Introduction
This appendix companions the master directory and profiles the honors architecture of the 25 highest-ranked U.S. law schools (2026-27 U.S. News peer-reputation rankings, reproduced by TaxProf Blog). Each profile covers the full honors stack a hiring partner or clerkship committee would weigh: Order of the Coif chapter status, Latin honors thresholds, class-rank policy, flagship and secondary journals, moot court and trial advocacy programs, Order of Barristers participation, named pre-matriculation scholarships, signature graduation prizes, pro bono recognition, clinical awards, and on-campus honor societies.
Use this appendix to:
- Translate a candidate's résumé line into its true selectivity at that specific school
- Calibrate prestige across peer institutions when comparing finalists
- Identify school-specific "tells" — NYU's Pomeroy/Butler/Florence Allen designations as class-rank proxies, Harvard's Fay Diploma and Sears Prize as apex GPA signals, Yale's deliberate absence of GPA / rank / Latin honors, Stanford's discontinuation of Coif and Latin honors after the 2010 grade reform
Table of Contents
- Quick Reference: Coif & Latin Honors Snapshot
- #1 — Stanford Law School
- #2 — Yale Law School
- #2 — University of Chicago Law School
- #4 — University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
- #4 — University of Virginia School of Law
- #6 — Harvard Law School
- #7 — Duke University School of Law
- #7 — NYU School of Law
- #9 — Columbia Law School
- #9 — University of Michigan Law School
- #9 — Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
- #12 — Vanderbilt Law School
- #13 — Cornell Law School
- #13 — UCLA School of Law
- #13 — Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
- #16 — University of Texas at Austin School of Law
- #16 — UC Berkeley School of Law
- #18 — Georgetown University Law Center
- #18 — University of North Carolina School of Law
- #20 — Boston College Law School
- #20 — Notre Dame Law School
- #22 — University of Minnesota Law School
- #22 — Texas A&M University School of Law
- #24 — Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
- #24 — Boston University School of Law
- Methodology Notes
Quick Reference: Coif & Latin Honors Snapshot
At-a-glance summary of the three highest-level academic honors at each school. Detailed per-school profiles follow.
| # | School | Order of the Coif | Latin Honors | Class Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford Law School | Stanford Law School officially discontinued awarding the Order of the Coif effective for the class of 2010… | Stanford Law School does not award Latin honors (summa, magna, or cum laude) or "Graduation with Distinction"… | Stanford Law School does not rank its students and does not have a Dean's List (BCG Search, Wikipedia). The… |
| 2 | Yale Law School | Yale Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif and does not award membership to its… | Yale Law School does not award Latin honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude) (Wikiwand,… | Yale Law School does not compute individual class rank or Grade Point Average (GPA) (Bulletin). The grading… |
| 2 | University of Chicago Law School | University of Chicago has a chapter of the Order of the Coif (established 1911). Graduates in the top 10% of… | Latin honors are awarded based on cumulative GPA: Highest Honors (182.0 and above), High Honors (180.5 and… | The Law School does not rank students and prohibits students from providing estimates of their class rank on… |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | Chapter established in 1912. Selection is limited to the top 10% of the graduating class. Order of the Coif | Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. Thresholds for 2021 were approximately top 2.8% for Summa,… | The school does not rank its students. Summa cum laude is awarded to the top of the class, magna cum laude to… |
| 4 | University of Virginia School of Law | UVA Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Membership is awarded to the top 10% of the graduating class… | UVA Law does not traditionally award Latin honors (summa, magna, cum laude). Instead, it recognizes top… | The Law School does not use or disclose class rank except for limited purposes, such as determining… |
| 6 | Harvard Law School | No. Harvard Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Order of the Coif Chapters | Latin honors are determined by a GPA calculation where Dean’s Scholar = 5.0, Honors = 4.0, Pass = 3.0, and… | Harvard Law School does not rank its students. The school uses a grading system of Dean’s Scholar (DS),… |
| 7 | Duke University School of Law | The Order of the Coif is awarded to the top 10% of the graduating class based on all grades (Academic… | Latin honors are awarded based on percentile thresholds: Highest Honors (summa cum laude) to the top 2% of… | Duke Law School does not release class rank. The school employs an enforced median grade of 3.5 for all… |
