Law degrees have been considered some of the most prestigious, sought-after, and respected courses in the world. They are the prerequisite for setting a career path toward the legal sector and are considered some of the most challenging courses anywhere. There are several specializations such as criminal and corporate and the courses cover a lot of subjects like economics and politics.

This article has compiled a list of some of the best and most distinguished law schools in the world. Find out their Programs and the degrees they offer.

Top Law Schools In The World

1. Yale University

Yale University is an Ivy League private research university located in Connecticut founded in 1701, making it one of the oldest educational institutions in the United States and among the most prestigious and admired law universities in the world.

Through the Yale Law School, the university has six Programs available for its students. It offers an unmatched and diverse academic experience with 200 courses taught by some world-class professors. The six Programs are as follows:

  • Juris Doctor – It is a three-year program that provides students amazing opportunities for writing, independent research, and student-organized seminars.
  • Master of Studies in Law – It is a one-year program designed for non-lawyers to develop their basic knowledge about legal studies and explore the connection of law to their own disciplines.
  • Master of Laws – It is a one-year program open to a limited number of students who are very committed to a career in teaching law. The students can tailor their subjects according to their interests and the courses are elective.
  • Doctor of the Science of Law – It is a Program dedicated to those who aspire to perform at a high level in their careers in scholarly research and law teaching.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Law – It is a three-year program designed for students who wish to establish a strong foundation to pursue further studies in law to contribute to the growth of law as an academic field by producing a substantial body of academic research.
  • Joint Degree – It is a Program created in coordination with other Yale departments and schools. It is designed for students to develop their specialized skills and knowledge related to law.

2. Harvard University

Harvard University is an Ivy League university and is considered to be one of the most prestigious and best law universities in the world. It is known for its excellence and contribution in various fields and has produced some of the most renowned professionals and academe.

Harvard Law School has three Programs for its law students. The Juris Doctor Program aims to equip the students to build a strong foundation of knowledge of legal studies and its theory, principles, skills, and concepts. The Master of Laws is a one-year program that involves students from 70 countries. The Program aims to captivate candidates from varied law backgrounds or careers.

The Doctor of Juridical Science is the university’s most advanced law degree for those who aspire to pursue further growth in law academics through sustained independent study and research. The program is open to students from different parts of the world which has helped in creating a vibrant community of scholars.

3. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a research university located in England and is widely considered one of the most respected universities and a top law institution in the world. Its prestige is backed-up by results throughout centuries and has helped greatly to the development of the world.

Oxford offers undergraduate and graduate programs through its Faculty of Law. The undergraduate degrees are as follows:

  • BA in Jurisprudence – A three-year undergraduate law degree equivalent to an LLB in some countries.
  • BA in Jurisprudence with Senior Status – A one-year Program for those who already achieved an undergraduate degree.
  • BA in Law with Law Studies in Europe – This is an extended version of the university’s BA Law Program. It has an extra year for students to spend at one of the partner universities.

The university currently has eight graduate Programs available. Each Program is distinct and covers different specializations such as MSc in Law and Finance, MSt International Human Right Law, and MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

4. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is one of the top-ranked law universities in the world and is known for its outstanding traditional values and academic standards. It has produced very notable personalities in a variety of fields such as Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

The university currently offers a BA Tripos Degree in Law which is its undergraduate Program that aims to give the students a solid foundation about the principles of law and enhance their analytical skills.

The Master of Law is a nine-month Program consisting of high-caliber students who wish to pursue further law studies at an advanced level. The Masters in Corporate Law aims to provide students the knowledge of the regulatory and legal framework that governs companies. The Doctorate in Law is a highly competitive Program attracting distinctly qualified lawyers.

5. Stanford University

Stanford University is one of the most prestigious and known law universities across the globe recognized for its pursuit of academic excellence and world-renowned research institution.

The university has a JD Program that has innovative approaches to help develop the understanding of its students regarding interdisciplinary and multidimensional legal studies. A Joint Degree Program is also offered by the university for those who want to explore how the law intersects with other fields.

Stanford has three Master’s Degree Programs and these are as follows; Master of Laws, the Stanford Program in International Legal Studies (SPILS), and Master of Legal Studies. The Doctor of the Science of Law is also offered to those who completed the SPILS Program or to those who completed degrees in Stanford or other U.S universities.

6. London School of Economics and Political Science

London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university in London and is considered as an excellent law school in the world. Its focus on the full range of political, economic, and social sciences is seen as unique in the world.

LSE Law offers an LLB Program that aims to develop the knowledge of students regarding the foundation of legal studies and its interdisciplinary approaches. The university also offers a Double Degree Program in partnership with Columbia University.

It also has graduate programs such as LLM Master of Laws which is focused on the variety of disciplinary traditions and jurisdictions. Its Ph.D. Program in Law aims to develop the skills of the students through advanced legal research under notable scholars.

7. Columbia University

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university and a top law institution in the world known for its high academic standards. It is the home of the Pulitzer Prize which is an award given to notable achievements and achievers in newspapers, journalism, literature, and musical composition.

Columbia Law School has both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Its JD Program includes courses in traditional and emerging areas of law. The Program puts a lot of emphasis on practical skills and knowledge.

Its LL.M. Program courses are mostly taught using the Socratic Method and it encourages a collaborative environment for the students. The university also has an EXECUTIVE LL.M. Program and Curriculum available for already accomplished lawyers. For the Ph.D. The program, the university offers the Doctor of the Science of the Law which is its most advanced law degree.

 

We hope that this article on Best Law Universities in the World was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Law Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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