A formidable, marble building set against a stone, gray sky
There is a general consensus from some reliable sources, such as U.S. News & World Report and the Internet Legal Research Group, who each understand the attributes that a high-quality law school should have. As such, most of the schools that consistently top these lists are based in the United States or the United Kingdom, and have long track records, ample resources and very experienced faculty.
University of California, Berkeley Law
Berkeley Law ranks number one in the country on the Internet Legal Research Group's Top Twenty Law Schools based on the Composite Index. The school, which was founded in 1868, accepts approximately 270 students out of the 7,000 who apply annually. It currently boasts a stellar 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It was the first law school to start an environmental law program, and it has a focus on emerging fields, multidisciplinary training, global perspectives and adaptable legal skills.
University of California, Berkeley Law
215 Boalt Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-642-1741
law.berkeley.edu
Columbia Law School
Columbia is consistently listed in the top five worldwide law schools by most respected composite indexes, often in the number two or three position. Popular course areas include Administrative Law and Public Policy, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Intellectual Property & Technology, Human Rights and Family Law. In addition, the school is home to the Arthur W. Diamond Law Library, founded in 1859, which provides access to a wide range of legal database services and holds more than a million volumes of material.
Columbia Law School
435 W. 116th St.
New York, NY 10027
212-854-2640
law.columbia.edu
Yale Law School
Yale Law School first emerged in the early 19th century as a result of apprenticeship programs that developed in the area's local law offices. Recently, it was ranked as 2010's best law school by U.S. News & World Report. It focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching law and offers small classes, hands-on clinical training, world renowned faculty and a strong encouragement toward public service. None of the first-term courses are graded, and all subsequent classes are graded either "honors," "pass" or "low pass."
Yale Law School
127 Wall St.
New Haven, CT 06511
203-432--4992
law.yale.edu
Harvard Law School
Ranked number two in U.S. News & World Report's 2010 list of the best law schools, Harvard prides itself on a dedicated faculty whose expertise spans a wide range of legal subjects, a diverse body of almost 1,900 students from every state, and nearly 70 different countries. There are approximately 250 full-time professors, visiting professors, instructors and law lecturers combined teaching more than 260 different courses in both traditional and emerging fields. Students can either earn a JD, an LLM or an SJD degree.
Harvard Law School
1563 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-3100
law.harvard.edu
Oxford University - Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law at Oxford is consistently ranked by most respected composite indexes as one of the best law schools outside of the United States. It offers a three-year and four-year BA in Law and several postgraduate programs, including the BCL for common-law graduates, MJur for non-common-law graduates, MSc in Law and Finance, MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and the part-time diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice. There are also numerous scholarships and an academic exchange program with NYU.
Oxford University
The Faculty of Law
St Cross Bldg., St Cross Rd.
Oxford, England OX1 3UL
+011 (44) 186 527 1491
law.ox.ac.uk
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