Updated at: 14-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

While a career in law can be rewarding in many ways, finding the right law school can be a daunting task. Searching for the best lawyer in Washington, DC, or the best attorney in the United States, in general, is not an easy task. If a career in law is something you’re considering, and you’re located in or around the Washington, DC area, you’ve found the best law school in the area. Listed here are the best law schools in the nation’s capital. Similarly, if you’re interested in a legal career in Florida, you should research your options at the state’s top law schools. To aid students in their search for the best university in the District of Columbia, we have compiled a list of the top law schools there. Students looking to study law in the nation’s capital need to give careful consideration to a number of factors before making a final decision on which Washington, DC institutions are the best fit.

If becoming a successful lawyer is your ultimate goal, then you should attend one of the top law schools in the United States. American University Washington College of Law, George Washington University Law School, and Georgetown University Law Center are three of the best law schools in the nation’s capital. Students interested in attending one of the best law schools in Washington, DC can learn more about each of the institutions listed above by reading the descriptions that follow.

Best Law Schools In Washington DC

Best law schools in washington dc

University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

The David A. Clarke School of Law at UDC is well-known for its efforts to diversify the legal profession by attracting students from underrepresented communities. The Clark School of Law was ranked first among older students by The Princeton Review and second among the 200 ABA-accredited law schools with the most diverse faculty. Members of the UDC community hold the view that students will benefit from a more well-rounded education if they have the opportunity to engage with people from a variety of walks of life during their time at the university.

All full-time law students complete at least 600 hours of experiential work under the supervision of faculty in order to gain this exposure to a diverse community. Clinics are where you’ll find people getting their hands dirty for low-income clients. Students in law schools gain valuable experience working on actual cases, which helps them learn to communicate effectively with clients and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios.

Each first-year student at UDC Law completes a required 40 hours of community service for the Law and Justice course, demonstrating their dedication to serving the public. The typical collaborator in this line of work is a DC-based NGO or government agency. For this reason, preLaw magazine has named Clarke University’s School of Law the best in the nation for the number of hours its students devote to service each year.

UDC Law is a fantastic option for students looking for a low-cost law education without sacrificing quality. Tuition is significantly lower than at other regional law schools, and nearly all students (91%) receive some form of financial aid. Students can graduate with less debt thanks to the low cost of attendance, giving them more financial freedom to pursue careers in the public sector if they so choose.

Howard University School of Law

Howard University School of Law

The School of Law at Howard University is among the nation’s oldest, having been founded in 1869. The most prestigious Black college honors the achievements of civil rights heroes like Thurgood Marshall and Pauli Murray. Judges, politicians, and other prominent figures in the law are also among the school’s illustrious alumni. The percentage of students and faculty members from underrepresented groups at Howard University is the highest of any university in the country.

Among institutions dedicated to the study and practice of civil rights law, Howard’s Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center stands out as a national model. It was named after Thurgood Marshall, a former student and the first African-American justice of the United States Supreme Court. The center’s mission is to catalyze social change and advance human rights by fostering cooperation between the spheres of law, policy, academic study, and grassroots organization.

Howard attracts law firms and maintains its status as a top tier institution by providing students with challenging coursework and ample opportunities for practical experience. During the fall recruiting season, over a hundred of the nation’s top law firms make the trek to campus to meet with qualified students. Because of its longevity, the university enjoys decades-long partnerships with well-known businesses. Howard provides its students with the self-assurance and practical skills they need to succeed as lawyers in the real world.

George Washington University Law School

The Law School at George Washington University is widely regarded as one of the best in the country due to its excellent faculty and distinguished alumni. The school’s 24,000 legal and public sector alums form a vast professional and personal resource. There are a total of 150 judges at all levels of government, 10 of whom sit on the Supreme Court. Some of the most influential people in government have graduated from this institution, including a US Attorney General, US Secretaries, heads of state, members of Congress, and directors of the FBI.

The most extensive selection of legal courses anywhere in the country means more options for curious students. There are 275 different electives to choose from at GW Law, covering everything from international law to business law to national security. Thanks to the curriculum’s depth and breadth, law school students can get a taste of many different areas of practice.

