Columbia Law School Rankings

Columbia Law School, a professional graduate school of Columbia University, stands as one of the most prestigious and influential law schools in the world. Situated in the heart of New York City, Columbia Law has consistently earned its place among the top law schools in the United States and globally. With a rich history, exceptional academic offerings, distinguished faculty, and an unparalleled network of alumni, Columbia Law School is a beacon of legal excellence.

Academic Programs

Columbia Law School offers a range of degree programs designed to equip students with the legal knowledge, critical thinking skills, and professional training needed for successful careers in law. These include the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program, Master of Laws (LL.M.), and Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) programs. Each program is designed to provide students with specialized legal training, intellectual depth, and practical experience.

Juris Doctor (J.D.) Program

The J.D. program at Columbia Law is a three-year, full-time course of study that provides students with a comprehensive legal education. The J.D. program is known for its rigor, academic depth, and a wide range of available specializations.

Master of Laws (LL.M.) Program

Columbia Law School’s LL.M. program is one of the most prestigious advanced legal studies programs in the world. The LL.M. is a one-year program designed for lawyers who have earned a first law degree from outside the United States and wish to gain specialized legal knowledge in U.S. law. The LL.M. program offers a broad curriculum in areas such as corporate law, international law, intellectual property law, human rights law, and tax law. Students can choose from a variety of course tracks and areas of concentration depending on their professional goals and interests.

Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) Program

The J.S.D. program is Columbia Law’s highest academic degree, designed for students who already hold an LL.M. and wish to pursue advanced research in law. The J.S.D. program is research-intensive and culminates in the completion of a dissertation that makes an original contribution to legal scholarship. J.S.D. students work closely with faculty members, who are renowned legal scholars, to develop and refine their research topics. Graduates of the J.S.D. program often go on to become professors, researchers, or policy advisors at leading academic institutions, think tanks, or government organizations.

Special Student Program

Columbia Law also offers a Special Student Program for those who wish to take individual courses without committing to a full-time degree program. This program is ideal for legal professionals or scholars who seek to expand their knowledge in specific areas of law without pursuing a formal degree.

Rankings and Recognition

Columbia Law School consistently ranks among the top law schools in the United States and globally. As of the 2010 U.S. News & World Report, Columbia ranked 4th overall among the best law schools in the nation, a position it has held for many years. The Law School also excels in specialized areas of law, consistently ranking highly for intellectual property law (4th) and international law (2nd) in the 2009 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Columbia Law School is also recognized for being among the most selective law schools in the country, earning the 6th position for "Toughest to Get Into" in the Princeton Review: Best 170 Law Schools Rankings 2008. Additionally, Columbia ranks 8th in the Thomas E. Brennan: Judging the Law Schools Ranking and 7th in Vault’s Top 25 Law Schools Ranking (2008). These rankings reflect Columbia’s reputation for producing top-tier legal professionals, its intellectual rigor, and the caliber of its students and faculty.

The Law School’s National Law Journal ranking as 1st in “Go-To Law Schools” is particularly notable, as it indicates that Columbia Law graduates are highly sought after by the nation’s largest and most prestigious law firms. In 2007, about 75% of Columbia Law’s graduates took jobs with the top 250 law firms in the United States, demonstrating the school’s strong placement record.