Life is a series of choices and never-ending questions. What should we do for the day? What color shoes should we wear? How many friends are we meeting this weekend? The list goes on. For some people, making these choices is as routine as waking up in the morning. But for people with fewer opportunities, these questions can matter much more. As human beings, we all have a moral responsibility to protect one another.
One of the best ways to protect humanity is to study law. Studying law can give a voice to the voiceless, the oppressed, and the underrepresented. It can open doors and transform the dynamics of society.
Aside from giving students the power to make a difference, studying law has several benefits. The legal system is constantly changing, and it has produced many legal career options across different industries. Choosing the right law school is an important task for every aspiring legal professional. In this article, we will look at some of the best law schools in Virginia.
Best Law Schools in Virginia
1. University of Virginia School of Law
- Law School Links:
- Degrees offered: J.D., LL.M., S.J.D.
Thomas Jefferson founded the School of Law at the University of Virginia in 1819. UVA Law describes itself as the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the United States, and its J.D. is a three-year, full-time-only program. It is one of the most highly ranked law schools in the country; UVA Law reported that it was ranked No. 4 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report law school rankings. The law school has produced several notable alumni, including U.S. Supreme Court Justices James Clark McReynolds and Stanley Forman Reed.
UVA Law also reports strong clerkship outcomes. It ranks No. 5 in placing clerks at the U.S. Supreme Court from the 2007 through 2025 terms and No. 4 in the share of graduates from the classes of 2020–24 who went directly to federal clerkships.
Students can explore many areas of study, including constitutional law, corporate, business and transactional law, criminal justice, human rights and immigration, intellectual property, international and comparative law, national security law, public service and leadership, and tax law. Second- and third-year J.D. students may also apply for 12 international exchange programs, including partner universities in New Zealand, Italy, Germany, Israel, Spain, India, Australia, France, South Korea, and Japan.
2. Washington and Lee University School of Law (W&L Law)
The School of Law at Washington and Lee University is a private law school in Lexington, Virginia. W&L Law reports 369 J.D. students, and its law school dates back to 1849, making it one of the older law schools in the state.
The law school’s J.D. curriculum is organized so that each year presents different challenges. In the first year, students take Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Contracts, Property, Torts, and Transnational Law, along with Legal Writing and Research. In the second and third years, students choose upper-level courses, clinics, externships, and other experiential opportunities without being required to select a specialization or track.
3. William & Mary Law School
- Law School Links:
- Degrees offered: J.D., LL.M.
With Thomas Jefferson’s urging, William & Mary established the first law school in America in 1779. Jefferson was governor of Virginia at the time and, as part of his role on the Board of Visitors, helped establish a professorship in law. William & Mary Law School is historically known as the Marshall-Wythe School of Law and has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1932.
The J.D. program is a three-year course of study. The law school also offers an LL.M. in American Legal Studies for foreign-educated graduates and attorneys, with an on-campus full-time option and an online part-time option.
J.D. students can pursue concentrations in business law, criminal law and procedure, environmental law, intellectual property law, international law, national security law, political law, and public interest and social justice law. Each concentration requires at least two foundational courses, at least three approved courses, and either an independent research paper or an experiential course.
4. University of Richmond School of Law
- Law School Links:
- Degrees offered: J.D., LL.M.
Founded in 1870 as part of Richmond College, the School of Law at the University of Richmond had 30 students in its first class. Today, Richmond Law offers a full-time J.D. program and an LL.M. program that is typically a one-year, full-time course of study for lawyers educated outside the United States or admitted to practice in another country.
Richmond Law is also home to the Institute for Actual Innocence, where students help screen, investigate, and litigate felony cases involving credible evidence of a convicted person’s innocence. Students work under faculty supervision on post-conviction claims, including writs of actual innocence and federal clemency matters.
All first-year students take foundational courses. In the fall, students take Civil Procedure, Contracts, and Torts; in the spring, they take Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Legislation and Regulation, and Property. First-year students also take Lawyering Skills I and II, which introduce legal analysis, writing, research, counseling, negotiation, and oral advocacy.
5. George Mason University – Antonin Scalia Law School
- Law School Links:
- Degrees offered: J.D., LL.M., J.D./MBA, J.M., J.D./M.P.P.
Next on our list of best law schools in Virginia is the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. The law school was established in 1972 as the International School of Law in Washington, D.C., merged with George Mason University in 1979, and was renamed the Antonin Scalia Law School in July 2016. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Scalia Law offers both day and evening J.D. programs.
Scalia Law hosts several centers and research programs, including the Law & Economics Center, the C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State, the Center for the Middle East & International Law, the National Security Institute, and the Liberty & Law Center.
J.D. students may pursue a general law program or select from 18 focus areas. Formal J.D. concentrations are available in Antitrust Law, Business Law and Financial Regulation, National Security Law, Cyber Law, Tax Law, Patent Law, and Public Interest Litigation.
The law school offers four Master of Laws degrees: Global Antitrust Law and Economics, U.S. Law, Intellectual Property, and Cyber, Intelligence, and National Security Law.
I hope this article was helpful. If you are interested, check out the available courses for international students and the USA Scholarships Page!
