Are you a law student? Or are you thinking of pursuing a career in law? One of the most important things about being a law student is choosing the right college, school, or university. Before starting your search, take your time to ascertain your important characteristics and unique priorities of a law school. Place a lot of weight on the area of specialty, location, and size. This will give you a better fit top law school for top law students. Studying law schools in Virginia feels different from studying in other countries and regions. Pursuing a law degree may require specialization in one or more of the following: civil rights, corporate, business, criminal, maritime, health, immigration, contracts, tax, real estate, entertainment, bankruptcy, family, environmental, international, and personal injury.
Top 5 Law Schools in Virginia
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| 2 | William and Mary Law School | Williamsburg, Virginia |
| 3 | Washington and Lee University | Lexington city, Virginia |
| 4 | University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia |
| 5 | Regent University | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
Why you should pursue law
A profession in law can be personally fulfilling, financially rewarding, and intellectually challenging. Some of the major reasons why you should pursue a career in law are as follows:
- Multiple career options: As complex as the legal system can be, the entity has diversified legal career options from non-core to core legal functions. As a law graduate, you can serve as a judge, mediator to secretaries, consultants, and paralegals, or a lawyer. With the always-changing legal system, legal professions are also expanding.
- Financially rewarding: A career in law is one of the most profitable in today’s job market. Associates in some of the best law firms in the country earn hundreds of thousands of dollars while partners earn up to millions of dollars. Several non-lawyers also secure noteworthy financial benefits in the legal profession.
- Diverse practice areas: With increased specializations and segmentation in the legal industry, there has been significant growth in legal sub-specialties and specialties. Legal professions who prefer a career in corporate law can specialize in finance, tax law, mergers, and acquisitions, real estate, and other corporate law areas. Legal professionals who would prefer a career path in litigation can specialize in family law, criminal law, employment law, and many other related areas.
- Awareness of rights and responsibilities: Being a law student, you will be able to acquire knowledge about their rights and responsibilities of each citizen. This will help you act most reasonably. Additionally, the knowledge will help you question some obnoxious laws or advice others to fight for their rights or behave responsibly.
- Making the world a better place: Many people study law so that they can impact their world positively. As a law student, you will always be able to foster matters that concern the public and by that ensure that the world is run well.
- Earns you respect and prestige: Being a law student means always upholding and fighting for justice. With this, you will always earn respect from the people around you. Additionally, law graduates are always successful in their careers, and with success comes prestige and respect.
If you need assistance in finding a university or college that gives you a degree of preference, we can help. Click here to search for your favorite program. Below are the 9 best law schools in Virginia.
Top 9 Law Schools in Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public university that was established in 1819 with the major goal of educating leaders, cultivating an informed citizenry, and advancing human knowledge. The institution offers world-class education and is ranked among the best schools nationally. University of Virginia Law school does not receive government funding but depends on students’ tuition fee payments and funds from private donors. The school has over twenty thousand alumni worldwide. The student-faculty ratio in the school is 7.1 to 1. University of Virginia school of law utilizes a semester calendar and offers degree programs in Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), and Master of Laws (LL.M.). In the 2021 Princeton Review rankings, the school was ranked number one in classroom experience, quality of life and best professors, and number four in best career prospects. The university is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
William and Mary Law School
William and Mary Law school first began in 1779. The institution is committed to nurturing legal students to become magnificent lawyers who will bring change to the world. The law school offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.). Juris Doctor is a combination of Master of Business Administration & Law and Master of Arts in American Studies & Law. On the other hand, the Master of Laws is an American-based Legal system for internal students. The student-faculty ratio in the institution is 7.4 to 1. The school allows students who want to jointly take another degree besides the program. The school is ranked among the top law schools in Virginia because of its level of excellence. The university is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is one of the best law schools in Virginia with an acceptance rate of 24 percent. The enrollment rate of the institution is 2264. The university is privately owned and graduates from Washington and Lee University have an employment rate of 83 percent and a rate of 5 percent to seek an additional degree. The law school is committed to bringing up highly skilled, honorable, and broad-minded law practitioners. The student-faculty ratio in the institution is 7.5 to 1. The majority of the students live within a short drive or walking distance to the school. The university is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is another top law school in Virginia with an acceptance rate of 32 percent. The school has an approximate number of 4350 undergraduates and a student-faculty ratio of 8:1. The University of Richmond is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. In 2021 ranking, the university was ranked number 22 of the best colleges in National Liberal Arts. In a graduation year, about 96 percent of the graduates from Richmond land jobs. The University of Richmond is one of its own; the university is the only one with a spider mascot. It is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
Regent University
Regent University is a Christian school found in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The institution was founded in 1977 under the name Christian Broadcasting Network University. Regent Law school was opened for the first time in 1986 after the University of Oral Roberts School of Law discontinued and donated its materials to Regent school of law. The acceptance rate of the school is 81 percent while the student-faculty ratio is 17:1. Regent law graduates have an employment rate of 95%. The most popular programs in the institution besides law include communications, psychology, and business. The school is ranked number one in Judicial Clerkships and number 14 nationwide. The university is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
Liberty University
Liberty University is the biggest Christian institution in the world and the largest non-profitable school in the US. The university is one of the best law schools in Virginia with an acceptance rate of 24 percent. The student-faculty ratio in the institution is 18 to 1. The school of law has an employment rate of 82 percent and has been certified by the American Bar Association since 2010. The school offers over 600 programs that students can choose from and study in various schools and colleges. Law students must choose their specializations from a list of twelve certificates such as internal law, criminal justice, juvenile and family law, business law, and constitutional law. The university is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
George Mason University
George Mason University is a four-year undergraduate institution based in Virginia. The university has a law school namely George Mason University School of Law with an acceptance rate of 81 percent. The school of law is one of the best in Virginia with a student-faculty ratio of 16 to 1. The school has 717 students in its J.D.., JD/MBA, JD/MPP, and LL.M. programs. George Mason University is ranked 4th among best part-time law school in Virginia and the best law schools in the US. The university is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
Appalachian School of Law
Appalachian School of Law is a law school that offers a three-year J.D degree program in Southwest Virginia. The school has an acceptance rate of 41 percent and a student-faculty ratio of 12.5 to 1. The employment rate of graduates from school is 59.5 percent. Appalachian School of Law is ranked among the best institutions given its level of excellence. The school enrolls about 170 full-time students. The institution is accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Admission and Education to the Bar and the American Bar Association.
School Overview
Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University is one of the top universities in Virginia that was founded in 1960. The institution is situated in an urban setting and has an approximate number of undergraduates of 4837. Christopher Newport University offers a pre-law program to its students in helping them to prepare in joining a law school. While there are no specific courses required to get admission in a law school, general classes in legal reasoning, logic, and constitutional law will help in preparation for Law School Admission Test and many other processes involved in a law school. The school offers courses in constitutional studies and philosophy of law which are very key in such preparations. The university is accredited by the commission of colleges and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
School Overview
Ranking Methodology
These rankings were based on the analysis of best software data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the respective university websites. The schools were ranked based on tuition amounts per year and graduation rate. Both factors were accorded 50 points and each school was assigned points based on how it compared with others on tuition amounts and graduation rates. The points earned for both ranking factors were then added together to get each school’s total score. In cases where there was a tie, the acceptance rate was also considered as a factor for ranking.
Problems with Your Ranking?
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