Finding the best law schools in Boston is particularly essential for anyone pursuing a legal education. One of the most difficult and well-respected degrees is a law degree.
They serve as the foundation for all legal careers. Future attorneys have the best chance of achieving their goal—a secure job with a recognized firm or company—by attending a prestigious law school.
Obtaining a legal degree is undoubtedly difficult, but it also commands some respect. Of course, any aspiring law student wants to enroll in a school with a distinguished reputation in addition to a demanding program.
Lawyers may work in a variety of settings, including private practice, corporations, the government, or non-profit organizations. Some lawyers work in fields that are not even linked to the law, such as business, politics, counseling, or arbitration.
This brings us to the law schools in Boston. Boston, which has a number of top-notch law schools, is unquestionably one of the most well-known cities for law schools.
The List of Law Schools in Boston
Listed below are the Boston area law schools:
- Harvard Law School
- North-eastern University School of Law
- Boston College Law School
- School of Law – Boston University
- Suffolk University Law School
- New England Law Boston
- Massachusetts School of Law
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1. Harvard Law School
The J.D. (Juris Doctor) program at Harvard Law School is a three-year course of study that first equips students with the theoretical underpinnings of legal study and practice before allowing them to narrow their study interests through advanced classes, clinics, and legal writing assignments.
Prior to August of the year they are applying to enter, all applicants must possess or anticipate possessing a bachelor’s degree (except in cases where all requirements are met prior to September and degree conferral occurs after September).
There is a three-application limit for the regular J.D. application for admission to Harvard Law School. Applications made through the J.D. Transfer and Junior Deferral Program (JDP) pathways are not taken into account.
Ineligible applicants who submit an application won’t be admitted, and their application fees won’t be refunded.
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2. North-eastern University School of Law
Northeastern’s unique academic enterprise is driven by a demanding curriculum, outstanding faculty, and unrivaled experiential learning opportunities.
You’ll acquire expertise in research, analysis, writing, and debate while learning complex legal topics in a synergistic manner and resolving actual legal issues.
In your first year, you’ll spend a lot of time learning about the foundations of the American legal system while completing necessary courses like Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, and Property Law.
You will acquire crucial skills in the one-year Legal Skills in Social Context course, from legal research to client representation, and then put them to use through a social justice community project.
You can develop expertise in the subjects that most interest you by taking upper-level electives including Intellectual Property, International Law, and Public Health Law.
You will receive guidance and instruction from outstanding faculty members who write in top legal publications and actively practice pro bono law along the way and you’ll be prepared to practice law in just three years.
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3. Boston College Law School
The JD program at Boston College is prestigious and state-of-the-art, fusing conventional instruction with hands-on learning to produce graduates who are prepared for practice. It offers a beneficial experience.
The campus of BC Law is conveniently located near downtown Boston and offers the tranquillity of tree-lined streets and rolling hills.
You can choose to interact with them digitally or at admissions events near you, or you can choose to take a tour of the 40-acre campus, meet current students, and discover what makes BC Law unique.
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4. School of Law – Boston University
You’ll mix a demanding academic curriculum with professional training in essential lawyering abilities in their Juris doctor program.
Low faculty-to-student ratios in both the classroom and the clinic provide a highly individualized learning environment.
After completing their JD program, you’ll be able to perform legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and communication in a legal setting.
You’ll also have substantive and procedural law knowledge. You will also be able to exhibit the appropriate professional and ethical obligations as well as the teamwork, counseling, and negotiation abilities necessary for a lawyer.
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5. Suffolk University Law School
With this conventional program, JD students can complete their studies in six semesters and graduate. For accelerated full-time students to get their degrees in two years, they take classes at night over the course of two summers.
Standard full-time JD students have the summers off to engage in experiential learning opportunities, such as externships, clinics, and study and practice abroad.
Suffolk Law provides a variety of academic specializations, clinical programs, internships, professional coaching, and real-world learning opportunities for a transformative educational experience.
The Juris doctor program at Suffolk University satisfies the educational standards needed for graduates to take the bar exam in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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6. New England Law Boston
Their JD degree program provides rigorous coursework, specialized legal clinics, and practical training in a range of settings.
Students start taking electives in their second year, giving them the chance to pursue their interests and design their own distinctive course of study.
After their first year, full-time students can enroll in clinics to further their education and develop their professional networks.
Students can customize their law school experience and select the program that best suits them by choosing from four full-time or part-time study options.
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7. Massachusetts School of Law
The aim of the Massachusetts School of Law is to offer an inexpensive, academically demanding legal education that emphasizes ethics, advocacy, leadership, and professional skills.
Future commercial, legal, and technical professionals who wish to serve as leaders, lawyers, and advocates in their communities are given access to this affordable legal education through MSLAW.
The importance of lawyers in our society is enormous, and MSLAW prepares its graduates to use their knowledge and abilities to assist their clients while also giving them the societal advancement and power that a law degree has traditionally conferred.
