Top Law Schools in New York
Do you have strong communication skills, logical and analytical reasoning, and substantive knowledge of the law and legal procedures? Do you consider the law to be your area of expertise? Law is one of the most respected professions in the world.
According to Forbes, the average salary of a lawyer is $144,230 (INR 1,07,73,815)! Your career prospects are livened up merely by a city or university, studying in New York can fetch you internships with Hague Conference on Private International Law, Brennan Centre for Justice, and more! Here are some of the best law schools in New York!
| Accrediting Authority | American Bar Association |
| Acceptance rate | Moderate |
| Admission Requirements | LSAT, IELTS/TOEFL, GPA |
| Tuition Fees | $45,000 – $60,000 (INR 33,61,448 – 44,81,931) |
| Scholarships available | Yes |
| Median Salary of a Lawyer | $144,230 (INR 1,07,73,815) |
| Employment Change, 2020-30 | 71,500 |
Why Study in New York?
New York is a globally recognized financial centre as well as a world-renowned cultural, innovation, and creativity capital. This thriving metropolis is well-known for its fast-paced lifestyle. New York is one of the most popular destinations in the world for almost everyone, all because of its stunning skyscrapers, prestigious universities, and diverse cultural mix.
Thousands of international students flock to New York City each year to further their studies, immerse themselves in the cultural world, make important professional connections, and experience the buzzing city for themselves. Students who choose to study in New York will discover that the city has a thriving academic environment in which students from all disciplines can thrive. There are many pioneer law schools in New York having millions of alumni working and showing their expertise. In the sections below you will find them in detail.
Factors to Keep in Mind Before Applying!
Numbers aren’t everything! This is true for both law schools and applicants. Admissions officers aren’t blindly selecting their incoming class of students based on GPA and LSAT alone. Likewise, applicants should not rely solely on rankings when selecting their chosen law school. While US News & World Report rankings represent a significant amount of research and information, there are many other factors you need to consider when choosing where to apply.
Admission Probability
Be strategic and thoughtful when applying to schools. Apply to at least three schools that you consider; a dream school, a target school, and a safety school.
Cost
When choosing a law school, cost is a major consideration. Your decision will most likely follow you for years, or even decades, after graduation. To be on the safe side, look into the estimated tuition and other costs of various universities.
Location
The location of a law school can have an impact on everything from your daily routine to your long-term career path. There is such a thing as having too many distractions that prevent you from performing at your peak. To set yourself up for success, you must first understand yourself and what you require from your environment.
Academic Offerings
Not all law schools and their offerings are the same. It is critical that a school not only offers classes, internships, and clinics in areas of interest to you but that these are also accessible to you and provide you with the foundation you need to be successful after graduation.
Post-Graduate Statistic
You’re going to law school with the ultimate goal of passing the bar exam and landing a job in your chosen field. It is critical to have strong career services and alumni support in this endeavour. While schools will not “place” you in a job, their connections with local, national, and global law firms and organizations may be crucial.
When choosing a law school, keep in mind that there are numerous factors to consider. What works for one student may not work for another. Concentrate on finding the best school for you!
Top Law Schools & Colleges
Here are the top law schools and colleges in New York:
| Colleges | Average Fees | Acceptance Rate |
| Columbia University | $76,088 | 11.4 |
| New York University | $73,414 | 14.5 |
| Cornell University | $71,608 | 15.6 |
| Fordham University | $66,750 | 17.7 |
| Yeshiva University (Cardozo) | $65,817 | 30.8 |
| St. John’s University | $66,672 | 35.6 |
| University of Buffalo – SUNY | $28,488 | 38.8 |
| Brooklyn Law School | $65,099 | 39.6 |
| Syracuse Univesity | $57,308 | 32.7 |
| Hofstra University | $64,022 | 42.3 |
| Albany Law School | $53,860 | 50.4 |
| CUNY Law School | $16,105 | 29.6 |
| Pace University | $51,590 | 48.1 |
| Touro Law School (Fuchsberg) | $53,820 | 52.0 |
Columbia University (Columbia Law School)
Columbia Law School is the law school of Columbia University, a New York City-based private Ivy League university. Columbia Law is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious law schools in the world, consistently ranking among the top five law schools in the United States according to U.S. News and World Report.
