Law is a much-respected profession in the world and becoming a lawyer might be your dream. Making the right choice about getting the right school to attend as the school you attend has a great way of influencing the outcome of your ambitions. Getting a good law school to attend is very important and it can be confusing to select one out of the numerous options available. When thinking of the school you can attend to achieve the best results, there are quite many factors to consider. They include cost, bar passage rate, LSAT range, rate of acceptance, and proximity. Let us discuss, Top 10 Law Schools in New York.
The top 10 law schools in New York include Columbia University School of Law, New York University School of Law, Cornell Law School, Fordham University School of Law, Yeshiva University Cardozo Law School, St. John’s University School of Law, SUNY Buffalo Law School, Hofstra University School of Law, Brooklyn University Law School, and Syracuse University College of Law.
Overview
This list was compiled based on the quality of education, the bar passage rate, the rate at which its graduates get employment, and the scores required to get a chance at getting admitted. These schools provide an excellent education, a top-notch curriculum to guide the students, high bar passage rates, and opportunities to land a good-paying job when they graduate. Getting into these schools is not an easy task as it requires that you have good grades and even apply as early as the application opens to get a better chance of being admitted. These schools expect that their students put in enough hard work and commitment to learning from the best hands available. Although tuition fees may be high for most of these schools, they provide education worth the pay.
- Columbia University Law School (Columbia)
It is ranked nationally as the 4th best law school in the United States. It is referred to as one of the best law school programs in New York. The prestigious law review, standard, and quality of education at the Columbia University Law School make it a very competitive school to attend. It has an acceptance rate of about 17 percent which depicts that they only take about 85 students out of 500 applicants. You have to have a very high LSAT (Law School Admission Test) score of about 173 and an average GPA of 3.82 to improve your chances of getting admitted. The average tuition paid at the law school is about $75,000 and there are financial aids available to help the students. Also, few students are privileged to receive full-tuition scholarships. Students at the college have a very high Bar-exam passing rate of about 97% on their first trial and this helps them get a job at graduation.
- New York University School of Law
It is ranked sixth position in the national ranking of law schools. It provides one of the best academic environments for its students through the use of a detailed curriculum to help them gain the best knowledge. It is a very competitive school as it holds a low acceptance rate of about 23%. You must have a very high LSAT score of about 170 and an average GPA of 3.82 to improve your chances of getting admitted. The school’s tuition is averaged at $71,000 and although it is expensive, it is worth attending. They have a high bar passage rate of 97% and their students get good-paying jobs of an average of $120,000.
- Cornell Law School
It is ranked 13th position in the national ranking. Its low acceptance rate of 21% makes the school very competitive to get admission. To improve your chances of getting admitted into Cornell Law School, you need an average GPA of 3.86 and an average LSAT score of 168.
It has a high bar passage rate of about 95% and an average post-graduation salary of about $122,000. The total cost of tuition at Cornell Law School is about $70,000 and this is justified because of the quality of education provided. Not only do they impact them academically, but students are also allowed to interact with their professors within the outside walls of the classroom.
- Fordham University School of Law
It is one of the largest schools in the US and it is ranked at 27th position in the national ranking. It is a private Catholic school that provides excellent education and also instills moral values and hard work in its students. It has a low acceptance rate of about 26% which depicts that the school has high standards of who they accept in the school. To increase your admission chances, you need an average LSAT score of about 165 and a GPA of 3.64. They provide part-time studies for students who need to engage in other activities while pursuing their law careers. The school has a record of about 91% bar passage rate and the graduates have post-graduation salaries of about $120,000. The school tuition costs about $65,000 which is also expensive but worth it.
- Yeshiva University Cardozo Law School
It is one of the top schools in New York committed to social justice and protecting human rights. It has a higher acceptance rate of about 41% which means that they have more students in its programs compared to other schools. They have a bar passage rate of about 86% and although it is lower compared to other top law schools, it is still a good percentage. They provide real-life situations and experience to their students even before they graduate and this helps their graduates land good-paying jobs. To get admitted into the school, you need an average LSAT score of 162 and an average GPA of 3.65. The average tuition cost at Yeshiva University Cardozo Law School is about $64,000.
- St John’s University Law School
It is a catholic private-run school that is ranked at 74th position in the national ranking. It has a high acceptance rate of about 42% which means better opportunities for students to learn at this excellent law school. The school’s curriculum allows students to learn the different aspects of law and select the ones they want to specialize in. To get a better chance of getting admitted and receiving financial aid at the school, you need an LSAT score of about 160 and an average GPA of about 3.62. They also have a record of the bar passage rate as about 88% which is above the states’ average bar passage rate. The average cost of tuition is about $64,000; although it is expensive, there are financial aids available to assist students who need help with their fees.