In order to fulfill its mission, the Massachusetts School of Law brings together a diverse group of academics, judges, skilled practitioners, and other professionals.
This allows it to offer people from all walks of life a demanding, beneficial, and reasonably priced legal education.
TUITION: For details on tuition, click here.
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2. General Admission Requirements For Law Schools In Boston
Admission is very competitive because the law schools mentioned above are some of the best schools in the country. In order for your application to be accepted, there are admission requirements that must be met for each school.
You can find the admission requirements peculiar to each school by clicking the links stated above. However, below are the general requirements for admission into law schools in Boston.
1. Stellar LSAT Scores
Having an LSAT score of at least 170 for Harvard and at least 160 for the majority of other quality programs is very important.
Having a stellar LSAT score is crucial for success when applying to elite law schools, particularly when applying to a T14 law school like Harvard Law.
Harvard Law typically requires an LSAT score of over 170! Even the most knowledgeable students will find this to be a significant difficulty given that the test itself is worth a total of 180 points.
The LSAT is still required for admission to the majority of elite law schools, despite some schools doing away with standardized testing.
2. Character Reference Letters
Typically, law schools request letters of recommendation from potential students. This might be an undergraduate professor who knows the student well or a past employer who can attest to the student’s work ethic.
A good strategy would be to find someone from the institution you attended and another “outside of school” person, like a lawyer or a professional you interned under.
Typically, students will need to submit at least two recommendation letters. Ahead of time, it can be wise to discuss the letter’s contents with the person who will be writing it with the person writing the letter of recommendation.
3. Earning a BA Degree
Of course, earning a bachelor’s degree comes before enrolling in law school. While entrance to law schools generally does not require any particular courses, certain courses can undoubtedly increase your chances of admission.
Pre-law courses, language courses, and other conventional academic capstones are all examples of possible courses in this category.
Earning a stellar grade point average (GPA) is also a necessity for admission into a top law school because GPAs are so closely evaluated when it comes to admissions. Higher-tier universities often require a GPA of at least 3.5.
4. Personal Statement Writing
Although it can be challenging for students, passing this test is necessary to be admitted to law schools. A pupil has the chance to show off their personality in this written statement.
They are free to discuss whatever topic they believe will help them get into the institution, including their academic and career objectives. Some law schools provide writing prompts or ideas to applicants.
5. Ask for your transcripts to be sent to the Universities on Your List
Prospective students should gather their academic records from their undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as any certification programs they have completed.
Transcript copies often cost between $10 and $20. Finally, it can take a few days to receive transcripts, so make sure to plan ahead to guarantee that these documents arrive at the law school on time.
How To Become A Licensed Lawyer In Boston
There are several steps to take if you want to become a licensed lawyer in Boston. Follow the step-by-step process listed below;
- Obtain the Massachusetts Undergraduate Pre-Law Education
- Take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
- Attend Law School in Boston
- Take the Massachusetts State Bar Exam
- Now that You’ve Been Admitted to the Bar, what next?
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1. Obtain the Massachusetts Undergraduate Pre-Law Education
Before completing law school and passing the Commonwealth’s bar test, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners requires that you graduate from high school (or finish schooling found to be applicable by the Board) and obtain a bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent as determined by the Board).
- Accreditation of Schools
Your undergraduate institution must be accredited by an agency listed in the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accreditation agencies.
- Course Requirements and Expectations
As a pre-law student, you are not required to take any undergraduate courses or majors.
- Options for Undergraduate Degrees
The Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners only requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an authorized college or university for undergraduate education.
2. Take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
The LSAT is intended to assess the skills you will need in law school and, ultimately, to succeed as a lawyer after graduation.
Before you may be admitted to an American Bar Association-approved law school, you must first pass the LSAT (a requirement of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners). This exam is given four times a year at testing sites throughout the world.
- Application procedure
Applications for the LSAT are accepted online, where you may also pay the $190 price.
- Getting Your Score
Your LSAT score will be mailed to you around 21 days after you take the exam. The lowest possible LSAT score is 120, while the highest possible LSAT score is 180.
3. Attend Law School in Boston
- The application procedure
According to Massachusetts bar admission standards, you must have graduated from a law school that is either ABA-approved or authorized by the Commonwealth to provide the Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree.
- Credential Assembly Service
Your LSAT scores are held by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), which also provides the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
When applying to an ABA-approved law school, you must use this service. The CAS assists you in gathering all transcripts from all institutions you have attended up to this point, regardless of whether you obtained a certificate or degree from them.
It will also contact the people you designate and ask them to submit letters of reference on your behalf, as well as contact those you select to conduct online assessments of your character and work. The CAS charge is $195 and must be paid through your online LSAC account.
- Accreditation
To be qualified to sit for the Commonwealth’s bar exam, you must have graduated from an ABA-approved or Commonwealth-authorized law school, according to the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners’ admission guidelines. The LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools lists approximately 200 ABA-approved law schools in the United States.
