What is UCLA Law School ranked?
Asked by: Jarvis Fahey | Last update: February 21, 2026Score: 5/5 (74 votes)
UCLA Law is consistently ranked as a top law school, placing #12 nationally in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, recognized for excellence in areas like Environmental Law (#6), Trial Advocacy (#5), and Entertainment Law (often #1 by The Hollywood Reporter). The school is highly selective, with a low acceptance rate, and boasts strong faculty scholarly impact and favorable quality of life/diversity metrics.
What is the #1 law school in California?
Stanford Law School is consistently ranked as the #1 law school in California and is tied for the top spot nationally, known for its prestige, high LSAT/GPA medians, and strong bar passage rates, followed closely by UC Berkeley Law and UCLA Law, according to major publications like U.S. News & World Report and other legal ranking sites.
Is UCLA a top 10 law school?
Yes, UCLA Law is consistently considered a top-tier, elite law school, ranking around #12 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for 2025, placing it firmly within the prestigious "T14" group (top 14) and even outranking Berkeley Law in recent years, with particular strengths in environmental, entertainment, tax, and intellectual property law.
What are the big 3 law schools?
The "Big Three" law schools in the U.S. are consistently considered to be Yale, Stanford, and Harvard, renowned for their prestige, selectivity, and top placement in Big Law and federal clerkships, often leading the highly ranked T14 schools alongside others like UChicago, Columbia, and NYU. While specific rankings fluctuate, these three are the perennial leaders in overall reputation and career outcomes for aspiring BigLaw attorneys, though other elite schools like UChicago, Columbia, NYU, and Penn are right behind them.
What GPA do you need to get into UCLA Law school?
UCLA Law doesn't list a strict minimum GPA, but successful applicants typically have very strong undergraduate GPAs, with recent entering classes showing median GPAs around 3.95, and the 25th-75th percentile often falling in the 3.73 to 4.00 range, though exceptional candidates with lower GPAs might be considered if offset by strong LSAT scores or other compelling factors.
Top 10 Law Schools in the U.S. (Part I)
Is UCLA harder to get into than Harvard?
Generally, Harvard is harder to get into than UCLA based purely on acceptance rates, with Harvard's rate hovering around 3-4% compared to UCLA's roughly 9-10% (and even lower for out-of-state/international students). However, UCLA is incredibly competitive as a top public university, receiving more applications than any other U.S. university and making admission a "crapshoot" for even top students, while Harvard's extreme selectivity means thousands of near-perfect applicants are rejected, emphasizing unique impact beyond grades.
Is it hard to get into UCLA Law?
Getting into UCLA Law is very difficult, requiring exceptional academic performance (median GPA ~3.9, LSAT ~171) and strong "softs" (essays, recommendations, experience) due to a low acceptance rate (around 16%) and highly competitive applicant pool, though scores slightly below median aren't impossible with outstanding other factors. It's a top-tier program, focusing on high achievers with critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills, with a holistic review process considering background, experiences, and diversity.
What is the toughest law school to get into?
The hardest law schools to get into consistently include Yale, Stanford, and Harvard, often considered the top tier with extremely low acceptance rates (under 10% for Yale and Stanford) and requiring near-perfect LSAT scores (median 173+) and GPAs (around 3.9+) for admission, followed closely by other elite schools like University of Chicago, Columbia, UPenn, and UVA. These schools are exceptionally selective, with Yale often having the lowest acceptance rate in the U.S., using a holistic review process.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
What is the #1 law firm in the world?
There isn't one single "number 1" law firm, as rankings vary by criteria (revenue, size, prestige, specific practice), but Kirkland & Ellis consistently ranks as the #1 highest-grossing firm globally by revenue, exceeding $8.8 billion in 2024, followed by firms like Latham & Watkins and DLA Piper. For prestige or "feared" status, firms like Quinn Emanuel might top lists, while others excel in specific areas like M&A or IP, so "best" depends on the context.
Why is UCLA not number 1 anymore?
