Law Schools
15 Best Law Schools in New Jersey | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
The bar test must be passed to start a legal career. You need to have a strong intellectual base initially. One of the several law schools in New Jersey is where you can start your legal career.
The legal profession has intriguing prospects in New Jersey. Because of its affordable tuition and proximity to New York City’s expansive marketplace, New Jersey has become a popular site for legal studies before taking the New York bar exam.
There are several top-notch law schools in New Jersey to select from, including one otherwise great university that has found itself at the center of many legal jokes. Whether you want to practice law in Garden State or elsewhere in the region, you have plenty of options.
Are you seeking to choose which law school in New Jersey is the best? This article contains a list of all of them, along with details on their tuition costs, admission standards, and other elements that can help you make the best choice.
Are There Law Schools in New Jersey?
You have three ABA-accredited choices of law schools in New Jersey: The law school of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is situated in Camden. Located in Newark is the Rutgers University School of Law-Newark. Newark’s Seton Hall University School of Law.
These best law schools in New Jersey 2024 have created their legal education programs and degrees in a way that will help you land the finest job possible. A wide variety is available through joint or dual degrees from major law schools in New Jersey, including Rutgers School of Law.
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How Long is a Law School in New Jersey?
The length of law schools in New Jersey is comparable to that of the majority of law schools in the US.
In general, part-time students finish the program in four years while full-time students normally finish the 90 credits needed for graduation in three years.
Even though some people criticize the length of law school. If you thoroughly consider it, you will see that it is worthwhile to adequately prepare students for the legal profession.
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How Much Does Law School Cost in New Jersey?
The full-time tuition for Seton Hall University’s law school is $60,152, and the part-time cost is $45,532. Tuition at Rutgers University’s law school is $23,027 for in-state students, $43,339 for out-of-state students, $29,763 for part-time students, and $33,884 for full-time students (out-of-state).
What are Law Schools in New Jersey Ranked For?
Rankings for law schools in New Jersey are based on factors including their high bar passage rate and school renown, which can translate into higher salaries in the private sector. Christian ideals are well-grounded in the classroom as well.
The law schools at Rutgers University, which have campuses in Camden and Newark, are highly recognized for their clinical programs and for producing a lot of clerkships for graduates.
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What Are the Requirements for Getting into a Law School in New Jersey 2024?
Admission standards for law schools in New Jersey vary just a little. All applicants to the New Jersey law school must, however, meet certain prerequisites, and these are as follows:
Investigate the Function of a Lawyer
This will educate you and help you decide on a specialty.
finish your bachelor’s degree
Before a student can enroll in a law school that is ABA-approved, they must have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Taking and passing the law school assessment test (LSAT)
One of the key determining factors for admission to law schools in New Jersey is your test score. Therefore, early planning is crucial.
A clear Personal Statement
Every university that awards academic degrees in New Jersey often requests a personal statement. This provides you the chance to discuss your character, academic achievements, career ambitions, and even your motivation for going to law school with the admissions committee.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are required from prospective students by New Jersey law schools.
Transcript
Before you may apply to law schools in New Jersey, you must have authentic transcripts from every graduate, undergraduate, and certificate institution.
What are the Best Law Schools in New Jersey 2024?
New Jersey is a fantastic environment for new graduates in terms of career prospects and compensation following graduation, eliminating the fear of being unemployed after graduating from any of the state’s top law schools.
The ABA has approved and accredited each of the institutions on the list below. Any law school with ABA accreditation is unquestionably highly esteemed.
Law schools in New Jersey provide both full-time and part-time degrees. The best law schools in New Jersey are as follows:
- Seton Hall University Law School
- Rutgers University Law School – Camden Campus
- Rutgers University Law School – Newark Campus
#1. Seton Hall University Law School
New York City and Wall Street are just a train ride away for students attending the Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey. The school-coordinated opportunities for externships include judicial externships, IRS externships, entertainment industry externships, and European court externships. Students are encouraged to conduct externships for academic credit.
