Welcome to the Wolverine State! This guide will introduce you to the best law schools in Michigan and help you understand what sets them apart. Going to any of the schools on this list can be great for your legal career, but it’s important to understand they differ from one another in some important ways. They all have their own entry requirements and a unique approach to training new lawyers, so you’ll want to see whether a school is a good fit before sending in your application.
Here’s our list of the top law schools in Michigan (all data obtained from U.S. News and World Report). Use it to guide your search for a law program in the state that has what you’re looking for.
Best Law Schools in Michigan
1. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Law School
U.S. News & World Report Law School Ranking: #9
Tuition: $76,680 (in-state) $79,680 (out-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.88
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 171
Acceptance Rate: 8.6%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 95.6%
First on our list of the best law schools in Michigan is the University of Michigan Ann Arbor Law School. Widely considered one of the best law schools in the country, it has an expansive curriculum that evolves with the changing needs of the profession. Going here would be great for your legal career, as the school has a really strong reputation among judges and lawyers not only in the state of Michigan, but across the nation.
According to U.S. News and World Report, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor Law School comes in at:
- #5 in Constitutional Law and #5 in Criminal Law
- #6 in Tax Law
- #8 in Contracts/Commercial Law and #8 in International Law
- #9 in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Federal Clerkships
- #11 in Business/Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Legal Writing
Curriculum
Courses at this law school range from Criminal Law to Tax Law, and you can choose a legal specialty that interests you the most.
The University of Michigan Law School has a versatile set of degree options, including their:
- Juris Doctor Program
- LLM Program
- SJD Program
- Executive LLM (MACL)
- Dual Degrees and Certificate Programs
The University of Michigan trains law students with practical and real-world experiences using experiential learning. A law student can work at various law clinics, apply for five unique externships, participate in pro bono programs, receive thorough critiques through the Legal Practice Program, and undertake Problem Solving Initiatives.
Student Organizations
Finally, there are dozens of student organizations you can join! These include (the):
- Alternate Dispute Resolution Association
- American Constitutional Society
- Artificial Intelligence Law and Policy Society
- Business Law Association
- Disability Rights Organization
- Law and Economic Society
- Law School Hockey Team
- Society for Space Law and Law of the Seas
- Trial Advocacy Society
- Wolverine Street Law
Summary
The University of Michigan Law school is considered one of the top programs in the country, and the school’s admissions are (not surprisingly) pretty high. The median undergraduate GPA and LSAT score of program entrants last year were 3.88 and 171, respectively. The school is especially strong in constitutional, criminal, tax, contracts/commercial, and international law. It’s also a great place to go to law school if you want to land a federal clerkship after graduation.
2. Wayne State University Law School
U.S. News & World Report Law School Ranking: #62
Tuition: $42,594 (in-state) $46,365 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.89
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 164
Acceptance Rate: 24.8%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 86.1%
Wayne State University Law School has numerous courses, externships, and clinics that will give you a well-rounded legal education and prepare you for a variety of career pathways.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the school comes in at:
- #25 in Part-Time Law
- #30 in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Federal Clerkships
- #39 in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Public Interest Law
- #66 in Clinical Training and #66 in Tax Law
- #67 in Health Care Law and #67 in International Law
Curriculum
Wayne’s curriculum includes classes in civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, legal research and writing, property, and torts.
The school has four externship programs and a Free Legal Aid Clinic.
The professional skills and simulation courses at Wayne State University allow students to engage in law practices responsibly and effectively. They enable law students to exercise their judgment and reasoning skills before entering a real courtroom.
Students gain additional preparation for real-world experiences through Mock Trials and Moot Court.
Student Organizations
There are also plenty of student organizations you can join, including (the):
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Business Law Society
- Criminal Law Society
- Environmental Law Society
- Health Law Society
- Law students for Mental Health Awareness
- Mock Trial
- Sports and Entertainment Law Society
- Wayne Intellectual Property Student Association
- Wayne Law Moot Court
Summary
Getting into Wayne State University Law School isn’t easy. You’ll need a GPA around 3.89 and an LSAT score in the ballpark of 164 to be a viable candidate. The school has a strong part-time law program and is great if you’re looking for a federal clerkship or looking to go into public interest law after graduating.
3. Michigan State University College of Law
U.S. News & World Report Law School Ranking: #108
Tuition: $43,868 (in-state) $48,610 (out-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.73
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 162
Acceptance Rate: 26%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 78.3%
Next on our list of the best law schools in Michigan is the Michigan State University College of Law. This school has a broad curriculum, and each year students can choose from a wide range of courses (there are 140 electives) to create a legal focus that suits their professional needs. This flexibility allows them to build their expertise in any area of practice as they earn their JD.
According to U.S. News and World Report, Michigan State University College of Law comes in at:
- #60 in Contracts/Commercial Law
- #72 in Business/Corporate Law and #72 in Constitutional Law
- #75 in Clinical Training
- #76 in Intellectual Property Law
- #80 in Tax Law
MSU faculty encourage public service and promote social justice. Students are taught to resolve legal issues in a way that works for the common good.
Curriculum
Enrolling in the Trial Practice Institute prepares MSU College of Law students for the courtroom and allows them to see what it’s like being a practicing attorney.
Various competitions at Michigan State University College of Law help students analyze complex cases, structure legal arguments, gain experience in the courtroom, and work closely with esteemed faculty members.
In their second and third years of law school, students can offer free legal services at MSU’s legal clinics.
