Washington is home to five accredited law schools.
There are five law schools in the nation's capital. All law schools in Washington, D.C. are approved and fully accredited by the American Bar Association. Washington's law schools all confer Juris Doctor degrees, the first degree in law. They also offer students an array of post-graduate qualifications, including Doctor of Juridical degree and master's degree programs.
University of the District of Columbia
The David A. Clark School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia offers a J.D. degree and Master of Laws degree programs. It has been fully accredited by the American Bar Association since 2005. The law school is one of six ABA-accredited law schools at historically black colleges and universities. The law school is located on the university's main campus, north of downtown Washington.
George Washington University
The George Washington University Law School, also known as GW Law, is a leading law school founded in 1865. In 2010, the law school was ranked 20th out of 184 law programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Students can enroll in more than 250 elective courses at the law school. In addition to granting the J.D. degree, GW Law offers joint degrees combining the J.D. degree with master's degrees in business administration, public administration, public policy, public health, history, international relations and other subjects. It also offers a Master of Laws program in a variety of fields, including environmental law, international law, procurement law and intellectual property law.
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center was established in 1870 and is located at the foot of Capitol Hill. The law school was the first in the country founded by a Jesuit institution of higher learning. Georgetown was ranked 14th among 184 accredited law schools in 2010, by U.S. News & World Report. Georgetown is home to a number of graduate programs in several areas of law and confers J.D., Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science degrees. It also offers a Master of Studies in Law degree, a program designed specifically for working journalists.
Howard University School of Law
A historically black institution, Howard University was chartered in 1867. The university's School of Law was established in 1869 and is located on a dedicated campus north of downtown Washington. The law school has been accredited by the ABA since 1931 and grants on average of 185 Juris Doctor and Master of Laws degrees each year. The School of Law is home to the Institute of Intellectual Property and Social Justice and the World Food Law Institute.
American University
Tracing its history to 1896, the Washington College of Law at the American University was founded by two women, Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett. The law school has a tradition of enhancing the role of those traditionally under-represented in the legal profession. The Washington College of Law was ranked 48th out of 184 law schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report in 2010. Students can obtain both J.D. and LL.M. degrees at the law school, or enroll in a joint degree program with the university's School of International Service, Kogod School of Business, and the School of Public Affairs.
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