Top Law Schools in Massachusetts: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking to further your legal studies at a leading law school? Massachusetts is renowned for its academic institutions and rich legal traditions, offering a wealth of options for aspiring law students. From historic institutions to innovative programs, the state boasts eight ABA-accredited law schools, each with unique strengths and opportunities. This guide explores the top law schools in Massachusetts, providing details on their programs, admission requirements, and distinguishing features.

Why Study Law in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is an excellent place to study law, providing access to some of the nation’s largest law firms and a vibrant legal community. Boston, in particular, has been recognized as a top city for young lawyers, with over 2,000 law firms, corporate entities, and federal organizations. The state's legal heritage, including its written constitution drafted in 1780 by John Adams (the oldest in the world), underscores its pivotal role in legal history.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Law School

Selecting the right law school involves considering various factors, including the school's reputation, ranking, location, and specific program offerings. Evaluating your academic profile against successful applicants can help you build a targeted list of choices. Key considerations include:

Ranking and Reputation: Look at rankings from sources like U.S. News & World Report to gauge the school's standing.
Admission Requirements: Consider median LSAT scores and GPA requirements to assess your competitiveness.
Location: Evaluate whether the urban setting of Boston or a more suburban environment suits your preferences.
Program Specialization: Determine if the school offers specialized programs in your areas of interest, such as health law, intellectual property law, or public interest law.
Faculty and Resources: Research the faculty's expertise and the availability of resources like clinics, externships, and research centers.
Cost and Financial Aid: Understand the tuition costs and available financial aid options, including scholarships and loan programs.
Bar Passage and Employment Rates: Review the school's bar passage rates and graduate employment statistics.

Overview of Top Law Schools in Massachusetts

Here's a detailed look at the top law schools in Massachusetts:

1. Harvard Law School

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
History and Reputation: Established in 1817, Harvard Law School (HLS) is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools worldwide.
Rankings: Harvard Law School consistently ranks highly among the world’s top law schools. U.S. News & World Report ranked the school #6 overall. The school rankings: #1 in Business/Corporate Law and Contracts, #2 in Constitutional and International Law, and #3 in Criminal Law.
Campus: The law school is at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on a campus with 19 diverse buildings.
Key Features: Driving HLS’s prestige is the strong alumni and student network and diverse curricular offerings. Harvard Law has one of the largest class sizes at roughly 560 students per year and is home to 90+ student organizations that are active on campus. Harvard also offers a variety of hands-on opportunities, centers, and clinics, which 88% of the most recent graduating class participated in. Whether your interests lie in Supreme Court Litigation, Health Law and Policy, or Cyberlaw, Harvard likely has something that will intrigue you.
Admission: Harvard Law School maintains a competitive acceptance rate of 11%. Prospective students must aim for an LSAT score within the 171 to 176 range. Students must target a GPA between 3.89-4.0 to bolster their admission prospects.
Programs: Harvard Law School provides three primary law degrees for various academic and professional aspirations. The Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, a common choice in the United States, equips graduates to sit for the Bar exam and practice law. The three-year program emphasizes a strong legal foundation in both theory and practice. The Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree offers a one-year program specializing in international law, tax law, and environmental law.
Tuition and Outcomes: Tuition for full-time students stands at $78,692, with impressive outcomes: a 96.1% first-time Bar passage rate and the same percentage for full-credit employment within 10 months.
Notable Alumni: Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and global leaders. With the world’s largest academic law library and a culture of academic rigor, HLS offers students an elite legal education grounded in tradition and global influence.
Application Deadline: February 20
Application Fee: $85

2. Boston University School of Law

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
History and Reputation: Established in 1872, ranks as one of Massachusetts’s oldest and top law schools. The school has long been a leader in inclusivity, welcoming students of all races, genders, and religions. BU Law has launched innovative programs, including the first law-medicine research institute and the first Master of Laws in Taxation program in the region.
Rankings: U.S. News & World Report for 2025, emphasizing the Boston University law ranking. The school features top programs in Health Care Law, ranked #2, and Intellectual Property Law at #12.
Campus: Boston University School of Law is situated at 765 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. The buildings, known for their distinctive Brutalist architecture by Spanish architect Josep Lluis Sert, stand on BU’s Charles River campus. The central location immerses students in Boston’s dynamic legal and educational environment, providing abundant opportunities.
Key Features: The core of the BU Law learning experience is superior instruction and a supportive, dynamic learning environment in which professors guide, inspire, and challenge. Boston University School of Law is one of Massachusetts’ best legal programs and boasts especially strong programs in Health Care Law and Intellectual Property Law. Moreover, BU offers several scholarship programs for students interested in particular aspects of the law, including a Public Interest Scholarship that funds up to full tuition for all three years, and an Antiracist Scholarship for students that are especially committed to racial equity and justice. Furthermore, BU School of Law is home to a vibrant student life, with ~210 students per year, 30+ student organizations, and six law journals.
Admission: Boston University School of Law has an acceptance rate of 20.6%, highlighting the school’s competitive admissions process. Prospective students must note that strong academic credentials significantly enhance admission chances. The law school reports a median LSAT score of 170 for the school’s incoming students. Achieving or exceeding the score positions applicants well within the competitive applicant pool. The median undergraduate GPA of recently admitted students stands at 3.88. Applicants with GPAs around or above the median are viewed favorably in the admissions process.
Programs: The full-time, three-year program equips students with a comprehensive legal education. BU Law provides various Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs, including American Law, Banking and Financial Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Taxation, catering to internationally trained lawyers and students seeking legal specialization.
Tuition and Outcomes: Boston University Law School charges $68,136 annually for full-time J.D. students. A significant number of students pay less due to scholarship opportunities. Students must consider the total cost of attendance when planning their education budget.
Application Deadline: April 1
Application Fee: $85

