87
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 172
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
- Top Areas of Law: Constitutional Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Business/Corporate Law
14) University of California, Los Angeles
The UCLA School of Law has close to 20 clinics for students to get hands-on legal experience, as well as 20 research centers and programs, including the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy. This program promises an immersive, inventive, and intellectually challenging approach to learning. Many students live in university-owned housing near campus.
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Acceptance Rate: 15.5%
- Annual Tuition/Fees: $53,910 (in-state), 64,417 (out-of-state)
- Median GPA of Entering Students: 3.9
- Median LSAT of Entering Students: 171
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6.9:1
- Top Areas of Law: Environmental Law, Tax Law, Trial Advocacy, Contracts/Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law, Business/Corporate Law
T14 Law School Rankings – Final Thoughts
Remember, the top 14 law schools are not the only high-quality law schools that can launch a successful legal career. If your stats don’t quite measure up, there are roughly 200 other law schools in the United States, many of which may be worth your consideration.
Sarah Mininsohn
With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.
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