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Best Schools for Legal Research in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal research education in California.
Top Schools in Legal Research
No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for legal research. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 370 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $60,003 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal research program at University Of California Berkeley
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 88 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full legal research program report for Stanford University
Students looking for a strong legal research program will find one at Loyola Marymount University, which ranked #3. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 64 legal research degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $107,961. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal research from Loyola Marymount University
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Davis one of the top schools for legal research. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 47 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $53,749 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal research program at University Of California Davis
University Of California Irvine came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 35 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal research from University Of California Irvine
University Of San Francisco landed the #6 spot for legal research this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. About 58 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $122,124. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal research details for University Of San Francisco
University Of California Hastings College Of Law earned the #7 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of California Hastings College Of Law is a small public university. About 36 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of California Hastings College Of Law in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of California Hastings College Of Law generally make around $90,386.
Get the full legal research details for University Of California Hastings College Of Law
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 226 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $91,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
See the full legal research program report for University Of California Los Angeles
University Of San Diego earned the #9 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 31 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of San Diego earn around $108,016 in the first couple years of their career. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans.
Get the full legal research details for University Of San Diego
Golden Gate University San Francisco ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. There were roughly 75 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Golden Gate University San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Golden Gate University San Francisco generally make around $106,626. Students borrow a median of $33,968 to complete this degree.
See the full legal research program report for Golden Gate University San Francisco
University Of Southern California earned the #11 position for legal research this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 627 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of Southern California earn around $73,752 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal research program at University Of Southern California
Pepperdine University placed #12 among the best legal research schools. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 94 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $58,929. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal research from Pepperdine University
University Of The Pacific placed #13 among the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 26 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $73,893 in their early career. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans.
Read more about the legal research program at University Of The Pacific