3. Boston College Law School

Location: Newton, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
History and Reputation: BC Law received accreditation from the American Bar Association in 1932, enhancing the school’s reputation and credibility in legal education. Founded in 1929 and initially hosted classes in downtown Boston. The law school gained recognition swiftly, aligning with the Jesuit tradition of focusing on ethics, service, and social justice.
Key Features: Boston College Law School has a blend of urban and isolation, with a 40-acre campus in Newton, Massachusetts, tucked over a mile away from the school’s main campus in Chestnut Hill. Given the school’s religious heritage and history, Boston College retains a robust human rights and public interest law focus. From the beginning of their legal education, 1Ls at Boston College have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. As early as their spring semester during their first year, law students can engage in an experiential-based elective.
Programs: Boston College Law School offers a robust curriculum with corporate, environmental, and human rights law strengths.
Application Deadline: March 31
Application Fee: $75

4. Northeastern University School of Law

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
History and Reputation: Northeastern University School of Law was founded in 1898 by the Boston Young Men’s Christian Association. The school has evolved significantly from its origins as an evening program designed to cater to the working community. The transformation into a full-time day program in the 1970s marked a significant milestone, enabling the school to award the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
Rankings: U.S. News & World Report rankings, Northeastern University School of Law holds the No. 68 position among 195 best law schools. The school ranks especially high in public interest law, placing third nationally for the most graduates entering that field. It also earns top marks in clinical training at No. 19 and ranks ninth in health care law. Other notable placements include No. 26 in intellectual property law, No. 27 in legal writing, and No. 45 in international law.
Campus: The law school is centrally located at 416 Huntington Avenue on Northeastern University’s main campus in Boston, Massachusetts. The location offers students easy access to the city’s rich cultural and academic resources, enhancing their educational and professional experiences.
Key Features: Originally founded as Boston’s first evening law program in the 19th century, Northeastern University School of Law is today known for its public interest law program, hands-on opportunities, and student body. It is home to two scholarly legal journals, dozens of student organizations, and numerous research institutes. The On-Campus LLM program offers students the opportunity for a full-time legal practice experience (co-op) as an integral part of the academic curriculum.
Programs: Northeastern University School of Law offers a traditional three-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree that prepares students for the Bar exam and a career as an attorney. The school offers a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation and an LL.M. in Health Law and Policy, each designed as a one-year program for J.D. graduates specializing in the legal fields.
Bar Passage Rate: Northeastern University School of Law has a commendable first-time Bar passage rate of 86.2%.
Tuition: For the 2025-2026 academic year, tuition for full-time J.D. students at Northeastern University School of Law is $63,002, reflecting a 4.02% increase from the previous year. The estimated total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, reaches approximately $85,902.
Financial Aid: Financial aid at Northeastern includes merit-based scholarships, federal loans, co-op stipends, and support through the Yellow Ribbon Program for post-9/11 veterans.
Application Deadline: March 1
Application Fee: There is no application fee.

5. Suffolk University Law School

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
History and Reputation: Suffolk University Law School, located at 120 Tremont Street in downtown Boston, is near key governmental and legal institutions. The strategic location enriches the educational experience by providing students with ample opportunities for internships and professional networking. Founded in 1906 by Gleason Archer, initially served immigrants and the working class as an evening institution. The school has significantly expanded, offering day and evening programs serving a diverse student body.
Rankings: U.S. News & World Report. It demonstrates strong performance in key specialties, including Legal Writing at 3rd and Clinical Training at 8th, reflecting its emphasis on practical legal education. Dispute Resolution ranks 18th, while Trial Advocacy holds 29th. Intellectual Property and Health Care Law are positioned at 45th and 46th, respectively.
Admission: Suffolk University Law School has an acceptance rate of 65.3%, indicating moderate selectivity for applicants. The LSAT scores for enrolled students range from scores within the 25th to 75th percentile range of 151 to 159, with a median score of 155. GPA requirements range from 3.35 to 3.74, with a median GPA of 3.55 for all program entrants.
Bar Passage Rate: Suffolk University Law School reports a first-time Bar passage rate of 79.3%, closely aligning with the 80% average among states.
Programs: Suffolk Law offers a variety of law degrees tailored to different student needs. The traditional Juris Doctor (J.D.) program is designed for full-time, three-year study, catering primarily to recent college graduates. There’s an Accelerated J.D. option, which condenses the curriculum into two years for students with strong academic backgrounds. The evening J.D. program extends to students with balanced careers and education over four years. Suffolk Law provides a J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.P.A. dual degree program, enriching the law curriculum with business or public administration studies. The school offers specialized Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs in General Law and Global Law and Technology, and a Master of Science in Law (M.S.L.) in Life Sciences for non-lawyers.
Tuition: The tuition for the full-time J.D. program at Suffolk Law for the 2024-2025 academic year is $59,730. Part-time students pay $44,798.
Application Deadline: April 1 (priority)
Application Fee: $60

