The 8 Best Law Schools in New York
New York is certainly the city of dreams for every student out there, and what could be better than pursuing your dream to become the next Harvey Specter in NY?
You certainly can’t go wrong with law schools in New York City, no matter where you’re from. After all, NYC is the heart of America with everything you can possibly dream of! The city is like a pathway to endless opportunities for everyone, especially law students. You can study here, get legal externships, gain profound experience, make new friends, maybe find a decent job in the future and, of course, cherish every moment of your life in that NYC vibe.
If you’re here, there are good chances you want to land into the top law school in New York – and we’re here to help!
We’ve listed down the 10 best law schools in New York, so without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Top 8 Best Law Schools in New York City
We’ve made a strict criterion to evaluate each and every law school in New York. Based on the facilities and programs offered to students, we have ranked different NYC law schools in ascending order.
- Columbia Law School – Columbia University
- NYU School of Law – New York University
- Cornell Law School – Cornell University
- Cardozo School of Law – Yeshiva University
- Fordham University School of Law
- School of Law – Syracuse University
- SUNY – University at Buffalo, School of Law
- St. John’s University School of Law
1. Columbia Law School - Columbia University
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School Aspects
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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4th
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Tuition Fee
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$75,572
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Average GPA
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3.87
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Average LSAT Scores
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173
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Acceptance Rate
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11.93%
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Application Deadline
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15th November 2023
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Without a doubt, Columbia Law School tops the list of the best law schools in New York, after all its an Ivy League university. Best at teaching all kinds of majors, it’s no surprise why Columbia university is a popular center of attraction to most teenagers.
Columbia Law School can be an excellent choice, as it has countless law programs in store that you can choose from! That’s what gives it the edge; your options aren’t limited. You can benefit from the staff of esteemed faculty members and notable alumni who are much experienced in law.
And the best part? All the types of Columbia’s law programs are value-based degrees that prepare students for real-life experiences. Whether you’re studying Commercial or Contacts law, Business or Corporate Law, Constitutional or International Law, or Criminal or Environmental Law, you unlock unlimited opportunities for your future.
Since Columbia Law School is the number one priority for all pre-law students, the bars for admission are also set quite high. You’ll certainly have to go above and beyond and give it all in to make it to this law school.
If you’re worried about the scores and GPAs, you’ll need an average LSAT score above 173 with an average GPA of 3.87 for admission. To make your application stand out, you can add a nicely written personal statement to show your personality. And oh, don’t forget to explain how you’ll bring value to the school. (That can totally be a game-changer for you!)
Above all else, the Columbia Law School also provides financial aid to 4% of the students to manage their study expenses.
2. NYU School of Law - New York University
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School Aspects
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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6th
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Tuition Fee
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$73,216
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Average GPA
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3.88
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Average LSAT Scores
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172
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Acceptance Rate
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15.65%
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Application Deadline
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15th February 2023
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Ranking on the second number, we have New York University School of Law. The university welcomes all international pre-law students who wish to graduate in the legal field of Law and Order. Even better, NYU offers an exceptional Law Program to prepare students for their wholesome careers as profound lawyers.
With a holistic approach, NYU teaches students legal education with valuable real-world skills and unmatched excellence in financial literacy. Ensuring proper exposure to the field, each class at NYU only has 26 law students at a time. This way, you can rest assured you’ll get all the attention you need!
The cherry on top, NYU also facilitates students with multiple clubs and summer funding programs. With that, it also offers a special Law review program for law students to maximize their exposure in the best way possible.
But yes – applying to New York University comes with its own share of challenges. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.88 with your LSAT scores not below 172 to beat other applicants. Once you succeed in getting admission at NYU, trust us, you’ll be studying law under the supervision of expert hands.
3. Cornell Law School - Cornell University
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School Aspects
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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13th
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Tuition Fee
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$74,098
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Average GPA
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3.87
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Average LSAT Scores
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172
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Acceptance Rate
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17.44%
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Application Deadline
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8th January 2023
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Third on the list, we have the popular Cornell Law School in Ithaca, NYC. It’s one of the best options if you’re someone who prefers to study peacefully in a less crowded place. Cornell law school is well-known for its one-of-a-kind small community that produces exceptionally intelligent graduates.
The school might be small, but its well-experienced faculty nurtures students to become their best version. Since it’s an Ivy League law school, the competition is indeed fierce, so buckle yourself up and make sure that give it your A game to make it to this law school.
Moreover, not only does Cornell law school provide quality law education, but also grants a total of $25,000 as full tuition for 2% of the students. If you’re planning to apply here, you’ll need a minimum GPA of 3.87, and your LSAT scores should not be below 172!
4. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University
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School Aspects
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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53rd
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Tuition Fee
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$67,792
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Average GPA
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3.76
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Average LSAT Scores
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164
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Acceptance Rate
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33.80%
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Application Deadline
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1st April 2023
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Next is the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, also known as the famous Yeshiva University of New York. It comes 53rd on the list of the top 100 best law schools in the U.S. The school offers well-reputed Intellectual Property Law programs to all national and international pre-law students.
Yeshiva University is also popular for its one-of-a-kind Innocence Project, which helps innocent prisoners prove their innocence via DNA testing. With the help of such a unique program, the university has helped exonerate more than 300 innocent victims in America. In fact, their Innocence Program makes students come flocking in to apply to this university.
What’s more, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law has a professional faculty staff that educates students at the Law Center and the Cardozo Data Law Initiative facility. Pre-law graduates receive genuinely valuable knowledge and get much-needed experience with hands-on training sessions.
