The Profession & Legal Education

The Best Known Universities for Law

3 September 2024 · 12 min read

Law is among the most venerable academic disciplines in the world, and many universities across the world have become known for their distinguished legal programs. What follows are some of the best known universities in the field of law:

Harvard University — United States

History and standing: Harvard Law School was founded in 1817 and is among the oldest law schools in the United States. It holds a global standing as one of the finest institutions in the field.
Programmes and specialisms: Harvard Law School offers a wide range of legal programs, including international law, constitutional law and corporate law. It runs particular programs for international exchange and partnerships with other universities.
Notable alumni: among its graduates are heads of state, justices of the United States Supreme Court, and lawyers of international standing.

Yale University — United States

History and standing: Yale Law School, founded in 1824, is among the most selective and hardest to enter in the United States.
Programmes and specialisms: Yale offers advanced programs in constitutional law, environmental law and international law. It is marked by a strong academic research environment and by flexibility in its programs.
Notable alumni: Yale's graduates include many justices of the United States Supreme Court, ministers, and senior legal counsel.

Stanford University — United States

History and standing: although Stanford Law School was founded in 1893, it is regarded as among the finest of the relatively modern law schools. It is known for its inventive approach and its interdisciplinary programs.
Programmes and specialisms: Stanford offers programs in commercial law, technology law and environmental law. It is among the leading universities in joining law to technology.
Notable alumni: Stanford's graduates include many technology leaders and prominent lawyers in Silicon Valley.

New York University (NYU) — United States

History and standing: NYU School of Law, founded in 1835, is among the oldest and most venerable law schools in the United States. It is known for its place in the heart of New York City and for its wide alumni network.
Programmes and specialisms: the university offers programs in international law and human rights, corporate law and tax law. It is distinguished by dual programs with international institutions.
Notable alumni: NYU's graduates include senior lawyers and prominent legal figures in the United States and beyond.

University of Chicago — United States

History and standing: the University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 and is known for its law-and-economics approach and its close analysis of law from an economic standpoint.
Programmes and specialisms: it offers programs in the economic analysis of law, constitutional law and criminal law. It is among the leading universities in joining law to economics.
Notable alumni: many justices of the United States Supreme Court and legal counsel to the American government are among its graduates.

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) — United Kingdom

History and standing: the LSE law school was founded in 1895 and is among the finest in Europe and the world.
Programmes and specialisms: it offers programs in international law, European law and human rights law. It is known for its critical, research-founded approach.
Notable alumni: its graduates include prominent figures in politics, the judiciary and academia across the world.

Columbia University — United States

History and standing: Columbia Law School was founded in 1858 and is among the leading law schools in the United States.
Programmes and specialisms: it offers programs in international law, corporate law and environmental law. It is distinguished by its place in New York City and by its strong connections with international institutions.
Notable alumni: its graduates include heads of state, Supreme Court justices, and lawyers of international standing.

University of Melbourne — Australia

History and standing: Melbourne Law School, founded in 1857, is among the oldest and best known law schools in Australia and Asia.
Programmes and specialisms: it offers programs in international law, commercial law and environmental law. It is known for its international connections and its exchange programs.
Notable alumni: its graduates include justices of the High Court of Australia and senior lawyers in Australia and Asia.

University of Oxford — United Kingdom

Founded: the origins of the University of Oxford go back to the twelfth century, making it one of the oldest universities in the world.
Standing: the Oxford law faculty is among the most venerable in the world, and is distinguished by its programs in civil law, public law and European law.
Specialisms: the university offers distinguished programs such as the BCL, the Bachelor of Civil Law, among the best known legal programs in the world.

University of Cambridge — United Kingdom

Founded: the University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is among the leading universities in the world.
Standing: the Cambridge law faculty carries a long history of distinguished legal education, and is among the finest institutions in Europe.
Specialisms: it offers several programs in criminal law, international law and constitutional law.

Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne — France

Founded: the roots of the Sorbonne go back to the Middle Ages, making it one of the oldest universities in the world.
Standing: the law faculty of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne holds an excellent standing in Europe and the world, and is known for distinguished legal programs, particularly in international law and European law.
Specialisms: the university offers specialised postgraduate programs in commercial law and administrative law.

Leiden University — Netherlands

Founded: Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is the oldest university in the Netherlands.
Standing: Leiden's law faculty is among the finest in Europe, and holds an excellent standing in international law and human rights law.
Specialisms: the university offers a range of programs in public international law and European law.

Heidelberg University — Germany

Founded: Heidelberg University was founded in 1386 and is the oldest university in Germany.
Standing: the Heidelberg law faculty is among the most venerable in Europe, with a long history of distinguished legal programs.
Specialisms: the university offers specialised programs in international law, European law and criminal law.

University of Bologna — Italy

Founded: the University of Bologna was founded in 1088 and is regarded as the oldest university in the world.
Standing: the Bologna law faculty has a long and celebrated history of legal education of high quality, and is a centre of research and study in Roman law and civil law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, European law and international law.

KU Leuven — Belgium

Founded: KU Leuven was founded in 1425 and is the oldest university in Belgium.
Standing: the KU Leuven law faculty is known for its advanced programs in European law and international law.
Specialisms: the university offers specialised postgraduate programs in commercial law, environmental law and criminal law.

University of Edinburgh — United Kingdom

Founded: the University of Edinburgh was founded in 1582 and is among the oldest and most venerable universities in the United Kingdom.
Standing: the Edinburgh law school holds a global standing in the teaching of international law and European law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in international law, human rights law and constitutional law.

Université Catholique de Louvain — Belgium

Founded: founded in 1425, it is among the oldest universities in Europe.
Standing: the UCLouvain law faculty is known for its distinguished programs in European law and international law.
Specialisms: the university offers specialised programs in commercial law, administrative law and human rights law.

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich — Germany

Founded: the University of Munich was founded in 1472 and is among the most venerable universities in Germany.
Standing: the Munich law faculty holds an excellent standing in the teaching of German law and European law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, international law and commercial law.

The University of Tokyo — Japan

Founded: the University of Tokyo was founded in 1877 and is among the most venerable universities in Japan and Asia.
Standing: the Tokyo law faculty holds an excellent standing in legal education and is among the finest law faculties in Asia. Many prominent Japanese judges, lawyers and politicians are among its graduates.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, constitutional law, commercial law and international law.

Peking University — China

Founded: Peking University was founded in 1898 and is among the oldest and best known universities in China.
Standing: the Peking University law school is among the finest in Asia, and has had a considerable influence on the development of legal thought in China.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in criminal law, civil law, commercial law and international law.

Seoul National University — South Korea

Founded: Seoul National University was founded in 1946 and is the most venerable university in South Korea.
Standing: its law school is among the finest in South Korea and Asia, and many prominent judges and lawyers are among its graduates.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in Korean law, international law and commercial law.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) — Hong Kong

Founded: the University of Hong Kong was founded in 1911 and is the oldest university in Hong Kong.
Standing: its law faculty holds a distinguished international standing and is among the finest in Asia. The university is known for its programs in international law and commercial law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in Chinese law, commercial law, human rights law and constitutional law.

National University of Singapore (NUS) — Singapore

Founded: the National University of Singapore was founded in 1905 and is among the most venerable universities in Asia.
Standing: the NUS law faculty is among the finest in Asia and the world, and is distinguished by its programs in international law and commercial law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in commercial law, international law and human rights law.

Kyoto University — Japan

Founded: Kyoto University was founded in 1897 and is among the most venerable universities in Japan.
Standing: the Kyoto law faculty is among the finest in Japan, with a long history of distinguished legal education.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, criminal law, constitutional law and commercial law.

