Why is it called the top 14 law schools?
Asked by: Marcelle Nitzsche | Last update: December 11, 2025Score: 5/5 (4 votes)
There exists an informal and unofficial category known as the "Top Fourteen", "Top 14", or "T14", which has historically referred to the institutions that most frequently claim the top 14 spots in the yearly U.S. News & World Report ranking of American law schools, with T14 schools remaining the only ones to have ever ...
Why are law schools top 14?
The significance of the T14 mainly stems from the fact that graduates from these institutions typically enjoy better job prospects after law school. They often have more access to top-tier law firms, federal clerkships, and other highly competitive legal employment opportunities.
What does T14 stand for?
The T14 law schools are the top 14 schools in the US based on rankings. Among the T14, there isn't much movement in these rankings year after year.
What is a Tier 14 law school?
The T14 law schools are the top 14 law schools in U.S. News and World Report's annual Best Law Schools rankings. This is the very tip-top of the top law schools. The T14 law schools usually include schools such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Stanford Law School, to name a few.
What GPA do you need for top 14 law school?
As you prepare to apply, it's important to remember that T14 law schools are very competitive. Most accepted students have very high GPAs (at least 3.8) and LSAT scores (at least 170), which fall into top LSAT percentiles (check out this article for more on LSAT percentiles).
law school decision reactions!! yale, nyu, harvard, cornell, columbia, & more
Is a 2.7 GPA bad for law school?
So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low. But to answer the question what GPA do you need to get into law school, any law school, then the answer is at least a 2.5. That is realistically the lowest GPA you can have to get into law school.
Is 163 a good LSAT score?
A good LSAT score is anything above 160.
What is the most prestigious law school?
There has been great consistency at the top of the U.S. News rankings since their inception, with Yale Law School consistently ranking first. While Yale, Harvard, and Stanford have historically clustered at the top of the list, Harvard was recently replaced by the University of Chicago in the third place spot.
What is a soft tier law school?
LSAT score and GPA are "hard" data. Softs refer to everything in your application that isn't "hard" data. Softs are inherently unquantifiable. That's why they're called softs. The tiers below are very rough guidelines for putting a number on something that really can't be quantified.
Is it worth going to a lower tier law school?
Unless they have personal connections or career experience, graduates of lower-ranked schools face steep odds on the job market. Graduates of top-ranked law schools have a leg up on securing legal internships, clerkships, and job interviews—even with mediocre grades.
Is Georgetown a top 14 law school?
Georgetown is considered part of the T14, an unofficial designation in the legal community of the best 14 law schools in the United States. The school's campus is less than a mile from the U.S. Capitol Building.
What are the T6 law schools?
T6 Law Schools are those that are consistently ranked between 1 and 6 by US News. Generally, T6 schools applies to Yale, Stanford, Harvard, UChicago, Columbia, NYU, and UPenn. BUT THAT IS 7 SCHOOLS! True, T6 is more of a loose term and the USNews Rankings are fluid.
Does it really matter what law school you go to?
Earning a law degree from any reputable program is an impressive achievement. Read the bios for any major law firm and you will see many successful lawyers who attended low-ranked schools. That said, the job market is easier for graduates of top-ranked law schools.
What is the hardest year in law school?
Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.
What does T14 mean?
The T14 law schools are the top 14 law schools in the US rankings. They typically include renowned institutions such as Stanford, Yale, Harvard and Chicago school of law.
What is a Tier 1 law firm?
Tier 1 firms tend to be the most powerful and well-known firms nationally and in a given market. A Tier 1 firm will be regularly called upon to represent the largest companies, government entities, and others in the most important and high-profile legal matters in that market.
What tier law school is Harvard?
Traditionally the T14 schools are:
Yale Law School (always #1) Stanford Law School (#2–3) Harvard Law School (#2–4)
What is KJD slang for?
KJD. Kindergarten to JD. An applicant that applies to law school directly out of college with no work experience.
What is the hardest law school to get into?
- Yale University: 6.9%
- Stanford University: 9.72%
- University of Pennsylvania: 14.6%
- University of Virginia: 15.3%
- Harvard University: 15.6%
- Columbia University: 16.8%
- University of Chicago: 17.5%
- Duke University: 20.2%
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
What is the #1 law school in the world?
Key findings for Law
Harvard University is featured as the best university in the world in our ranking with a total D-index of its ranking scientists at 785. Ranking on the second place in the world is New York University with a total D-index of 518.
What did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?
Elle Woods, a fictional character portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the movie Legally Blonde, is known for her remarkable LSAT score—179 out of 180. Portrayed as a stereotypical "valley girl," she embarks on a journey to Harvard Law School in the movie that has since become a cult favorite.
Can I get into Harvard law with a 3.8 GPA?
While the LSAT score and GPA are significant factors, Harvard Law considers applicants holistically, valuing diversity and unique perspectives. The LSAT score for Harvard Law School typically falls within the 169-175 range, while the average GPA for admitted students is between 3.8 and 4.0.