For two years, The University of Virginia has been ranked number 1 according to US New rankings. This is just one of the best law schools in Virginia. Each year, Virginia Universities accommodate students from across the globe.
Generally, known as the ‘birth of nations’ and ‘the mother of presidents’, Virginia is home to professors and researchers in the legal field.
Uniquely, gaining admission into a law school in Virginia is quite different from getting into law schools in other nations. You can gain admission with just a high school degree or directly from secondary school.
Read this article to gain clarity on how to apply to law schools in Virginia 2024.
Are There Law Schools in Virginia?
Virginia apart from being a very cool place to be in also has one of the richest legal histories of any state. It is home to numerous law schools. Given the option of picking a law school based on the state alone, Virginia might just top the list.
The many options of law school in Virginia can make finding a law school feel overwhelming this is why we have attempted to make a list of top law schools in this article to help out that chore. There are at least 15 law schools in Virginia.
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What are Law Schools in Virginia Ranked for?
Ranking of every school of law starts from being accredited by the ABA. This is to say that for any school to be considered for the ranking, it must be ABA-approved.
Law schools in Virginia are ranked here according to the US News list. U.S. News collects statistical and reputation data directly from law schools.
This data is usually used for the 14 indicators used in the overall rankings. Some of these indicators are; successful placement of graduates, faculty resources, academic achievements of entering students, and opinions by law schools, lawyers, and judges on overall program quality, assessment of the bar passage rates of first-time test takers.
How Long is a Law School in Virginia?
The Juris Doctor is the most common degree conferred by law schools. Just like any law school in the US that has the American Bar Association approval, it usually requires 3 years of full-time study to earn a JD.
Some law schools also offer part-time programs that generally take 4 to 5 years to complete. So it will take the type of program you have chosen to know how long law school will be in Virginia.
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What are the Requirements of Law Schools in Virginia?
Intending students who want to be considered for acceptance into a law school in Virginia must have all required documents and scores and they are,
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution,
- A completed application for admission and an $85 application fee. Unless the application fee has been waived, all applicants are required to pay their $85 application fee using a credit card through the LSAC secure server.
- A transcript of undergraduate or any prior academic record. After registering with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) which is compulsory. CAS will receive your undergraduate and graduate transcripts. It will copy them, and forward the transcripts to the law schools to which you apply. you are not allowed to send your academic transcripts by yourself to the Admissions Office.
- The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or the GRE General Test; and two letters of recommendation. Any of these standardized scores will be accepted as long as it is earned at the required time. If you are not submitting an LSAT score, it is advised that you request for all score reports be sent directly to UVA Law.
- At least two, but no more than four, letters of recommendation. An applicant must provide nothing less than two letters and not more than four letters of recommendation. Recommenders should be professional and evaluate your potential as a law student. applicants are expected to submit letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation service.
- At least one personal statement and résumé.
- An applicant’s statement should provide information that is relevant to the admissions decision not elicited elsewhere in the application. It is your opportunity to tell us about yourself; which may be about your intellectual interests, significant accomplishments or obstacles overcome, personal or professional goals, educational achievements, or any way in which your experiences will add to the richness of the educational environment at the Law School.
- Application for Virginia In-State Educational Privileges. For applicants seeking classification as resident students, you must submit the appropriate residency application with your application for admission to support your claims to in-state educational privileges.
How Much is the Tuition of Law Schools in Virginia?
Law schools in Virginia have different amounts for their tuition fee. Ranging from the School of Law at the University of Virginia with tuition and fees of $66,500 for in-state and $69,500 for out-of-state, to Appalachian School of Law with tuition & fees of $35,700.
This leaves us with the average tuition & fees of Virginia law schools at $41,334 for state residents and $44,758 for out-of-state students.
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How Many Law Schools are in Virginia?
Virginia, surrounded by the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains does not only have the serenity to offer residence but also houses not less than 15 good law schools, law schools with good faculties, and that are ABA-approved. some of these schools include;
- Antonin Scalia Law School
- Appalachian School of Law
- George Mason University
- The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School
- Liberty University School of Law
- Northern Virginia Law Schoo
- Regent University School of Law
- University of Virginia School of Law
- University of Richmond
- Washington and Lee University School of Law
- William & Mary Law School
- Winchester Law School
- West Virginia University
What are the Best Law Schools in Virginia 2024?
Determining which law school is the best is subjective. A person’s definition of “best” depends on his/her goals and expectations. A school that offers programs dedicated to your area of interest is best.
