The T14 law schools are the top 14 law schools in U.S. News and World Report‘s annual Best Law Schools rankings. This is the very tip-top of the top law schools.
The T14 law schools usually include schools such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Stanford Law School, to name a few. Besides looking pretty great on your resume, gaining admission to one of the schools included in these law school rankings can provide you with enormous advantages in both your law school experience and your career.
Attending a top law school comes with advantages like:
- A more holistic law curriculum that can better prepare you to practice in any state.
- Better endowments and summer funding (hello, financial aid!).
- A direct interview and hiring pipeline to the Big Law firms with starting salaries of over $200,000 per year.
What Are the T14 Law Schools?
Every year, U.S. News and World Report releases its rankings list of the top law schools in America. It’s not perfect and it’s definitely not without its controversy. Nevertheless, the T14 law schools are universally acknowledged as the top of the pack.
So what exactly are these prestigious schools?
T14 Law School Rankings
| Rank | School | Average Incoming LSAT Score | Average Incoming GPA |
| 1 (tie) | Stanford University | 173 | 3.92 |
| 1 (tie) | Yale University | 175 | 3.94 |
| 3 | University of Chicago | 173 | 3.91 |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania (Carey) Law School | 172 | 3.9 |
| 5 (tie) | Duke | 170 | 3.85 |
| 5 (tie) | Harvard | 174 | 3.92 |
| 5 (tie) | NYU | 172 | 3.88 |
| 8 (tie) | Columbia University | 173 | 3.87 |
| 8 (tie) | University of Virginia | 171 | 3.94 |
| 10 (tie) | Northwestern University (Pritzker) | 171 | 3.89 |
| 10 (tie) | University of California, Berkeley | 170 | 3.83 |
| 10 (tie) | University of Michigan–Ann Arbor | 171 | 3.83 |
| 13 | Cornell | 172 | 3.87 |
| 14 | UCLA | 171 | 3.9 |
So What Does It Take to Get into a T14 Law School?
Getting into T14 law schools is no easy feat. You need to make sure your entire application is competitive.
Further Reading
📝 The Dos and Don’ts of Your Personal Statement
🤝 How to Get Letters of Recommendation (And What to Do if People Say No)
✍️ Building Your Law School Application: The Explanatory Essay
GPA and LSAT Scores
Two non-negotiable factors are your GPA and LSAT score.
The T14 law schools boast an average GPA of around 3.88 and an average LSAT score of 172. Achieving a score of 170+ on the LSAT offers various advantages beyond enhancing your law school application, such as improving your odds of securing a merit-based law school scholarship.
While it is true that a high LSAT score could potentially offset a lower GPA (and vice versa), you’ll need both to be a strong applicant if you’re applying to a T14 school.
Further Reading
⬆️ 5 Reasons to Strive for a 170+ LSAT Score
Personal Statement
Remember, law school admissions committees are not just looking for applicants with great stats. The admissions process is holistic. Your personal statement is the perfect opportunity to let them know who you are beyond your GPA and LSAT score.
Use your experience in and out of school to craft a compelling narrative. Highlight your strengths, passions, and unique qualities that make you stand out as a potential law school candidate. Admissions committees want to know what motivates you and why you are pursuing a career in law.
Lastly, take the time to edit and revise your personal statement multiple times. Ask for feedback from trusted mentors or peers. A well-written, thoughtful, and typo-free personal statement can truly set you apart from other applicants.
Law School Resume and Activities
To further enhance your application, consider the specific experiences and accomplishments you can present. Showcase your involvement in leadership roles within various clubs or organizations, emphasizing any unique contributions or projects you led that had a measurable impact.
Additionally, any research involvement, special skills, or a unique hobby should be showcased, especially if you have received awards or recognition at a national level or have been featured in major publications. Such achievements can significantly bolster your application by highlighting your dedication and ability to excel in your endeavors.
Get Your Free Top Law School Guide!
We’ve compiled everything you need to know about the T14 law schools, complete with 10 tips to get accepted to a top 14 law school from a Blueprint Admissions Counselor who scored a 180 on his LSAT and was accepted to many top law schools.
Download The Blueprint Prep Guide to Getting Into the T-14 Law Schools for a look at the key advantages these top law schools offer and the actions you can take to get accepted, including:
– How a T14 law school can make a difference in your law school experience and employment opportunities after graduation.
– Determining your career goals within the legal field and how a T14 can support them.
– Standing out with your LSAT and GPA.
– Demonstrating your professional fitness and potential as a lawyer.
– Relating as a real person, not just a law student, to the law school admissions committee.
– How to identify and overcome any weaknesses as an applicant to a T-14 school.
Note: At Blueprint, we believe every student should strive to go to the best law school they can. However, we also know it’s not necessary to attend a T14 law school. Use this guide as a way to think critically about what type of law school is best for you.