UCLA slipped from its #1 public university spot (held for 8 years) primarily due to significant federal funding cuts tied to campus controversies (antisemitism, DEI issues) in 2025, impacting research metrics, alongside a shifting U.S. News & World Report methodology favoring Berkeley in certain areas like research funding and graduate outcomes, though UCLA remains a top institution with strengths in other metrics like social mobility.
How much does UCLA Law cost?
J.D. Program Tuition and Fees. The estimated 2025-26 J.D. tuition and fees are provided below: California Resident: $61,744. Non-Resident: $73,989.
What is the easiest law school to get into in California?
The "easiest" law schools in California generally have higher acceptance rates and lower median LSAT/GPA scores, with schools like Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Western State College of Law, Golden Gate University, and California Western School of Law often cited for more accessible admissions, though some aren't ABA-accredited and have low bar passage rates, so check ABA status and bar passage rates carefully if attending for a California-focused career. Purdue Global Law School also offers a non-LSAT path.
What LSAT score is needed for UCLA?
For UCLA Law, a competitive LSAT score is typically around the median of 170-171, with accepted students generally scoring between the 25th percentile of 165-166 and the 75th percentile of 171-172, though aiming higher significantly strengthens your application to this highly selective program.
What are the big 14 law schools?
The "Big 14" (or T14) law schools are the consistently top-ranked institutions in the U.S., typically including Yale, Stanford, Harvard, UChicago, Columbia, NYU, UPenn, UVA, Duke, Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA, Cornell, and Georgetown, with slight variations depending on the year's U.S. News & World Report ranking, but generally featuring these 14 elite schools that offer strong pathways to Big Law and prestigious careers.
What is the lowest paid lawyer?
There's no single "minimum" lawyer salary, as it varies wildly from $50,000 in public interest to over $200,000 for first-year associates at Big Law firms, depending heavily on location (big cities pay more), firm size (Big Law pays much more), and specialization (corporate/IP pay more than family law or non-profit work). Entry-level salaries in public service often start around $50k-$70k, while large private firms in major markets can offer $200k+ right out of law school.
Is law going to be replaced by AI?
No, AI won't fully take over law but will fundamentally transform it by automating routine tasks, increasing efficiency, and augmenting lawyers, making tech-savvy lawyers more valuable, while lawyers who don't adapt risk being left behind; AI handles data analysis, contract review, and research, but human judgment, contextual understanding, and complex argumentation remain essential for client counsel and strategic decision-making, shifting the focus to higher-value work and potentially changing billing models.
How old is the youngest lawyer?
The youngest lawyer is generally considered to be Sophia Park, who passed the California bar exam at 17 years and 8 months old in late 2024, breaking her brother Peter's previous record, though she'll be sworn in and licensed in March 2025 after turning 18, as most jurisdictions require lawyers to be 18. She accelerated her education, starting law school at 13 while in junior high and graduating early.
Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?
Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.
What is the easiest law degree to get?
The easiest law degree programs, such as the Master of Legal Studies (MLS), are typically less demanding than traditional law degrees like the Juris Doctor (JD). MLS programs are designed for professionals who want a foundational understanding of law without the need to become licensed attorneys.
Is a 157 a bad LSAT score?
A 157 LSAT score isn't "bad"—it's solid and above average, placing you in the 70th percentile, allowing entry to many ranked law schools, especially regional ones, though it might be below the median for highly selective T14 schools, so researching specific school medians and considering retaking if aiming for top-tier programs is key.
How to get a full ride to UCLA Law?
The UCLA Law Achievement Fellowship is non-binding and provides full tuition for three years to high-achieving students who have overcome significant personal, educational or socio-economic hardships. Read more. All admitted 1L students are considered for a Dean's Scholarship.
What type of law is UCLA known for?
UCLA Law is consistently recognized as the nation's premier school for entertainment and media law. Offering trailblazing education in transactional law, entrepreneurship, and hands-on business law training. UCLA Law offers opportunities for students to dive into the disruptive impact of technology on law and society.
What is the #1 hardest college to get into?
There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as rankings fluctuate, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the most difficult to get into globally, often with acceptance rates below 4-5%, seeking exceptional academic and extracurricular profiles, with some sources placing Minerva University even lower at 1%. The difficulty depends on the specific year and applicant pool, but these elite institutions remain extremely selective.