All law students take part in a skills curriculum that offers practical instruction in small class sizes. Additionally, Seton Hall Law School’s centers, such as the Center for Social Justice, the Gibbons Institute for Law, Science, and Technology, and the Center for Religiously Affiliated Corporations, may offer J.D. students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.
Students have the option of concentrating their studies in either intellectual property law or Seton Hall’s highly regarded healthcare law program. Seton law ranks higher than the other law schools in New Jersey.
The cost of applying for the full-time program at Seton Hall University’s School of Law is $65. The application fee for the part-time program at Seton Hall University’s School of Law is $65 per applicant. Full-time tuition is $60,152, and part-time tuition is $45,532. 8.4:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#2. Rutgers University Law School – Camden Campus
The Camden campus, which is situated across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, is renowned for producing many post-graduation clerkships. Additionally, the school gives nontraditional students with more freedom than anywhere else through a unique part-time day program.
Through the selection of upper-level classes, participation in clinics, combined degree programs, and other activities, students can concentrate on their studies. A J.D./MBA program through the Rutgers Business School and a J.D./Master of City and Regional Planning program through the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy are just two of the dual-degree options offered by Rutgers.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at Rutgers University’s law school. There is no application fee for the part-time program at Rutgers University’s law school. Full-time in-state tuition is $29,763, full-time out-of-state tuition is $43,339, part-time in-state tuition is $23,027, and part-time out-of-state tuition is $33,884. (out-of-state). 8.7:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#3. Rutgers University Law School – Newark Campus
The Newark campus, which is across the Hudson River from Manhattan, used to be the top-ranked law school in New Jersey before it merged with the Camden campus. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg launched the “Women’s Rights Law Reporter” at Rutgers and spent several years there as a law professor. The school is renowned for its clinical program, which was among the first in the country and the first of its kind in New Jersey.
Through the school’s clinical program, students can obtain practical experience by working with real clients who have concerns about things like tax laws, immigration rights, child advocacy, and more. Centers and institutes, such as the Institute on Education Law and Policy, may offer additional chances to get active in particular legal fields.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at Rutgers University’s law school. There is no application fee for the part-time program at Rutgers University’s law school. Full-time in-state tuition is $29,763, full-time out-of-state tuition is $43,339, part-time in-state tuition is $23,027, and part-time out-of-state tuition is $33,884. (out-of-state). 8.7:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
Best Law Schools Close to New Jersey
This post is not just about law schools in New Jersey; there are some excellent law schools nearby as well. The top law schools around New Jersey are listed here.
#4. Columbia University Law School
The advantages of attending Columbia Law School for legal education are innumerable: excellent instruction from top-notch faculty, accessibility to a broad and forward-thinking curriculum, practical legal experience, unmatched career opportunities, and more, all set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City.
Due to their extremely varied backgrounds and experiences, students provide fresh and wide-ranging perspectives on the social and intellectual life of our community.
They are committed to having an effect as leaders in the legal and civic spheres. They are active global citizens, fearless and analytical thinkers, and unwaveringly supportive peers.
The application fee for the full-time program at Columbia University’s Law School is $85. Full-time tuition is $76,088. The faculty-to-student ratio is 5.4:1.
#5. New York University Law School
Through the school’s Lawyering Program, law students at NYU Law begin their studies with an immersive experience in practical legal skills.
In addition to engaging Colloquia seminar lectures, which are made up of a series of workshops on a particular topic, students can further test their knowledge in more than 30 legal clinics and roughly 25 on-campus facilities during their second and third years.
Law students have the opportunity to study at roughly 15 universities throughout the world. If you want an adventurous law school experience, you should consider NYU law school alongside law schools in New Jersey.
The application fee for the School of Law at New York University’s full-time program is $85. Full-time tuition is $73,414 per year. The ratio of faculty to students is 6.3:1.
#6. Cornell University Law School
One of the most prestigious and long-standing courses in international and comparative legal education is offered at Cornell Law School.
