Let’s face it: every year, tens of thousands of law students embark on their educational journey, fueled by the desire to make a significant impact on society. Whether their passion lies in advocating for children, animals, the environment, or fighting against social injustices such as police brutality and discrimination, these aspirants dream of shaping a better world. However, the path to public service isn’t just noble but often comes with financial sacrifices due to generally lower salaries in public sector roles.

Recognizing the institutions that excel in preparing students for such commendable careers, preLaw Magazine, a publication by The National Jurist, has recently unveiled its 2025 rankings for the best law schools for public service. This list is particularly valuable for prospective students who aim to align their legal education with their altruistic career objectives.

The ranking methodology is thorough, focusing on three critical aspects: employment in public service fields (50% for public interest and government roles), curricula relevance (40%), and debt and loan repayment options (10%). For roles such as public defenders and prosecutors, the emphasis shifts slightly to give more weight to curricula (55%) over employment (35%).

The evaluation considers a variety of curricular components such as concentrations or certificates, clinical programs, externship opportunities, centers, student groups, and journals. Financial metrics include expected loan payments based on income-based repayment plans and the average salaries specific to each field, adjusted for each school’s loan repayment support programs.

Without further ado, here are the top law schools distinguished by their commitment to nurturing future leaders in public interest, government work, and criminal law, according to preLaw Magazine:

PUBLIC INTEREST 1. CUNY 2. Northeastern 3. U. District of Columbia 4. UC Davis 5. Yale 6. Roger Williams 7. Seattle 8. UC Berkeley 9. UCLA 10. Northern Illinois

GOVERNMENT 1. Albany 2. George Mason 3. U. District of Columbia 4. McGeorge 5. New York Law School 6. Florida State 7. Indiana-McKinney 8. Arkansas-Little Rock 9. Washburn 10. Regent

CRIMINAL 1. U. District of Columbia 2. Brooklyn 3. Case Western Reserve 4. Oklahoma City 5. Albany 6. Northern Illinois 7. New Mexico 8. Wisconsin 9. New York Law School 10. UC Berkeley

Each of these schools has demonstrated excellence in equipping students with the necessary tools to thrive in public service roles. Their curricula, combined with robust support systems for managing educational debt, make them standout choices for anyone looking to pursue a career in law with a focus on serving the public.

Congratulations to all the law schools that have made this prestigious list. For those interested in a detailed view of the rankings and an in-depth analysis of the methodology, further information can be found by visiting preLaw Magazine’s official website.

This acknowledgment serves not only as a recognition of the institutions' efforts but also as a guiding light for future law students who wish to dedicate their careers to public service.