When looking for the best opportunities, know and weigh your options. Choose schools with a track record for high bar exam pass rates, resources for study, successful placement of graduates, faculty resources, academic achievements of entering students, and opinions by law schools, lawyers, and judges on overall program quality.
You should also consider the assessment of the bar passage rates of first-time test takers. If your goal is to practice law in the State of Virginia, here are the 18 best-rated law schools in the state, ranked according to the aforementioned indicators. The best law schools among the rest in Virginia include:
- University of Virginia School of Law
- George mason university
- William & Mary Law School
- Washington and Lee University School of Law
- University of Richmond
- Regent University School of Law
- Appalachian School of Law
- Liberty University School of Law
# 1. University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law is No. 1 in Best Professors, Best Quality of Life, and Best Classroom Experience according to The Princeton Review’s annual law school rankings.
According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 8 and number 1 in Virginia. Students seeking admission need an LSAT score of 170 and a GPA of 3.90.
This school of law enrolls 303 first-year students with an acceptance rate of 1.69%.
# 2. George Mason University
George Mason University School of Law is located in Fairfax, VA. According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 30 and number 2 in Virginia.
The tuition & fees here is $25,354 for Virginia and $40,740 for out-of-state students. The average GPA is 3.75 and the average LSAT score is 164. George Mason University School of Law has an acceptance rate of 20.85%.
# 3. William & Mary Law School
Marshall-Wythe School of Law (part of William & Mary) is located in Williamsburg, VA. According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 30 and number 3 in Virginia.
The school tuition & fees at this law school are $35,000 for Virginia and $44,000 for out-of-state students. The average GPA is 3.76 and the average LSAT score is 163. The Marshall-Wythe School of Law has an acceptance rate of30.42%.
# 4. Washington and Lee University School of Law
Washington and Lee University School of Law is located in Lexington, VA. According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 35 and number 4 in Virginia.
The tuition & fees at this school are $50,175. The average GPA is 3.64 and the average LSAT score is 163. The acceptance rate of applicants is 33.24%.
# 5. University of Richmond law school
University of Richmond School of Law is located in the University of Richmond, VA According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 52 and number 5 in Virginia.
The law school tuition & fees here is $46,400. The average GPA of is 3.6 and the average LSAT score is 161. The acceptance rate is 42.13%.
# 6. Regent University School of Law
Regent University School of Law is located in Virginia Beach, VA. According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 142 and number 6 in Virginia.
The law school tuition & fees at Regent University School of Law is $37,400. The average GPA is 3.45 and the average LSAT score is 155. The acceptance is 62.76%.
# 7. Appalachian School of Law
Appalachian School of Law is located in Grundy, VA. According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 147-192 and number 1 in Virginia.
The law school tuition & fees at Appalachian School of Law is $35,700. The average GPA is 3.13 and the average LSAT score is 145. The acceptance rate of the Appalachian School of Law is 56.63%.
#8. Liberty University School of Law
Liberty University School of Law is located in Lynchburg, VA. According to the US News ranking of Law schools in the US, it is number 147-192 and number 1 in Virginia.
The average GPA is 3.37 and the average LSAT score is 152. The Liberty University School law has an acceptance rate of 54.76%.
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Virginia is Consistently ranked among the top law schools and currently the best among law schools in Virginia, It is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished faculties and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity, and community service.
With a GPA of 3.9, UVA requires you to be at the top of your class. You’ll need very good scores in all your classes to compete with other applicants. it is also advised that you take hard classes – AP or IB courses – to make sure you make getting into UVA a reality.
UVA is a public school. ordinarily, it should receive state funding like regular public schools but it doesn’t through an agreement reached called Financial Self Sufficiency.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or the GRE General Test; and two letters of recommendation. Any of these standardized scores will be accepted as long as it is earned at the required time. If you are not submitting an LSAT score, it is advised that you request for all score reports be sent directly to UVA Law.
Conclusion
Law schools in Virginia might be numerous and difficult to choose from, but we have been able to give detailed information about them to help reduce the confusion and indecision that might plague a person who is seeking to attend a good law school. You should know that Virginia has law schools that do not take classes only on-campus but online too.
References
- En. Wikipedia.org – Law Schools in Virginia
- College Tuition Compare .com – Law Schools in Virginia
- Test Max Prep.com – Best Law Schools in Virginia
- Us News.com – Best Law Schools in Virginia