Its Contracts/Commercial Law program is ranked first in the country, and its programs in Business/Corporate Law, Constitutional Law, International Law, Criminal Law, and Environmental Law are all ranked among the top ten in the country. The Columbia Law School graduates are well prepared for the real world, with 96% passing the bar on their first try and 97% finding employment by graduation.
If you want a good chance of admission, you’ll need to score at least 170 on your LSATs. Even if you do, the acceptance rate at the school is only 16.8 per cent. So, do your best to submit your application as soon as possible and study diligently. Extracurricular activities will also be considered by the school. Before applying, you should try to gain relevant work experience and look into volunteer opportunities. While it is expensive, it is one of the best law schools in New York.
New York University (NYU Law)
New York University School of Law is the university’s professional graduate law school. It is the oldest law school in New York City and the oldest surviving law school in New York State, having been founded in 1835.
New York University School of Law is an international beacon of excellence and makes sure its students receive a holistic legal education from Day One. Each Lawyering class size is small, averaging about 26 law students, allowing the professors to develop a closer relationship with each student.
International Business Regulation, Litigation, and Arbitration, Public Administration and Law: MPA/JD and Urban Planning and Law: MUP/JD are quite popular law degrees at the school.
Cornell University
Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, is a private Ivy League and statutory land-grant research university. Cornell University was founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White with the intention of teaching and making contributions in all fields of knowledge — from the classics to the sciences, and from the theoretical to the applied.
Cornell University has one of the highest tuition rates in the region. The median grant amount is $25,000. It is considered small to medium-sized, with just over 600 JD students. The cost of attending the school is above average, but with a good LSAT score, students can qualify for financial aid.
Fordham University
Fordham University is a New York City-based private Jesuit research university. It was founded in 1841 and is named after the Fordham neighbourhood of the Bronx, where its original campus is located.
Graduates of Fordham University work all over the world. This New York law school has a 77.6 per cent placement rate in Big Law and federal clerkships (according to ABA data). Its first-time bar passage rate is higher than the statewide rate, so you can be confident that you’ll graduate with all the tools necessary.
Cardozo School of Law
The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is the law school of Yeshiva University, located in New York City. Cardozo is ranked consistently among the Best by U.S. News and World Report ranking of law schools. Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Children’s Law, Intellectual Property and Information Law and many more in-depth courses are offered at the school.
Cardozo Law is a fantastic law school in New York, with a high acceptance rate and low average LSAT scores. You’ll get practical, hands-on training while networking with faculty and outside lawyers to give you an edge in the job market.
St. John’s University
St. John’s University is a New York City-based private Catholic university. The Congregation of the Mission founded the school in 1870 to provide quality higher education to a growing immigrant population.
Acceptance to St. John’s University Law School is a difficult task, but your high LSAT score will help you balance a lower GPA. However, with a 41 per cent acceptance rate, you confidently place St. John’s on your list of target schools.
The school is expensive, which is a side effect of being in New York, but the networking benefits of being in the city can help with post-graduation job projects. There are financial aid programmes.
Brooklyn University
Brooklyn Law School (BLS) is a New York City-based private law school. It was founded in 1901 and currently has approximately 1,100 students. The faculty at Brooklyn Law School consists of 60 full-time faculty members, 15 emeriti faculty members, and several adjunct faculty members.
Its tuition is full-time: $62,046 and part-time: $46,658.Although, it is a bit expensive many financial aid programs are there for students from all sorts of backgrounds. Brooklyn University’s programme, which places students in hundreds of state and federal courthouses, government agencies, law offices, and businesses throughout New York City, is still regarded as one of the best and most comprehensive in the country.
University at Buffalo—SUNY
The State University of New York at Buffalo, also known as the University at Buffalo (UB), is a public research university located in Buffalo and Amherst, New York. The University at Buffalo School of Law is situated on the flagship campus of a world-class research-intensive public university, the largest in the northeastern United States.
While most law students look forward to the winter break before the spring semester, Buffalo law students can enrol in short January courses on topics ranging from Advanced Legal Analysis to Property, Civil Procedure, and Criminal Law.
