Top 10 Universities for Law and Legal Studies

Law is one of the most popular courses in the world. With booming salaries, job stability, and a great status in society, it’s no shocker that many people want to pursue it. 

As a lawyer, you will constantly be challenged with various cases that present you with all kinds of issues. Your work will seldom be mundane as you will defend people from various backgrounds.

Here are 10 universities that can make your dream come true.

#1 Harvard University

The world’s best legal education is provided by Harvard University, which retains the title for the fifth consecutive year. Harvard’s large class size and prestige have led the law school to graduate a great many distinguished alumni in the judiciary, government, and the business world. And, that is the reason why it comes first on the list of top universities for law and legal studies. According to Harvard Law’s 2020 ABA-required disclosures, 99% of 2019 graduates passed the bar exam.

Here are their requirements:

• Harvard Law School accepts either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
• Harvard requires a minimum of 40 IB points.
• Harvard requires two letters of recommendation from teachers and one from your school counsellor.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Recommended Score	Minimum
TOEFL	104	26 in each section
IELTS	7.5	7.5
LSAT	170+	–

#2 University of Oxford

The best part about studying law at Oxford is that it constantly challenges you and brings out the best in you. In tutorials, tutors are always challenging you to push a point further and develop your line of argument. Another great aspect is that many acclaimed academics lecture and tutor you, making for great conversation when you don’t really agree with their judgment. The amount of resources also helps a lot throughout the degree, and colleges are usually very willing to help get a book you need for a course if they don’t already have it. Therefore, the University of Oxford must be on your list of top universities for law and legal studies.

Here are their requirements: 

• IB points: 38 (including core points) with 666 at HL
• There is an admissions test called LNAT that students must compulsorily take up.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Recommended Score	Minimum in each section
TOEFL	100	–
IELTS	7	–

#3 University of Cambridge

Law at Cambridge allows you to understand law in its historical and social contexts, and to examine its general principles and techniques. It develops skills in analysis, interpretation and logical reasoning, and challenges students to interrogate questions of ethical judgement, political liberty, and social control.

Here are their requirements:

• 40-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level

• There is an admissions test called LNAT that students must compulsorily take up.
• Cambridge requires you to submit one or two school/college essays – which may then be discussed at an interview later on. Most applicants are required to take a subject-specific written admission assessment to assess skills, such as writing and language skills, and levels of knowledge and understanding relevant to your course.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	100	100+
IELTS	7	7+

#4 Yale University

Yale Law School is one of the world’s premier law schools, offering an unmatched environment of excellence, a flourishing intellectual life, and an abundance of opportunities to engage with the law. The university has exceptional faculty resources and career placement success.

Here are their requirements:

• A minimum IB score of 40.
• Yale Law School requires at least two letters of recommendation. They strongly prefer letters from at least two professors with whom you have studied who can speak to your academic performance and who have had a chance to personally evaluate significant aspects of your academic work.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	100	100+
IELTS	7	7+
LSAT	170	174

#5 Stanford University

Stanford is another highly ranked university and comes among the top universities for law and legal studies. Stanford Law School offers a student-centered, future-facing, and interdisciplinary approach to legal education. Faculty, staff, students and alumni all support and inspire each other to explore, excel, and contribute to the world through law.

Here are their requirements:

• Stanford requires 2 letters of recommendations from 2 teachers and an additional letter from the college counsellor. They also expect a personal statement or multiple essays or both.
• Stanford requires a minimum of 39 IB points.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardised tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	100	100+
IELTS	7	7+
LSAT	171	171+

 

#6 The London School of Economics and Political Science

LSE Law is one of the world’s elite law schools. The LSE Law School houses one of the world’s elite Law schools. Many of the academics who teach on the LLM have globally leading reputations. The Law School is one of LSE’s largest and most pre-eminent departments with over 60 academic members of staff.

Here are some of the requirements:

• IB points: 38 points overall, with 766 at higher level
• All applicants must sit the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT).

