College Crunch

With a long history, stringent requirements, small acceptance lists, and powerful branding, certain colleges and universities stand out among the pack when it comes to training law students. We have reviewed, compiled and ranked the schools and here is our list: the top law schools of 2009.

If you are looking to come out of law school with the best opportunities and the best education, you’d be wise to get into one of the following schools.

1. Yale

Yale has the lowest student to faculty ratio of any law school in the country. The school boasts a prestigious list of alumni including United States Presidents and Supreme Court Justices. Admission to Yale is extremely competitive. LSAT scores must be at least 170 (top score possible is 180) for consideration. Those who gain admittance to the school are highly sought for employment because of the prestige associated with being a Yale Law graduate. Standard grades are not in effect at Yale, instead students are rated with a unique system of pass/fail with some variation to distinguish achievement.

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2. Stanford

Stanford Law School is located in beautiful, sunny California. Besides the obvious benefits of the location, the education obtained from this law school provide opportunities to Stanford graduates. Stanford’s challenging academic curriculum and program are considered among the best in the country. Only students with the highest GPA’s, 3.8 or higher, are considered for admittance. Stanford deviates from the standard first year law school curriculum requirement by allowing their students to select from electives while most other law schools require these students to follow a specific course outline devised by the school.

3. Columbia

Columbia Law School is located in New York City which is considered the legal capitol of the country. As one of the top law schools in the country, the admission process is rigorous and selective. But Columbia law school does accept more students than the other law schools in the top five. Columbia is probably best known and regarded for their tax and international law programs. Columbia also offers unique legal opportunities in conjunction with their academic courses.

4. Harvard

Harvard Law School is considered the most famous law school in the country. A graduate of Harvard can expect to choose from any position anywhere. Harvard, like Stanford and Yale, has an extremely competitive admission process; only 11% of those who apply will be accepted. Harvard offers an intense academic program and curriculum preparing their students for a position anywhere. Harvard Law School has a wide variety of programs so you can so you can easily focus your education in areas such as tax law, business law, and child/family law among others.

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5. Georgetown University

Georgetown University Law students have the unique advantage of attending school in the heart of Washington DC. The school’s location provides opportunities other schools cannot. Georgetown’s admission process is selective but gives over 20% of the applicants the opportunity to attend. Georgetown University offers a wider range of course selection and clinical opportunities than any other school in the country. The school also offers students the opportunity to earn a dual degree.

6. Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt is a small law school located in nashville Tennessee. The small size of the student body gives the students the opportunity for a more personal learning experience with the distinguished faculty. Vanderbilt curriculum for first year students follows the standard course work. But in the subsequent two years, the students are permitted to select the courses in which they are most interested. The school also offers their students the option of working on projects associated with international groups and the opportunity to study law in Venice. The admission process is rigorous; students with GPA’s of 3.75 and above are considered.

7. New York University

The New York University School of Law (New York Law) was established in 1835 and was the first official law school in New York City. NYU offers students a unique opportunity for job placement because of its location in New York. The law school is even considered one of the top schools in the worlds. The curriculum at NYU is best known for their tax law and environmental law. As with Cornell, NYU offers unique clinical opportunities. The selection process for admittance into the law school is even stricter than for most of the other school due to the number of applicants and the limited seats offered.

8. Northwestern University

Northwestern University Law school is known for its success in placing their graduates in high level positions. The admission selection process is stringent. The school places credence on work experience; encouraging applicants to use work acquired skills, experience and practical knowledge on their application as well as the standard GPA (3.7 and above) and LSAT scores (170 and up). Given their emphasis on work experience during the admission process, it is not surprising the school has a strong business law program.

9. Cornell University

Cornell University provides a serene and scenic environment. The law school has a well known international legal program. The school offers opportunities to study law abroad also. The admission process is not as stressful as most of the other top law schools. Students considered for acceptance at Cornell have GPAs of at least 3.5 and LSAT scores of at least 166. The school admits a little more than 20% of their applicants.

