Best Law Schools on the East Coast: A Complete Guideline

East Coast Legal Education Overview

The East Coast is home to some of the most prestigious and historically significant law schools in the United States. The tradition and reputation of these institutions provide a competitive edge for students who graduate from East Coast law schools. Not only do these schools offer a rigorous legal education, but they also have strong connections to prominent legal communities in the Northeast. Moreover, many of the leading law firms in the country are headquartered in East Coast cities, creating a lucrative job market for graduates.
The concentration of law firms along the East Coast provides students with unmatched opportunities for internships and externships. New York City, for example, is a hub for legal employment . With a variety of practice areas including corporate, entertainment, tax, and intellectual property law, students graduating from New York law schools can find work in a wide range of fields. Internship opportunities with government agencies and non-profits can provide perspective and experience to lesser-known law schools.
Legal education on the East Coast has a unique history, as long-standing schools integrate new technology and modern legal principles into their curricula. The East Coast is also home to several distinguished law professors, many of whom are editors for some of the most popular textbooks in law school classes. The longstanding traditions and faculty reputations make the East Coast a desirable place to study law.

Harvard Law School Spotlight

When it comes to law schools on the East Coast, Harvard Law School is often regarded as the pinnacle. Founded in 1817, the law school has consistently produced some of the most influential legal minds in American history. While its rigorous curriculum is notoriously challenging, those who graduate from Harvard Law are in high demand. The school has one of the largest and most successful alumni networks in the world, with graduates including several U.S. presidents, Supreme Court justices and prominent business leaders. One of the reasons why Harvard Law is so prestigious is that it has a number of distinguished professors on its faculty. Currently, the staff includes Nobel Prize winners, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks and several world-renowned experts. The school’s research facilities are also state-of-the-art. While their reputation precedes them, getting into Harvard Law isn’t easy. Acceptance rates are less than 10 percent, making the school one of the most selective in the country. Most successful applicants show strong academic performance.

Yale Law School Overview

Among the top law schools on the East Coast, Yale Law School continues to set itself apart not only by providing a unique academic experience but through its esteemed traditions that are deeply rooted in the school’s culture. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale Law School was established in 1817, making it one of the first law schools in the country. The school is known for its academic excellence as well as its strong tradition of scholarship and public service. As a close-knit community that allows its students to thrive academically, Yale Law School provides its students with an opportunity to become leaders in their chosen field. Whether pursuing a career in academia or professional law practice, the advanced and interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to take advantage of the school’s unique academic environment. The large number of student law journals offered at the school—including the Yale Law Journal, the Yale Review of Law and Social Action, the Yale Journal of International Law, the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law and Ethics, the Yale Journal of Law and the Humanities, the Yale Journal on Regulation and the Yale Law and Policy Review—shows the high regard the school has for research, writing and journal management. The school consistently boasts the highest number of career clerks for federal judges in the nation, with more than a third of the students earning clerkships and law review editors being hired at a significantly higher rate than other students. Yale Law School offers its students a unique program of legal education that continues to be a model for those offered throughout the country. Ranked at the top of U.S. News & World Report’s "Best Law Schools," Yale Law School’s academic curriculum provides much of its appeal with a "study what you want" program. This allows students to select courses from all three Yale graduate and professional schools, enabling them to pursue their personal interests while simultaneously diversifying their education. The school’s physical structure is also quite distinctive. The library is the largest law library in the Western Hemisphere and holds a collection of more than one million volumes. Located in the Sterling Law Building, the library has been a model for others and is the largest legal research facility in the world. The stone-clad building, designed by architects John Russell Pope and William B. Tubby, is home to over 400 events each year. They include lectures by prominent speakers such as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and prominent scholars in the legal field. There is also a significant tradition of public service at Yale Law School that appeals to many students. The school hosts many extracurricular activities and symposiums (often co-sponsored with other Yale departments) where students can make important contributions on issues that affect social justice.

