California Law Schools
March 10, 2023

California has some of the most prestigious and highly-ranked law schools in the United States. Here are some of the top law schools in California:
- Stanford Law School – located in Stanford, CA, Stanford Law School is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools in the country.
- UC Berkeley School of Law – also known as Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley School of Law is located in Berkeley, CA, and is consistently ranked among the top public law schools in the country.
- UCLA School of Law – located in Los Angeles, CA, UCLA School of Law is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the country.
- UC Davis School of Law – located in Davis, CA, UC Davis School of Law is a public law school consistently ranked among the top 40 law schools in the country.
- USC Gould School of Law – located in Los Angeles, CA, USC Gould School of Law is consistently ranked among the top 20 law schools in the country.
- UC Hastings College of the Law – located in San Francisco, CA, UC Hastings is a public law school consistently ranked among the top 50 law schools in the country.
- Loyola Law School – located in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Law School is a private law school consistently ranked among the top 75 law schools in the country.
- Pepperdine Caruso School of Law – located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law is a private law school consistently ranked among the top 50 law schools in the country.
- University of San Diego School of Law – located in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego School of Law is a private law school consistently ranked among the top 100 law schools in the country.
- Santa Clara University School of Law – located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University School of Law is a private law school consistently ranked among the top 100 law schools in the country.
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a private law school located on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California. It was founded in 1893 and is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools in the United States.
The faculty at Stanford Law School is composed of more than 50 full-time professors and over 50 additional visiting professors, lecturers, and practitioners. The school offers a range of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as advanced degrees such as an LL.M. for foreign law graduates and a J.S.M. for students seeking to pursue advanced research and academic work in law.
Stanford Law School also offers a variety of clinics, programs, and centers, including the Stanford Center on the Legal Profession, the Stanford Criminal Justice Center, and the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program. The school is known for its interdisciplinary approach to legal education and its emphasis on practical skills and experiential learning.
Some notable alumni of Stanford Law School include former US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, former US Senator, and presidential candidate Ted Cruz, and former US Senator and Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris.
UC Berkeley School of Law
UC Berkeley School of Law, also known as Boalt Hall, is the law school of the University of California, Berkeley. It was founded in 1894 and is consistently ranked as one of the top public law schools in the United States.
The faculty at UC Berkeley School of Law includes more than 100 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities.
UC Berkeley School of Law is known for its commitment to social justice and public interest law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the Berkeley Law Death Penalty Clinic, the International Human Rights Law Clinic, and the Environmental Law Clinic.
Notable alumni of UC Berkeley School of Law include former California Governor and Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren, former US Secretary of State and United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, and former US Senator and current Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris.
UCLA School of Law
UCLA School of Law is the law school of the University of California, Los Angeles. It was founded in 1949 and is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools in the United States.
The faculty at UCLA School of Law includes more than 100 full-time professors, many of whom are internationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and S.J.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities.
UCLA School of Law is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including entertainment law, environmental law, and public interest law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy, the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy, and the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
Notable alumni of UCLA School of Law include former California Governor and Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren, former US Secretary of State and presidential candidate Warren Christopher, and former US Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis.
UC Davis School of Law
UC Davis School of Law, also known as King Hall, is the law school of the University of California, Davis. It was founded in 1965 and is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States.
The faculty at UC Davis School of Law includes more than 50 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities.
UC Davis School of Law is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including environmental law, intellectual property law, and public interest law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the California Environmental Law and Policy Center, the California International Law Center, and the Immigration Law Clinic.
Notable alumni of UC Davis School of Law include California Governor Gavin Newsom, former US Congressman and presidential candidate Tom Campbell, and former California Supreme Court Justice and current Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Justice Anthony Kennedy.
USC Gould School of Law
The USC Gould School of Law is the law school of the University of Southern California, located in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1896 and is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools in the United States.
The faculty at USC Gould School of Law includes more than 70 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities.
USC Gould School of Law is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including entertainment law, intellectual property law, and business law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the USC Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic, the USC Small Business Clinic, and the USC Immigration Clinic.
Notable alumni of USC Gould School of Law include former California Governor and US Secretary of State, George Deukmejian, former California Governor Gray Davis, and former US Senator and Vice President of the United States, Hubert Humphrey.
UC Hastings College of the Law
UC Hastings College of the Law is a public law school located in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1878 and is the oldest law school in California. It is part of the University of California system but operates independently.
The faculty at UC Hastings College of the Law includes more than 50 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities.
UC Hastings College of Law is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including the healthcare law, intellectual property law, and public interest law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the UCSF/UC Hastings Consortium on Law, Science, and Health Policy, the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal, and the Medical-Legal Partnership for Seniors Clinic.
Notable alumni of UC Hastings College of the Law include California Governor Gavin Newsom, former US Secretary of State George Shultz, and former US Supreme Court Justice, Stanley Mosk.
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is a private law school located in downtown Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1920 and is part of Loyola Marymount University.
The faculty at Loyola Law School includes more than 80 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities.
Loyola Law School is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including entertainment law, international law, and public interest law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic, the Entertainment Law Practicum, and the International Human Rights Clinic.
Notable alumni of Loyola Law School include California Governor Jerry Brown, former California Governor, and US Secretary of Education Richard Riley, and former Los Angeles Mayor and current gubernatorial candidate, Antonio Villaraigosa.
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law is a private law school located in Malibu, California, and is part of Pepperdine University. The school was founded in 1969 and is known for its emphasis on values-centered education, where students are encouraged to develop a strong ethical foundation to guide their legal careers.
The faculty at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law includes more than 50 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities.
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including dispute resolution, entertainment law, and international law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the Legal Aid Clinic, the Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law Program, and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution Law Schools.
Notable alumni of Pepperdine Caruso School of Law include California Congressman Adam Schiff, former US Congressman and presidential candidate Tom Campbell, and former California Attorney General, John Van de Kamp.
University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law is a private law school located in San Diego, California. It was founded in 1954 and is part of the University of San Diego Law Schools.
The faculty at the University of San Diego School of Law includes more than 60 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities Law Schools.
The University of San Diego School of Law is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including tax law, business and corporate law, and intellectual property law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the Veterans Legal Clinic, the Children’s Advocacy Institute, and the Center for Intellectual Property Law and Markets Law Schools.
Notable alumni of the University of San Diego School of Law include California Congressman Darrell Issa, former California Congressman and presidential candidate Duncan Hunter, and former San Diego County District Attorney, Bonnie Dumanis Law Schools.
Santa Clara University School of Law
Santa Clara University School of Law is a private law school located in Santa Clara, California. It was founded in 1911 and is part of Santa Clara University Law Schools.
The faculty at Santa Clara University School of Law includes more than 70 full-time professors, many of whom are nationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields. The school offers a variety of programs, including the traditional J.D. degree, as well as LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for students seeking advanced legal education and research opportunities Law Schools.
Santa Clara University School of Law is known for its strength in a variety of legal fields, including intellectual property law, high-tech law, and social justice law. The school offers a wide range of clinics, centers, and programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience working on real-world legal issues, including the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center, the High Tech Law Institute, and the International Human Rights Clinic Law Schools.
Notable alumni of Santa Clara University School of Law include California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, former US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and former California Congressman, Tom Campbell.