Yale Law School, one of the best law schools in the world, offers extensive educational opportunities, thanks to top faculty, small classes and clinical training. Students begin representing clients through clinic programs from their first year of law school. Students can earn a J.D. (Juris Doctor, a traditional law degree) or complete a one-year program on teaching law or relating law to another discipline. Both one-year programs require students to already have a law degree. Program emphases include international law, corporate law and public interest law. Admission is highly competitive. Yale Law School takes fewer than 200 students each year and receives almost 4,000 applications.
Columbia University's law school is also highly competitive. Columbia Law School offers a number of study areas, including intellectual property law, international law, human rights law and family law. One unique aspect of Columbia Law School is its ability to place students in judicial clerkship positions on both state and federal levels. Students earn a J.D. traditionally but can also complete a master's program on teaching law. Joint degree programs with other study areas are also
offered through a collaborative effort with Columbia University.
The Law School at the University of Chicago has a J.D program, as well as joint degrees in business, international relations and public policy. The school offers several clinic projects for students to participate in, thereby gaining valuable practical experience. J.D. students do not have to choose a concentration in a specific area of the law, which allows them to tailor a program to fit their needs. The Law School at the University of Chicago is especially well known for strong programs in law and economics. Other programs of study include administrative law, constitutional law, health law and international law.
The Law School at the University of California-Berkeley offers students an excellent J.D. program, as well as an M.A. option in social policy. Throughout their course of study, students at Berkeley have the opportunity to participate in a number of legal clinics, research centers, fellowships and field placements. Berkeley Law creates several joint-degree programs with other colleges at the university; students can also focus on a specific area of law. Some of Berkeley's top courses include international law, social justice, environmental law and intellectual property law.