Top 10 Worst Law Schools In US

10 worst law schools in US

So you are interested in law but are confused about which law schools to apply to. Sorting through the endless variety of law schools can be challenging for anyone.

This blog post attempts to make it simple for you by ranking and comparing the worst law schools in US based on overall quality and reputation as well as prestige.

Before you jump right away, it is worth mentioning that this blog post is divided into 6 main vital sections as listed below.

Without Further Waste Of Time, Let’s Get Started!

Section 1: What is a law school?

What is a law school?

Law schools are post-graduate academic institutions where students study the principles of law, learn how to apply those principles to practical legal problems, and prepare for a career in law.

Law schools teach students about the government and public policy, major areas of law, their history, and development.

The best-known professional degree in the United States is the Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is the basic law degree required to practice in most states.

In addition to the J.D., many schools offer post-graduate degrees, including Masters of Laws (LL.M.), Doctorate of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), and Ph.D., that focus on specific areas of legal study such as international law or tax law.

Law schools are generally considered graduate programs, although some require applicants to have completed an undergraduate degree before entering the program.

Law schools are traditionally divided into three distinct categories:

Lower-ranked schools that offer full-time J.D. programs;
Upper-tier schools that offer part-time J.D., Master's-level or specialized LLM programs;
And elite "Ivy League" law schools that offer only a full-time J.D.

Are there some factors to consider in choosing the best law schools?

Yes! Keep Reading

Section 2: Factors That Determine The Best Law Schools

Best law schools in the US are not determined by their name, but rather by their quality of education.

The best law schools in the US are known to have the best educational system and facilities. They also have the most advanced and top-notch technology.

Factors that determine the best law school

The Factors That Determine The Best Law Schools In The US Include:

a) Reputation

It is important to check out the reputation of a particular law school when you are seeking admission to it.

Check out reviews before you decide on any particular law school.

Also, make sure that you check out the practicality of your chosen law school.

b) Admission requirements

To get admitted into any of the best law schools in the US, you must have a certain GPA and LSAT score.

Make sure your career goals line up with your chosen university's curriculum.

c) Faculty

Some of the best law schools in the US have outstanding faculty members who are experts at research and publications.

A good university will always hire teachers who are experts in their field.

d) The Size Of The University

The size of a particular university can also be a determinant factor when it comes to picking the best law school in a country.

Bigger universities tend to offer more academic assistance to students, while smaller universities do not offer much hand-holding.

Now is time for you to look at the list of top 5 law schools in US

Section 3: A Look At The Top 5 Law Schools

Top law schools in US

#1 Harvard University

Harvard is the most exclusive university in the United States and its Law School has a reputation for being one of the most prestigious and difficult to gain entry to.

Its acceptance rate is a mere 5.2%, making it one of the hardest law schools to get into, and even with that ultra-low acceptance rate, Harvard still has over 10,000 applicants for just 1,600 spaces which makes it a tough school to get into but with that comes some incredible benefits.

The best part about studying at Harvard Law School is that you'll be rubbing shoulders with some of the brightest minds in the country, which will no doubt provide you with an interesting and challenging educational experience.

The school advises students to examine both theory and practice when studying law which will give them an excellent grounding for their future careers.

Harvard Law School's students have gone on to become distinguished academics, judges, politicians, and many other high-profile legal figures who have shaped history.

#2 University of Chicago

The University of Chicago Law School is ranked as the top law school in the country.

It is a private institution with more than 400 students, and it is located in Chicago, Illinois. The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 by John D. Rockefeller and the school began admitting women in 1915.

The University of Chicago Law School offers a full-time program option and a part-time program option that lasts three years to complete.

The legal degree that students receive after graduation from this law school is the Juris Doctor (JD).

Students can choose from a variety of concentrations including corporate law, intellectual property law, international law, criminal justice, and environmental law, to name a few.

The University of Chicago Law School also offers joint degrees with other graduate schools within the university such as Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, History, and Sociology for those who want to expand their educational background beyond just their legal studies or for those who are considering doing some type of research work in conjunction with their legal studies.

#3 Stanford University

Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, California.

It is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and is one of the world's leading centers of higher education, ranking third among global universities and 29th worldwide according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

This law school requires a bachelor's degree for admission, with preference given to students from the University of California system.

It is one of the most selective law schools in the country, with an acceptance rate of only 10.7%.

The LSAT admission test score range for this school is 165 to 170.

The median score is 167

Read: 11 Best Law schools in Chicago Illinois

#4 Yale University

In 2016, the top-ranked law school was Yale University.

It has an acceptance rate of 7.4 percent and a student body of 5,398 students.

The median LSAT score for student admission is 173 and the median GPA is 3.78

#5 University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania ranked fourth with an acceptance rate of 12 percent and a student body of 8,933 students.

The median LSAT score for a student’s admission is 167 and the median GPA is 3.78.

