18 Best Law Schools in California in 2024
November 9, 2023
If you think you would like to practice law in California, you should consider applying to a range of California law schools. Below, you’ll find a list of American Bar Association (ABA) approved California law schools, ranked according to the US News & World Report. US News has ranked these 18 schools according to successful placement of graduates, faculty resources, achievements of entering students, and opinions of law professionals. In addition to the school’s median LSAT scores and GPAs, acceptance rates, and tuition information, you will find some additional information on each law school, from location specifics to unique academic programs that set the school apart.
Some factors to consider…
Public or private?
If you are already a California resident, it could be most cost-effective to attend a public California school, such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, or UC Irvine, schools that offer in-state tuition significantly lower than out-of-state.
Full-time or part-time?
A full-time program might be the most efficient and immersive way of completing a law degree. However, for many students who work full-time jobs or have families, part-time programs (which often offer flexible evening and summer courses) can make a law degree more feasible. Part-time programs generally cost less, while still offering excellent resources to students and graduating successful alumni across legal areas.
Location?
While programs in southern California place students in close proximity to the LA entertainment industry, schools in the San Francisco Bay Area provide access to Silicon Valley firms and corporations. No matter the location, excellent programs can be found in all areas, from International Law, to Health Care Law, to Environmental Law, and more.
Qualifications?
As you read this list, pay close attention to the median LSAT scores and GPAs of entering students. If you have an LSAT score of 165, for example, you may qualify for schools in the top 10 on this list, but not the top 5. That said, this is not an absolute, since admissions consider a variety of factors.
Follow these links for more information on LSAT score percentiles and top law school rankings nationwide. If you’re curious about how to prepare yourself for applying to law school down the road, we recommend these articles on feeder programs into top law schools and best pre-law summer programs.
Ranking of ABA-approved law schools in California
1) Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
With top three rankings in Intellectual Property Law, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law, Stanford ties with Yale University for number one Law School overall. The program is student-centered, with a close-knit community and collaboration between students and faculty. SLS students often build their own joint-degree programs as they take courses across campus, and they have access to unique interest areas such as American Indian & Indigenous Law and International & Comparative Law.
- U.S. News Ranking: #1
- Median LSAT Score: 173
- Median GPA: 3.92
- Acceptance Rate: 6.9%
- Tuition: $71,610
- Law School Specialties: Intellectual Property Law, Criminal Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, Business/Corporate Law, Healthcare Law
2) University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
UC Berkeley does not use letter grades or GPAs, and students are not ranked against their peers. The program offers specialized curricular programs in areas such as Energy and Clean Technology Law, as well as unique survey courses such as Wine Law. Due to student-run clinics and opportunities to become locally involved, Berkeley is a great school for those who want to practice law in the Bay Area after graduating.
- U.S. News Ranking: #10
- Median LSAT Score: 170
- Median GPA: 3.83
- Acceptance Rate: 12.5%
- In-State Tuition: $59,306
- Out-of-State Tuition: $67,816
- Law School Specialties: Intellectual Property Law, Environmental Law, Business/Corporate Law, Constitutional Law, Contracts/Commercial Law
3) University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
The UCLA School of Law has close to 20 clinics for students to get hands-on legal experience, as well as 20 research centers and programs, including the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy. This program promises an immersive, inventive, and intellectually challenging approach to learning.
- U.S. News Ranking: #14
- Median LSAT Score: 171
- Median GPA: 3.9
- Acceptance Rate: 15.5%
- In-State Tuition: $53,910
- Out-of-State Tuition: $64,417
- Law School Specialties: Environmental Law, Trial Advocacy, Tax Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law, Business/Corporate Law
Best Law Schools in California (Continued)
4) University of Southern California (Gould) (Los Angeles, CA)
The oldest law school in the southwest, USC Gould School of Law was established in 1896. It is known for its innovative curriculum and diverse student population, as it was one of the first law schools to enroll women, racial/ethnic minority students, and international students.
- U.S. News Ranking: #16
- Median LSAT Score: 168
- Median GPA: 3.87
- Acceptance Rate: 12.7%
- Tuition: $73,998
- Law School Specialties: Business/Corporate Law, Contracts/Commercial Law, Environmental Law, Tax Law
5) University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA)
UC Irvine is known for its high-quality clinical education and ability for students to participate in pro bono work throughout their three years in the program. Students are required to take a core clinical course during their first year, and overall, students provide over 60,000 volunteer hours performing legal services for those who would not otherwise afford them.
