Why Choose UC Irvine School of Law?
For a detailed look at how UC Irvine School of Law compares with other top national schools in the U.S. across major rankings, see the list below.
Since its inception in 2009, UC Irvine School of Law has distinguished itself with an innovative curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary perspectives, practical training, social justice advocacy, experiential learning, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our students engage in real-world legal work from day one, guided by highly regarded faculty recognized worldwide for their expertise.
Overall Rankings and Reputation
The major global rankings rank UC Irvine School of Law within the top 15 to 20 law schools in the United States.
Quality of Programs
A 2025 ranking of specialty programs listed UC Irvine School of Law as No. 14 in the U.S. for the overall quality of specialty programs. UC Irvine School of Law is a top law school for business law, criminal law, tax law, legal technology, international law and public policy.
Quality of Teaching and Faculty
Princeton Review in 2023 ranked UC Irvine School of Law No. 2 for quality of faculty teaching and No. 10 for academic experience. Additionally, the faculty ranked No. 9 overall and the top public law school for academic impact, with a 2024 study listing them No. 20 for academic influence.
Support of Students
In winter 2024, PreLaw Magazine ranked us No. 1 in the U.S. for our support of Asian students, No. 9 for Hispanic students, and No. 25 for Black students. Princeton Review (2023) ranked us No. 10 for the academic experience we provide students.
Future Jobs and Careers
UC Irvine School of Law ranks No. 2 in California and No. 9 nationally for practical training (2026). We’re also recognized for strong job outcomes, including top rankings for salary-to-debt ratio and large law firm placements.
A Commitment to Public Interest Lawyering
We are the best school in the U.S. for public interest lawyering, with one of the largest pro bono programs in the nation. Over the last 15 years, our students have volunteered 170,000 legal service hours, choosing from over 100 pro bono projects starting the second semester of their first year. Our clinical program is one of the largest in the nation when compared to our student size, with 19 to 20 clinics each year.
A Diverse Community
Over 50 percent of our students are students of color, and more than 25 percent identify as first-generation. In winter 2024, PreLaw Magazine ranked us as one of the top law schools for diversity.
Location and Quality of Life
Students come to Orange County to launch their careers nationwide. As a national school, we offer programs in New York and Washington, D.C., while providing an unparalleled experience in Irvine for three years or more.
Rankings
Overall Rankings - Reputation and Quality
| Law School |
PublicLegal Law School Rankings |
Times Higher Education (2026 – Law) |
Academic Rankings of World Universities (ShanghaiRankings, Law, 2025) |
QS World University Rankings (Law/Legal Studies, 2026) | U.S. News and World Report Rankings (2026 - Law) |
Fortuna, Combined Rankings (2023 – Law) |
U.S. News Omnibus Specialty Program Rankings (2026) |
Rankings, Revealed Preferences (2023), Table A1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 12 | 10 | 29 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 10 |
| UCLA | 18 | 9 | 48 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 15 |
| Cornell | 6 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 14 |
| UC Irvine | 22 | 21 | 16 | 22 | 34 | 19 | 19 | 22 |
| Vanderbilt | 20 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 17 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 42 | 32 | 50 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 26 |
| Northwestern | 9 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 12 |
| Texas (Austin) | 14 | 15 | 51-75 | 18 | 16 | 15 | Not ranked | 16 |
| Florida | 24 | 21 | 51-75 | 34 | 34 | 23 | 38 | 39 |
| Boston Univ. | 22 | 17 | 76-100 | 16 | 24 | 18 | 14 | 27 |
| USC (Gould) | 24 | 21 | 51-75 | 36 | 26 | 25 | 43 | 20 |
| Emory Univ. | 37 | 42 | 101-150 | 39 | 40 | Not ranked | 37 | 23 |