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	107	107+
IELTS	7	7+

#7 Columbia University

Columbia Law School provides its students with excellent legal training, but the school is particularly well known for its best-in-class business/corporate law program. CLS is widely regarded as one of the top universities for law and legal studies as well as the number one law school for those seeking lucrative Big Law jobs after graduation.

Here are their requirements:

• Columbia now accepts a GRE score in lieu of an LSAT score. While you can apply with either an LSAT score or a GRE score, if you take the LSAT, law schools can see that, even if you prefer to put forward your GRE score.
• Two letters of recommendation. If you are currently in school or recently graduated (within two years of your application to law school), both letters should be from faculty from your school. If you have been out of school longer than two years, only one letter needs to be academic.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardised tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	80	Anything above 100
IELTS	7.5	Anything above 7
LSAT	–	172

#8 New York University

NYU Law is at the forefront of interdisciplinary research and teaching, with special strengths in law and philosophy, economics, politics, history, and social theory. The result: Students get a deeper understanding of real-world problems.

Here are some of the requirements:

• An IB score of atleast 38-39 is required.
• NYU requires first-year applicants to submit two letters of recommendation. One must be from a school counselor. The second must be from a teacher who has taught you.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardised tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	100	100+
IELTS	7.5	7+
LSAT	170	170+

#9 University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley is one of the top public universities for legal studies and law degrees in the world. Berkeley Law is known for its commitment to providing a high-quality legal education in a “supportive learning environment,” according to its website. The school discourages competition and fosters collegiality among students through its unique non-letter grading system and by promoting social gatherings.

Here are their requirements:

• UCB gives you the option of submitting 2 letters of recommendation as it is not fully considered for the application for admission.
• UCB requires a minimum IB score of 37 out of 45.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	80	100
IELTS	6.5	7
LSAT	–	168

#10 National University of Singapore

NUS Law provides holistic education and a plethora of opportunities for students to explore and develop their potential. The aim is to provide a liberal education that enables our graduates to think critically and creatively, as globally-oriented lawyers with a strong sense of their role in society. Global, regional, and uniquely Singaporean perspectives on legal issues are all evident in the research produced by our faculty.

Here are their requirements:

• A minimum of 37 IB points.
• You must provide additional information such as essays and a recommendation letter which will be used for holistic assessment.

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	–	100+
IELTS	6.5	–
SAT	1250	–

Also Read – How to Apply to an U.S University in 2022?

How can you stand out as an applicant?

To be a part of that small percentage of students that get selected into one of the top universities for law and legal studies, the bare minimum won’t do. You will certainly need to go above and beyond to impress the admissions officer and be that 1%. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Extracurriculars. Remember, it is always quantity over quality. Ensure that you show consistency no matter what extracurricular you take up. Whether it be playing the piano or starting your own business. 

• Service: Colleges will always appreciate social work. You can volunteer with refugee initiatives and even shadow lawyers in the field.
• Passion: Do what makes you feel good. It may be sports, attending MUNs, playing chess. Ensure that you show improvement over time.
• Career/academic: The final type revolves around building your knowledge and career. You could work at a law firm as a legal assistant as it provides you with the experience of working at a firm and helps develops skills that are crucial in the real world. You can take part in the debate team as this can demonstrate vital skills required for law. Lastly, another relevant extracurricular would involve being a part of student government.

2. Personal essays. Your personal essays need to reflect who you are as an individual and how you were influenced to take up law. Usually, this is the part where most students make up life experiences to show their passion for law. Most students don’t realise that they can see right through you. So, make them real. Don’t try to be what you think the college wants you to be. If you are genuinely interested in law, your experiences and words will reflect it. Authenticity is valued more than anything. Be genuine when it comes to your essays and communicate YOUR story. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.

3. Letters of recommendation. If you have interned at a law firm, you could receive a letter of recommendation from the company to further boost your application. One of the most difficult questions in the world could possibly be ‘how would you describe yourself?’. So have someone else do it for you instead. Sometimes an external point of view can be very beneficial in your application process. 

Now that you have the one and only guide you will ever need to apply to universities for law and legal studies, it seems like a good time to get started on your application and knock off their hats. Good luck!