- Internship
During your time as a law student in Massachusetts, you will be expected to participate in some form of clinical field placement, whether it is an internship, externship, in-house clinic, or pro bono program.
Many law schools require you to take more than one practical course as part of your law school program. You will be guided and graded by in-field supervisors as well as law school faculty.
- Programs of Study
To sit for the Commonwealth’s bar test, you must have a Bachelor of Laws (the foreign equivalent of a J.D.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, according to the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners. This program normally takes three years to complete.
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4. Take the Massachusetts State Bar Exam
You have earned your J.D., passed the LSAT, and hold a bachelor’s degree. You can now submit an application to sit for the Massachusetts bar exam! In terms of the desired legal career, this is one of the most significant tests you will ever take.
- Preparation
The Uniform Bar Exam is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners (UBE). The website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners has a wealth of preparation-related information. You can find here information on how to prepare for the Massachusetts Bar Exam. Additionally, you want to research the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) (which is not part of the bar exam but must be passed prior to bar admission).
The Massachusetts Law Component (MLC) exam must also be passed.
Before getting admitted to the bar, the MLC must be passed. This online exam, which is given without charge, is available.
- Application Method
Submit a petition for admission through testing. Applications are open through May if you’re applying for the July administration. Applications are still being accepted for the February administration through December 7. In Boston and Springfield, the test is given (indicate on the application where you wish to take the exam).
- Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
Before being admitted to the bar, you must pass both the Massachusetts bar test and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), which is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. To take this exam, you must apply independently and online at the NCBE website. It is given in various places throughout Massachusetts in March, August, and November.
- On Motion Admission
You must satisfy the following prerequisites in order to apply for Admission by Motion to the Massachusetts bar:
Proof that you have worked as a lawyer for five out of the past seven years is required.
The law school from which you received your J.D. or L.L.B. degree must be ABA-approved or Commonwealth-authorized.
- Obtaining a license and joining the bar
The postal delivery of your Massachusetts bar exam results could take up to 14 weeks. Additionally, they will be published on the website of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners. A formal invitation to your bar admission ceremony will also be mailed to you if you pass the bar.
You will be given guidelines for retaking the bar test if you didn’t pass the first time. You will also be given instructions on how to get your essay exam questions and graded answers so you can figure out where you made mistakes.
5. Now that You’ve Been Admitted to the Bar, what next?
Congratulations on passing the Massachusetts bar examination! You are now prepared to apply for a position in an established law firm or to establish your own solo practice.
The Massachusetts Bar Association also provides mentoring programs for new lawyers as well as legal practice management assistance.
If founding your own law office is not in your plans, you could consider joining one of Boston’s many established firms.
- Certification in a legal specialization
The National Board of Trial Advocacy, based in Wrentham, Massachusetts, offers legal speciality certification services in a variety of practice areas. Family law, civil law, and criminal law are examples, as are social security disability advocacy and civil trial law advocacy. Before certification may be granted, you must pass an examination.
- License maintenance requirements
In Massachusetts, continuing legal education (CLE) is not necessary to keep your law license. After being admitted to the Bar, new attorneys must take a Practicing with Professionalism course.
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How Much Do Lawyers Earn In Boston
Salaries can vary significantly depending on a variety of factors such as position, location, years of experience, and degree of education.
The average Lawyer income in Boston, MA is $186,100 as of August 29, 2022. For detailed information on lawyer salaries in Boston, click here.
What is the Highest Compensation for an Attorney in the Boston, MA Area?
The highest annual pay for an Attorney in the Boston, MA Area is $202,664.
How Much are Lawyers Paid in Boston?
In Boston, MA, the average annual salary for an attorney is $101,886. 62 salaries were recorded as of September 8, 2022.
What is the Average LSAT Score?
Roughly a 152. The first consideration for admission to law school is your LSAT score. A 180 on the LSAT is the maximum score. The typical LSAT result is around a 152. The law schools you are considering will determine what a “good” LSAT score is.
What GPA do You Need to Get Into BC Law?
Boston University needs you to be above average in your high school class with a 3.71 GPA. A combination of A and B grades is required, preferably with more A grades than B. Harder coursework, such as AP or IB courses, might make up for a low GPA.
How Long is Law School in MA?
Two years
Both a three-year full-time program and a four-year part-time program are available at the Massachusetts School of Law. As the semester progresses, students can choose between attending day or evening sessions to fit their frequently erratic schedules.
How Many Times Can You Take the LSAT?
How many LSAT exams am I allowed to take? Exam takers will be able to take the LSAT starting with the September 2019 test administration: In a single testing year, three times (the next testing cycle begins with the August 2022 test and goes through the June 2023 test).
Why is Law School So Hard?
You need a thorough, practical comprehension of the contents because the legislation is broad. It will require more than just memorization of facts (which is often the approach for undergrad). This makes law school studying more challenging for many students.
What is a Perfect LSAT Score?
180
Your score report will show you this result. The possible scores on the LSAT scale span from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest.