Suppose one imagines the world of highly-skilled lawyers who guide businesses through complicated agreements or send news fighting the weak. In that case, one city comes to the forefront: New York. It’s not surprising that the city of apples is home to one of the most innovative and highly regarded law schools in the nation and several other notable institutions nearby.
If you’re thinking of pursuing the possibility of a career in law, attending a top law school is crucial to being able to pass the bar exam, getting the right job, and the future of your profession. As important as it is to a top law school, it can be overwhelming to decide on the right law school to apply to and enroll in.
Various options offer different prices, locations, reputations, and locations as. As a third factor, you have to be realistic in deciding which one allows you to enter! If you’re thinking of studying at a law school in New York state, you’re likely to feel overwhelmed. The state has the second-largest number of law schools in the United States compared to California.
To help you find the perfect school, we’ve narrowed the field into our 10 top options.
The Best Law Schools in New York
Columbia University School of Law
Link: www.law.columbia.edu
- National Ranking: 4
- Bar Passage Rates: 98 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $60,000 to $180,000
- Acceptance Rate: 16.8 percent
- LSAT: 170 — 174
- Price: $69,916
Columbia is home to one of the top law schools in the nation. The small private school has a student body of just 350 students. Students who graduate from Columbia go on to the most lucrative and famous law jobs in the United States.
With a success rate of 90%, it’s nearly guaranteed that you’ll pass your bar exam if you take the course and then apply yourself. However, due to the school’s reputation, they’re not able to be selective in whom they will take on.
If you’d like to have a decent chance of being accepted, it is necessary to score the minimum score of 170 on the LSAT. If you’re able to do that, it’s still a challenge as the acceptance rate for the school is just 16.8 percent. Therefore, try your best to complete your application early and be diligent in your studies. The school may also be interested in extracurricular activities. Before you apply, it is recommended to get relevant work experience and consider volunteering opportunities. Although it’s costly, it’s also one of the most effective law schools you can obtain nationwide.
New York University School of Law
Link: www.law.nyu.edu
- National Ranking: 6
- Bar Passage Rate: 97.5 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $60,000 to $180,000
- Acceptance Rate: 23.6 percent
- LSAT: 167 — 172
- Price: $66,422
The school is a private one situated in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. It’s a decent size for a law school, with students of about 1800. The school isn’t easy to enter, but it is a little easier in terms of acceptance rates than those at Columbia and Cornell. However, the school’s curriculum is highly demanding, and the students must be highly dedicated.
NYU law school has a famous campus. The school was founded in 1831. The cost is high, with an excellent bar passing rate and a high post-graduation salary. Still, it’s a good value, though you’ll have to fill out a perfect application to succeed. Although this school has a lively social scene, the academics discourage excessively hedonistic behavior.
Cornell Law School
Link: www.lawschool.cornell.edu
- National Ranking: 13
- Bar Passage Rate: 95.9 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $64,228 to $180,000
- Acceptance Rate: 21.1 percent
- LSAT: 164 — 168
- Price: $65,541
This private, selective university is among the top 15 schools in the United States. They are very particular regarding students who are accepted into the program. You must perform at a high academic level and prove you can keep an equilibrium in your personal life.
It’s not easy to get accepted, as only one out of 5 applicants can be cut. It’s a good thing, but it’s not a choice for lazy people. If you’re willing and able to work hard, you’ll have the best start in your career in law. More important than the curriculum is the support network the law school offers. Alumni are engaged and often happy to coach students who are just graduating. The college campus is stunning and has beautiful buildings that will encourage you.
With only 600 JD students, Cornell University is considered small to mid-sized. The cost of attending Cornell University is higher than average. However, when you have a great LSAT score and financial aid, it is accessible to students.
Fordham University School of Law
Link: www.fordham.edu/info/20346/school_of_law
- National Ranking: 27
- Bar Passage Rate: 92.3 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $61,250 to $180,000
- Acceptance Rate: 25.9 percent
- LSAT: 161 — 166
- Price: $60,406
The private Catholic school has been providing top education since 1841. It takes its inspiration from the tradition of Jesuit values. These values are based on the importance of respect, hard work, and morality. Students who graduate from Fordham are likely to earn salaries similar to those of the top universities on this list.
While the quality of your education is exceptional, the admissions process is somewhat more lenient concerning LSAT scores. You’ll still require a solid academic record and a robust application for admission. There’s plenty of competition for the most coveted places here.
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University
Link: www.cardozo.yu.edu
- National Ranking: 53
- Bar Passage Rate: 85.6 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $60,000 to $70,000
- Acceptance Rate: 40.3 percent
- LSAT: 157 — 162
- Price: $60,610
The Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University is a private law school with a large student body of approximately 1000 students. The bar’s passing rate is slightly lower than other schools, which could be due to the less restrictive admission criteria.
There is a lot of competition to get into the school. However, as long as you score an LSAT score of 157 or higher, you’re a high chance of being accepted. Moderate means you have an excellent chance of getting into a school in the top 50. The campus life is lively, with the law college being an essential portion of the student population. However, the emphasis is on academics.
While it’s a Jewish school, the student body isn’t very religious. There isn’t any religious influence on the curriculum. There is a lot of backing for the Jewish community in the area. Although tuition is high for a school not in the top 50, this school provides the most financial aid for students than the other schools reviewed in the state to date.
