North Carolina's legal community is diverse and offers a range of opportunities for legal professionals. From corporate law in the bustling city of Charlotte to environmental law in the picturesque Appalachian Mountains, aspiring lawyers can find their niche in this state. The state's law schools reflect this diversity by offering a wide range of programs and specializations to cater to students' needs.
In this article, we will examine the best law schools in NC, highlighting each school's strengths, programs, and unique attributes. Whether you are an undergraduate student considering a J.D. program or a law school graduate seeking specialized legal education, this guide will help you decide which North Carolina law schools should make it onto your school list.
Attending law school in any state is a significant financial investment, and North Carolina law schools are no exception. Most aspiring lawyers take on massive student loans to finance their legal education. One way to reduce the financial burden of attending law school is by applying for scholarships for law students.
Best Law Schools in North Carolina
1. Duke University School of Law – Durham, NC
Duke Law is one of the top law schools in the United States, known for its rigorous academic programs, interdisciplinary studies, and distinguished faculty. The school offers a small class size, which fosters an intimate and intellectually stimulating learning environment. The faculty includes renowned legal scholars, practitioners, and experts in various fields of law, providing students with comprehensive and up-to-date legal education.
The curriculum at Duke Law emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications of the law. Students can choose from a wide range of legal subjects and specialized courses, including corporate law, environmental law, and international law, to personalize their education according to their specific interests and career goals.
Duke Law offers several dual-degree programs, allowing law students to earn both a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and another advanced degree simultaneously. Popular joint degree programs include the J.D./M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) program, the J.D./M.P.P. (Master of Public Policy) program, and the J.D./L.L.M. (Master of Laws) program.
One of Duke Law's standout features is its commitment to interdisciplinary studies. Law students can collaborate with other schools in Duke University, such as the Fuqua School of Business and Sanford School of Public Policy. This interdisciplinary approach to legal education equips Duke's law students with a broader perspective on the legal field and diverse skills to tackle complex legal issues.
2. University of North Carolina School of Law – Chapel Hill, NC
The UNC School of Law, also known as the University of North Carolina School of Law, is one of the oldest public law schools in the United States. Located in the beautiful town of Chapel Hill, the law school is renowned for its excellent faculty and clinical program, which provides its graduates with practical legal experience. The curriculum at UNC Chapel Hill combines traditional legal education with innovation, providing students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for various careers.
One of the highlights of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Law is its emphasis on experiential learning. The school offers a wide range of clinical programs that provide law students with hands-on legal experience while also offering valuable services to the community. Whether students are interested in civil litigation, entrepreneurship, immigration law, or environmental advocacy, UNC has a clinical opportunity that suits their interests.
UNC School of Law also places great emphasis on public interest and pro bono work. The Pro Bono Program allows students to engage in meaningful community service and public interest projects throughout the state, fostering a sense of social responsibility and civic engagement.
Furthermore, the law school offers a diverse range of concentrations and specialized programs, allowing students to customize their education to their specific interests and career goals. Whether they are interested in environmental law, intellectual property, health law, or civil rights advocacy, law students at UNC Chapel Hill have the chance to delve deeply into their chosen field and gain expertise before graduation.
3. North Carolina Central University School of Law – Durham, NC
North Carolina Central University School of Law (NCCU Law) is a well-established legal institution that is dedicated to promoting diversity and providing access to legal education. As one of the historically black law schools in the United States, NCCU Law plays a crucial role in training a diverse group of lawyers who go on to make significant contributions to the legal profession and their communities.
One of the key strengths of NCCU Law is its extensive clinical program, which offers students hands-on legal experience while serving the community. The law school provides various clinics, including civil rights, criminal defense, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property. Through these programs, NCCU Law students are prepared for legal practice and develop a strong sense of social responsibility.
NCCU Law has a particularly strong tradition of producing lawyers who are dedicated to public interest work. The law school's commitment to public service is reflected in its extensive pro bono and community outreach initiatives. These initiatives provide students with opportunities to work on cases that impact underserved populations and advocate for social justice causes.
In addition to its full-time J.D. program, the law school also offers a part-time evening program, making legal education more accessible to students with work or family commitments. This flexibility in the range of options for pursuing legal study enables nontraditional students to earn their law degree while balancing other responsibilities.
4. Wake Forest University School of Law – Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest University School of Law is located in the lively city of Winston-Salem and is known for its strong emphasis on ethics, professionalism, and community engagement. The institution provides a comprehensive legal education that prepares students not only for legal practice but also for leadership roles in their communities and professions.
Wake Forest Law is distinguished by its unwavering commitment to ethics and professionalism in the legal field. The law school instills these values into its students from the start, emphasizing the importance of integrity, responsibility, and civility in legal practice. Graduates of Wake Forest Law are not only legal experts but also ethical and principled advocates.
The law school is proud of its strong tradition of community engagement. The Pro Bono Project and the Public Interest Law Organization (PILO) enable students to apply their legal skills to help those in need. These initiatives, run by the law school, benefit the community and provide students with valuable practical experience.
Additionally, students at Wake Forest Law can pursue various dual-degree programs, allowing them to combine their J.D. with other advanced degrees such as a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) or a Master of Divinity (M. Div.). These programs offer a unique multidisciplinary approach to legal education and open doors to diverse career paths for its graduates. In addition to the traditional full-time program, the law school also offers a part-time program, allowing students to balance their studies with work or other responsibilities.
5. Elon University School of Law – Greensboro, NC
Elon University School of Law, situated in Greensboro, North Carolina, is renowned for its demanding academic curriculum and strong emphasis on experiential learning. The institution's innovative approach to legal education enables students to obtain practical legal skills and real-world experience during their studies.
One of Elon Law's notable features is its commitment to experiential learning. The school's goal is to produce “practice-ready” lawyers, and it accomplishes this by offering unique programs such as the accelerated 2.5-year J.D. program. This program shortens the traditional three-year Juris Doctor curriculum into a more intensive schedule, giving law students the opportunity to enter the legal workforce sooner.
Elon Law's Preceptor Program is another example of its experiential approach to legal education. Law students work closely with practicing attorneys and judges through the Preceptor Program, receiving mentorship and practical experience. This hands-on learning model helps students bridge the gap between theory and practice, preparing them for the challenges of legal practice.
6. Campbell University School of Law – Raleigh, NC
Campbell University School of Law is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The school is widely recognized for its commitment to producing competent lawyers who are ready to practice law. The curriculum is structured to provide students with a rigorous education, clinical programs, and high ethical standards to prepare them for the challenges of the legal profession.
Campbell Law School stands out from other law schools for its practice-ready approach to legal education. The curriculum is designed to emphasize theoretical aspects of law and the practical application of legal principles, ensuring that students are well-equipped to thrive in legal practice from the outset.
The law school offers a range of clinical programs to provide students with hands-on experience in areas such as civil litigation, criminal law, and elder law. These programs enable students to work with real clients, engage in legal research and writing, and participate in court proceedings to develop the skills necessary to be effective advocates.