It has a top-notch faculty, a robust and varied curriculum, internationally focused law clinics, visiting professors, scholars, and graduate law students from around the globe, a renowned journal of international and comparative law, active student organizations with an international focus, international speakers and conferences, international internships and externships, international dual degree and study abroad opportunities, and an acclaimed international and comparative law journal. It is a superb setting for learning about and discussing international and comparative law.
At Cornell University’s Law School, the application fee for the full-time program is $80. Full-time tuition is $71,608 per year. 5:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#7. Brooklyn University Law School
Students at Brooklyn Law School have easy access to the major corporations, federal courts, and law firms in New York City where they work, live, and go to school.
The school has a well-regarded part-time Brooklyn Law program that takes four years to finish for students. For practical experience, the law school provides clinics like the Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy (BLIP) Clinic, which gives students exposure to both legal and technological challenges.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at Brooklyn Law School. There is no application fee for the part-time program at Brooklyn Law School. Full-time tuition is $65,099, and part-time tuition is $48,942. 9.8:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#8. Syracuse University Law School
The Syracuse University School of Law is one of the top research universities in the country and offers a top-notch legal education. Syracuse is well-known for its top-ranked trial advocacy program, but it also excels in areas like national security law, innovation law, and disability law.
You will collaborate with faculty members at Syracuse who are regarded as thought leaders in their disciplines. Several of the lecturers have continuous experience practicing law. All of them still publish their work and perform research to advance legal theory and practice.
The professors all have a strong desire to teach. Your lecturers will get to know you as a student, researcher, and potential attorney in small, friendly classes. The same goes for lecturers of law schools in New Jersey.
At Syracuse University’s College of Law, the application fee for the full-time program is $75. Full-time tuition is $57,308. 8.9:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#9. University of Pennsylvania Law School
Professional students at the University of Pennsylvania can tailor their study to include multiple disciplines. Other professional school students can take Pennsylvania Law courses, while the Law students can enroll in courses in other academic departments.
By obtaining a certificate in a subject like a Gender and Sexuality Studies or East Asian Studies, students can specialize in a particular field with a few additional classes.
A J.D. and another degree, such as an M.B.A. from The Wharton School, a master’s in bioethics from the School of Medicine, or a master’s in City & Regional Planning from the School of Design can be earned by law students in three years.
The University of Pennsylvania Law School’s (Carey) application fee for the full-time program is $80. Full-time tuition is $70,0042. The faculty-to-student ratio is 4.8:1.
#10. Villanova University Law School
A private university located about 15 miles outside of Philadelphia is the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University. Students can take advantage of the location by participating in externships that have been approved by the school and those that have been suggested by the students.
Examples include judicial externships with judges in the Philadelphia area and prosecutorial externships with district attorneys in Philadelphia and the nearby counties.
If they choose, Villanova law students can concentrate their coursework in one particular field of legal practice, such as commercial law, intellectual property law, or health care law.
There is a combined J.D./MBA degree program provided by the Villanova School of Business for those who seek an additional specialization in business. A J.D./LL.M. in Taxation is available from the Villanova School of Law, which has a high ranking among law schools for tax law.
At Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law, there is no application fee for the full-time program. Full-time tuition is $50,535. The instructor-to-student ratio is 7.5:1.
#11. Pennsylvania State University – Dickinson School of Law
Pennsylvania’s Carlisle is home to the Dickinson School of Law. The J.D. and LL.M. are two degrees offered by the Dickinson School of Law.
The law school also provides dual degree programs. Law certificate programs were created by the Dickinson School of Law as well. Students must obtain 88 credits to receive their Juris Doctor degree. An LL.M. degree program consists of 24 credits.
Up to six credits can be earned by students toward their J.D. from graduate-level courses that have been approved and are being offered by several Penn State departments. Joint degrees in J.D./MBA, M.P.A., and Masters in Public Health are available to students.
The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson Law’s law school does not charge an application fee for its full-time programs. Full-time in-state tuition is $53,558; full-time out-of-state tuition is $53,558. (out-of-state). 7:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#12. Widener University – Delaware Law School
The Widener University Delaware School of Law (Delaware Law School) is located in Wilmington, Delaware, while the Widener University Commonwealth Law School is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Widener University runs two campuses of its law school. In 2015, these campuses were divided into separate law schools.
