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Reviewed by:
Tamara Rogers-Gant, J.D., LL.M.
Loyola University Chicago School of Law Graduate, Law Expert & Admissions Strategist
Reviewed: 3/18/25
New York is well known for being a legal hotspot, so attending law school here will surely open a world of opportunities for you. Read on to learn about the best law schools in New York to access these resources!
There are multiple reasons students complete their JDs in New York. Besides the opportunity to work in the thriving business hub of the Big Apple, New York is known for its unparalleled diversity, robust entertainment, and amazing food!
With so much to offer legal students, New York law schools typically make the cut for students’ top law school choices. To help you decide which New York law school(s) to add to your list, this guide will go over the best law schools in this state!
Here’s a brief overview of the top 15 law schools in New York:
Now let’s go over each one in a bit more detail!
As the 8th-best law school in the nation, Columbia University is one of the coveted T14 law schools that aspiring law students are typically eager to join. As a top-ranking law school, Columbia Law alumni are highly sought after by employers, especially those in Big Law.
Columbia University is located in New York City. It provides students with hands-on legal experience, a world-class faculty, an extensive curriculum, and unrivaled career opportunities. Columbia students are encouraged to be bold thinkers and make an impact in the legal and civil fields!
As one of the top 14 law schools in the nation, getting into Columbia is challenging. With a highly selective acceptance rate of 11.75%, all applicants are held to high standards when being reviewed.
The median GPA of recent matriculants is 3.9, and the median LSAT score is 173. Columbia is also the most expensive law school in the nation, with tuition costing $81,888 a year.
Another one of the top law programs in the Big Apple is NYU. NYU ranks 9th in the nation and has many high-ranking legal programs.
NYU’s international, criminal, and tax law programs are ranked first in the nation. Its intellectual property law program is ranked third, corporate law and environmental law program is ranked fourth, and contracts and constitutional law programs are ranked fifth.
NYU is a highly respected and prominent university that is considered an intellectual powerhouse in legal education. With over 100 faculty members, 16 areas of study, 300 legal courses, 30 legal centers, and 80 student groups, it continues to redefine the field of law.
With such high esteem and rankings, it’s no surprise that NYU Law only accepts 16.67% of its applicants. Recent matriculants of NYU had a median GPA of 3.8 and a median LSAT score of 172.
As the final T14 law school in New York, Cornell is another popular option amongst law students. It ranks 14th in the nation and is one of the oldest and most distinguished programs in international and comparative legal education.
Despite having such a great historical presence in New York, Cornell continues to push the legal boundaries and is known for having an innovative and robust curriculum. It offers students 23 clinics, several practicum courses, and a diverse range of externship and simulation courses.
Cornell’s curriculum and experiential learning approach are so impressive that it ranks as the number one law school for job placement at large law firms! Its small class environment also creates a sense of community and belonging, which in turn opens up many opportunities for students!
Fordham University ranks 33rd in the nation but third for its part-time law program. Fordham faculty and students are described as curious, creative, and committed to the craft.
Located in the heart of New York City, Fordham University offers its students a vibrant and diverse community, unlimited opportunities, and dedicated faculty.
Focused on ensuring students hone their critical legal skills before entering the legal field, Fordham’s experiential education includes 18 renowned and unique clinics specializing in the following areas of law:
If you’d like to join Fordham to experience these clinics, as many students do, you’ll have to maintain a GPA above 3.78 and an LSAT score above 167.
The fifth-best law school in New York is the Cardozo Law School, affiliated with Yeshiva University. This law school ranks 61st in the nation and 5th for its part-time program. It is best known for its dispute resolution concentration, in which it ranks fifth.
With the guarantee that all professors know their students' names, Cardozo is strictly student-focused. It’s dedicated to ensuring students have access to the right resources and support to explore their interests and create career-building connections.
Compared to the previous schools on this list, Cardozo Law School has a promising acceptance rate of 37.54%, making it only moderately difficult to get into. GPAs higher than the median of 3.78 and 164 LSAT scores are considered competitive at this school.
St. John’s University, located in Jamaica, New York, is the 68th-best law school in the nation. This law school opened in 1925 and has since honed its curriculum to help students build essential practical skills and contribute to the community.
This university has also been dubbed the “go-to law school” for placing the most graduates in the 100 biggest law firms, assuring a bright future for their students.
St. John’s has an acceptance rate of 30.6%. Students should aim to score above the 162 median LSAT and maintain a GPA above the 3.67 median to be considered strong applicants.