Recent graduates can benefit from the variety of courses offered and the connections made with alumni in the competitive job market. After 10 months, 77.8% of 2019’s graduates had secured full-time, permanent jobs that would allow them to sit for the bar exam. Members of the Class of 2019 are now employed by a wide variety of institutions, including but not limited to: law firms of varying sizes, corporations, governmental bodies, law clerkships, and non-profits. High standards for entry can be traced back to the extensive resources available to students at GW’s law school. The average LSAT score of the students admitted to the most recent entering class is 166.

American University Washington College of Law

Collegiate Institution: The United States’s Own American American University’s law school is called Washington College of Law. Located in the Tenleytown neighborhood of northwest Washington, DC, on the western side of Tenley Circle. The College of Law at American University, Washington, offers a variety of degree options. A few examples of these courses of study are the J.D., LL.M., MLS, S.J.D., and Dual Degree Programs. Full-time students can finish the J.D. (Juris Doctor) program in three years, while those who study less frequently will need four.

Students receive a grounding in the law through the core curriculum and then have the freedom to tailor their elective course load to their interests. The law school’s LL.M. program is highly regarded. The LL.M. programs provide a versatile curriculum of specialized law courses and opportunities for experiential learning for recent law school graduates from around the world and the United States. Other than that, the American University Washington College of Law also offers an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree.

It provides both lawyers and non-lawyers with the legal groundwork they need to settle the kinds of disputes that can arise in any field. In addition, the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) is the most unusual doctoral degree available. International law, taxation, criminal justice reform, intellectual property, environmental, and human rights are all covered in the doctor of jurisprudence program. Total annual tuition for a full-time student is $56,724, while the cost for a part-time student is $39,614 per year.

If you want to get into law school, it’s crucial that you visit the school for an interview while dressed neatly, sporting a quality leather belt, a decent tie, and a confident grin. You’ll have much better odds, as lawyers are expected to dress professionally at all times.

Catholic University of America

Catholic University of America

Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., on a residential campus, the Catholic University of America is a nationally ranked research institution with more than 5,700 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in more than 250 majors and concentrations. The number of available law degree programs at Catholic University of America is relatively small.

The Catholic University of America is one of a kind because it is the only university in the United States that was established by bishops from that country. The University was founded in 1887 as a chartered center for graduate and research education, and in 1904 it expanded its offerings to include undergraduate students.

Georgetown University Law Center

Georgetown University, home to the nation’s capital and a Top 15 Law School according to U.S. News & World Report, is home to the Law Center. Given the climate of the political climate, it is not surprising that the Law Center is renowned for its government-focused joint degree programs, such as the JD/PhD that emphasizes law and political processes. The law school at Georgetown has a solid reputation and has produced some notable lawyers, such as Donald Burris, who worked with attorney E. Randol Schoenberg on the landmark case Altmann v. Republic of Austria, which led to the return of five Gustav Klimt paintings stolen by the Nazis in 1944 to Maria Altmann, the rightful heir.

There are more than a dozen legal journals put out by the school, such as the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy, the Georgetown Law Technology Review, and the Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives. There are 20 different research centers, institutes, and initiatives available at Georgetown Law, such as the Center on National Security and the Law, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, and the Georgetown Climate Center. There are also 18 different clinics available, such as the D.C. Street Law Program.

Keep in mind that the application deadline is March 1, so it’s best to start putting your materials together as soon as possible. A high student-faculty ratio (4.8:1) and a high price tag ($63,528) may be justified by the opportunity to drop the name “Georgetown” in conversation.

American University Washington College of Law

American University Washington College of Law

Established on December 5, 1892, by an Act of Congress, American University in Washington is a private research institution with a federal charter. In 1896, the school’s founders were the first women to do so; the school’s first dean was also a woman; and the school’s first graduating class was composed entirely of women.

Today, the institution is widely recognized for its exceptional concentrations in clinical training, part-time law, international law, intellectual property, healthcare, and trial advocacy. Application due date is March 1 and full-time tuition is $54,130, which is less than both Georgeotown and George Washington University.

