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10 Best Law Schools in Virginia | Ranking 2023

  • February 21, 2023

We all know that the U.S has some of the best law schools in Virginia that train lawyers. Do you have any interest in upholding the law while also protecting the client’s rights in Virginia? Well, there are Virginia top law schools where you can learn this.

Also, the best law schools in the Virginia area will teach you all you need to become a lawyer.

Read along with me to know about the law schools in Virginia. Honestly, these schools will help you to know almost everything about practicing law.

Studying law in Virginia is very different from studying law in other countries. Besides, students begin their law studies immediately after graduation from high school or secondary school in other countries.

Most law schools in other countries need only a high school diploma or the equivalent to admit students to study law. In the US, the law is a professional academic field that grants Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees. However, the J.D. program lasts three years for full-time students and four years for part-time students.

Other degrees that these law school awards include the Master of Laws (LL.M.) and the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D.) degrees. Besides, these degrees can be more international in scope.

So, read on to know more about law school and the list of the best law school in Virginia.

Table of contents

Who is a lawyer in the United States?

An attorney at law in the U.S is an interpreter in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in a court. Similarly, they can be called a counselor or counselor-at-law and lawyer.

However, there were about 1,225,452 licensed attorneys in the United States in April 2011. Besides, the United States legal system does differentiate between lawyers who plead in court and those who do not.

Well, many American attorneys restrict their practices to specialized fields of law. However, you can differentiate between different types of attorneys, except for patent law practice.

Similarly, some states stop the claims of specialization in particular areas of law unless the attorney gains certification from his or her state bar or state board of legal specialization. Also, most of the lawyers practicing in a particular field may typically not be certified as specialists in that field.

How much does a Lawyer earn in Virginia?

The average salary for a Lawyer in Virginia is $102,736 per year. However, the salaries of the lawyers according to seniority are:

  • Starting level lawyer $60,900 per year
  • Junior-level lawyer 82,220 per year
  • Mid-level lawyer $127,110 per year
  • Senior-level lawyer $165,270

The typical tenure for a Lawyer is 1-3 years.

Can I take the bar exam without going to a law school in Virginia?

Yes, you can! Today, Virginia is among the four states in the U.S that allow aspiring lawyers to take the bar exam without going to law school. In short, they got to a practicing attorney or judge for an apprenticeship.

However, all lawyers that do not want to go to law school in Virginia must meet the following requirements:

  • Firstly, sit in a practicing attorney’s office for 18 hours per week for a period of four years consecutively.
  • Secondly, the person must pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination.
  • Thirdly, the person should have a positive moral character determination.
  • Also, the intending lawyer must pass the Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination.
  • Finally, the passage of the California Bar Examination.

You can also read our: 25 Undergraduate Scholarships for Law Students 2023 Read more

How can I become a Lawyer in Virginia?

#1. Complete Your Virginia Undergraduate Pre-Law Education

However, the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners demands that you earn an undergraduate degree before attending law school. It does not list what discipline your degree must cover.

Similarly, the undergraduate college or university you go to must be accredited by a national or regional accreditation body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. However, this accreditation is important so that a law school in Virginia that has accreditation from the American Bar Association will accept you.

Also, this Board of Bar Examiners follows ABA rules regarding undergraduate education which admission into a pre-law school needs. Besides, the ABA recommends certain areas you can study during your pre-legal education. The areas include: 

Finally, all law schools in Virginia that are accredited by the ABA require that you have at least a bachelor’s degree to apply.

#2. Take the Virginia Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

All the best law schools in Virginia that have ABA accreditation mandate that you pass the LSAT before you will be admitted. However, the LSAT is offered quarterly at exam centers worldwide.

Also, you can apply for the LSAT online. Similarly, you must pay a fee of $160 online to take the LSAT.  You can as well take the LSAT in any state in which it is offered. This can be done in November, January, March, June, and July.

However, you will receive your LSAT scores by email three weeks after finishing the exam. Also, the LSAT score is a raw score, calculated by the number of questions you answered correctly. Thus, the lowest score you can get is 120 and the highest is 180.

  • Politics
  • Government
  • World cultures and governments
  • Finance
  • Economics
  • Development of American society
  • History
  • Sociology
  • Psychology

#3. Attend a top law school in Virginia

However, the moment you finish your undergraduate education and passed the LSAT, you can apply to law school in the Virginia area.

Honestly, you must be a graduate from an American Bar Association-approved law school according to the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. This is to enable you to become a member of the state’s bar and practice as an attorney in Virginia.

