by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, law was the 28th most popular major nationwide with 36,216 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 1,466 over the prior year, a growth of 4.0%.
Our 2023 Best Law Schools ranking analyzes 167 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for law students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of law programs later in this article.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is a required skill for law majors. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific law careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different law degree levels. Law programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest law degree you can get. Depending on the law degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to law, with approximately 35.1% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for law workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 36.7% |
| First Professional Degree | 28.8% |
| High School Diploma | 7.2% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 6.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5.7% |
Most workers in law have at least a master's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in law have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the law career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your law degree? Law careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to law.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyers | 857,500 | 8.2% |
| Judges, and Magistrates | 30,000 | 5.6% |
| Law Professors | 23,800 | 12.3% |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | 16,000 | 3.9% |
| Judicial Law Clerks | 14,800 | 5.7% |
Recently graduated law students earned an average of $64,315 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $15,041 to as high as $193,362. As you might expect, salaries for law graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for law graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers law grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Lawyers | $144,230 |
| Law Professors | $130,710 |
| Judges, and Magistrates | $121,130 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $101,210 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $72,760 |
With over 226 different law degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased law school rankings to help you with this.
Law is one of 4 different types of Legal Professions programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Legal Support Services | 11,545 |
| Legal Research | 6,874 |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies | 4,407 |
| Legal Professions (Other) | 2,013 |