10. University of Virginia

University of Virginia Law offer all of the advantages of both city and rural environments. Placement of graduates in positions across the country is attributed to the academic reputation of the school and the location of the college close to the top legal centers of the country. The school does give preference in the admission process to residents of Virginia, but do extend the opportunity of attendance to applicants with GPA’s of at least 3.5 and LSAT scores of at least 167.

11. UCLA

UCLA offers academic programs of distinction in many of the top legal specialities. Besides the common specialties such as tax and international law, UCLA also offers excellent programs in entertainment law, sports law, and environmental law. The selection process for admission is similar to many of the other top schools, admitting around 18%.

12. University of California Berkley

Most notable known for their programs in environmental law, intellectual property, and international law. Established in 1894, the Berkeley Law school has a renowned faculty which provides individual attention to many of the students. The school allows students much freedom in developing their own curriculum; only requiring a few specific classes which must be taken by their students. Applicants seeking admission to the law school must have GPA of around 3.7 and an LSAT score of at least 163.

13. University of Michigan Law School

Located in beautiful Anne Arbor, Michigan Law School has been revered as one of the top law schools in the country for decades. Though the curriculum is academically challenging, the atmosphere is friendly and comfortable. The law school offers diverse courses from which students can select; studying a wide range of legal specialties. Admission into the law school is comparable to the other top schools.

14. University of Chicago

The University of Chicago Law school boasts a prestigious faculty which include judges and politicians. One vacated faculty position once belonged to our new president, Barrack Obama. The curriculum is revered as challenging and diverse. This law school only has seats for around 200 new students per year but receives over 5,000 applications. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.64 and LSAT scores of around 171 to be considered for admission.

15. Duke University

Duke University Law School offers their students the unique opportunity to earn both their law and masters degree in the same three year period. The specialty clinics offered at Duke center around public interest and the specialties of notoriety at Duke include commercial law, corporate law, and public policy. The selection of applicants for entrance is discerning; requiring applicants to have a GPA of at least 3.7 and LSAT score of around 167.

16. George Washington University

George Washington University is ranked among the top law schools because of their nationally recognized and regarded programs. Students who obtain their law degrees from this school of distinction will be afforded the respect associated with an education of eminence . GWU is a large school but is very selective in determining who is admitted to the law school. Because the school is located in Washington DC, students of this law school are afforded a legal education in a city of many opportunities.

17. University of Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Law School is a catholic faith based school which focuses on legal ethics in all aspects of the law. The school strives to provide their graduates with a well rounded education which teaches them to be conscientious in the practice of law. Students at Notre Dame endure a rigorous academic curriculum with unique opportunities in both academics and program opportunities. The admission process focuses on the whole person, but does require applicants to have a GPA of at least 3.5 and LSAT scores of 164.

18. Boston University Law School

Boston University Law School has national recognition for academic excellence. The school is known for their tax law program, international law program, and a healthcare specialty. The law school offers several study abroad options. Admission to the school is selective, but the school extends invitations to more than a quarter of their applicants.

19. Emory University

Emory University Law School is located in Atlanta. The academic curriculum has an emphasis on trial and litigation techniques. Classes offered at Emory provide a groundwork for work in the legal profession. The faculty is purported to be dedicated to the students they teach and foster an open door policy. Admission into Emory is extended to around 22% of the applicants.

20. University of Pennsylvania Law School

The University of Pennsylvania Law School is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was technically established in 1790 but the school didn’t offer a full-time law program until 1850. The University of Pennsylvania offers an ivy league education. The first year curriculum deviates slightly from most standard law schools; allowing their students to take co-disciplinarian courses. The students have the opportunity to participate in externships to gain valuable work experience. Admission into University of Penn law is based on similar requirements as other schools, a GPA of 3.6 and LSAT 166.

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