Well, almost all ABA-approved law schools require that you use LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. Also, this will help you organize and compile your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and evaluations. Then, you can now apply to the law schools of your choice electronically. The LSAC fee to use the Credential Assembly Service is $195.

Furthermore, ABA mandates that a year in law school must cover at least 130 days over eight calendar months. In short, you will spend a minimum of 2 years but only 84 months to get your Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

Thus, the course requirements are:

  • U.S. Constitutional law
  • U.S. federal civil procedure
  • Criminal law and procedure
  • Contracts
  • Uniform Commercial Code
  • Torts
  • Property
  • Legal ethics/professional responsibility

Well, you will do some sort of practical internship during your law school years. This will take place off-site in a real-life legal setting, such as a law office, moot court, law review, legal library, legal clinics, or legal research program.

Also, the staff of your law school will supervise and evaluate you during site visits to review your performance.

#4. Become an Attorney by taking the Virginia State Bar Exam

Well, now that you have a J.D. degree from a law school in Virginia, you can take the Virginia Bar Exam. You can take it over a two-day period in February and July each year in Roanoke and Norfolk.

However, the application for the Virginia Bar Exam is online. If you plan to take the Bar exam in February, the application must be received by December 15; if you plan to take the exam in July, it must be received by May 10. Well, you need the following documents for the application:

  • Photo ID
  • Credit Report
  • DMV records
  • MPRE Score Report (if not previously submitted)
  • NCBE number
  • Fingerprint card
  • Educational verification documents
  • Birth certificate/naturalization or immigration documentation

In addition, the fee to take the Virginia Bar Exam for the first time is $475. Also, the character and fitness fee is $475. Besides, all fees must be paid using cashier’s check, certified check, or money order only to the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners.

Similarly, you will have to do the Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course after passing the Bar exam and within 12 months of Bar admission. Also, if you have the license to practice law in another state, you can apply for Admission Without Examination to the Virginia Bar.

#5. Staying admitted to the Virginia Bar

However, the National Board of Trial Advocacy is just one of the several nationwide bodies that give certification to attorneys who wish to specialize in a legal area.

Well, the popular areas that Virginia attorneys specialize in include:

  • personal injury
  • civil and/or criminal trial advocacy
  • crime prevention
  • bankruptcy
  • creditors’ rights

Actually, you must complete Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)  to maintain your legal license in Virginia. Well, the requirement is to complete 12 hours of MCLE each year, with at least two hours in ethics or professionalism courses.

Finally, the court systems in Virginia include:

  • Magistrate System
  • Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
  • General District Court
  • Circuit Court
  • Court of Appeals in Virginia
  • Supreme Court of Virginia

Best Law Schools in Virginia in 2023

List of the top law schools in Virginia

World Scholarship Forum has put together a list of the best law schools in Virginia that offer J.D, LL.M, and S.J.D degrees for you.

However, we selected our top 10 law schools in Virginia based on uniRank’s ranking of world universities, our data from reliable government sources, student surveys, college graduate interviews, and editorial review.

Based on these criteria, here is a list of our best 10 law schools in Virginia:

  • University of Virginia
  • College of William and Mary
  • Washington and Lee University
  • George Mason University
  • University of Richmond
  • West Virginia University
  • Regent University
  • Liberty University
  • Appalachian School of Law

#1. University of Virginia

The University of Virginia School of Law is in Charlottesville. However, it was established by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. This law school in Virginia maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program. 

However, the reputation of this school makes it rank 10th among the law schools according to the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Also, the school gets no funding from the government except for in-state student tuition subsidies.

The Law School depends upon the monies of private donors, its substantial endowment, and student tuition payments.

Acceptance rate: 30%

Graduation rate: 94%

Address: Charlottesville, VA, United States

Tuition fee: $54,000 (In-state), $57,000 (Out-of-state) 

Student-Faculty Ratio: 15:1

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

School website

#2. College of William and Mary

William & Mary Law School is a public school, in Williamsburg, Virginia. However, this law school in Virginia is a part of the College of William & Mary which is the second-oldest college in the US after Harvard University.

Besides, this top school in Virginia maintains an enrollment of roughly 600 Juris doctor degree-seeking students. In short, this law school in the Virginia area charges relatively low tuition. 

Furthermore, it has an acceptance rate of 37% and a graduation rate of 90%. Also, the student-faculty ratio is 12:1 $ while the undergraduate tuition fee is $23,490 (in-state) and $46,933 (out-of-state)

Address: Sadler Center, 200 Stadium Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185, United States

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

School website

#3. Washington and Lee University School of Law

The Washington and Lee University was founded in 1749 and it was known as Augusta Academy. But its School of Law is a private law school in Lexington, Virginia.