| 7 | NYU School of Law | Yes, NYU has a chapter. Membership is limited to the top 10% of the graduating class who have completed at… | Summa Cum Laude: Awarded by the Executive Committee to students with a 'truly outstanding academic record.'… | NYU Law does not rank students or maintain records of cumulative averages for its students. However,… |
| 9 | Columbia Law School | No. Columbia Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif, historically due to its policy of… | Columbia Law School does not grant traditional Latin honors (summa, magna, cum laude). Instead, it uses a… | Columbia Law School does not rank its students nor does it release a numerical average for each student.… |
| 9 | University of Michigan Law School | The Order of the Coif chapter considers graduates in the top 10% of the combined academic year class BCG… | Latin honors are based on fixed GPA thresholds rather than percentiles: Summa Cum Laude (4.000 or higher),… | University of Michigan Law School does not rank its students BCG Attorney Search. Honor point averages are… |
| 9 | Northwestern Pritzker School of Law | Northwestern has a chapter of the Order of the Coif (established 1907). Graduating seniors in the top 10% of… | Latin honors for the Class of 2003 and subsequent are based on fixed cumulative GPA thresholds: Summa cum… | Northwestern Law does not compute or record class rank on official records. For JD students, a Dean's List is… |
| 12 | Vanderbilt Law School | Order of the Coif chapter exists. Election is limited to the top 10% of the graduating class who have… | Vanderbilt Law School awards Latin Honors to the top 25% of the graduating class. Summa Cum Laude: top 5%;… | Vanderbilt Law School does not rank students individually in their class and there are no published… |
| 13 | Cornell Law School | Cornell has an active chapter (est. 1915). Membership is granted to students ranking in the top 10% of the… | Cornell Law awards Latin Honors based on class percentiles: Summa cum laude (awarded by special faculty vote… | Cornell Law School does not release individual academic rankings. However, specific thresholds are used for… |
| 13 | UCLA School of Law | UCLA Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Graduating students in the top 10% of their class who have… | Latin honors at UCLA Law are awarded based on graduation GPA percentiles: Summa Cum Laude for the top 5%,… | UCLA Law does not rank the student body as a whole. Exceptions include the top 12 students in each class… |
| 13 | Washington University in St. Louis School of Law | Yes; WashU Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Graduating J.D. students in the top 10% of their class… | Latin Honors are awarded based on final class rank: Summa Cum Laude (top 2%), Magna Cum Laude (top 10%), and… | Washington University in St. Louis School of Law does not provide individual class rankings to students… |
| 16 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | Texas Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Selection is limited to the top 10% of the graduating… | Graduates are recognized with Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. Due to the school's no-ranking… | Texas Law maintains a strict no-ranking policy, except to determine eligibility for honor societies… |
| 16 | UC Berkeley School of Law | Berkeley Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Each year, it extends invitations to the top 10% of… | Berkeley Law does not grant traditional Latin honors (summa/magna/cum laude). Academic excellence is instead… | Berkeley Law does not rank its students by academic record or calculate Grade Point Averages (GPAs). The… |
| 18 | Georgetown University Law Center | Top 10% of the graduating class are elected to the Order of the Coif. Eligibility requires at least 64 graded… | Summa Cum Laude is granted at the sole discretion of the faculty (minimum 71 credits at GULC and 3.70 GPA;… | Georgetown Law does not rank its students. Academic honors include Dean’s List, Diplomas with Honors, and… |
| 18 | University of North Carolina School of Law | Students in the top 10% of the graduating class are eligible for election to the Order of the Coif, provided… | UNC Law awards honors based on GPA and class rank: Highest Honors (GPA of 4.0 or higher), High Honors (top… | The school publishes grade cutoff points for the top 10%, top 33.3%, and top 50% of each class. The Dean's… |
| 20 | Boston College Law School | BC Law has an active chapter of the Order of the Coif (chartered 1964). Selection is limited to students in… | Latin honors are awarded based on the following percentile thresholds: Summa Cum Laude (Top 2%; 2024… | Boston College Law School does not rank students individually, except for those in the top 10% of the class.… |