- University of Buffalo – SUNY
The University of Buffalo is located in a city where the cost of living is relatively low and affordable for its students. It has a high acceptance rate of about 58% and this might be because of the scores required to get admission into the school. It is required that the student has an average LSAT score of 154 and a GPA of 3.52. UB has a high bar passage rate of 73% at their first sitting and this rate is higher than the state’s average bar passage rate. The tuition fee is about $32,000 which is not as expensive as other top law schools. The ratio of students to a staff member is 5.5 and this allows students to interact better with their professors.
- Syracuse University College of Law
It is ranked the 111th based on the national ranking and it has a high acceptance rate of about 45%. Despite the high acceptance rate, they still have a small class size of about 230 and hence, the existence of competition to get admitted into the school. Students who score higher or have an average LSAT score of 155 and a GPA of 3.53 stand better chances of getting admitted. About 90% of Syracuse graduates pass the bar exam the first time. It provides a wide range of law fields that the students can choose from while pursuing their degree in law. The tuition fee costs about $54,000 and the school provides need-based financial aid to its students.
- Brooklyn University Law School
It ranks at No 81 in the US News top law school ranking and has an acceptance rate of about 50%. To get admitted to the law school still requires that you have an average LSAT score of 158 and an average GPA of 3.44. Tuition at the Brooklyn University Law School costs about $62,100 and although it is not the least expensive school on the list, it provides excellent academic knowledge for its students. It has a bar passage rate of 83% and this is above the state’s average bar passage rate.
- CUNY School of Law
According to the US News top law school ranking, it ranks as the 102nd school with a good academic curriculum to teach the students. It offers both part-time and full-time programs and are both ranked as the top law school program and is affordable. The tuition costs about $26,000 for out-of-state students and $16,000 for in-state students, which are affordable for students who aim to get trained in a highly recognized law school. They have an acceptance rate of 35% which makes the school competitive. The average LSAT score required is 154 while the average GPA required is 3.45. You also need to prepare an application letter that tells your story and also get good recommendations from professors. About 75% of CUNY School of Law pass their bar exams on the first sitting.
Degrees Offered by Law Schools in New York
The degrees offered by law schools in New York include Undergraduate, Graduate degrees, and Specific Law Programs. There are courses that every student pursuing a law degree must know. These include the:
- Juris Doctor: It is the fundamental U.S. law degree which is what most US lawyers have.
- A Minor in Law is available to students who are already majoring in a field and want to learn how the legal system works.
- BA in Law: This is designed to help students who are keen on mastering the legal system through their law careers.
- LL.M. Programs: It enables lawyers to individualize programs to advance their law careers.
- Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D): This is the highest and the most advanced graduate degree obtained at the law school.
Factors to Keep In Mind before Applying
When applying to these top law schools, you need to know the entry requirements, the expenses that you have to cover including tuition, and the scholarship options available to help you through these expenses. The major entry requirements into law school differ in terms of LSAT scores, GPA, TOEFL/IELTS scores, and academic transcript. Furthermore, the average tuition fee to attend a law school in New York ranges between $40,000 and $65,000. There are financial aids/scholarships to assist students to get into these schools and they are available for students all over the world. You must confirm the scholarship opportunities available to students from your country/region.
Conclusion
The above-listed law schools provide the best academic environments with exposure to good-paying jobs. However, they are quite expensive and not everyone can afford to attend these schools. They are also very competitive to enter as the competition to get into an excellent law school in New York is very high. Overall, it is best to research whatever school you want to apply to so you don’t get stuck on choosing a school that does not suit you or might even be hard to get admission to. Ensure that you check their tuition, acceptance rate and even the bar passage rate as this will keep you informed on what to expect at the school.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the No 1 law school in America?
The number 1 law school in America is Yale Law School. With Harvard Law School in second place, Stanford Law School, and Columbia University Law School follow closely at third and fourth place.
- How many law schools are in New York?
There are 15 law schools in New York and they are Columbia University, New York University, Cornell University, Fordham University, Cardozo-Yeshiva University, St. John’s University, Brooklyn Law School, University at Buffalo, Syracuse University, CUNY Queens College, Albany Law School of Union University, Hofstra University, New York Law School, Pace University, and Touro College.
