Top Law Colleges in USA: Courses, Eligibility, Fees, Scholarships and Jobs

Law studies in USA is a professional graduate entry degree which means that the law programs offered are usually equivalent to a graduate degree in other parts of the world. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), there are a total of 202 ABA-approved law colleges in USA. The demand for lawyers in US is expected to grow as individuals, businesses, and governments require legal services in many areas. 

• According to QS Law Rankings 2021, there are a total of 50 universities in US that are among the top 100 law colleges in the world. 
• According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2020 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES), the employment estimate for legal occupations in USA is 1,150,780 with an annual mean wage of 109,630 USD. 
• The entry level annual salaries of law graduates in legal firms in USA range between 58,000 USD - 70,000 USD. Check job opportunities in US
• According to the BLS, the projected growth in the American job market for lawyers is expected to grow by 5% through 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, and will result in about 67,600 new jobs.

Top Law Colleges in USA

With a number of universities ranking among best law colleges of the world, the table below shows the top law colleges according to QS Rankings 2022 for world-class higher education in USA:

Top Law Colleges in USA: Degree Types

Law colleges in USA generally offer three types of degree programs. However, there are other law degrees as well offered at various top colleges. US law college applications can be made for:

• Juris Doctor J.D.- Usually a three year full-time program offered at universities. This degree allows a candidate to practice law within USA.
• Master of Laws (LLM)- LLM in USA is usually a one year program offered to people who already have a JD or equivalent degree. Offered with various specializations, LLM helps to specialize in a specific area of legal study.
• Master’s Degree- Include degrees such as Master of Legal Studies (MLS), Master of Studies in Law etc. These degree programs are for people who want to study law but aren't looking to become lawyers.
• Doctor of Juridical Science J.S.D./ S.J.D.- Also referred to as Doctor of the Science of Law is an advanced and highest law degree offered in USA. A JSD/ SJD degree can be completed in three years of full-time study. This program is open only to students of respective law schools and hardly accept applications from international students. 
• Ph.D. in Law- A three year duration program that does not always require a JD degree. Available for international students as well who want to complete a degree with required coursework and academic research.
• Legal Certificate- Can be completed in as little as three months with online options available. 

Apart from these above mentioned programs, various law colleges in USA such as NYU School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, University of Colorado Boulder, etc. also offer executive programs in law for professionals. 

Legal studies at top law colleges in USA follow the Socrates Method for teaching. Under this teaching method, the professor cold calls on a student to state a case and respond to case-based questions. This helps in the improvement of argumentative dialogue among students usually helpful during legal practice.

Law Colleges in USA: Areas of Study

The academics for law programs are more than just coursework and include interdisciplinary intellectual dialogue, clinical experiences, first-hand lawyering, etc. There are various areas of study offering students with a wide choice of academic specializations. 

The table below shows the various areas of specialization at top law colleges in USA: 

Law Colleges in USA Offering Juris Doctor (J.D.)

A Juris Doctor (J.D.) in USA is a three year program offering students with the intellectual foundation for legal studies. A J.D. degree enables a graduate to practice law in USA. 

Around 202 American colleges offer Juris Doctor program. The table below shows the top US universities offering the degree:

Law Colleges in USA: Eligibility Criteria for Juris Doctor

Admissions for the Juris Doctor (JD) degree is open for the fall semester. To be eligible for Juris Doctor degree, an applicant must meet the following admission requirements:

• bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university
• Standardized test scores such as Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
• Scores of English language proficiency such as TOEFL IELTS, etc. 

Law Colleges in USA: Documents Required for Juris Doctor

• Completed application form submitted through Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
• Non-refundable application fee
• Academic transcripts from all educational institutions attended
• LAST or GRE scores
• English language proficiency scores
• Resume
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose for Studying in USA
• Essay
• LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report sent to law school

The LSAC application is available from September 1. Although international students are advised to submit their applications early to allow enough time to apply for a student visa to USA. The LSAC applications are available till February 15.

Law Colleges in USA: Fees & Funding for Juris Doctor (J.D.) 