The University of Buffalo Law School should be at the top of your list if you look at the expenditure aspect of your decision. Even if your GPA is lower than the median, a high LSAT score can help compensate and help you in securing a seat.
City University of New York Law School (CUNY)
The City University of New York School of Law is a public law school that was established as part of the City University of New York in 1983. CUNY School of Law was founded as a public-interest law school with a curriculum that emphasizes clinical teaching methods within traditional legal studies.
Both the full-time and part-time programs at CUNY are highly ranked and among the most affordable New York law school options. Out-of-state tuition ranges from $24,500 to $26,203, while in-state tuition is just over $16,000.
The acceptance rate at City University of New York Law School is just under 35%, making it more selective than some of its higher-ranked peers. Not only will your LSAT and GPA be important, but you’ll also need to pay close attention to the rest of your application, such as selecting writers who can write stellar letters of recommendation and crafting a stellar personal statement that represents your story.
Syracuse University
Syracuse University College of Law is a law school that awards Juris Doctor degrees and is located in Syracuse, New York. It is one of only four law schools in New York’s upstate region. Syracuse Law School is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools.
Students at Syracuse Law enter the job market with a strategic edge. Nearly 90% of Syracuse graduates pass the bar on their first try, which is higher than the state average. This law school in New York offers 13 joint degree programs.
Degrees Offered by Law Schools in New York
Most schools mentioned above offer Specific Law Programs, Undergraduate and Graduate degrees. The following are some common courses about which one taking law as a career must know.
- J.D. Program: The Juris Doctor is the basic U.S. law degree, and is held by the vast majority of practising U.S. lawyers, as well as businesspeople, policymakers, academics and people from other walks of life.
- Minor in Law: Students who are majoring in something else may choose to minor in law. Undergraduate students from any major who want to gain a better understanding of the legal system can pursue the minor designation.
- BA in Law: The Bachelor of Arts in Law is designed to prepare students for their careers. Compliance specialists, for example, work in corporations of all sizes to ensure that organisations follow intellectual property and privacy laws, and human resources managers must understand employment law and benefits rules.
- LL.M. Programs: The General LL.M. Program enables lawyers who have demonstrated success in their legal education, practice, or both to design individualised programmes to advance their careers. Students pursuing an LL.M. have access to nearly the entire J.D. curriculum.
- J.S.D. Program: The most advanced degree offered by the law school is the Doctor of Juridical Science. It fully utilises our innovative and interdisciplinary faculty to prepare students for careers as law professors, judicial and other public officeholders, and high-level policy positions in international organisations.
Entry Requirements for Law Schools in New York
The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT if you’re applying to a law school in New York. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, all of these New York law schools have median LSAT scores that you should strive for or exceed. Remember that law schools want to attract the best candidates, so give yourself the best chance by obtaining a high LSAT score.
Moreover, the admission requirement differs from one university to another. Generally, Grade Point Average (GPA), IELTS or TOEFL Scores, and a transcript are asked by the school. A letter of Recommendation is also among the major prerequisites of taking admission.
Costs and Expenses
The tuition fee on average costs $45,000 – $60,000 in the law schools of New York. Opting for a highly-ranked university may cost you even higher. You can’t say that studying law is economical for a person coming from a lower income group but there are numerous scholarship and financial aid opportunities available for international students to pursue education abroad.
Scholarships
The USA is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for students all around the world. There has been a greatest number of top-ranked law schools in New York. Apart from the great educational infrastructure, it is also known for providing a variety of scholarships to students all around the globe. Here, you can learn about the scholarships available for Indian students to study in the USA.
FAQs
Q1. What are the admission requirements for an international student in the Law schools of New York?
Ans. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT, if you’re applying to the law school in New York. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, all of these New York law schools have median LSAT scores that you should strive for or exceed. Rest, if English isn’t the spoken language in your country, then you have to submit English Proficiency Documents.
Q2. What are some degrees in the field of Law?
Ans. Some of the common degrees offered by different universities are J.D. Program, Minor/BA in Law, L.L.M and J.S.D.
Q3. What are some Top Law Colleges in India?
Ans. National Law University, Jodhpur, National Law Institute University, Bhopal, NALSAR University of Law, and Lloyd Law College are some of the well-known colleges of law in India.