St. John’s University School of Law
Link: www.stjohns.edu/law
- National Ranking: 74
- Bar Passage Rate: 88.6 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $62,500 to $79,000
- Acceptance Rate: 41.9 percent
- LSAT: 153 — 160
- Price: $59,480
As the name suggests, it’s a Catholic school. It’s run by a private company and has a good standing, with it being among one of the best law schools in America.
One of the advantages is that it’s reasonably simple to be accepted. LSAT scores are required, but they are lower than what is necessary for many top universities. There’s a fair amount of enrollment, but there are few applicants. There are only 247 students enrolled at the college, which is less than 100 per school year.
The school is located in Queens, a borough in New York City. The school is costly due to being located in New York City. Big Apple, but living in the city’s networking results may help with jobs after graduation. Financial aid programs are offered.
SUNY Buffalo Law School
Link: www.law.buffalo.edu
- National Ranking: 99
- Bar Passage Rate: 77.5 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $54,000 to $62,500
- Acceptance Rate: 57.9 percent
- LSAT: 150 — 156
- Price: $27,964
This law school makes the top 100 rankings and has an entirely above-average reputation. The campus is enormous, with about 19,500 students. However, the law school is small, with just 500 Juris Doctor students. These can be attributed to the large staff ratio of 5.5 students per staff member.
Getting into the program is reasonably simple due to the required scores. The lowest 25 percent of applicants scored less than 150, an average of 40th percentile scores. It is essential to submit your application early, as they still reject more than 500 applicants per year.
The tuition cost in this school is reasonable, far lower than the average of an institution of law among the upper 100. The school also has financial aid programs that are based on need.
Syracuse University College of Law
Link: www.law.syr.edu
- National Ranking: 111
- Bar Passage Rate: 91.4 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $50,750 to $65,000
- Acceptance Rate: 52.1 percent
- LSAT: 152 — 156
- Price: $51,422
Both graduates and experts recommend this small private school located in Syracuse. Its classes are small, with 230 students, so it’s still challenging to get into the school. However, it’s much simpler than trying to be accepted into Columbia or Cornell However, and it’s not a guarantee. A good LSAT is required for admission.
Despite its more minor admissions requirements, the school has a very high bar pass rate, a testament to the quality of education offered there. Although the undergraduate program is known for being criticized for its party-oriented atmosphere and accent on sports, Law school at the university is distinct, and students who do not study hard will not be successful here.
Although tuition is higher than average for schools of this quality, The school also offers financial aid. Post-grad salaries indicate the competitiveness for entry-level post-graduation positions for graduates from New York. Still, diligent students can climb upwards, even though there are more affluent and less competitive jobs in cities such as Albany and Buffalo instead of New York City.
Albany Law School of Union University
Link: www.albanylaw.edu
- Ranking: 118
- Bar Passage Rates: 70.6 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $59,000 to $73,000
- Acceptance Rate: 54.6 percent
- LSAT Range: 151 — 156
- Price: $47,450
There are around 2200 students across the entire campus and 372 at Law School. Although the acceptance rate is only approximately 50 percent, admissions are highly competitive, so it’s crucial to take your application and test scores seriously if you wish to be accepted. If you seek greater attention to detail, the school might be the right choice.
Albany is an independent institution that has a higher than average tuition. Many students do qualify for student aid. The private sector’s salaries are high for schools that aren’t part of the elite 100. The number of positions available for public employees is relatively high, and decent salary levels. It has more to be due to the support for staff networks outside of academics. A career center assists in the placement of graduates in jobs.
Hofstra University Maurice A. Dean School of Law
Link: www.law.hofstra.edu
- National Ranking: 160
- Bar Passage Rate: 68.2 percent
- Post-Graduation Salaries: $61,000 to $70,000
- Acceptance Rate: 48.1 percent
- LSAT: 148 — 155
- Price: $59,214
From a first impression, Hofstra University’s bar’s rite of passage at Hofstra University looks pretty low. It’s even worse compared to the other schools listed on the list. How did Hofstra get to the top 10? At all times, Hofstra is an incredibly decent school. They are selective in admitting just 50% of applicants. Also, the post-graduation salary is higher than those of higher-ranked schools.
The lower rank could be due to fewer scores required for admission. The reason we included this information is the fact that the law school places importance on the real-world aspects of the law. Suppose you intend to become a lawyer and work in the real world. In that case, this emphasis on practical experience is a huge benefit. It can aid in career planning and job placement, with 81% of students working within the first ten months after graduation.
Does the school meet the standards set by Columbia as well as Cornell? It’s not, in the least. However, a few can make it to these best schools in the same way. The school is vast size with approximately 820 students. The school has over 100 professors, which means that the student-to-staff ratio is unbeatable. Overall, you’ll receive an excellent education.
The cost of tuition is relatively high; however, if you’re willing to put in the effort and put in the effort, you’ll get your worth. Faculty members are incredibly welcoming of students eager to do their best. The bar’s passing rate, though not spectacular, is still pretty average for the entire state.
Conclusion
We can see which of our top choices we’ve made with this selection. The top four provide great academic opportunities. However, these are highly-pressured environments and challenging to access on the flip side.
Schools in lower tiers can be equally academically rigorous. Still, they have advantages in individual attention, better job placement, and lower fees.
