The Best Law Schools in the West

Stanford Law School

• Stanford Law School offers four possible degrees: the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree (JD); the Master of Laws degree (LLM); the Master of the Science of Law degree (JSM) and the Doctor of the Science of Law degree (JSD). The Law School was founded in 1908, after the law department was founded in 1893.

  Stanford Law School

  Crown Quadrangle, 559 Nathan Abbott Way

  Stanford, CA 94305

  650-723-2465

  law.stanford.edu/

University of California at Berkeley School of Law

• The University of California at Berkeley School of Law offers several degree programs as well as combined degree programs with Tufts University and Harvard University. The combined degree programs allow students to work towards a Juris Doctor deree (JD) and a master's degree. Degrees offered solely by UC Berkeley School of Law are: the Juris Doctor degree (JD) which is a PhD degree in social policy and jurisprudence; a Master of Laws degree (LLM) and a Doctor of the Science of Law degree (JSD). The UC Berkeley School of Law was renamed as such in 1950. Before this is was called the Department of Jurisprudence (founded in 1894), and became the School of Jurisprudence in 1912.

  Stanford Law School

  Crown Quadrangle, 559 Nathan Abbott Way

  Stanford, CA 94305

  650-723-2465

  law.stanford.edu/

University of California, Los Angeles School of Law

• The University of California, Los Angeles School of Law offers three degree programs as well as joint degree programs. The three degrees offered by UCLA School of Law include: the Juris Doctor degree (JD); the Master of Laws degree (LLM) and the Doctor of Juridical Science degree (SJD). Joint study programs include options to combine legal studies with management, philosophy, health, public policy, urban planning, and social welfare studies. The UCLA School of Law was established in 1949.

  University of California, Los Angeles School of Law

  405 Hilgard Ave.

  Los Angeles, CA 90095

  310-825-8202

  law.ucla.edu/

University of Southern California Gould School of Law

• The University of Southern California Gould School of Law offers a Juris Doctor Degree (JD), a Master of Laws degree (LLM) and a Master of Comparative Law degree (MCL). USC Gould School of Law also offers a Summer Law and English program for international students who are interested in pursuing further legal studies in the United States. The USC Gould School of Law was established in 1896.

  University of Southern California Gould School of Law

  Gould School of Law

  699 Exposition Boulevard

  Los Angeles, CA 90089-0071

  213-740-2523

  lawweb.usc.edu