Section 4: A Look At The Worst Law Schools In US

Here's the list of the 10 worst law schools in U.S.

#1 Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Thomas M. Cooley Law School focuses on students who are interested in careers in law but don't want to work at high-paying firms or go into public service.

This school is number 1 on the list of worst law schools because it has the highest debt load and lowest bar passage rate.

#2 Valparaiso University Law School

Valparaiso University Law School is the second school amongst the list of worst law schools in US.

This private institution is ranked 168th overall by U.S. News but has one of the lowest bar passage rates in the country.

The bar passage rate is only 26 percent of first-time test-takers in the Michigan bar exam.

The biggest downside to attending this school is its cost which is up to $43,852 per year with no scholarships offered and average loans totaling $98,046 upon graduation.

#3 Columbia University

Back in the day, Columbia was a great law school.

It still has some excellent professors.

Tuition fees have skyrocketed over the last decade.

The school doesn't get as many applicants as Harvard or Stanford.

That means that your class will consist of students who didn't get into other top schools.

The result is a student body that is weaker than most other schools.

The school does have a few things going for it — it's located in New York City and graduates have a decent shot at getting a job there upon graduation. But if you're looking for something more, Columbia probably isn't your best bet.**

#4 New York University

New York University Law School is not a good place to go if you want to become an attorney.

The school is ranked 59th in the country by the U.S. News and World Report.

It's also one of the most expensive law schools in the nation, with annual tuition of $49,800. The school has a very low bar passage rate, and its employment score is low as well.

In addition, only 38% of students graduate within five years and fewer students pass the bar exam.

Moreover, students graduate with an average debt load of more than $100,000.

You can save yourself a lot of time and money by avoiding this law school altogether.

#5 University of La Verne College of Law

University of La Verne College Of Law is another atrocious law school in the nation.

The University of La Verne cost $42,000/Year which is very expensive

In addition to the expensive tuition fees, it has a very low bar passage rate of 29%.

#6 Western State College Of Law.

In the same light, the Western State College of Law is amongst the list of worst law schools in US.

The Western State College of Law costs $44,000/Year which is very expensive.

Then it has a very low first-time bar passage rate of 33%.

#7 Concordia University School of Law

Looking at the worst law schools in US, the Concordia University School of Law comes is worth outlining.

The Concordia University School of Law is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

It is a private, non-profit institution.

The school was founded in 1869.

Concordia University School of Law has a high acceptance rate of 94%.

Due to the small class sizes at Concordia University School of Law, it has a high student-to-faculty ratio (8:1).

Undergrads at the school can expect to pay $37,000 per year in tuition fees which is quite expensive.

Worsen with the fact that this university does not have high accreditation.

#8 Appalachian School of Law

Appalachian School of Law is a private, for-profit law school located in the city of Boone, North Carolina.

Established in 1973, it is one of the smallest ABA-accredited law schools in the United States with only 170 full-time students enrolled.

Appalachian School of Law has an overall acceptance rate of 67%, making it one of the most selective law schools in North Carolina.

The school also has an extremely low transfer-out rate of 2%.

#9 Phoenix School of Law

Phoenix School of Law, based in Arizona, scored the lowest on this list of ten law schools analyzed.

It reported the lowest average salary and the highest percentage of graduates with more than $100,000 in debt.

The school also has one of the lowest bar pass rates among ABA-approved law schools, at just under 55 percent.

Worth mentioning that, only two of its 2014 graduates were employed in full-time jobs as lawyers.

#10 Valparaiso University Law School

Valparaiso University Law School falls under the worst law schools in the nation.

This school has a clear-cut mission to take your money, and leave you with low-quality education.

Valparaiso University Law School was founded in 1879 and is a private, non-profit school located in Valparaiso, Indiana.

It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,411.

This school offers courses designed for undergraduates with an interest in law careers.

It also offers multiple JD degrees, including an evening program for working students; weekend programs for part-time study; and a program for part-time evening students.

Section 5: Tips For Aspiring Law Students

The decision of where to apply to law school can make the difference between having a successful career in the field and being stuck in a low-paying job.

If you have your heart set on practicing law in California but don't have the grades or LSAT score to get into a top law school, for example, you'll probably be disappointed.

If you live in California, it's worth applying to schools all over the country.

You may think that the best law schools stick to major cities like New York City and Washington D.C., but there are good options located outside of major metropolitan areas as well.

Conclusion

Only choose a law school very, very carefully. You owe it to yourself to go to the best law school you can get into. And if you don't get admitted into your first or second choice of law school, then seriously consider not going to law school at all.

The massive amount of student loan debt you can be saddled with will most likely ruin your life and cause you a lot of misery. Don't even think about taking out loans from private banks either; they are way worse than government-backed loans.

These are some of the things to consider before going to law school and ending up unemployed.

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Top 10 Worst Law Schools In US (2024)