The part-time program at Delaware Law School, which is ranked as a “second tier” law school by U.S. World & News Report, is very well-regarded.
The Widener University-Delaware law school’s application cost for the full-time program is $60. The Widener University-Delaware law school’s part-time program application cost is $60. Full-time tuition is $55,320, and part-time tuition is $41,520. 13.3:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#13. Fordham University Law School
For students pursuing J.D.s, Fordham University Law School provides both a day and an evening curriculum. Law students can also earn dual degrees, such as a J.D./MBA from the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service or a J.D./Master of Social Work from the Gabelli School of Business.
Through 15 legal clinics, including the Queens DA Prosecution Clinic, where students work with public defenders and police officers, law students can gain practical legal experience. At Fordham Law, pro bono work is a priority. Students can find volunteer opportunities through the Public Interest Resource Center.
At Fordham University’s School of Law, the application fee for the full-time program is $75. The Fordham University School of Law charges $75 as the application fee for part-time programs. Full-time tuition is $66,750, and part-time tuition is $50,198. The ratio of faculty to students is 6.3:1.
#14. Yale University Law School
At Yale, there are no designated areas of emphasis, but students can choose their courses based on their interests. Several professional and graduate schools at Yale, notably the highly regarded School of Management, offer dual degrees. It is ranked more than law schools in New Jersey and the US in general.
At this institution, students can enroll in courses without combining a second major. The same amount of time that it takes to finish a regular J.D. can be achieved by exceptionally driven students who complete an expedited, combined J.D./MBA in three years.
At Yale, there are more than 20 legal clinics, so students can start getting hands-on legal training as early as their first year. In cases including domestic violence, apartment evictions, and other situations, students represent actual clients. In workshops and on-campus facilities, students can put their legal acumen to the test.
The Yale Law School’s full-time application cost is $85 for this program. Full-time tuition is $69,433. The faculty-to-student ratio is 4.7:1.
#15. University of Connecticut Law School
Since the University of Connecticut School of Law is situated in Hartford, the state’s capital, law students can easily access courts, government offices, legal services providers, and businesses. For practical experience in areas including intellectual property and entrepreneurial law, asylum and human rights, and mediation, law students can participate in a range of in-house legal clinics.
The law school also manages externship clinics in poverty law, environmental law, LBGT civil rights, and other areas through affiliations with numerous charitable organizations, such as the Center for Children’s Advocacy and the Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative.
The UConn School of Law offers a semester-long program in Washington, D.C. for students who are interested in politics and government.
The University of Connecticut School of Law charges $60 for applications to its full-time programs. At the University of Connecticut School of Law, the application fee for part-time programs is $60. Full-time in-state tuition is $31,296; full-time out-of-state tuition is $62,338; part-time in-state tuition is $22,868; and part-time out-of-state tuition is $44,888. (out-of-state). The faculty-to-student ratio is 5.7:1.
How to Apply for Law Schools in New Jersey in 2024
A successful application to law schools in New Jersey can be done through these simple steps:
- A consultation with the pre-law advisor at your undergraduate institution
- Sign up for an LSAC account.
- Register for the LSAT and take it.
- Investigate law schools.
- Meet the law school recruiters.
- Get all required transcripts.
- submit recommendation letters.
- Construct a personal statement.
- Allow law schools to find you.
- Make an online submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
The finest law schools in New Jersey have created their legal education programs and degrees in a way that will help you land the best job possible.
The LSAT exam is available for as many attempts as you choose.
Although the LSAT is thought to be highly difficult, those who study properly can succeed in it.
The highest law degree is a doctor of judicial science.
Conclusion
Your decision to read this article demonstrates your desire to enroll in a law school that will provide you with a strong education and adequately hones your legal skills.
Law schools in New Jersey are reasonably priced and easily reachable. New Jersey law schools tend to accept more applications due to their high acceptance rate.
It’s important to act fast and obtain the required documents if you want to be fully qualified for admission to law schools in New Jersey.
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