By James G. Milles, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35884223
The University at Buffalo School of Law ranks 108th in the nation, tied with NYLS, and aims to produce excellent, ethical, and engaged lawyers. A large part of this mission relies on UB’s cutting-edge legal clinics:
With an acceptance rate of 44.63%, UB Law is moderately selective. You’ll need a GPA above the 3.71 median and an LSAT score above the 156 median to be considered a competitive applicant.
By Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA - Brooklyn Law School, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80250902
As the 114th-best law school in the nation with the 23rd-best part-time program, Brooklyn Law is another option for students interested in attending law school.
The New York-based law school was ranked as another “go-to law school” because of its high percentage of graduates being employed at the nation’s biggest law firms.
Luckily, Brooklyn Law School has a high acceptance rate of 54.29%. Recent matriculants had a median GPA of 3.55 and a median LSAT score of 160. Students should aim above these medians to stand out as competitive applicants.
By UpstateNYer - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7229057
Albany Law ranks 117th in the nation and has been committed to making an impact and serving the public since 1851. Part of the Albany advantage includes its diverse legal clinics:
Around 47.62% of all applicants are accepted into Albany Law. Recent matriculants had a median GPA of 3.19 and a median LSAT score of 156. Students should aim above these medians to stand out as competitive applicants.
Syracuse University is one of the top research institutions and top law schools in New York. As a whole, Syracuse ranks #120th but boasts of its unparalleled opportunities and passionate faculty despite this ranking.
With small classrooms, Syracuse offers students the chance to form close connections with their professors. These relationships are critical in the classroom and essential in connecting with highly sought-after career and externship opportunities.
To join this valuable networking system, students should have a GPA above the 3.46 median and an LSAT score above the 158 median. Around 38.98% gain acceptance into this leading law school.
New York Law School is another excellent law school option that helps students answer the call for compassionate, practice-ready lawyers. With a 52.71% acceptance rate, you’ll have a moderate chance of getting in.
They offer plenty of legal clinics for students to get hands-on learning experience, including their asylum clinic, cyberharassment clinic, housing rights clinic, and veterans justice clinic, among many others.
If you’re seeking a law education that’s rich in both theory and skill development, then Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is a great option!
You can choose from over 200 courses at Hofstra to help you zero in on your interests and skills. Students can also take advantage of hands-on clinics and practicums to gain real-world legal experience.
The school has an acceptance rate of 50.86%, which indicates that you have a moderate chance of getting in. To be a strong applicant, you should aim for a GPA higher than 3.62 and an LSAT score higher than 155, the median scores of recent matriculants.
By Jim.henderson - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106687135
Elisabeth Haub School of Law is a place for debate and inquiry, a school that is committed to serving its students’ needs and preparing lawyers to be innovative and influential in the law field.
As a practice-based law school, Pace offers various clinics, externships, simulation courses, moot court experiences, and opportunities for taking a semester in practice.
Haub Law School is also ranked #1 in Environmental Law by US News. Their environmental law program offers over 40 courses, and they boast faculty who have been pioneers in the development of environmental law. Pace encourages their students to become advocates for the environment themselves.
By Evulaj90 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44721950
CUNY School of Law is the #1 public interest law school in the US and seeks to produce exceptional public interest attorneys. Diversity is a core value at CUNY, and through promoting diversity in the legal field, they hope to transform the very idea of justice.
Recent matriculants at CUNY had a median GPA of 3.44 and a median LSAT score of 154. The acceptance rate is 40.29%, so you have a fair chance of getting in.
By 'Matthew G. Bisanz, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8833049
The Touro Law Center, located on Long Island, offers the opportunity for students to participate in a dynamic legal landscape. The Center is adjacent to both a state and a federal courthouse, which provides a unique hands-on learning experience.
As part of their commitment to experiential education, Touro guarantees clinical and externship opportunities for credit to all students. This allows their students to get real-world experience to develop the professional skills they need.
To get into Touro, you’ll need a GPA higher than the 3.22 median and an LSAT score higher than the 151 median. If you score higher than the median, you can establish yourself as a competitive applicant.
Need help getting accepted to any of these schools? Our expert admissions counselors have helped thousands of students in New York and beyond get accepted to their top picks.
Now let’s go over each one in a bit more detail!
As the 8th-best law school in the nation, Columbia University is one of the coveted T14 law schools that aspiring law students are typically eager to join. As a top-ranking law school, Columbia Law alumni are highly sought after by employers, especially those in Big Law.