Columbia Law School Advantages

Columbia Law School in New York City offers inherent advantages that are the envy of students enrolled at not only other East Coast law schools, but other top rated law schools nationwide. As part of Columbia University, a sprawling private Ivy League Research institution on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, it presents students the opportunity to live and learn in one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world.
Among the school’s most sought-out features is the very aspect of which most people think is most important to New York City — location. Situated on 20th street and Amsterdam Avenue, Columbia Law School is walking distance from some of the largest legal firms in the city, including Sidley Austin, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Skadden.
Columbia Law School is the oldest law school in New York and third-oldest law school in the United States. It was also one of the very first institutions to grant the LL.B degree to students before the degree was altered to the J.D., thus being of the first to make a monumental alteration in legal education in the United States.
Of note for any aspiring New York City law student, Columbia has produced more presidents than any other law school in the United States. That’s right, four of them – Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Barack Obama. The school also boasts a large number of Supreme Court justices as alumni, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor and many sitting U.S. circuit judges.
Among the top faculty on Columbia Law School’s roster is John Coffee Jr., who holds the position of Adolf A. Berle Professor of Law at Columbia Law School. He has also written an influential book in the field of Public Policy titled, "Gatekeepers: The Professions and Corporate Governance". Other notable faculty members include Robert R. Wirbil, the David W. Berg Professor.

University of Pennsylvania Highlights

One defining aspect of the University of Pennsylvania Law School is the interdisciplinary opportunities available to its students. The law school encourages a unique approach to the study of law that is modeled after its undergraduate program at Wharton, one of the first business schools and a pioneer in interdisciplinary education. For that reason, it is unsurprising that Penn boasts 13 interdisciplinary programs, such as its joint program with the School of Medicine and joint certificate with the Graduate School of Education. These programs allow law students to approach emerging fields by exploring the ways in which these fields intersect with the law.
Specifically, the Wharton School offers several joint degree programs with the law school: Juris Doctor/Master in Business Administration (JD/MBA), JD/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA), JD/Master of Public Policy (JD/MPP), and JD/Doctor of Philosophy (JD/PhD). In addition, the Institute of Law and Economics (ILE) accepts law students into its doctoral programs, including PhDs in health care and global business.
The law school’s interdisciplinary certificates allow students to pursue education in other disciplines without having to commit to a more traditional joint degree program. For example, through its partnership with the Graduate School of Education, law students can earn certificates with specializations in higher education, education policy or international education. Similarly, through its collaboration with the School of Social Policy and Practice, students can earn certificates in child advocacy, environmental policy, local government and multi-sectoral leadership.

Distinct Features of Georgetown Law

Georgetown Law has several unique and distinguishing special features. For one, Georgetown University Law Center is located a short walk from the U.S. Capitol building and the Supreme Court – the national seat of American law. There are also two additional federal court houses within a short metro ride of campus, and in all, there are 12 federal court houses in the D.C. metro area. The law school even has a specialized foreign-trained LL.M. program for judges and legal professionals through the Law Studies Program, contributing to the large number of international students on campus.
Washington, D.C. is unique in that it is both a legal and political capital , meaning it has numerous opportunities for government lawyers. With all the major federal government institutions in close proximity, Georgetown Law students can take advantage of several dynamic advantages offered by the city.
There are two other prestigious law schools in the D.C. area: Washington & Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia and George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. Both schools offer similar academic quality, ranking, and competitive admissions.
Georgetown Law offers several programs specific to the region, from Certificate Programs in Litigation and Dispute Resolution to a Judicial Clerkship Academy.

Duke University School of Law Profile

Duke University School of Law has significantly bolstered its reputation on the East Coast. It joins Yale, Harvard, NYU, Columbia and Georgetown as among the top half-dozen law schools in the East, with Yale seeming out of reach for most but NYU, Columbia, Georgetown and Duke as all compelling places to get a legal education. Duke Law combines many of the traditional courses of study with cutting-edge innovations, including remarkable opportunities for international study and a formal Program in Law and Entrepreneurship that stands alone in the United States. There are joint degree programs available at the MBA level with Duke’s Fuqua School of Business to round out your law degree with business acumen, which is invaluable for many attorneys in today’s climate.
Global Perspectives: This is one of those law schools that makes law school seem really exciting by offering 4-week, 6-week and other flexible course formats while introducing students to international lawyers through programs run at sites worldwide. For example, in the Summer International Associate Exchange Program, Duke law students pair with foreign associates in large multinational law firms for 10 to 12 weeks of cross-national training and then return to North Carolina for two weeks of coursework and a BBQ for the international guests. The JD/LLM Program in International and Comparative Law gives students the chance to build a global network of elite international law experts while being immersed in foreign law. This global focus makes Duke Law both a wise and creative choice for budding attorneys.