| UC Davis | 46 | 19 | 101-150 | 26 | 52 | Not ranked | 23 | 41 |
| Wash. U. | 6 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 52 | Not ranked | 47 | 21 |
Student Support: Supportive, Inclusive Communities
| Law School | Best Professors - Teaching (Princeton Review, 2023) |
Most Diverse (PreLaw, Winter 23) |
Support: Asian Students (PreLaw, Winter 24) |
Support: Hispanic Students (PreLaw, Winter 24) |
Support: Black Students (PreLaw, Winter 24) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 2 | A(#18)* | 1 | 9 | 25 |
| UCLA | 2 | A- | 7 | 22 | Not ranked |
| Vanderbilt | 2 | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Michigan | 9 | B+ | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Boston Univ. | 9 | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Cornell | 16 | A- | 21 | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Northwestern | 16 | A- | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Wash. U. | 16 | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Texas (Austin) | 26 | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| UC Davis | 26 | A- | 5 | 21 | Not ranked |
| Minnesota | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| USC (Gould) | Not ranked | B+ | 4 | Not ranked | 22 |
| Florida | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Emory Univ. | Not ranked | A- | Not ranked | Not ranked | 24 |
*only school listed in top 25
The Best Training: Preparing Students Fully, Career Support
| Law School | Clinical Training (U.S. News, 2026) |
Lawyering Skills/Legal Writing
(U.S. News, 2026) |
Best Practical Training (National Jurist, 2026) |
Career Support (Princeton Review, 2025)
|
Go-To Law School
(Law.com, 2026) |
% of Public Interest Positions (2024 Grads) |
2024 JDs in Law Jobs
(IRLG, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 11 | 28 | Not ranked | 7 | 2 | 5% | 23 |
| Michigan | 15 | 1 | Not ranked | 1 | Not ranked | 11% | 13 |
| UC Irvine | 15 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 16% | 9 |
| Wash. U. | 36 | 26 | Not ranked | Not ranked | 14 | 8% | 48 |
| UCLA | 29 | 101 | Not ranked | 7 | 8 | 14% | 4 |
| Minnesota | 19 | 57 | Not ranked | 25 | 32 | 12% | 30 |
| Texas (Austin) | 36 | 112 | Not ranked | 17 | 15 | 8% | 16 |
| Vanderbilt | 51 | 66 | Not ranked | 16 | 9 | 6% | 27 |
| Cornell | 24 | 48 | 25 | 6 | Not ranked | 3% | 5 |
| Boston Univ. | 29 | 28 | Not ranked | 15 | 13 | 9% | 75 |
| UC Davis | 55 | 92 | Not ranked | 28 | 28 | 19% | 20 |
| Florida | 95 | 66 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 9% | 28 |
| USC (Gould) | 75 | 112 | Not ranked | 15 | Not ranked | 6% | 49 |
| Emory Univ. | 116 | 66 | Not ranked | Not ranked | 20 | 7% | 45 |
Faculty Quality – Scholarly Distinction and Impact of Faculty
| Law School |
Academic Impact Study
(Heald & Sichelman, 2019)
|
Forward Looking Academic Impact (M. Sag, 2023)
|
Scholarly Impact Study
(Sisk et al. 2024)
|
Faculty Quality
(Leiter Blog, 2023)
|
Scholarly Distinction
(Leiter Blog, 2022)
|
Scholarly Impact Study
(Fischman, 2024, Table 1)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt | 5 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 3 | 6 |
| UC Irvine | 9 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 9 | 11 |
| Northwestern | 12 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
| Cornell | 13 | 24 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 16 |
| UCLA | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 13 |
| Michigan | 19 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 19 | 21 |
| Minnesota | 20 | 1 | 23+/NR | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Texas (Austin) | 23 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| UC Davis | 24 | Not ranked | 18 | 18 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 11 | 9 |
| Wash. U. | 26 | 23 | Not ranked | 28 | 19 | 19 | 72 | 24 | 78 |
| Boston Univ. | 27 | 7 | 21 | 27 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
| Emory Univ. | 29 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 31 | Not ranked | 43 |
| USC (Gould) | 36 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 42 | 26 | 25 |
| Florida | 43 | Not ranked | Not ranked | 30 | Not ranked | Not ranked | 23 | Not ranked | 38 |