Columbia University is located in New York City. It provides students with hands-on legal experience, a world-class faculty, an extensive curriculum, and unrivaled career opportunities. Columbia students are encouraged to be bold thinkers and make an impact in the legal and civil fields!
As one of the top 14 law schools in the nation, getting into Columbia is challenging. With a highly selective acceptance rate of 11.75%, all applicants are held to high standards when being reviewed.
The median GPA of recent matriculants is 3.9, and the median LSAT score is 173. Columbia is also the most expensive law school in the nation, with tuition costing $81,888 a year.
Another one of the top law programs in the Big Apple is NYU. NYU ranks 9th in the nation and has many high-ranking legal programs.
NYU’s international, criminal, and tax law programs are ranked first in the nation. Its intellectual property law program is ranked third, corporate law and environmental law program is ranked fourth, and contracts and constitutional law programs are ranked fifth.
NYU is a highly respected and prominent university that is considered an intellectual powerhouse in legal education. With over 100 faculty members, 16 areas of study, 300 legal courses, 30 legal centers, and 80 student groups, it continues to redefine the field of law.
With such high esteem and rankings, it’s no surprise that NYU Law only accepts 16.67% of its applicants. Recent matriculants of NYU had a median GPA of 3.8 and a median LSAT score of 172.
As the final T14 law school in New York, Cornell is another popular option amongst law students. It ranks 14th in the nation and is one of the oldest and most distinguished programs in international and comparative legal education.
Despite having such a great historical presence in New York, Cornell continues to push the legal boundaries and is known for having an innovative and robust curriculum. It offers students 23 clinics, several practicum courses, and a diverse range of externship and simulation courses.
Cornell’s curriculum and experiential learning approach are so impressive that it ranks as the number one law school for job placement at large law firms! Its small class environment also creates a sense of community and belonging, which in turn opens up many opportunities for students!
Fordham University ranks 33rd in the nation but third for its part-time law program. Fordham faculty and students are described as curious, creative, and committed to the craft.
Located in the heart of New York City, Fordham University offers its students a vibrant and diverse community, unlimited opportunities, and dedicated faculty.
Focused on ensuring students hone their critical legal skills before entering the legal field, Fordham’s experiential education includes 18 renowned and unique clinics specializing in the following areas of law:
If you’d like to join Fordham to experience these clinics, as many students do, you’ll have to maintain a GPA above 3.78 and an LSAT score above 167.
The fifth-best law school in New York is the Cardozo Law School, affiliated with Yeshiva University. This law school ranks 61st in the nation and 5th for its part-time program. It is best known for its dispute resolution concentration, in which it ranks fifth.
With the guarantee that all professors know their students' names, Cardozo is strictly student-focused. It’s dedicated to ensuring students have access to the right resources and support to explore their interests and create career-building connections.
Compared to the previous schools on this list, Cardozo Law School has a promising acceptance rate of 37.54%, making it only moderately difficult to get into. GPAs higher than the median of 3.78 and 164 LSAT scores are considered competitive at this school.
St. John’s University, located in Jamaica, New York, is the 68th-best law school in the nation. This law school opened in 1925 and has since honed its curriculum to help students build essential practical skills and contribute to the community.
This university has also been dubbed the “go-to law school” for placing the most graduates in the 100 biggest law firms, assuring a bright future for their students.
St. John’s has an acceptance rate of 30.6%. Students should aim to score above the 162 median LSAT and maintain a GPA above the 3.67 median to be considered strong applicants.
By James G. Milles, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35884223
The University at Buffalo School of Law ranks 108th in the nation, tied with NYLS, and aims to produce excellent, ethical, and engaged lawyers. A large part of this mission relies on UB’s cutting-edge legal clinics:
With an acceptance rate of 44.63%, UB Law is moderately selective. You’ll need a GPA above the 3.71 median and an LSAT score above the 156 median to be considered a competitive applicant.
By Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA - Brooklyn Law School, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80250902
As the 114th-best law school in the nation with the 23rd-best part-time program, Brooklyn Law is another option for students interested in attending law school.
The New York-based law school was ranked as another “go-to law school” because of its high percentage of graduates being employed at the nation’s biggest law firms.
Luckily, Brooklyn Law School has a high acceptance rate of 54.29%. Recent matriculants had a median GPA of 3.55 and a median LSAT score of 160. Students should aim above these medians to stand out as competitive applicants.
