McGeorge School of Law at University of the Pacific was recently ranked as one of the Top 5 law schools in the country for Asian and Latinx students in the Winter 2024 edition of preLaw magazine and scored exceptionally well for several of its programs.

McGeorge’s highlights include:

• An A ranking in Public Policy;
• An A ranking in Government Law;
• An A ranking in Trial Advocacy; and
• A B+ ranking for Best Law School Buildings.

Diversity

McGeorge School of Law was ranked No. 3 in the nation for Asian students and No. 5 for Latinx students. The law school is consistently recognized for its forward-thinking programs and dedication to preparing attorneys who reflect the diversity of California and the nation. In 2022, McGeorge was ranked as the No. 14 most diverse law school in the country.

A majority of the law school’s incoming class in fall 2023 (54.4%) identified as racially or ethnically diverse. Additionally, McGeorge’s first-year law students are 57% women and 38% first-generation college students.

"McGeorge School of Law has maintained a longstanding commitment to the recruitment and support of students from diverse backgrounds,” said Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz. “McGeorge prioritizes DEI initiatives and implements actions gearing towards enhance the law school’s diversity recruitment and retention efforts."

McGeorge alumni extend across all 50 states and in 64 countries, showcasing a diverse array of legal careers from public service and government law to entertainment and sports law to the C-suite of major corporations and business litigation.

According to the American Bar Association, only 5% of attorneys are Latinx and 2% are Asian.

“Going to a law school that is determined to uplift our community is incredibly personal. I have found the most support within the Latinx Law Students Association when faced with issues that directly impact our community,” said third-year law student Elizabeth Rocha Zuñiga, co-president of the McGeorge Latinx Law Students Association. 

“Our dean has been one of the most accessible administrators and has been determined to find solutions alongside us. With his leadership, I know that the goals of McGeorge truly reflect the eagerness to inspire students to not be afraid of thriving in spaces that have historically excluded us," she added.

Government Law and Public Policy

McGeorge earned an A ranking in public policy for the fifth consecutive year and an A ranking for Government Law for the third consecutive year. McGeorge’s Government Law ranking maintains its position as the highest-ranked program in California and in the nation.

The public policy ranking recognizes McGeorge as one of the top 10 schools for public policy. McGeorge is one of only two California-based law schools, along with UC Berkeley School of Law, to receive the honor this year.

“McGeorge is the Capitol’s law school,” said Erin O’Neal, director of the Capital Center for Law & Policy and Capital Lawyering Concentration. “Students have access to an unmatched network of alumni working in the Capital arena."

McGeorge School of Law is located three miles from the California State Capitol Building. It is home to the Capital Center for Law & Policy, Capital Lawyering Certificate of Concentration and its one-of-a-kind Legislative and Public Policy Clinic, which gives students the opportunity to craft statutes and see them signed into law while completing their degree.

Trial Advocacy

McGeorge earned an A ranking in trial advocacy and is one of only four California-based law schools to receive the honor this year. The recognition marks McGeorge’s seventh consecutive appearance on the annual list and places McGeorge among the schools in the nation for trial advocacy.

“McGeorge’s trial advocacy program is consistently ranked among the top in the nation. This ranking underscores the faculty's unwavering commitment to excellence in this area and attests to the remarkable students who are attracted to McGeorge and thrive in our exceptional programs,” Schwartz said.

McGeorge School of Law finished No. 7 in the nation in the American Bar Association Competitions Championship for the 2022-23 academic year. This ranking is based on law schools’ performance in all American Bar Association-sanctioned competitions. McGeorge’s Trial Advocacy program was ranked No. 9 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2023, and the school’s moot program is ranked No. 10 in the nation by the Blakely Advocacy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center based on its success this fall.

Best Law School Buildings

McGeorge School of Law was recognized among the best law school buildings in the nation. The school ranked among the top 50 in the country. The recognition reflects the beauty of McGeorge’s picturesque 13-acre campus.

Unlike many other law schools, McGeorge is not just one singular building—it is a large, thriving campus. Students have access to an on-campus gym and weight room, swimming pool, basketball half court, a lactation room for pregnant or breastfeeding parents and a Multifaith Meditation and Prayer Room.

Many students also choose to live on campus. Students have access to four on-campus apartment buildings with a variety of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units.

Learn more about McGeorge’s trial advocacy programs, Eglet Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution and Capital Center for Law & Policy.