Cornell Law School and Ivy League Qualities

As an Ivy League institution, Cornell Law School not only offers a stellar education to its students, but also maintains the high standards and integrity associated with being a member of an elite group. The school’s commitment to maintaining Ivy League standards has had a significant impact on the wider legal community, as applicants must likewise commit to these standards in order to be considered for admission.
Cornell Law School requires students to maintain a high level of academic excellence throughout their studies. This expectation is reflected in the school’s rigorous grading policy, as well as in the profiles of successful applicants. In recent years, the median LSAT scores for admitted students has been consistently within the top 10% of all law schools nationwide, placing Cornell Law in elite company among the nation’s law schools. Similarly, the median GPA score for admitted students is often close to or above the median found at similarly high-ranking schools such as Yale Law, Stanford Law or Harvard Law.
Students who meet Cornell Law School’s admission expectations can take full advantage of everything the school has to offer once they are admitted. Cornell Law has earned a reputation over the years for being a friendly and supportive community that is fully dedicated to student success. Students often comment that they feel at home while attending Cornell, and that professors go out of their way to create a welcoming environment for students. In addition to offering stellar academics, Cornell also offers many opportunities to gain real world experience while still in school through internships and other programs that give students an in-depth look into the legal process.
Cornell Law School’s had a significant impact on the legal community, helping numerous students successfully transition from their rigorous education to the workforce. The high expectations of the school’s students have helped to increase the level of legal representation offered in the Northeast, as all Cornel Law graduates have participated in intense training that helps them to provide excellent legal representation.
The legacy of Cornell Law School continues to thrive today, as the school has remained true to its commitment of maintaining Ivy League standards in all of its operations. As the school continues to select students and faculty of the highest quality, those who are fortunate enough to be part of the school will find a path to success.

Considerations When Selecting a Law School

Accreditation: Eternally difficult to decipher, we’re less concerned about this one than some others. If you’re looking at a well-known and established school, you’ll almost certainly be accredited. You probably can’t say the same about a lesser-known institution. Accreditation is where the school is actually certified by the American Bar Association to provide a legal education. Beyond that, there is also the Committee of Bar Examiners in your home state, which sets out where alums can practice.
Location: Will you be able to return home or stay in the city you’ve been living in? Where you go to school can impact where you end up practicing law. It’s important to note that it’s often viewed as "easier" to get employment in the state that you attended law school.
Faculty: Ask alumni and current students about your prospective faculty. While most law schools boast of their low student-faculty ratio, that’s not a big deal to alumni, who have already gotten nowhere near the promised ratio.
Campus Life: Although it may seem like a frivolous concern compared to employment prospects, campus life tops the list of many incoming law students. You will be spending three years at your chosen school. It may not be pretty, or it may be too-clinical. Ask these questions:
Alumni Network: Do alums work at firms of your interest? Will they help you with mentorship, networking and knowledge?
Diversity Reputation: Is the student body diverse? Are course offerings inclusive of minority viewpoints? Look for a variety of topics and speakers.

Conclusion in Selecting the Ideal Law School

Choosing the right law school for your career goals is a crucial part of becoming an experienced legal professional. There are several factors that should be considered when selecting which law school best suits your individual ambitions. Deciding where you want to practice law and what kind of law you intend to practice are both important aspects of choosing a law school.
Grabbing a law degree from one of the best law schools on the East Coast can provide some amazing opportunities for your legal career, but what if your career goals conflict with enrolling at one of these law schools? Going to the law school that provides the finest opportunities is not always the best option. You have to think about what is best for your future rather than blindly submitting applications to the most popular law schools in the region.
Your career goals should be the top priority when it comes to choosing a law school to apply to. If you wish to practice law on a local level , going to a law school that is located near where you plan to live and work is the way to go. Of course, you should also try apply to schools that are close to where you currently live, as this will save you a ton of money on living expenses and tuition fees.
Realizing your career goals require a person-to-person approach to choosing the right law school. What works for one student may not be the best option for you. Plans may change throughout the education process, but going to law school close to home is a good starting point for most soon-to-be law students.