By UpstateNYer - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7229057
Albany Law ranks 117th in the nation and has been committed to making an impact and serving the public since 1851. Part of the Albany advantage includes its diverse legal clinics:
Around 47.62% of all applicants are accepted into Albany Law. Recent matriculants had a median GPA of 3.19 and a median LSAT score of 156. Students should aim above these medians to stand out as competitive applicants.
Syracuse University is one of the top research institutions and top law schools in New York. As a whole, Syracuse ranks #120th but boasts of its unparalleled opportunities and passionate faculty despite this ranking.
With small classrooms, Syracuse offers students the chance to form close connections with their professors. These relationships are critical in the classroom and essential in connecting with highly sought-after career and externship opportunities.
To join this valuable networking system, students should have a GPA above the 3.46 median and an LSAT score above the 158 median. Around 38.98% gain acceptance into this leading law school.
New York Law School is another excellent law school option that helps students answer the call for compassionate, practice-ready lawyers. With a 52.71% acceptance rate, you’ll have a moderate chance of getting in.
They offer plenty of legal clinics for students to get hands-on learning experience, including their asylum clinic, cyberharassment clinic, housing rights clinic, and veterans justice clinic, among many others.
If you’re seeking a law education that’s rich in both theory and skill development, then Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is a great option!
You can choose from over 200 courses at Hofstra to help you zero in on your interests and skills. Students can also take advantage of hands-on clinics and practicums to gain real-world legal experience.
The school has an acceptance rate of 50.86%, which indicates that you have a moderate chance of getting in. To be a strong applicant, you should aim for a GPA higher than 3.62 and an LSAT score higher than 155, the median scores of recent matriculants.
By Jim.henderson - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106687135
Elisabeth Haub School of Law is a place for debate and inquiry, a school that is committed to serving its students’ needs and preparing lawyers to be innovative and influential in the law field.
As a practice-based law school, Pace offers various clinics, externships, simulation courses, moot court experiences, and opportunities for taking a semester in practice.
Haub Law School is also ranked #1 in Environmental Law by US News. Their environmental law program offers over 40 courses, and they boast faculty who have been pioneers in the development of environmental law. Pace encourages their students to become advocates for the environment themselves.
By Evulaj90 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44721950
CUNY School of Law is the #1 public interest law school in the US and seeks to produce exceptional public interest attorneys. Diversity is a core value at CUNY, and through promoting diversity in the legal field, they hope to transform the very idea of justice.
Recent matriculants at CUNY had a median GPA of 3.44 and a median LSAT score of 154. The acceptance rate is 40.29%, so you have a fair chance of getting in.
By 'Matthew G. Bisanz, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8833049
The Touro Law Center, located on Long Island, offers the opportunity for students to participate in a dynamic legal landscape. The Center is adjacent to both a state and a federal courthouse, which provides a unique hands-on learning experience.
As part of their commitment to experiential education, Touro guarantees clinical and externship opportunities for credit to all students. This allows their students to get real-world experience to develop the professional skills they need.
To get into Touro, you’ll need a GPA higher than the 3.22 median and an LSAT score higher than the 151 median. If you score higher than the median, you can establish yourself as a competitive applicant.
Need help getting accepted to any of these schools? Our expert admissions counselors have helped thousands of students in New York and beyond get accepted to their top picks.
For any remaining questions about the top law schools in New York, read on to find your answers!
Yes, New York has several excellent options for aspiring law students, including three T14 schools!
The highest-ranking law school in New York is Columbia Law School.
Yes, many law students dream of studying in New York because of its abundant career opportunities. New York City, in particular, offers a legal hotspot, and many New York law schools offer work or volunteer opportunities that allow students to get their foot in the door!
New York has 15 accredited law schools, including schools in New York City, Albany, Syracuse, and Buffalo.
Columbia Law School is the most expensive law school in New York and the entire nation. Tuition costs $81,888 a year.
To get into one of the best law schools in this state, you'll need an LSAT score in the 153-174 range, depending on which law school you’d like to apply to.
Fordham School of Law's part-time evening program is the best part-time law program in New York. It's also one of the top part-time law programs in the United States.
Touro University is the easiest law school to get into in New York. Students need to aim for above a 3.22 GPA and above a 151 LSAT score to stand out. These medians are the lowest across all law schools in New York, and it also has a generous 48.27% acceptance rate.
There are several part-time law schools in the Big Apple:
Any one of these schools would be an excellent option for busy students!
New York is home to some of the best law schools in the nation. If you’d like to study in this bustling state, use this guide to help you choose the perfect school to kickstart your legal career! For personalized support in navigating the admissions process, consider exploring law school admissions coaching to enhance your application.
David Merson was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
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