- U.S. News Ranking: #1
- Median LSAT Score: 167
- Median GPA: 3.72
- Acceptance Rate: 19.5%
- In-State Tuition: $54,183
- Out-of-State Tuition: $64,298
- Law School Specialties: Clinical Training, Tax Law, Legal Writing, Intellectual Property Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Law
6) Pepperdine University (Caruso) (Malibu, CA)
The Rick J. Caruso School of Law is located on Pepperdine’s scenic Malibu campus, and offers opportunities for students to earn joint degrees with Master’s degrees in Business and Management, Divinity, or Public Policy. This program boasts a highly ranked specialty in dispute resolution, and students often join legal journals and a variety of special institutes and programs. Pepperdine’s School of Law is affiliated with the Churches of Christ and is dedicated to expressing Christian principles, though students of all faiths are welcome.
- U.S. News Ranking: #45
- Median LSAT Score: 164
- Median GPA: 3.85
- Acceptance Rate: 27.7%
- Tuition: $63,660
- Law School Specialties: Dispute Resolution, Tax Law, Clinical Training, International Law, Constitutional Law, Business/Corporate Law
Best Law Schools in California (Continued)
7) Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
This law school, located in downtown LA, has full-time and part-time options. In proximity to entertainment industry companies, students have the opportunity to complete an Entertainment Law Practicum for hands-on experience with employers such as Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Television.
- U.S. News Ranking: #60
- Median LSAT Score: 161
- Median GPA: 3.69
- Acceptance Rate: 34.4%
- Full-Time Tuition: $63,412
- Part-Time Tuition: $42,436
- Law School Specialties: Trial Advocacy, Tax Law, Criminal Law, Legal Writing
8) University of California College of the Law (San Francisco, CA)
This program is located in close proximity to local state and federal courts, and offers hands-on training in legal clinics and simulation courses. The school also emphasizes legal writing, with students taking a small-group writing course their first year and writing a substantial legal paper before graduation.
- U.S. News Ranking: #60
- Median LSAT Score: 160
- Median GPA: 3.59
- Acceptance Rate: 29%
- In-State Tuition: $46, 034
- Out-of-State Tuition: 52,454
- Law School Specialties: Dispute Resolution, Health Care Law, Environmental Law, Tax Law, Trial Advocacy, International Law
9) University of California, Davis (Davis, CA)
UC Davis Law students have the option to spend a semester in Washington D.C. and complete externships through a University of California system offered to law students at UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. This program is home to centers for research and policy including the California International Law Center and the California Environmental Law and Policy Center.
- U.S. News Ranking: #60
- Median LSAT Score: 165
- Median GPA: 3.7
- Acceptance Rate: 25.2%
- In-State Tuition: $53,086
- Out-of-State Tuition: $65,087
- Law School Specialties: Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, Business/Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Law
Best Law Schools in California (Continued)
10) University of San Diego (San Diego, CA)
Another program with full-time and part-time options, the University of San Diego School of Law offers joint degree programs with the School of Business Administration and the Department of Political Science and International Relations. Students can find opportunities through USD centers and institutes, including the Energy Policy Initiatives Center, the Children’s Advocacy Institute, the Center for the Study of Constitutional Originalism, and the Institute for Law and Philosophy. The school also offers study abroad programs in London, Barcelona, Florence, and Paris.
- U.S. News Ranking: #78
- Median LSAT Score: 161
- Median GPA: 3.74
- Acceptance Rate: 34.5%
- Full-Time Tuition: $60,861
- Part-Time Tuition: $45,091
- Law School Specialties: Tax Law, Constitutional Law, Intellectual Property Law, Criminal Law, Business/Corporate Law
11) Chapman University (Fowler) (Orange, CA)
The Fowler School of Law boasts its distinguished faculty, collegial environment, and enviable location in Southern California. Faculty members include former U.S. Supreme Court Clerks, a Nobel Prize winner, and a former five-term U.S. congressman. With a personal and hands-on approach to legal training, Chapman University could be a great fit for those looking to study law full- or part-time.
- U.S. News Ranking: #109
- Median LSAT Score: 161
- Median GPA: 3.63
- Acceptance Rate: 28.7%
- Full-Time Tuition: $59,500
- Part-Time Tuition: $47,520
- Law School Specialties: Trial Advocacy, Legal Writing, Environmental Law, Tax Law, International Law, Contracts/Commercial Law
12) Southwestern Law School (Los Angeles, CA)
This program boasts its inclusive community and approachable faculty. Located in the center of LA, students can access work in courts, as well as the entertainment industry. Students can choose to either follow a broad-based or personalized law curriculum focusing on a personal area, while choosing from over 200 elective courses.
