What is Yale Law School ranked?

Asked by: Moses Goldner DVM  |  Last update: February 17, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (13 votes)

Yale Law School consistently ranks at or near the very top, often #1, in major publications like U.S. News & World Report, though they stopped participating in those rankings in 2022 due to methodological concerns, while still appearing highly ranked in others like QS World Rankings and TestMax Prep, often tied for #1 or #2 with Stanford and Chicago.

Is Yale number 1 law school?

Yale University is ranked No. 1 (tie) out of 195 in Best Law Schools.

What are the top 3 law schools?

The top 3 law schools consistently ranked are Yale University, Stanford University, and Harvard University, often appearing as the top three in various rankings like U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education, though their specific order can vary slightly by publication and year, with University of Chicago, Columbia, and NYU frequently rounding out the top tier. 

Is Harvard or Yale better for law?

Yale Law and Harvard Law are both elite, top-tier law schools, but differ in size, culture, and focus, with Yale known for its smaller, more intimate, academic-focused environment (often #1 ranked) and Harvard for its larger size, broader curriculum, and strong "Big Law" placement. The choice depends on personal fit: Yale offers closer faculty access, while Harvard provides more course variety and a massive alumni network, though both offer exceptional career paths. 

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. 

LAW SCHOOL DECISION REACTIONS 2022 | 15+ Schools (Berkeley, Georgetown, Columbia, Yale, +more)

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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. 

Who are the Golden 5 law firms?

There isn't a widely recognized "Golden 5" group of law firms; however, you're likely thinking of London's elite "Magic Circle" firms: A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May, known for high profitability and corporate work, or perhaps the US-based "Vault 100" or "Big Law" firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins, but these groups have different names and compositions.
 

What is the #1 law school in the world?

While rankings vary by source, Harvard Law School consistently ranks as the #1 law school globally in major rankings like QS and Research.com, often followed closely by universities such as Yale, Oxford, Stanford, and Cambridge, with US schools dominating the top spots. Harvard is known for its prestige, extensive resources like the world's largest academic law library, and influential alumni network. 

Why is Yale law so prestigious?

A Leader in Legal Education

For students, the experience is unparalleled. The faculty-student ratio supports a vast array of courses and opportunities for independent research and student-organized seminars. Students get practical training by representing real clients in clinics starting in their first year.

What is the #1 law firm in America?

There isn't one single "number 1" law firm, as rankings vary by criteria (revenue, number of lawyers, prestige); however, Kirkland & Ellis consistently ranks #1 for revenue, while Baker McKenzie often leads in lawyer headcount, and firms like Latham & Watkins, DLA Piper, and Covington & Burling also appear at the top of different lists for size, revenue, and reputation.
 

What is the happiest law school?

1 in Best Quality of Life, Best Professors, Best Classroom Experience | University of Virginia School of Law.

What is No. 1 law school?

There isn't one single "number one" law school, as rankings vary, but Yale, Stanford, and Harvard consistently dominate the top spots, often tied or trading places, with Yale and Stanford frequently appearing as #1 or #2 in U.S. News & World Report, while Harvard often leads QS World Rankings and Times Higher Education. Other top contenders include University of Chicago, Columbia, and NYU. 

What kind of law is Yale known for?

The Law School is renowned as a center for scholarship in constitutional law, and prominent scholars are well represented on the School's faculty.

What are top 14 law schools?

Top 14 law schools

  • Berkeley.
  • Columbia.
  • Cornell.
  • Duke.
  • Harvard.
  • NYU.
  • Northwestern.
  • Stanford.

What is the hardest 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. 

Which is the easiest law school?

10 Easiest Law Schools To Get Into

  • Ohio Northern University. ...
  • Southern Illinois University. ...
  • North Carolina Central University. ...
  • Northern Illinois University. ...
  • University of North Dakota. ...
  • Texas Southern University. ...
  • Barry University. ...
  • Washburn University. Washburn University is a public school in Topeka, KS.

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
 

Who gets into Yale Law?

We do not utilize a GPA or standardized test score cutoff of any kind in our review process. Every year applicants from all backgrounds and with scores in all ranges are admitted to Yale Law School. The only guarantee you will not be admitted is if you do not apply, and we take seriously every application we receive.

Is it harder to get into Harvard or Yale?

It's extremely difficult to get into either Yale or Harvard, with both boasting incredibly low acceptance rates, but Harvard often edges out Yale as slightly harder to get into, consistently showing a lower acceptance rate (around 3-4% range) compared to Yale (also in the low 3-4% range but sometimes slightly higher) for recent years, though these numbers fluctuate annually, making them nearly indistinguishable in competitiveness for top applicants. 

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.
 

Who are the 7 sisters law firms?

In the Canadian legal market, the 'Seven Sisters', leading Bay Street Toronto, Ontario corporate firms, continue to dominate the marketplace. They are Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Goodmans LLP, McCarthy Tétrault, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP and Torys.

What law firm does the royal family use?

The primary law firm for the British Royal Family for generations, especially for the late Queen Elizabeth II, has been Farrer & Co, a prestigious London firm known for private client, family law, and trusts, though other firms handle specific litigation needs, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly using Harbottle and Lewis at times.