An Overview of Northeastern Law Schools
The Northeast has always been at the forefront of legal education for generations. The region’s rich educational heritage is the result of its geographic location as the home to several of the nation’s most prestigious and oldest law schools including Yale Law School of New Haven, Connecticut (Established in 1824), Columbia University Law School of New York (Established in 1858), University of Pennsylvania Law School of Philadelphia (Established in 1790), Harvard University Law School of Cambridge, Massachusetts (Established in 1817), Boston College School of Law in Newton, Massachusetts (Established in 1929), and Boston University School of Law (Established in 1872).
New England is home to some of the finest legal talent in the country, and its proximity to other major legal markets in New York and Washington provides aspiring lawyers in Connecticut access to some of the most dynamic and well-connected law firms in the country. In addition to several top-ranked law schools in Connecticut including Yale and Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut, the cities of Hartford, Stamford , and Bridgeport all boast a strong legal community.
If you are looking to work in or around Boston, then you would be remiss not to consider Northeastern law schools such as Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts (Established in 1906), New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts (Established in 1908), and Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts (Established in 1898). Boston’s legal landscape is also positively impacted with several out-of-state law schools such as Boston University School of Law from Massachusetts (Established in 1872), Harvard University Law School from Cambridge, Massachusetts (Established in 1817), and Yale Law School from New Haven, Connecticut (Established in 1824).
These law schools inside and outside of the state have a plethora of legal internships and summer associates at some of the country’s most prestigious legal firms located on and around Boston’s waterfront. Boston is considered the second-best market in the U.S. for law firm employment by number of lawyers honed and trained in being the future leaders of some of the country’s largest law firms from both law schools within and outside of Massachusetts.
Harvard Law School: The Apex of Legal Training
Renowned for its rigorous academic standards and a rich tradition dating back to 1817, Harvard Law School (HLS) is not just one of the top law schools in the country; it’s in the top-tier of the world’s elite institutions. Harvard Law provides a full-time Juris Doctor (JD) program, along with several LL.M. programs and a S.J.D. program targeting international students who seek advanced, graduate legal education.
HLS’s innovative curriculum offers a vast array of courses and supports new areas of interdisciplinary study with other departments of Harvard University. The school offers 300-plus courses spanning 16 different fields of legal study. In addition to traditional coursework, students can gain experience through clinics and externships.
HLS’s faculty is composed of leading scholars and teachers who represent nearly every field of legal scholarship. They include more than 80 tenured or tenure-track professors, 21 professors on leave from other law schools, four professors of practice and over 30 visiting professors of law. Students who study at HLS are in very capable hands and enjoy access to top minds in various fields of the law.
The HLS faculty includes former U.S. Supreme Court justices and state supreme court justices, as well as federal agency heads and partners at prestigious law firms. Faculty members have extensive experience inside the courtroom, as well as the board room, and they share a passion for the law while cultivating the next generation of legal leaders.
If you’re hoping to practice law at a top firm or work to change the world through public interest law, you’ll want to connect with HLS’s extensive alumni network. With nearly 40,000 members around the globe, the law school’s alumni include and inspire some of the leading lawyers, judges, business leaders and civic leaders in the world today.
Yale Law School: Where Innovation Meets Intellectual Challenge
Considered the most academically perfect law school in the United States by many rankings, Yale Law School is best known for its emphasis on research and theory. Well-known for its intellectual rigor, Yale emphasizes theoretical applications of ideas and embraces interdisciplinary studies that stretch across topics such as sociology and psychology in addition to its focus on law. In fact, Yale places such a high value on research and theory of law that it actually tends to place less of a focus on its students in favor of dedicating its resources to the furtherance of scholarship in general. That being said, Yale students do enjoy a great deal of independence, with over half of classes being ungraded. Yale’s evaluation system is rooted in the idea that little is gained from test-taking. Instead, Yale students are instructed solely by professors who are considered leaders in their fields, meaning that Yale students are directly linked to numerous highly-regarded figures in the field of law and from around the globe, in many law-related arenas. Some of Yale’s professors are even Supreme Court justices, ensuring that Yale graduates leave the school not just with a high level of academic rigour, but with valuable connections to some of the most renowned authorities on law in the country. Yale Law School recognizes that law is constantly evolving, so its curriculum is constantly developed and reevaluated to ensure that students are receiving an education that will guide them into the future.
Columbia Law School: The Bridge between Legal and Business Education
For future lawyers who aspire for corporate law, New York City is the place to be. Columbia Law School of Columbia University sits squarely in the center of the financial heart of the United States. Whereas New York University (NYU) is commonly considered the leading law school in the area in terms of prestige, Columbia is a close second and is perhaps a better choice for those aspiring to practice corporate law as the nexus of finance and law.
