Each year, thousands of students enter law school with their sights set not on Biglaw bonuses, but on public service. They’re drawn to careers in government, whether that means prosecuting crimes, shaping policy, protecting vulnerable populations, or enforcing the laws that keep society running. From aspiring public defenders to future regulators and agency counsel, these students are motivated by impact over income. While many begin with government ambotions, only a select few will ultimately land roles that align with those goals, and the path often starts with choosing the right law school.
The National Jurist’s preLaw magazine recently released its specialty ranking of the best law schools for trial advocacy on its Government Law Honor Roll, highlighting schools for the strength of their programs. Here’s the methodology that was used:
preLaw magazine grades law schools based on the breadth of their curricular offerings. The scores are figured as follows: 30% for a concentration, 24% for a clinic, 12% for a center, 12% for an externship, 9% for a journal, 8% for a student group, 5% for a certificate and added value for additional offerings.
Without further ado, according to preLaw magazine, these are the law schools that earned A+, A, and A- grades for their government law programs:
- McGeorge School of Law (A+)
- New York Law School (A+)
- University of Pennsylvania (A+)
- Albany Law School (A)
- Harvard Law School (A)
- George Mason University (A-)
Click here to see the rest of the Honor Roll.
Congratulations to all of the law schools that made the cut for this important ranking.
Top law schools for government law [preLaw Magazine / National Jurist]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post The Best Law Schools For Government Law (2026) appeared first on Above the Law.
