Massachusetts Law Schools
8 ABA-Accredited Law Schools • 70,703 attorneys
All Massachusetts Law Schools
Compare all 8 ABA-accredited law schools in Massachusetts. Click column headers to sort.
Table Legend
| Harvard University | #6 | 174 | 3.96 | 9% | 53.7% | 97.9% | $77K |
| Boston College | #20 | 168 | 3.83 | 8% | 45.1% | 96.2% | $72K |
| Boston University | #24 | 170 | 3.88 | 12% | 41.1% | 94.9% | $70K |
| Northeastern University | #77 | 164 | 3.77 | 24% | 16.4% | 90.5% | $66K |
| Suffolk University | #128 | 155 | 3.58 | 62% | 9.2% | 80.8% | $63K |
| Western New England University | #159 | 153 | 3.27 | 52% | 0% | 68.0% | $50K |
| New England School of Law | #168 | 153 | 3.37 | 61% | 1.5% | 73.9% | $63K |
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | #171 | 152 | 3.36 | 52% | 1.0% | 62.6% | $42K |
Massachusetts Bar Exam 2024: Pass Rates & Difficulty
Bar exam statistics and difficulty rating for Massachusetts 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.
Massachusetts Legal Market Overview
Employment opportunities and top legal employers in Massachusetts
Market Overview
Massachusetts, centered in Boston, offers a sophisticated legal market with particular strength in healthcare law, biotech, and academic institutions. The state's concentration of universities, hospitals, and life sciences companies creates unique opportunities. Boston also has a strong BigLaw and boutique litigation market.
Top Legal Employers in Massachusetts
Includes BigLaw firms, government offices, and public interest organizations. Rankings are not ordered by size or prestige.
Career Paths in Massachusetts
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.