- U.S. News Ranking: #141
- Median LSAT Score: 154
- Median GPA: 3.36
- Acceptance Rate: 50.4%
- Full-Time Tuition: $56,146 (same in-state and out-of-state)
- Part-Time Tuition: $37,447 (same in-state and out-of-state)
- Law School Specialties: Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property Law, Trial Advocacy, International Law, Contracts/Commercial Law
Best Law Schools in California (Continued)
13) University of the Pacific (McGeorge) (Sacramento, CA)
The McGeorge School of Law is based in California’s capital city, which has shaped its development as a strong program in public and international law. The school offers online graduate programs, which still allow for interaction with McGeorge classmates and faculty, making it a great option for maximum student flexibility.
- U.S. News Ranking: #141
- Median LSAT Score: 155
- Median GPA: 3.47
- Acceptance Rate: 55.3%
- Full-Time Tuition: $57,788
- Part-Time Tuition: $38,524
- Law School Specialties: Trial Advocacy, Legal Writing, Dispute Resolution, International Law
14) Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, this law school places students in reach of a variety of Silicon Valley corporations and law firms. Students can enroll in full-time programs or in part-time evening, summer, or semester programs to fit their already-busy schedules. The program offers a High-Tech Law curriculum, as well as a Biotech Law curriculum. It is recognized for its high-ranked for intellectual property law program.
- U.S. News Ranking: #158
- Median LSAT Score: 158
- Median GPA: 3.42
- Acceptance Rate: 52.3%
- Full-Time Tuition: $56,488 (same in-state and out-of-state)
- Part-Time Tuition: $43,336 (same in-state and out-of-state)
- Law School Specialties: Intellectual Property Law, International Law, Legal Writing, Tax Law, Business/Corporate Law
15) University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
The School of Law at the University of San Francisco provides opportunities for students to work closely with local firms in many areas, from tech law in Silicon Valley to immigration law in clinics throughout the Bay Area. The program values rigorous research and mindful practices.
- U.S. News Ranking: #165
- Median LSAT Score: 155
- Median GPA: 3.42
- Acceptance Rate: 46.4%
- Full-Time Tuition: $52,660
- Law School Specialties: Health Care Law, Environmental Law, International Law, Intellectual Property Law, Tax Law, Clinical Training, Criminal Law
16) California Western School of Law (San Diego, CA)
This program promotes creative problem solving and the combining of legal theory and practice. The oldest law school in San Diego, its mission is to “train ethical, competent and compassionate lawyers, representative of our diverse society, who can use the law effectively and creatively.” The program offers a variety of clinics, such as the California Innocence Project and New Media Rights, through which students can graduate already having experience with real-world clients and cases.
- U.S. News Ranking: #175
- Median LSAT Score: 153
- Median GPA: 3.35
- Acceptance Rate: 49.3%
- Full-Time Tuition: $58,350
- Part-Time Tuition: $43,550
- Law School Specialties: Legal Writing, International Law, Intellectual Property Law, Trial Advocacy, Health Care Law
Best Law Schools in California (Continued)
17) Golden Gate University (San Francisco, CA)
The School of Law at Golden Gate University boasts small classes and a dedicated staff, with structures in place to support students with career development and Bar Exam preparation. The school is ranked as one of the top programs for diversity in the U.S., offering training for students to become “exceptional lawyers and socially conscious members of the global community.”
- U.S. News Ranking: #180-196
- Median LSAT Score: 154
- Median GPA: 3.15
- Acceptance Rate: 25.5%
- Full-Time Tuition: $52,800
- Part-Time: $42,800
- Law School Specialties: Environmental Law, Trial Advocacy, Clinical Training, Legal Writing
18) Western State College of Law at Westcliff University (Irvine, CA)
With flexible weekend and evening programs, this law program has alumni across public and private sector legal practice areas, including 150 California judges. Located in southern California, the program is known for its small classes and personal attention from teaching-focused faculty.
- U.S. News Ranking: #180-196
- Median LSAT Score: 151
- Median GPA: 3.23
- Acceptance Rate: 44.6%
- Full-Time Tuition: $45,085
- Part-Time Tuition: $30,305
- Law School Specialties: Business/Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Tax Law
Best Law Schools in California – Additional Resources
We hope you have enjoyed this article on the best California law schools. You may also enjoy the following law school content from College Transitions:
