Best Law Schools In The World 2024

While getting a law degree may not be easy, the law continues to be one of the most lucrative and rewarding professions for students to pursue, with amazing branches like corporate, criminal, litigation, environmental and many more. Weigh your options with our list of the top law colleges in the world and find out their acceptance rates, tuition fees and more! 

Best Law Schools in the World

The syllabus is very vast, and hence the law is one of the toughest professions one comes across. It all draws upon colleges and universities that offer great faculty and activities that make the process of learning interesting, and students are able to understand better. Here is a list of the best law colleges in the world that are famous for their alums and their faculty. While having an amazing curriculum, students also receive amazing job opportunities and recommendations in their fields. 

1. Yale University

Location: New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Acceptance rate: 9-10%

Average tuition fees:  $55,000 - $60,000

Scholarships offered: Hurst Horizon Scholarship, Soledad '92 and Robert Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program

Eligibility Requirements: Students are required to have a score of at least 176 or above in LSATs. They also need to submit their academic transcripts with two letters of recommendation.

Founded in 1810, Yale Law School has consistently been one of the best law schools in the world. Apart from having a stellar reputation, the university has also produced n. They are alumni, including multiple U.S. senators, attorney generals and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Another big selling point of Yale that makes it a very coveted university is that it offers 76% of its student's financial aid. 

2. The University of Oxford

Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Acceptance rate: 10-15% 

Average tuition fees: £30,000 - £35,000 

Scholarships offered: Verulam Buildings Scholarship, New Square Chambers Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements: Students are required to have a score between 27-29 in their LNAT and a score of 38 or above in I.B.; they also need to submit their academic transcripts with a grade of A*AA in their A-Levels.

At the University of Oxford, students can choose from a variety of courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels that will allow them to pursue a career in law. Graduates from Oxford's law school leave the program with the ability to confidently and efficiently analyse any legal situation and apply sound legal reasoning wherever required, making it one of the best law schools in the world for students that want to be well-prepared for anything the legal field may throw at them. 

3. University of Cambridge

Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom

Acceptance rate: 18-20%

Average tuition fees: £30,000 - £35,000 

Scholarships offered: Arnold McNair Scholarships in International Law, Prathiba M Singh Cambridge Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements: Students are required to have a score between 27-29 in their LNAT and a grade of A*AA in their A levels. Students also need to submit their academic transcripts and an I.B. score between 40-42

The University of Cambridge is home to one of the best law schools in the world and allows its students to pursue B.A., L.L.M., MCL and PhD courses in law and law-related fields. The university's faculty of law is home to the Cambridge University Law Society, which is not only the largest student-run society of law in the United Kingdom but also one of the largest worldwide. The university has great research opportunities for students and faculty members. It is a very popular choice among students who wish to pursue criminology 

4. Harvard University Law School

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Acceptance rate: 12-15%

Average tuition fees: $65,000 - $75,000

Scholarships offered: Keker, Van Nest & Peters L.L.P. Diversity Scholars Program, Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies

Eligibility Requirements: Students are required to have an LSAT score of 174 and above. They are also required to provide a resume with two letters of recommendation. Students also need to provide academic transcripts and certificates. 

Founded in 1817, Harvard's Law School is known for being one of the best law schools in the world, currently ranked at number 4 by the U.S. News. The Law School also happens to be one of the oldest functioning and best law schools in the country. The university has produced a long list of impressive alums, including over 15 Super Court Justices and former president of the United States, Barack Obama. 

5. Stanford University

Location: Stanford, California, U.S.A.

Acceptance rate: 9-10%

Average tuition fees: $45,000-$50,000

Scholarships offered: Yellow Ribbon Program, The Flywheel Fund for Career Choice

Eligibility Requirements: In order to secure admission to Stanford University, students are required to provide their academic transcripts and their personal resume. They also need to provide two letters of recommendation and need to have an LSAT score of 176 or above. 

Established in 1893, the Stanford Department of Law has one of the best law schools in the world for students who are looking for a flexible and customisable legal education program. The university allows students to pursue Joint Degree (J.D.) programs that let them study law in combination with any other discipline that they may be interested in. Apart from their J.D. programs, some of the top courses at Stanford include Environmental Law, Criminal Defense, Two Immigrants' Rights and Community Law.

