In an era defined by global interconnectedness, understanding international law is no longer optional for today’s legal thinkers — it’s essential. International law provides the frameworks that govern how nations interact, resolve disputes, protect human rights, and address transnational issues like climate change, trade, and security, shaping everything from treaties to courtroom decisions across borders. For current and aspiring law students, engaging with international legal principles introduces them to the skills necessary to navigate a world where legal boundaries are increasingly global rather than purely domestic, preparing them to advocate, negotiate, and innovate on the world stage.
The National Jurist’s preLaw magazine recently released its specialty ranking of the best law schools for international law on its International 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.
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Without further ado, according to preLaw magazine, these are the law schools that earned A+ grades for their international law programs (listed in alphabetical order):
- Berkeley Law
- Cardozo School of Law
- Case Western Reserve University
- Fordham University
- Georgetown University
- LMU Loyola Law School
- Rutgers Law
- Santa Clara University
- UCLA School of Law
- University of Miami
- University of Michigan
- University of Washington
- Vanderbilt Law School
- Washington and Lee University
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 international 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.