Virginia Law Schools
8 ABA-Accredited Law Schools • ~35,000 attorneys
All Virginia Law Schools
Compare all 8 ABA-accredited law schools in Virginia. Click column headers to sort.
Table Legend
| University of Virginia | #4 | 173 | 3.99 | 10% | 64.0% | 95.1% | $76K |
| George Mason University | #32 | 169 | 3.93 | 16% | 10.8% | 86.3% | $42K |
| Washington and Lee University | #34 | 167 | 3.75 | 23% | 31.8% | 93.5% | $57K |
| William and Mary | #34 | 166 | 3.82 | 22% | 19.1% | 92.8% | $63K |
| University of Richmond | #62 | 164 | 3.81 | 40% | 5.1% | 91.3% | $58K |
| Regent University | #91 | 158 | 3.68 | 44% | 1.0% | 91.3% | $42K |
| Liberty University | #144 | 154 | 3.54 | 59% | 0% | 85.3% | $43K |
| Appalachian School of Law | #175 | 146 | 3.20 | 61% | 0% | 54.8% | $41K |
Virginia Bar Exam 2024: Pass Rates & Difficulty
Bar exam statistics and difficulty rating for Virginia 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.
Virginia Legal Market Overview
Employment opportunities and top legal employers in Virginia
Market Overview
Virginia benefits from proximity to Washington D.C., creating strong demand for government, regulatory, and federal litigation attorneys. Northern Virginia hosts numerous law firms serving federal agencies and contractors. Richmond offers state government and regional firm opportunities, while the state's military presence creates unique legal niches.
Top Legal Employers in Virginia
Includes BigLaw firms, government offices, and public interest organizations. Rankings are not ordered by size or prestige.
Career Paths in Virginia
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.