Are you an aspirant who wishes to study law in Washington DC? Do you desire to know all the best law schools in Washington DC to help you in making the right choice of school?
If your answers are yes, then this article is for you. We will be looking at the 10 best law schools in Washington DC in it.
Overview
A career in law is becoming more and more lucrative, with the demand for lawyers increasing across the nation. See Best Pre-Law Schools in the US.
The positions available for attorneys are projected to grow 4% over the next decade, with a median salary of $127,000 in 2020. Lawyers are responsible for advising clients and fairly representing them and their legal rights.
They can specialize in a variety of types of law including criminal, defense, prosecution, tax, and environmental.
Before attorneys are eligible to practice law, they need to earn a degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association and pass the bar exam.
Classes in law school cover subjects such as civil procedure, contracts, torts, criminal law, constitutional law, and legal research.
The right law school will prepare you to ace the bar exam and provide crucial practical experience through clinical placements.
Washington DC is one of the best places to practice law, with around 80,000 attorneys in the region.
It is also a diverse and affordable city, perfect for law students to gain hands-on experience at the many courts, firms, corporations, and non-profit organizations.
Law students are uniquely able to contribute to and learn from their surrounding community. See Columbia Law School Acceptance Rate.
Choosing the right law school can be difficult with many great options within the Chicago metropolitan area.
There are many factors to consider, including future job placement, faculty, academic achievements, and public opinion.
Here are the best law schools in Washington DC
- Georgetown University Law Center
- George Washington University Law School
- American University Washington College of Law
- Howard University School of Law
- Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
- University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
1. Georgetown University Law Center
As a T14 school, Georgetown is consistently ranked among the most prestigious law schools in the U.S.
The school’s leading programs in constitutional and international law, along with a high proportion of graduates who work at top law firms, make it a top choice for many aspiring lawyers.
Georgetown Law receives more full-time applications than any other law school in the country, with an impressive 10,000 applicants in 2020. See Georgetown University Transfer Acceptance Rate.
Georgetown is also known nationally for its leadership in clinical legal education. US News ranked the program as 1st in the nation for Clinical Training in 2018.
For more than 50 years, students have learned how to evaluate their legal work and receive focused attention from faculty members in clinical placements.
Each year, 300 students participate in 18 different clinics and are responsible for all facets of their casework.
The Georgetown Law Library supports the research of students and faculty and receives national attention as a premier research facility for the study of law. The library’s mission is to collect, organize, preserve, and disseminate the law.
Along with a collection of nearly 2 million works, the center provides effective service, instructional programs, and electronic information systems for all members of the Georgetown community.
The practical experience through clinical education and research leads to a high success rate in students’ future careers.
2). George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School is known as a top law school with impressive course offerings and accomplished alumni.
The school has a network of more than 24,000 alumni within the law and government. This includes 150 judges on local, state, and federal benches with 10 on the Supreme Court. Within the government,
Law students are able to explore their interests at the school with the largest course offerings in the nation.
George Washington Law has 275 elective courses covering topics from environmental law to national security to business and finance law.
The rich and diverse curriculum allows students to sample a broad array of legal specializations.
The wide variety of courses and alumni connections are useful for recent graduates in the current job market.
In 2019, 77.8% of graduates obtained full-time, long-term, bar passage required employment 10 months after graduation.
The class of 2019 went on to work at law firms of all sizes, businesses, government agencies, clerkships, and public interest organizations.
3. American University Washington College of Law
The Washington College of Law at American University is no stranger to breaking boundaries.
Established in 1896, it was the first law school to be founded by women, the first with a female dean, and the first to graduate an all-female class.
The inspiring history created a tradition of providing opportunities to those who were historically outside of the mainstream legal field.
Presently, the Washington College of Law continues its mission of promoting the public interest through the Equal Justice Foundation.
Since its establishment, the organization has provided over 1,000 stipends to students who work in unpaid internships with public interest organizations.
This allows students to deliver critical services to typically underrepresented members of their community.
Law students also receive a well-rounded legal education through the internationalization of their education.
American College of Law has one of the best study abroad programs in the country, with the ability to study in over 18 countries across five continents.
30% of law students take advantage of this opportunity to be immersed in a different culture and gain a global perspective of the legal profession. Students can work abroad, develop language skills, and learn how to interact with international clients.
There are plenty of extra-curricular activities for law students to use the skills learned in the classroom.
The American University Business Law Review is the first law review in Washington DC dedicated solely to business issues.
Although it was founded only 10 years ago, it is already the #4 commercial law review in the country. The review is edited and produced by students and is committed to publishing high-quality and high-impact pieces.
4. Howard University School of Law
Founded in 1869, the Howard University School of Law is one of the oldest law schools in the country.
The leading historically Black university embraces the legacy of its alumni who fought for social justice, such as Thurgood Marshall and Pauli Murray.
Other distinguished alumni include judges, politicians, and other legal leaders. Howard University proudly boasts an impressive diversity within their community, ranking 1st in terms of the highest percentage of students and professors who are racial or ethnic minorities.
The Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center at Howard is the flagship location for the study and practice of civil rights law.
It is named for alumnus Thurgood Marshall, the key to the US Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education and the first Black Supreme Court justice.
The center aims to fuel social change and expand human rights by promoting collaboration between law, policy, academic study, and grassroots organizations.
Through quality courses and opportunities for hands-on learning, Howard draws in law firms and remains competitive with top law schools.
More than 100 major law firms visit campus for the fall recruiting season, opening opportunities for a diverse pool of candidates.
The school’s longstanding history means that it has formed decades-old relationships with prestigious firms. In addition, graduates from Howard receive the confidence and skills necessary to practice law in the real world.
5. Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
At the Columbus School of Law, students have the opportunity to learn from accomplished professors who are devoted to their success.
The department boasts over 30 full-time faculty members who are experts in a variety of legal fields.
Many have experience in practicing law, from being active in the courtroom to authoring benchmark texts to presenting at top conferences and panels.
Law students also have many opportunities to pursue a specialized concentration through the university’s certificate programs.
These centers are highly selective, accepting around 15 students each year, and have a 25-year record of producing industry leaders within their areas of specialization.
The prestige and reach open limitless career opportunities for graduates. Available certificate programs include Law and Technology, Comparative and International Law, Law and Public Policy, Securities Law, and Compliance, Investigations, and Corporate Responsibility.
Students can also explore specific legal fields through the 40 different organizations on campus, ranging from professional interests to community service.
The Moot Court and Trial teams are popular choices, earning accolades in global competitions.
The Moot Court Association hosts many interscholastic competitions and the most extensive appellate program in the DC metropolitan area.
6. University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
The David A. Clark School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia is known for its mission of recruiting students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented at the bar.
The Princeton Review ranked the Clark School of Law 1st amongst older students and 2nd for the most diverse faculty among 200 other ABA-accredited law schools.
Members of the University of the District of Columbia community believe that students are more likely to be better lawyers if they interact with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
In order to gain this exposure to a diverse community, all full-time law students experience at least 600 hours of experiential work under the supervision of faculty members.
This hands-on work is performed through clinical centers on behalf of low-income clients. See Best Law Schools in Utah.
Law students handle real cases preparing them to work effectively with clients and use their legal knowledge to solve real-world problems.
University of the District of Columbia Law students also demonstrated their dedication to public service through the Law and Justice course, where each first-year student provides a minimum of 40 hours of community service. This work is typically alongside a DC non-profit or government agency.
Conclusion
That was all on the best law schools in Washington DC. You can ask your questions if you have, use the comment section.
Last Updated on May 7, 2023 by Admin