Tsinghua University — China

Founded: Tsinghua University was founded in 1911 and is among the most venerable universities in China.
Standing: the Tsinghua law school is among the finest in China, and is known for its programs in international law and commercial law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, international law and environmental law.

Fudan University — China

Founded: Fudan University was founded in 1905 and is among the most venerable universities in China.
Standing: the Fudan law school is among the finest in China, and is distinguished by its programs in commercial law and international law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in criminal law, commercial law and constitutional law.

Jawaharlal Nehru University — India

Founded: Jawaharlal Nehru University was founded in 1969 and is among the foremost Indian universities in the social sciences and humanities.
Standing: its law faculty is among the finest institutions in India, known for its specialism in international law and human rights.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in international law, constitutional law and human rights law.

Osmania University — India

Founded: Osmania University was founded in 1918 and is among the oldest universities in India.
Standing: its law faculty is among the finest in India, and has had a considerable influence on the development of legal thought in the country.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in criminal law, commercial law and international law.

Cairo University — Egypt

Founded: Cairo University was founded in 1908 and is among the oldest and most venerable universities in the Arab world.
Standing: its faculty of law is among the most important in the Arab world, and has had a considerable influence on the development of legal education in the region.
Specialisms: the university offers several programs in civil law, criminal law, commercial law and international law. Many judges, lawyers and ministers in the Arab world are among its graduates.

Ain Shams University — Egypt

Founded: Ain Shams University was founded in 1950 and is among the major universities of Egypt.
Standing: its faculty of law holds a strong standing in the teaching of law, particularly in criminal law and civil law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in criminal law, civil law, commercial law and international law.

Al-Azhar University — Egypt

Founded: the founding of Al-Azhar goes back to the tenth century, to the year 970, making it among the oldest Islamic universities in the world.
Standing: its faculty of Sharia and law is known for teaching Islamic law and the Sharia, and has played a considerable part in spreading the religious and legal sciences in the Islamic world.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in Islamic law and civil law.

King Saud University — Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Founded: King Saud University was founded in 1957 and is the first university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Standing: its college of law and political science is among the finest in the Kingdom, and many of Saudi Arabia's legal leaders are among its graduates.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, criminal law, administrative law and international law.

Université Saint-Joseph — Lebanon

Founded: Université Saint-Joseph was founded in 1875 and is among the oldest universities in Lebanon and the region.
Standing: its faculty of law is among the finest in Lebanon, and has had a considerable influence on the Lebanese legal system.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, commercial law, international law and human rights law.

Mohammed V University — Morocco

Founded: Mohammed V University was founded in 1957 and is among the most venerable universities in Morocco.
Standing: its faculty of legal, economic and social sciences is among the finest in Morocco, and holds a strong standing in the teaching of law.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, criminal law, commercial law and international law.

University of Tunis — Tunisia

Founded: the University of Tunis was founded in 1960 and is among the foremost universities in Tunisia.
Standing: its faculty of law and political science is known for distinguished legal programs, and is among the finest in Tunisia.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in constitutional law, civil law, criminal law and international law.

Qatar University — Qatar

Founded: Qatar University was founded in 1973 and is the national university of the State of Qatar.
Standing: its college of law is among the leading colleges in the Gulf region, and holds a strong standing in legal education.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, criminal law, administrative law and international law.

Kuwait University — Kuwait

Founded: Kuwait University was founded in 1966 and is among the oldest universities in Kuwait.
Standing: its faculty of law is among the leading faculties in the teaching of law in the Gulf region.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, commercial law, international law and administrative law.

Yarmouk University — Jordan

Founded: Yarmouk University was founded in 1976 and is among the major universities of Jordan.
Standing: its faculty of law is among the finest in Jordan, and is distinguished by the range of its programs.
Specialisms: the university offers programs in civil law, criminal law, commercial law and international law.

These universities are among the most venerable and most respected in the teaching of law, and contribute considerably to the development of legal systems across the world.