Columbia has superb international opportunities. The school’s international reputation is due in large part to its global reach, with approximately one-third of the students coming from outside of the United States. The school offers LL.M and J.S.D. programs for international students, as well as dual degree programs in business, political science, and journalism. Columbia Law School’s primary asset is its connections to the financial world. Its Location in New York City allows it to leverage the world’s most lucrative and powerful legal market.
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School: The Intersection of Multiple Disciplines
One of the cornerstones of UPenn’s legal education is the interconnection between its Carey Law School and its prestigious Wharton School of Business. Students of the law have the opportunity to study business development and vice versa through specialized joint degrees and offerings that are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. For instance, by working with faculty members and other resources of UPenn’s real estate center, law students can experiment with financial and valuation analyses which are essential to the study of real estate law. Students with an interest in studying law relating to engineering and applied science also enjoy the opportunity to participate in the school’s program on law and technology. Associated with UPenn’s Science Technology and Society Program, this interdisciplinary program explores the growing relationship between law and the technology fields through special courses and independent studies.
Cornell Law School: Committing to a Diverse Perspective
Unlike most of the top law schools in the Northeast, Cornell Law School prides itself on its small setting. At Cornell Law, students are able to experience a close-knit and nurturing community that promotes the study of law and multiculturalism. Here, faculty members pride themselves on their ability to mentor and support their diverse and talented student body. At Cornell Law School, diversity is not simply a metric that must be met, but is embraced as a necessary part of the evolution of our legal system.
By capitalizing on its unique small size, Cornell Law has fostered a close community . Students often describe their experience at Cornell Law School as friendly and collaborative. Even though the school’s 60,000 square foot library is considered to be one of the finest in the country, by making its collections accessible via its network, the university aims to give students the opportunity to form connections with their peers.
While most law schools only allow for one or two international human rights students to be accepted each year, Cornell Law School is not only one of four law schools in the United States that has an international legal program, but has about 61 current students from 16 countries.
Boston University School of Law: The Crossroads of Legal Scholarship
Known for its commitment to impact and change, Boston University School of Law has a dynamic and engaged community. Students interested in rigorous legal study in a collaborative and collegial environment will thrive at BU Law. Students are encouraged to perform public service and contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge and ideas relevant to law, public policy and social welfare. Clinics and legal writing programs give students hands-on experiences that prepare them for careers as leaders and innovators in the legal field. The law school is also home to a strong program in public-interest law and an excellent tax program. Primarily oriented toward professional education rather than theoretical scholarship, Boston University School of Law also offers advanced study degrees to lawyers from more than sixty countries around the world, greatly enhancing the involvement of the international community at BU. In the heart of Boston’s downtown legal district, the campus is a centre of energy for the city’s legal community.
Factors to Consider in Selecting a Law School
When choosing a law school in the Northeast, it’s essential to consider a variety of factors to ensure that the institution aligns with your personal, academic, and professional goals. Key considerations include:
Location plays a critical role in your education, professional networking, and future career prospects. For example, being located near law firms, courts, and government agencies can provide invaluable opportunities for internships and job placements.
Specialties and areas of focus within the law school can help you determine whether the school offers an excellent fit for your specific legal interests. Some schools are nationally known for their specialties, such as Cornell Law School for Labor Law and University of Pennsylvania School of Law for Taxation.
Dual degree options enable students to earn two diplomas simultaneously. This can be particularly beneficial for those seeking to enhance their professional qualifications and marketability within a competitive job market. Many institutions in the Northeast, such as NYU School of Law, offer robust dual degree programs.
Alumni networks offer valuable connections and resources to help students secure internships, job placements, and mentoring opportunities. A school’s location can affect the strength and reach of its alumni base, making location a critical factor when evaluating potential law schools.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Northeastern Law Schools
Sitting at the crossroads of some of the most prestigious higher-education institutions in the country, the Northeastern states offer promise and potential for legal students. Each law school featured here has carved out an impressive reputation while making the most of the numerous networking and co-op opportunities available to them. As a result, thousands of alumni have become career professionals on the cutting-edge of their field. This network can ease the transition from graduate school into working life , as reaching out to professors or fellow graduates is easier in the area hand over fist. With liaison centers in abundance, your education will not be isolated to the classroom. Top law schools in the Northeast offer flexible teaching schedules that can accommodate your unique needs as an individual, and more off-campus ties than off-campus students. The knowledge and training you gain here will stay with you for a lifetime, as you become a new leader in the professional world.