6. University of Chicago

Location: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Acceptance rate: 15-17%

Average tuition fees:   $65,000 - $75,000

Scholarships offered: David M. Rubenstein Scholars Program, James C. Hormel Public Interest Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements: Students are required to have an LSAT score of at least 172 or above. They also need to provide their academic transcripts with their resume and two letters of recommendation. Students also need to provide a personal statement. 

Founded in 1902, the University of Chicago's law school is one of the best law schools in the world and offers its students the opportunity to pursue their studies in a number of fields, including law and business, law and economics, law and philosophy and legal history. The university also boasts an impressive list of alums that have gone on to become F.B.I. directors, best-selling authors and U.S. senators. The school is also known for its brilliant faculty, including Barack Obama, who was a senior lecturer at the college prior to his appointment as President of the United States. 

7. Columbia University

Location: New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Acceptance rate: 18-20% 

Average tuition fees: $55,000 - $75,000

Scholarships offered: Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship, Appel Fellowship, CPRL Lemann Scholar Award

Eligibility Requirements: In order for students to secure admission to Columbia Law, they need to have an LSAT score of 172 or above. They also need to provide their academic transcripts with two letters of recommendation. Students also need to have their resume and their personal statement. 

The university that the legendary former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg studied at, Columbia's law school, is one of the oldest and best law colleges in the world. The school offers joint and dual degree programs that allow students the flexibility to customise their courses to match their career goals best. Columbia has 14 primary fields of study that students can choose from, including Law of the Workplace, Litigation and Dispute Regulation and National Security and Privacy, among others. 

8. London School of Economics 

Location: London, United Kingdom

Acceptance rate: 5-7% 

Average tuition fees: £25,000 - £35,000 

Scholarships offered: Chevening Scholarship (available to all students looking to study in the U.K.)

Eligibility Requirements: Students need to provide their academic transcripts, and international students need to have a good IELTS score while having a grade of A*AA in their A levels. They also need to submit their resume with two letters of recommendation. 

The L.S.E law school prides itself on having an unparalleled approach to teaching and researching law that has been achieved by its stellar faculty and dedicated student population. The university is devoted to ensuring that its students can study in an inclusive, equitable environment that promotes both personal and professional development. Widely recognised as one of the best law schools in the world, L.S.E. was one of the first universities to perfect their art of teaching taxation law, banking law, company law and labour law. 

9. U.C.L.

Location: London, United Kingdom

Acceptance rate: 17-19%

Average tuition fees: £13,000 - £15,000 

Scholarships offered: The Bentham Club Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements: As one applies to U.C.L., one must have a score of 39 or above in I.B. while having a grade of A*AA in their A levels. 

Established in 1826, the U.C.L. law school is one of the best law schools in the world and prides itself on having an incredible program of study that will allow students to graduate with a very good practical understanding of how to practise law. The university's well-reputed faculty and close-knit student community are just a few of the many reasons that U.C.L. is considered to have one of the top law programs in the world. The student-run law societies at U.C.L. provide a great way for students to not only socialise with their peers but also provides them with opportunities to widen their professional network by interacting with alums and professionals in the field. 

10. University of Edinburgh

Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Acceptance rate: 20-35%

Average tuition fees: £24,000 - £35,000 

Scholarships offered: Edinburgh Law School and Ewen Cameron Scholarships, Edinburgh Legal Education Trust Scholarship for L.L.M.

Eligibility Requirements: As one applies to The University of Edinburgh, One needs to provide two letters of recommendation while holding a grade of A*AA in their A levels. Students also need to have a score of 39 or above in their I.B. 

The Edinburgh Law School was founded in 1707 and has been the city's primary legal education centre for over 300 years. As one of the best law schools in the world, the school provides its students with access to one of the best and largest Law Libraries in the U.K. The school has also recently undergone redevelopment as part of a project that cost around £35 million. The project was undertaken in an effort to refurbish the school and ensure that students are provided with the best resources possible. The University of Edinburgh is also very well located - just minutes away from Scotland's Parliament. 

11. King's College London

Location: London, United Kingdom

Acceptance rate: 15-20%

Average tuition fees: £25,000 - £30,000 

Scholarships offered: Yeoh Tiong Lay L.L.M. Law Scholarship Programme, The Bosco Tso and Emily Ng Scholarship Programme

Eligibility Requirements: A student needs to hold an L.L.B. in order to apply. International students also need to have good scores in IELTS or TOEFL. They also need to hold a grade of A*AA in their A levels. 

