U.S. News & World Report has ranked all four of Suffolk Law's skills programs—legal writing, clinics, dispute resolution, and trial advocacy—among the top 20% nationally for eleven years running. It is a distinction unmatched by any other law school in America.

Suffolk is also the only law school in the nation with both experiential bookends of legal education, legal writing and clinical programs, ranked in the U.S. News top 5.

The 2027 rankings, released April 7, showcase Suffolk Law's momentum, with the school rising 39 spots in overall rankings over the past eleven years—the 6th-fastest climb of any law school in the country.

 

2027 U.S. News rankings highlights

• Clinical Programs: No. 4 (all-time high)
• Legal Practice Skills/Legal Writing: No. 5
• Dispute Resolution: No. 14 (highest in a decade)
• Part-Time JD Program: No. 28
• Trial Advocacy: No. 31
• Intellectual Property: No. 47

The Clinical Programs earned a record No. 4 ranking, reinforcing Suffolk Law's reputation for practice-ready graduates. The Clinical Programs, which have maintained their elite status in the top 20 for over a decade, continue to break new ground. For example, students in the American Arbitration Association-Suffolk Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Clinic are offering a dispute resolution model for probate courts nationwide. They customized an AI-powered ODR tool for low-contest divorces. This year, they will put their product to the test at the Probate & Family Court in Boston.

The Legal Practice Skills (Legal Writing) program was ranked No. 5. Under the leadership of Professor Kathleen Elliott Vinson, the program has been ranked in the top 10 for 15 consecutive years. Vinson was honored with the 2025 Thomas F. Blackwell Award, one of the highest national recognitions in legal writing education.

"We are proud to see our peer institutions recognize Suffolk's outstanding practice-oriented education," said Dean Andrew Perlman. "These rankings reflect our innovative approach to preparing graduates who hit the ground running—exactly what today's employers demand."

Learn more about Suffolk Law's full range of national rankings and recognitions.