Which law school experiences best prepare a student for a legal career? In the most recent Law School Alumni Employment and Satisfaction study, the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) added this question for 2019 law school graduates. And their answer was clear: experiential learning. The majority of respondents, 70 percent, named clinical and experiential courses as their most impactful. On the other end of the scale, just 17 percent named student affairs programs and resources.
The emphasis on experiential learning aligns with the National Jurist’s methodology for its 2024 ranking of Law Schools with the Best Practical Training. The methodology places the heaviest weight on student participation in clinic offerings (32 percent), followed by externships (25 percent), simulation courses (20 percent), moot court / pro-bono work (10 percent), and practical training offerings (10 percent). The ranking allots extra credit to schools that require or guarantee clinic work.
Review the National Jurist’s top ten-ranked programs for practical training below and check out the full list here.
Baylor University School of Law
University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN)
Northeastern University School of Law
Elon University School of Law
University of Minnesota Law School
Drake University Law School
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Cornell Law School
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Case Western Reserve University School of Law