Brazil has a long history of legal education. Two of the country’s oldest law schools were created in 1827, shortly after independence: the law school in São Paulo that later became part of the University of São Paulo and the law school in Olinda, Pernambuco. The institutions below are five public universities with established law schools and undergraduate and graduate opportunities. This list is a starting point for students researching law programs in Brazil rather than a formal ranking.
Top Law School in Brazil
1. University of Sao Paulo
- Study Program
- Programs Offered: Undergraduate Law degree, master’s degree, doctorate
The University of São Paulo (USP) is a public state university established in 1934. USP describes itself as the largest institution dedicated to higher education and research in Brazil, with eight campuses in the state of São Paulo. Its Faculty of Law is located at Largo de São Francisco in the city of São Paulo.
The Faculty of Law was founded on August 11, 1827, at the same time as the law school created in Olinda, Pernambuco. It is therefore one of Brazil’s two oldest law schools, rather than the country’s sole oldest law program. The faculty provides undergraduate legal education, while its Postgraduate Program in Law offers master’s and doctoral study.
2. University of Brasilia
- Study Program
- Programs Offered: Undergraduate Law degree, master’s degree, doctorate
The University of Brasília (UnB) is a public federal university in Brazil’s capital. It was inaugurated on April 21, 1962. The university conducts teaching and research activities.
The Faculty of Law provides undergraduate legal education. Its postgraduate activities began in 1975 with a master’s program in Law, and the current Postgraduate Program in Law offers master’s and doctoral study. Students should consult the official faculty and postgraduate pages for current admissions information.
3. Federal University of Rio Grande de Sul
- Study Program
- Programs Offered: Undergraduate Law degree, master’s degree, doctorate
Based in Porto Alegre, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) has a Faculty of Law with undergraduate and postgraduate activities. The official UFRGS timeline states that the Faculty of Law was founded in 1900 and marked the beginning of humanities courses at the university.
The Faculty of Law’s current website includes information for undergraduate Law students and its postgraduate program. Its postgraduate research includes master’s dissertations and doctoral theses. Students should use the faculty’s official page for the latest curriculum and admissions information.
4. Federal University of Minas Gerais
- Study Program
- Programs Offered: Undergraduate Law degree, master’s degree, doctorate
The Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) was created on September 7, 1927, as the University of Minas Gerais. Its Faculty of Law predates the university: it was founded in Ouro Preto in 1892 and transferred to Belo Horizonte in 1898.
The Faculty of Law offers undergraduate Law study and postgraduate education. Its Postgraduate Program in Law offers master’s and doctoral degrees. The official program page states that the master’s course lasts four semesters, or two years, and the doctorate lasts eight semesters, or four years.
5. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Study Program
- Programs Offered: Undergraduate Law degree, master’s degree, doctorate
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is a public university created in 1920 and was the first university established by Brazil’s federal government. Some predecessor units are older, including the Polytechnic School, which dates to 1792. UFRJ currently has four campuses: Cidade Universitária, Praia Vermelha, Duque de Caxias, and Macaé.
UFRJ’s National Faculty of Law traces its present form to the 1920 merger of two nonstate law schools. Its Postgraduate Program in Law offers master’s and doctoral degrees in the concentration area of Contemporary Legal Theories. Students should consult the faculty’s official website for current undergraduate and postgraduate admissions information.
We hope that this article on law universities in Brazil was helpful. Make sure to check out the Available Open Courses for International Students to learn more about studying law abroad.
