Pennsylvania Law Schools
7 ABA-Accredited Law Schools • 74,129 attorneys
All Pennsylvania Law Schools
Compare all 7 ABA-accredited law schools in Pennsylvania. Click column headers to sort.
Table Legend
| University of Pennsylvania | #4 | 173 | 3.95 | 8% | 67.1% | 94.4% | $78K |
| Temple University | #49 | 165 | 3.76 | 24% | 16.9% | 89.0% | $49K |
| Villanova University | #49 | 164 | 3.80 | 26% | 19.6% | 90.0% | $60K |
| Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson Law | #62 | 159 | 3.71 | 43% | 6.3% | 87.6% | $60K |
| University of Pittsburgh | #77 | 160 | 3.54 | 35% | 15.6% | 93.0% | $53K |
| Drexel University | #82 | 160 | 3.76 | 30% | 11.3% | 84.2% | $57K |
| Duquesne University | #85 | 157 | 3.62 | 43% | 5.3% | 89.7% | $59K |
Pennsylvania Bar Exam 2024: Pass Rates & Difficulty
Bar exam statistics and difficulty rating for Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania Legal Market Overview
Employment opportunities and top legal employers in Pennsylvania
Market Overview
Pennsylvania features dual legal markets in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, offering opportunities in corporate law, healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Philadelphia is home to several AmLaw 200 firms and serves as a regional BigLaw hub. The state's diverse economy supports strong regional firm markets and public interest work.
Top Legal Employers in Pennsylvania
Includes BigLaw firms, government offices, and public interest organizations. Rankings are not ordered by size or prestige.
Career Paths in Pennsylvania
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.