These include (the):
- Childhood Clinic
- Civil Rights Clinic
- Equitable Entrepreneurship & Innovation Law Clinic
- First Amendment Clinic
- Housing Clinic
- Immigration Law Clinic
- Indian Law Clinic
- Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
MSU also has various law centers students can enroll in if they’re looking to gain additional experience before hitting the courtroom.
Student Organizations
Finally, if you’re looking to network and meet some like-minded people, there are lots of student organizations you can join. These include (the):
- ACLU Michigan State University
- Animal and Natural Resource Law Review
- Business and Law Association
- Canadian Legal Society
- Family Law Society
- Intellectual Property Law society
- Michigan State Law Review
- Older Wiser Law Students
- Student Bar Association
- Student Veterans of America
Summary
The median undergrad GPA and LSAT score of program entrants are 3.73 and 162 respectively, so MSU law isn’t easy to get into. Keep this school in mind if you’re interested in contracts/commercial law, business law, or constitutional law. The school also has a flexible curriculum if you’d like to have a bit more leeway in course selection as you earn your JD.
4. University of Detroit Mercy
U.S. News & World Report Law School Ranking: #142
Tuition: $48,622
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.52
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 156
Acceptance Rate: 41.4%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 70.8%
The Detroit Mercy School of Law is a Jesuit institution located in the heart of the city’s downtown area. In accordance with the principles of the Jesuit tradition, students here are taught to pursue justice, serve others, and adhere to the highest ethical standards of the legal profession.
According to U.S. News and World Report, Detroit Mercy Law comes in at:
- #66 in Legal Writing
- #94 in Dispute Resolution
- #95 in Clinical Training
- #111 in Environmental Law
- #126 in International Law
Curriculum
Detroit Mercy has a unique curriculum, as it’s the only law school in the United States that allows you to earn a joint U.S./Canadian law degree. Graduates of the dual JD program are prepared to pursue licensure in both the U.S. and Canada. It’s also the first law school in Michigan that has a fully online law program. Students enrolled in the online program don’t have to visit the Detroit campus at any point in their training.
Required courses at the Detroit Mercy School of Law include:
- Applied Legal Theory and Analysis (I&II)
- Civil Procedure
- Contracts
- Criminal Law
- Critical Lawyering Skills in a Social Context
- Introduction to Legal Research (I&II)
- Property
- Torts
This school has many legal clinics that will allow you to get some hands-on legal training. Those open to first-year students include (the):
- Crime Stoppers Clinic
- Driver’s License Restoration Clinic
- Expungement Clinic
- Greening of Detroit Clinic
- Pope Francis Center legal Clinic
- Unemployment Clinic
- Wayne County Tax Foreclosure Hearing
Student Organizations
Finally, there are dozens of student organizations at the Detroit Mercy School of Law, including (the):
- American Constitution Society
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Business Law Society
- Christian Legal Society
- Cribbage and Rummy Dealers’ Society
- Environmental Law Society
- Golf Club
- National Lawyers Guild
- Sports Law Society
- St. Thomas More Society
Summary
While the admissions standards of Detroit Mercy School of Law are a bit lower than some other schools on our list, you still need an undergrad GPA of about 3.5 to be a competitive applicant. And the median LSAT score of program entrants is 156, which is slightly higher than the national median of ~153. According to the school’s website, it’s the only one in the nation to prepare students for both U.S. and Canadian licensure. And you can earn your degree completely online if you so choose.
5. Cooley Law School
U.S. News & World Report Law School Ranking: #175-194
Tuition: $52,200
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.09
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 147
Acceptance Rate: 52.9%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 51.5%
Rounding off our list of the best law schools in Michigan is the Cooley Law School. Cooley was founded in 1972 as a regional law school for the Lansing, Michigan area, but it quickly grew into one of the largest law schools in the United States. To date more than 20,000 lawyers have graduated from Cooley. Diversity is a core value at the school, which prides itself on affording people from all walks of life the opportunity to become an attorney.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the Colley Law School comes in at:
- #71-78 in Part-Time Law
- #120 in Legal Writing
- #157 in Clinical Training
- #169 in Tax Law
- #171 in Health Care Law
Curriculum
The curriculum at Cooley is somewhat unique. While there’s a heavy emphasis on legal writing throughout the program, there’s a reduced emphasis on core requirements so students can quickly begin taking electives in the area of the law they plan to practice in. The school also prioritizes experiential learning through numerous externships, summer skills programs, and legal clinics.
Some of the clinics at Cooley include (the):
- Debt Relief Clinic
- Public Defender Clinic
- Sixty Plus, Inc. Estate Planning Clinic
- Cooley Innocence Project
Student Organizations
There are over a dozen student organizations you can join. These include (the):
- American Constitution Society
- Criminal Law Society
- Environmental Law Society
- Federal Bar Association
- Cooley Law Review
- Military Veterans Law Student Association
- Mock Trial Board
- Moot Court
- Real Property Probate and Trust Law Association
- Sports and Entertainment Law Society
Summary
Cooley Law School may be easier to get into than some of the other schools on this list, but you’ll still need an undergrad GPA around a 3.0 to be a competitive applicant. The median LSAT score of program entrants is 147, which is somewhat below the national median of ~153. So it may be a good school to consider if you were a good student but didn’t have a strong LSAT performance. Cooley places less emphasis on core requirements and allows first-year students to quickly start taking electives in their areas of interest.
How can you get accepted to one of the best law schools in Michigan?
Whether you’re applying to the best law schools in Michigan or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT and get the best score you can!
If you’re not sure what counts as a high score, be sure to check out this article!
The median LSAT score at each of these Michigan law schools gives you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class. Remember, law schools want to attract the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate chance by getting a high LSAT score.
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