The Dickson Poon School of Law at King's College London is not only one of the top law schools in the world but is also one of the oldest law schools in England. Established in 1831, the school has been an important hub of legal education for almost two centuries. The school is proficient in multiple disciplines. Their research is focused on helping society by addressing and trying to solve societal problems by seeing how the law can be used to improve international trade, global finance, globalisation and climate change. 

12. University of Melbourne

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Acceptance rate: 50-70%

Average tuition fees: AU$15,000 - AU$37,000 

Scholarships offered: Alan Goldberg Scholarship, Argyle Scholarship in Law

Eligibility Requirements: When one is applying for the University of Melbourne, one needs to have a score of 99.80 or above in their ATAR. 

The University of Melbourne's Law School is consistently ranked as the top Law school in Australia and makes it to the list of the best law schools in the world, grabbing the 15th spot on the 2022 Q.S. law school rankings. The university boasts a lively and active student community and a dedicated, award-winning faculty. With a strong alumni network and a number of globally recognised research centres, the University of Melbourne would be a dream destination for anyone who wants to pursue a career in law. 

13. University of Toronto

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Acceptance rate: 13-15%

Average tuition fees: $55,000-$60,000 

Scholarships offered: UofT Law Financial Aid Program, Post Graduate Debt Repayment Assistance Program

Eligibility Requirements: As a student applies for admission to the University of Toronto, they must have an LSAT score between 166-168 or above. Students also need to hold a grade point of 3.8 constantly in their previous colleges. 

The Department of Law at the University of Toronto is not only one of the best law schools in Canada but is also one of the best law schools in the world. The university offers its students a variety of programs like a Juris Doctor (JD), L.L.M. and a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.). One of its top courses is its program of study in Common Law, and the university is also widely known for its highly selective admissions process. 

14. K.U. Leuven

Location: Leuven, Belgium

Acceptance rate: 50-75%

Average tuition fees: €3900 - €40,000 

Scholarships offered: Master Mind Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements: As one applies to K.U. Leuven, one needs to have their academic transcripts with a document explaining the evaluation system of their home institution. 

For being one of the top law schools in the world, you may be wondering why Leuven has such a high acceptance rate. Well, the university proudly states that it does not have a highly selective admissions process and is incredibly affordable for students in an attempt to encourage more students to pursue higher education. Its outstanding faculty and great educational program have helped it secure the 14th spot on the Time Higher Education global ranking for the best law schools in the world. 

15. The National University of Singapore

Location: Singapore

Acceptance rate: 5-10%

Average tuition fees: S$25,000 - S$30,000

Scholarships offered: Shook Lin & Bok L.L.P. Scholarship, C J Koh Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements: Students need to have an S.A.T. score of 700 or above when they apply to the National University of Singapore. They also need to have a Grade-4 rating in S.L. english. One also needs to provide academic transcripts with two letters of recommendation. 

The Faculty of Law and the National University of Singapore is the country's oldest law school, first established in 1956. The N.U.S law school is known for being the best law program in Asia, and it was ranked 11th in Times Higher Education's list of the best law schools in the world in 2023. The school offers graduate and undergraduate degrees that give students the opportunity to pursue their education in a number of different fields, including banking and finance law, legal theory and maritime law. 

That was our list of the best law schools in the world in 2023. If you've already decided on your choice of country, take a look at the best law schools in the U.S.A., some top law colleges in Australia and the best law schools in the U.K. so you can get a better look at your options. We hope you've found this blog helpful and wish you all the best with your academic journey!

Benefits Of Pursuing A Law Degree

When you graduate as a lawyer, you develop critical thinking and logical reasoning, as these traits help you understand your case. As you start picking up cases, you will come across cases which will give you opportunities to bring social change. You also develop soft skills like self-confidence and leadership skills. As you become a lawyer, it is not a compulsion for you to practise law. You can also explore additional employment opportunities. Pursuing a law degree also gives you many networking opportunities as you meet many people who are working in multiple fields and give you hands-on experience while working with them. 

Common eligibility requirements

 As some universities have their own criteria for admission, there are quite some similarities between all the universities they include:-

1. Letter of Recommendation

2. Statement of Purpose 

3. Resume 

4. Academic Transcripts 

5. S.A.T., LSAT and other competitive exams results

Whether you want to study in Europe, North America or Asia, there's a university out there with your name on it, including the prestigious Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School. Securing a law degree comes with many career options, like becoming a lawyer, A supreme Court judge, a head of state or even a prominent business leader. We hope you find your ideal university to study law! Make sure you also checkout our blog on best law schools in USA.