University of District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

D.C. is home to a public law school, the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. The tuition for full-time in-state students is only $13,438 per year and the out-of-state rate is $17,860, but the pass rate for the Bar Exam is only 50%. We typically accept applicants with a slightly lower LSAT score of 149.

You still have some time to submit your application before it closes on May 1. The submission process is free of charge. The low student-to-teacher ratio of 4:1 allows for lots of one-on-one instruction.

Seattle University School of Law

Seattle University School of Law

Applying to Seattle University’s School of Law will cost you $65 for both full-time and part-time students. The annual full-time tuition is $51,433, while the annual part-time tuition is $34,329. There are seven students for every teacher.

The School of Law at Seattle University has set a deadline of July 15 for applications.

The University of Washington School of Law is centrally located in Seattle, Washington, within easy walking distance of many of the city’s most prestigious law firms, as well as federal and state courts and various government agencies. The American Bar Association (ABA) has obviously acknowledged its legitimacy.

This collection of the top law schools in the nation’s capital features adaptable Juris Doctor (JD), specialized Master of Laws (LLM), specialized Master of Studies in Law (MLS), and joint degree options. There isn’t a better law school in the nation’s capital.

One of the oldest law schools in Washington, it opened its doors in 1972. It has a 127th-place global ranking among the best law schools in the United States and a 26th-place ranking among part-time law school programs.

When compared to other Washington state law schools, PreLaw gives it an A for its focus on public interest law.

Antonia Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

Applications to the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University are currently being accepted online for no cost. Fees for a full-time student are $25,875 (in-state), $41,261 (out-of-state), $19,404 (in-state), and $30,944 (out-of-state). There are about 495 students enrolled, making the student-to-teacher ratio four to one.

Antonin Scalia Law School applications are due at George Mason University on April 30.

As the third-best law school in Washington state, behind Georgetown University Law Center and George Washington University Law School, this Best Law Schools in Washington, DC is ranked 30th in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Students in the legal field can find internship and employment opportunities all year long at local, state, and federal government agencies as well as private law firms.

Students interested in earning a Juris Doctor (JD) degree can choose between daytime and evening classes at George Mason University’s law school, in addition to a joint JD/Master of Public Policy degree. Curriculum paths allow students to specialize in fields like patent law, intellectual property law, and homeland and national security law.

When it comes to Best Law Schools, George Mason University comes in at number 30, but when it comes to Part-Time Law, it ranks fourth. It is widely regarded as one of the finest legal institutions in the nation’s capital.

FAQs

How Do I Get Accepted to a District of Columbia Law School?

The application process is the same whether you’re applying to the top law school in Washington, DC or anywhere else in the country. Taking the LSAT is the first order of business for prospective law students. Although the LSAT is not a prerequisite for law school, the median LSAT scores published by each DC law school provide a good indication of how you measure up to the average applicant to that school. Keep in mind that law schools are looking to enroll the best and brightest students, so give yourself the best possible chance by achieving a high LSAT score.

You need to check out their individual websites to learn more about the prerequisites for applying. If you have them, you should be able to get in.

Averages of standardized test scores (LSAT), grade point averages, and other metrics are used by universities to determine acceptance rates. Admissions are competitive, so it’s important to put forth your best effort.

Some schools have a continuous application period, so it’s important to check their websites and stay in touch to find out when they’re accepting applications.

How long is law school in DC?

In order to meet the residency requirement, a full-time student will need to put in at least three years of study, or six semesters, at the law school.

Why study law in Washington DC?

Whereas law students from other parts of the country typically spend their summers or a single semester in DC gaining experience at federal government agencies, international organizations, and top NGOs, AUWCL students have the opportunity to do so all year long.

Conclusion

There will always be a need for lawyers, so it’s important to get a law degree.

It could be both rewarding and challenging to study law at one of Washington’s top institutions. Prerequisites must be met in order to gain admission to any of the best law schools in Washington.

Anyone who gets into one of the best law schools in Washington, DC has a great shot at making a name for themselves and achieving professional success. The state of Washington has excellent opportunities for learning and working.