District of Columbia Law Schools
6 ABA-Accredited Law Schools • ~56,000 attorneys
All District of Columbia Law Schools
Compare all 6 ABA-accredited law schools in District of Columbia. Click column headers to sort.
Table Legend
| Georgetown University | #18 | 171 | 3.93 | 16% | 54.9% | 94.5% | $84K |
| George Washington University | #26 | 168 | 3.86 | 27% | 24.1% | 87.7% | $75K |
| Catholic University of America | #70 | 161 | 3.68 | 32% | 10.6% | 90.4% | $62K |
| American University | #108 | 162 | 3.63 | 33% | 12.3% | 86.6% | $67K |
| Howard University | #117 | 156 | 3.63 | 24% | 29.0% | 78.0% | $40K |
| University of The District of Columbia | #175 | 151 | 3.28 | 37% | 1.3% | 57.9% | $25K |
District of Columbia Bar Exam 2024: Pass Rates & Difficulty
Bar exam statistics and difficulty rating for District of Columbia law school graduates
Pass Rate Comparison
Understanding Bar Exam Difficulty
Rating 1 (Easiest, 88%+): Very high pass rates indicating easier bar exams or exceptional law school preparation.
Rating 2 (Below Average Difficulty, 83-88%): Above-average pass rates showing moderate difficulty.
Rating 3 (Average Difficulty, 76-83%): Pass rates near national average of ~79%.
Rating 4 (Difficult, 70-76%): Below-average pass rates indicating challenging bar exams.
Rating 5 (Most Difficult, <70%): Significantly below national average. California (68%) and Florida (72%) are notably difficult.
Note: Bar difficulty rating based solely on first-time pass rates from ABA 2024 Bar Passage Statistics. Lower pass rates indicate more challenging bar exams. Individual law school preparation quality also affects outcomes.
District of Columbia Legal Market Overview
Employment opportunities and top legal employers in District of Columbia
Market Overview
Washington D.C. is the nation's capital for government, regulatory, and policy law. The city hosts headquarters of federal agencies, international organizations, and numerous lobbying firms. D.C. offers unparalleled opportunities in constitutional law, administrative law, and public interest work, alongside a robust BigLaw market.
Top Legal Employers in District of Columbia
Includes BigLaw firms, government offices, and public interest organizations. Rankings are not ordered by size or prestige.
Career Paths in District of Columbia
Private Sector
- • BigLaw firms (501+ attorneys)
- • Midsize firms (50-100 attorneys)
- • Regional and boutique firms
- • Solo practice and small firms
- • In-house corporate counsel
Public Sector
- • Federal clerkships
- • State and federal prosecutors
- • Public defenders
- • Government agencies
- • Public interest organizations
Frequently Asked Questions
This is backward-looking data that relies on assumptions. Different outcomes are possible. This is not financial advice.