The tuition fees for Juris Doctor degree range from 30,000- 70,000 USD per year depending on the university. Regardless of the citizenship of the student, law colleges in USA offer various financial aid options to help students finance their studies. There are various international scholarships to study in USA that are awarded by the universities, private agencies or organizations, etc. 

Law Colleges in USA offering Masters in Law

There are various masters in law programs offered. These include LLM (Master of Law), Master of Legal Studies, Master of Studies in Law, etc. The top law colleges in USA offering masters in law are tabulated below:

Law Colleges in USA: Eligibility for Masters in Law

To be eligible for LLM in USA, an applicant must meet the following admission requirements:

• Have a recognized professional first law degree from a recognized college. These include degrees such as:
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.)
  • Bachelor of Law 
  • LLB
  • Integrated five year Bachelor of Law, or equivalent
• Proof of English proficiency through one of the test scores of:
  • TOEFL (iBT): 100
  • IELTS: 7

Law Colleges in USA: Documents Required for Masters in Law

• Completed admission application through LSAC
• Academic transcripts from all educational institutions attended
• Proof of English proficiency
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose for LLM in US
• Letter of recommendation
• Financial aid application
• Payment of non-refundable admission application fee

NOTE- For other master programs, students need not submit a law degree. A bachelor's degree from a recognized university is acceptable. For executive master programs, an applicant might be required to provide proof of professional work experience. 

Law Colleges in USA: Fees & Funding for Masters in Law

The tuition fees for masters in law range from 55,000- 70,000 USD annually based on the program and university. There are a number of scholarships to study masters degree in USA that can be undertaken by a student. 

Top Law Colleges in USA offering Ph.D. in Law

Ph.D. in Law in USA is available for students who want to have a career as legal scholars and teachers. According to QS Law Rankings 2020, there are only two US law colleges among top 10 in the world that offer a Ph.D. in Law.

Yale University: Eligibility for Ph.D. in Law

To be eligible for admissions, an applicant is required to have a J.D. degree from a US law school. Practicing experience is not required but can be useful in qualifying the admission process. 

To apply for the program, applicant must submit the following documents for admission:

• Personal Statement
• Research Proposal
• Writing Sample
• Letter of Recommendation
• Test scores of LSAT exam
• Academic transcripts from all educational institutions attended
• CV
• Payment of non-refundable application fee

UC Berkeley: Eligibility for Ph.D. in Law

UC Berkeley offers Jurisprudence & Social Policy- JSP Program, commonly referred to as Ph.D. in Law. To be eligible for the program, an applicant is required to have an academic degree acceptable at UC Berkeley (it need not be in law). 

As part of the admission application, an applicant must submit-

• Completed admission application
• Academic transcripts from all educational institutions attended
•  Scores of GRE aptitude test 
• Letters of recommendation
•  Statement of purpose
• Personal statement
• Sample of past written work
• Scores of English language proficiency

Law Colleges in USA: Fee & Funding for Ph.D.

The tuition fee for Ph.D. in Law ranges from 28,000- 40,000 USD per year. However, students are advised to check with the university regarding the exact tuition expenses. The candidates of Ph.D. programs at law colleges in USA usually receive a fellowship from the university to financially support their doctoral studies.

Law Colleges in USA: Scholarships Offered

Studying abroad in USA can cost a fortune as America is much more costly compared to other overseas destinations. Therefore to help students, there are a number of financial options. 

A few of the scholarships for international students in US are available at top law colleges are:

Law Colleges in USA: Jobs and Salaries

After a law program, a graduate working in the legal sector in USA can earn around 96,200 USD per year. Salaries in the legal sector range from 52,800 USD- 149,000 USD per year. According to reports by salaryexplorer, a legal studies graduate in USA can earn 10% more than graduates working in other sectors.

The salary after graduating from top law colleges in USA differ based on the city and state of occupation. The chart below shows the average salary by American states after a law degree.

A law graduate can look for a number of jobs in USA. The table below shows a few of the jobs taken by law graduates in USA:

Legal professionals in USA are likely to observe a salary increment of 10% every 14 months. According to the recent reports, there is a slow yet continuous increase in the salary for legal professionals. 

This concludes that the law colleges in USA not only provide quality education but also train international students to earn attractive incomes during their careers.