First-ever ranking recognizes CUNY Law’s longstanding leadership in public interest legal education.
CUNY Law has topped the list of the first-ever U.S. News & World Report ranking of law schools based on the percentage of graduates entering public interest law. This recognition of being named #1 in the nation reflects the core of who we are: leaders in producing practice-ready public interest lawyers by design, by mission, and by decades of sustained commitment to access, justice, and community-rooted legal education. This moment affirms what our students, alumni, and partners already know: CUNY Law leads the country in preparing lawyers who serve the public good.
“This recognition reflects the impact our graduates make every day,” said Dean Sudha Setty. “They are advancing justice in courtrooms, communities, and policy spaces across the country. Their work is a powerful expression of our mission—to train exceptional public interest lawyers who serve the public good and help build a more just legal system.”
CUNY Law’s success in preparing the next generation of public interest lawyers is the outcome of a program that combines rigorous legal theory and practical training. From first-year courses like Law, Equality, and Due Process and Critical Race Theory, to a sequenced lawyering curriculum and a nationally recognized clinical program, students gain the doctrinal foundation, skillset, and perspective needed to meet the demands of public interest practice.
Every graduate completes an immersive clinical placement before earning their degree, working directly with clients, communities, agencies and organizations, as well as movement partners. This means that, each year, more than 200 new lawyers enter the field practice-ready. Following graduation, 55.55% of the Class of 2024* went into public interest jobs, far exceeding the typical average for other law schools. Recent CUNY Law graduates are engaged in legal services, government service, policy work, movement lawyering, and community-based advocacy. This includes graduates who are doing public interest fellowships such as Equal Justice Works and the Borchard Fellowship.
This new U.S. News & World Report ranking for CUNY Law joins a growing list of national accolades. The Princeton Review’s 2024 rankings named CUNY Law #1 for “Most Diverse Faculty” and #2 for “Most Chosen by Older Students,” while preLaw Magazine ranked the school #2 in the nation for racial justice. When many traditional rankings often overlook the values that define public legal education, we applaud the U.S. News & World Report’s decision to begin highlighting strength in public interest as a distinguishing feature.
As the only public law school in New York City and the legal education hub of the CUNY system, CUNY Law remains committed to training outstanding public interest lawyers and transforming the legal profession to better reflect and serve all communities.
*Includes graduates who started employment on or before 3/17/25, plus one graduate who started after 3/17/25.