6. New England School of Law | Boston

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
History and Reputation: Located in the heart of downtown Boston, near the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the State House, and various other law agencies and firms. The school’s background is one of the pioneering programs in the state to welcome women who wanted a legal education in Massachusetts. It began to admit male students in the 1920s. New England School of Law in Boston, originally founded in 1908 as Portia Law School, served exclusively as an educational institute for women. The focus mirrored the rising women’s rights movement of the time. The school welcomed male and female students in 1938 in response to a changing society and was renamed the New England School of Law.
Rankings: U.S. News & World Report rankings, New England Law Boston is ranked #166 among the top law schools in the United States (tie) and #54 for Part-Time Law Programs (tie).
Key Features: New England School of Law remains a leader in legal education, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that reflects the school’s pioneering origins. The law school has played a crucial role in founding the Consortium for Innovative Legal Education, emphasizing a progressive approach to legal teaching.
Admission: New England School of Law offers a robust opportunity for prospective students, with an acceptance rate of around 76.27%. The median LSAT score required for admission stands at 153. The median undergraduate GPA for admitted students is 3.31. The school considers GRE scores, but the LSAT remains the primary test for evaluation.
Programs: New England School of Law offers two primary law degrees for professional goals. The Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is the traditional path that qualifies graduates to take the Bar exam and practice law. The school offers a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in American Law for international legal professionals seeking to understand the American legal system. New England Law offers full- and part-time programs, with a class size of ~200 students.
Tuition: Tuition for the full-time J.D. program ranges from $59,900 per year. The part-time J.D. program costs $44,920 annually. Additional expenses include fees, health insurance, and course materials, all of which are important to consider when calculating the total cost of attendance.
Financial Support: New England Law extends financial support through merit-based scholarships, federal loans, veterans’ education benefits, and federal work-study programs.
Application Deadline: May 1
Application Fee: $65

7. University of Massachusetts School of Law - Dartmouth (UMass Law)

Location: Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
Key Features: UMass has three legal clinics in-house and partners with other institutions to offer clinics in Criminal Prosecution and Tribal Law. In August of 2014, UMass Law kicked off its Justice Bridge program, which is a legal incubator in downtown Boston that provides lower-cost legal services. Furthermore, UMass Law offers 3+3 options, which partners with numerous Massachusetts undergraduate programs to allow students to earn a Bachelors and JD in six rather than seven years.
History and Reputation: University of Massachusetts School of Law - Dartmouth is Massachusetts’s only public ABA-accredited law school. The school offers an affordable education emphasizing community service and public interest law.
Programs: UMass Law provides hands-on learning through clinics, externships, and moot court competitions.
Application Deadline: June 30
Application Fee: $50

8. Western New England University School of Law (WNE Law)

Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ABA-accredited
Key Features: JD options at WNE law have the option to concentrate in several fields, from Gender and Sexuality Studies to Real Estate. Furthermore, the school offers an LLM program in Elder Law and Estate Planning. The school is known for the institution’s friendly campus atmosphere and strong emphasis on experiential learning through legal clinics and externships.
History and Reputation: Western New England University School of Law is located in Western Massachusetts and has a small class size of roughly 100-130 students per year.
Programs: Provides a personalized legal education focused on practical skills.
Application Deadline: March 15 (priority)
Application Fee: Waived in 2022

Preparing for Law School Admissions

The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. The median LSAT score range at each of these Massachusetts law schools will give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class.

FAQs About Law Schools in Massachusetts

How many law schools are in Massachusetts?There are eight accredited law schools in Massachusetts.
What is the cheapest law school in Massachusetts?The cheapest law school in Massachusetts is the University of Massachusetts. It costs $30,340 for in-state students and $39,550 for out-of-state students. (Note: This school was not discussed in detail above.)
How long is law school in Massachusetts?A JD in Massachusetts will take as long to complete as it would in any other state-three years, unless you complete a part-time program which will take four years.
What is the easiest Massachusetts law school to get into?Typically, students consider law schools with low LSAT scores to be the easiest to get into. By this standard alone, Western New England University is the easiest to get into, as it has a median LSAT score of 150.
What is the hardest Massachusetts law school to get into?Harvard University has the most rigorous admission expectations and lowest acceptance rate on this list. Students must have GPAs of 3.93 and LSAT scores of 174 to be considered competitive applicants at this Ivy League school!

Read also: Best Colleges in Massachusetts
What is the best law school in Massachusetts?Harvard University is the best law school in Massachusetts.
Should I study law in Massachusetts?Yes, Massachusetts is an excellent place to study law because it offers students access to some of the nation’s largest law firms.

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