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Law Schools and Programs in The United States

71 schools in The United States teach Law.

  • Stetson University

    University DeLand, The United States In an official register

    Stetson University is an independent institution of higher learning, established in 1883, operating four colleges and schools across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. The Center for International…

Law Studies in The United States

Law in the United States is not a first degree as it is in Spain or Latin America. Future lawyers first complete a bachelor's degree in any field and then go to law school for a professional degree, the Juris Doctor (JD). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), becoming a lawyer usually takes seven years of full-time study after high school: four years of undergraduate study followed by three years of law school. Foreign lawyers who want to learn U.S. law usually take a one-year Master of Laws (LLM). SpainExchange lists 72 colleges and universities in the United States under law, from law schools to universities with legal studies and community colleges with paralegal programmes.

How legal education is organised

  • Undergraduate study: a bachelor's degree usually takes four years. Most law schools do not require a specific major; common fields include law and legal studies, history and social science
  • Juris Doctor (JD): the three-year degree that most states require from an accredited law school before a lawyer can be licensed
  • Master of Laws (LLM): a one-year degree for lawyers who already hold a law degree, often from another country, or for JD graduates who want to specialise, for example in tax
  • Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD): a research doctorate, offered by schools such as Suffolk University Law School in Boston
  • Other master's degrees for non-lawyers, such as the Juris Master (JM) at Florida International University (FIU) College of Law
  • Paralegal studies: paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate degree or certificate in paralegal studies

Law schools are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA); FIU, for example, refers applicants to the ABA list of accredited law schools. Suffolk Law offers several LLM options, from a general LLM to Global Law & Technology.

Admission and language

JD applicants need a bachelor's degree and usually an admission test. At FIU College of Law, for example, all JD applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and applications go through the Credential Assembly Service of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Teaching is in English, and universities require an English proficiency test before admission. For a full degree, international students need a student visa: once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the international student office issues the Form I-20 used in the visa application.

Foreign law graduates have two main routes. The LLM is designed for foreign attorneys who want to understand U.S. law and legal culture. Some schools also offer a JD with advanced standing: at FIU, students can receive up to 30 credit hours for prior legal studies in another country and may finish the JD in about two years of full-time study.

Costs

Law school is expensive, and fees are set by each school. FIU College of Law lists annual full-time JD tuition of $21,407 for Florida residents and $39,432 for non-residents, and tuition of $24,726.30 for its one-year LLM, plus fees (checked October 2026).

Where to study law

New York has the most schools in this directory (five), followed by Miami and Boston (four each), and Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver and Chicago (two each). Examples include universities with law schools such as Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, New York University, Stanford University and The University of Chicago; universities in the main legal centres, such as Fordham University in New York, Suffolk University in Boston and Florida International University in Miami; and community colleges such as Bergen Community College in New Jersey.

Recognition and the bar exam

A law degree alone does not allow a person to practise. Lawyers need a state licence, which usually requires passing a bar examination; requirements vary by state and jurisdiction, and rules for federal courts differ. A bar exam score can be transferred to other jurisdictions that accept it. Foreign-trained lawyers should check the state's bar admission agency before choosing an LLM, because eligibility rules differ.

Careers

Lawyers work in law firms, companies (as in-house counsel), government and non-profit organisations. According to BLS, 52% of lawyers work in legal services. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 28,700 openings a year. For foreign lawyers, Suffolk Law presents the LLM as a way to gain practical, specialised legal knowledge that makes them more competitive in the job market.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study law in the United States straight after high school?

Not as a professional law degree. The JD is a graduate degree that requires a bachelor's degree first, although undergraduates can major in legal studies or take paralegal programmes.

What is the difference between a JD and an LLM?

The JD is the three-year first professional degree in law in the United States. The LLM is usually a one-year degree for people who already hold a law degree, including foreign lawyers.

Do I need the LSAT?

Most JD programmes ask for an admission test. FIU College of Law, for example, accepts the LSAT or the GRE. LLM programmes set their own requirements, so check each school.

Can a foreign lawyer practise in the United States after an LLM?

It depends on the state. Each state sets its own bar admission rules, so check with the state's licensing agency before you apply.