If the fierce competition scares you, you’re in for a treat because applying to the university is comparatively easier, and the school’s acceptance rate is comparatively higher. So, you’ll likely come across fewer challenges when getting admission to Yeshiva University.
5. Fordham University School of Law
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School Aspects
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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35th
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Tuition Fee
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$68,156
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Average GPA
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3.72
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Average LSAT Scores
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167
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Acceptance Rate
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18.79%
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Application Deadline
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15th April 2023
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Completing the top 5 list with the famous Fordham Law School, it is undoubtedly the largest law school in the U.S. New York’s Fordham University, School of Law is an icon in the national legal field. With many distinct programs offering valuable educational options to all students.
The university offers a unique Trial Advocacy Program that is very popular among pre-law students. It further has 5 distinct law majors to choose from, including:
- Business and finance
- Intellectual property and information
- International, comparative and foreign law
- Litigation and dispute resolution,
- Public interest.
Fordham University has its roots deeply penetrating into the law field, so the graduating students are respected all over the world. Facts speak louder than words, so as per ABA stats, the law graduates of Fordham Law University have the employment rate as high as 77.6%. That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?
To get admission to the Fordham University School of Law, you’ll need to work as hard as you can for your LSAT exams. You will need at least a 3.72 GPA and 167 LSAT scores to submit your application. Once you get admitted, it’s easy to manage your study expenses with the help of Fordham’s part-time job program. With that, you can work wherever you want and still manage your law studies.
6. College of Law - Syracuse University
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School Aspects
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|---|---|
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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102nd
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Tuition Fee
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$57,290
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Average GPA
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3.56
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Average LSAT Scores
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157
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Acceptance Rate
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41.71%
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Application Deadline
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1st February 2023
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By any chance, if you can’t or don’t want to apply in the top 5 law schools listed above, no worries! The world doesn’t end here, nor does the list of best law schools in New York. The next best law school is Syracuse University, well-known for accommodating most of international pre-law students.
The university is designed beautifully based on a warm color tone and has the privilege of housing up to 50 elegant law buildings. It sounds just about right to find all the aesthetic spots for your Instagram and to record your law school journey. The faculty prepares students to jump directly into their professional life. Students develop a unique competitive approach by selecting from the given 13 joint degree programs.
The acceptance rate of Syracuse University is 41.7, which is pretty high compared to other universities. So, you require a minimum GPA of 3.56 for this university.
7. SUNY - University at Buffalo Law School
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School Aspects
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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98th
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Tuition Fee
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$28,488
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Average GPA
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3.61
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Average LSAT Scores
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156
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Acceptance Rate
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44.04
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Application Deadline
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1st March 2023
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SUNY University at Buffalo, School of law is best known for their wholesome education and high acceptance rate. It is one of the topmost law schools in New York City. It works based on the state-level system, so students get to enjoy unique facilities and multiple opportunities at Buffalo University.
Read More: Top Law Schools in California You Should Definitely Consider
As the only law school in the State University of New York school system, the University at Buffalo School of Law offers unique opportunities. You may as well enjoy domestic and international law opportunities across North America, all thanks to this law school’s proximity to the Canadian border!
All national and international pre-law students are welcome to apply for Buffalo Law School. The school offers special short courses for students to study law and order in different places. During your winter vacations, you can learn about the tax laws governing Paris or about Thailand’s legal culture. One of a kind, no?
All you need is a 3.61 GPA and an LSAT score of 156, and nothing can stop you from getting in! Oh, and the best part of SUNY Buffalo University School Of Law remains the insane affordability. The school is comparatively less expensive for pre-law students in terms of tuition and living.
8. St. John's University School of Law
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School Aspects
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|---|---|
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U.S. News Top Law School Ranking
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72nd
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Tuition Fee
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$67,800
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Average GPA
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3.66
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Average LSAT Scores
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162
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Acceptance Rate
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39.91%
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Application Deadline
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15th March 2023
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Last but not least, we have St. John’s University School of Law. It ranks 72nd among the top law schools to study in the U.S. Based on Roman Catholic affiliation, the university offers excellent law programs. Since it is located in the Queens area, all the nearby law firms are only a distance away.
St. John’s University has a well-structured law curriculum that focuses not only on theory part but also research. The university strictly believes experiential learning is the key to developing much-needed legal skills. So, the faculty trains students to get on-field real-life exposure for the future.
Frankly, the most interesting part about St. John’s University School of Law is – landing there. While the acceptance rate is 39.9%, ensure your application is well-crafted, so you have the edge over the candidates! The eligibility criteria are high, too, with a least accepted GPA of 3.66 and a minimum LSAT score of 163 points.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking to get into the law school of your dreams, we’d recommend carefully evaluating all the law schools in NYC based on your GPA. For the next step, prepare well for your LSATs and try to knock down the best scores! After all, it’ll help you increase your chances of getting a secure position in one of the top law schools in the U.S.!
You can use the universities listed above as a guide to choosing your preferred law school; however, you’ll need to dig deeper. Take some time to visit the website of every law school and check if you fit the eligibility criteria for yourself. Make sure you know the selected school’s location and admission process.
Best of luck!
Table of Contents
- 1. Columbia Law School - Columbia University
- 2. NYU School of Law - New York University
- 3. Cornell Law School - Cornell University
- 4. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University
- 5. Fordham University School of Law
- 6. College of Law - Syracuse University
- 7. SUNY - University at Buffalo Law School
- 8. St. John's University School of Law
- Final Verdict