However, the 2018 alumni of Washington and Lee University had an employment rate of 83% with 5% pursuing an additional degree.

So, one of the best law schools in Virginia has an acceptance rate of 24% and a graduation rate of 88%. Similarly, the student-faculty ratio is 8:1. Though, this law school in the Virginia area has an undergraduate tuition fee of $52,455.

Address: 204 W Washington St, Lexington, VA 24450, United States

Accreditation: American Bar Association

School website

#4. George Mason University

George Mason University is a large, public, four-year university in Fairfax, VA enrolling 33,929 students and giving 240 degrees. However, George Mason University School of Law is the law school of George Mason University.

Similarly, this school has 717 students in its J.D., LL.M., and J.M. programs. Also, there are merit-based scholarships ($12,000 per year) for the most qualified applicants which are sufficient to cover most of the tuition for in-state students.  

Well, this Virginia top law school has an acceptance rate of 81% and a graduation rate of 67%. Also, George Mason University, being one of the best law schools in Virginia has a student-faculty ratio of 16:1. Besides, the undergraduate tuition fee is $13,024 (in-state) and $37,544 (out-of-state).

Address: 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

School website

#5. University of Richmond

University of Richmond is an undergraduate residential university with approximately 4,350 undergraduates in Richmon, Virginia. Also, Richmond Law School is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

Also, the University of Richmond is one of the top law schools in VA that has an acceptance rate of 32% and a graduation rate of 84% of students. UMass alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $41,200. Besides, the student-faculty ratio is 8:1.

Finally, the undergraduate tuition fee is $54,367.

Address: 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173, United States

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

School website

#6. West Virginia University

This is a government, land-grant, and space-grant university. However, its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia has three adjacent sub-campuses.

Similarly, WVU Law School is considered a bit of a competitive law school. Also, this top law school in the Virginia area is lesser than the average cost for law school.

However, WVU being one of the best law schools in Virginia has an acceptance rate of 76% and a graduation rate of 57%.

Finally, the undergraduate tuition fee is $8,856 for West Virginia residents and $24,950 for out-of-state students.

Address: Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

School website

#7. Regent University

Regent University is a private Christian institution in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Well, the university was established by Pat Robertson as Christian Broadcasting Network University in 1977. However, in 1990, the name was changed to Regent University. 

In addition, Regent Law School was founded after Oral Roberts University School of Law closed and donated its library to Regent University in 1986. Also, in 1996, the law school was accredited by the American Bar Association.

In 2006, this law school in Virginia had an enrollment of 489 students. Currently, the school offers a J.D. degree, which a student can complete in three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study.

Also, Regent University has an acceptance rate of 81% and a graduation rate of 60%. The student-faculty ratio is 17:1. Above all, the undergraduate tuition fee is $18,000.

Address: 1000 Regent University Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23464, United States

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

School website

#8. Liberty University

Liberty University is a private, Christian four-year university in Lynchburg, Virginia. Do you know that this school is one of the largest Christian universities in the world? Also, it is one of the largest private non-profit universities in the US.

However, this top Virginia law school was founded in 2004 and is provisionally accredited by the American Bar Association.

Actually, Liberty University, being one of the best law schools in Virginia has an acceptance rate of 24%. Also, the graduation rate is 52%. Finally, the student-faculty ratio is 18:1 while the resident undergraduate tuition fee is $23,800.

Address: 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, VA 24515, United States

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

School website

#9. Appalachian School of Law

The Appalachian School of Law is an ABA-approved private law school in Grundy, Virginia, a small town near the convergence of Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor degree and admits about 128 full-time students.

However, this technical college in Massachusetts has an acceptance rate of 41% and a bar pass rate of 75% of students. Also, the student-faculty ratio is 12.8 to 1, while the tuition fee is $35,500.

Address: 1169 Edgewater Dr, Grundy, VA 24614, United States

Accreditation: American Bar Association

School website

Conclusion

Going through a law school in the United States differs greatly from studying law in many other countries. However, law is a professional academic field, the equivalent of a graduate degree in Virginia.

Also, Law schools in the Virginia area are part of public or private universities that award Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees. So, the J.D. program typically takes three years for full-time students and four years for part-time students to complete.

Finally, the first year of law school is generally considered to be the most difficult because of the core classes, exams, and the Socrates method.

References

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