| 20 | Notre Dame Law School | Notre Dame Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif. It is one of several top-tier schools… | Latin honors are awarded based on class rank percentiles: Summa Cum Laude (top 5%), Magna Cum Laude (top… | Notre Dame Law School does not provide class rank to students, with the exception of the top 10 percent.… |
| 22 | University of Minnesota Law School | Active chapter since 1915. Members selected from the top 10% of the graduating class who have completed at… | Summa Cum Laude (Top 1% or GPA ≥ 4.000), Magna Cum Laude (Top 15%), Cum Laude (Top 40%). Percentile… | The Law School does not rank students individually, except for the top 10% and top third of each class after… |
| 22 | Texas A&M University School of Law | Texas A&M Law was admitted as the 87th member of the Order of the Coif in 2019. Selection is restricted to… | Juris Doctor students qualify based on final cumulative GPA thresholds: Summa Cum Laude (3.80 or above),… | Texas A&M Law utilizes a 4.0 grading scale with a minimum GPA of 2.33 required for good standing. Class rank… |
| 24 | Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School | BYU was chartered as a Chapter of the Order of the Coif in 1984. To be eligible, a student must rank in the… | Latin Honors are awarded to the top 32% of the graduating class (Graduation Requirements at a Glance).… | The Law School maintains class rankings but does not post them publicly under FERPA policies (Policies &… |
| 24 | Boston University School of Law | Yes; Alpha of Massachusetts Chapter. Membership is limited to the top 10% of the graduating JD class. Order… | Summa Cum Laude (Top 2%; 4.06 cut-off for Class of 2025); Magna Cum Laude (Top 10%; 3.91 cut-off); Cum Laude… | Class rank is not released publicly beyond specific percentile cut-offs for the top third of each class (top… |
USN #1Stanford Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Stanford Law School officially discontinued awarding the Order of the Coif effective for the class of 2010 and beyond (Wikipedia, SLS FAQ). The Stanford chapter was originally established in 1912 (SLS Archive).
Latin Honors
Stanford Law School does not award Latin honors (summa, magna, or cum laude) or "Graduation with Distinction" for classes entering in or after 2008 (Wikipedia, SLS Press). The school discontinued these distinctions as part of its grade reform to encourage pedagogical flexibility (Stanford Lawyer).
Class Rank / Dean's List
Stanford Law School does not rank its students and does not have a Dean's List (BCG Search, Wikipedia). The school employs a four-level grading system: Honors (H), Pass (P), Restricted Credit (R), and Fail (F) (Registrar). Numerical GPAs are not calculated for classes entering in or after 2008 (Stanford Lawyer).
Flagship Law Review
The Stanford Law Review is the flagship journal. Membership is determined through a blind-graded writing and editing competition; selection is not based on grades (Law School Prep Hub).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: Stanford Environmental Law Journal, Stanford Journal of International Law, Stanford Law & Policy Review, Stanford Technology Law Review, Stanford Journal of Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Stanford Journal of Law, Economics & Business, and the Journal of Law and the Biosciences. Several others are currently on hiatus, including the Stanford Journal of Animal Law and Policy, Stanford Journal of Complex Litigation, and Stanford Journal of Criminal Law and Policy (SLS Directory).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The signature in-house competition is the Marion Rice Kirkwood Memorial Competition. Signature honors include the Marion Rice Kirkwood Moot Court Prizes, awarded for Best Oral Advocate, Best Brief, Best Team, and Runner-up Team (BCG Search).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
Stanford offers a Mock Trial program and a Trial Advocacy Workshop. Students participate in external competitions, and the program is supported by the Criminal Prosecution Clinic and other clinical offerings (SLS Courses).
Order of Barristers
Y/N: Stanford has a history of an Order of the Barristers chapter, and recent graduates continue to report induction on professional profiles (LinkedIn), although it is not featured as a primary graduation honor in the school's general grade reform summaries.
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Named scholarships and merit-based awards include the Lisa M. Schnitzer Memorial Scholarship, the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship, the Sallyanne Payton Fellowship, and the Kirkland & Ellis Scholars program for first-year achievement. The university-wide Knight-Hennessy Scholars program also supports law students. Most traditional financial aid is need-based (Scholarship Story).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Key awards include the Urban A. Sontheimer Third-Year Honor (historically for the second-highest GPA), the Hilmer Oehlmann Jr. Writing Award (1L writing), the Deborah L. Rhode Public Interest Award, the Miles L. Rubin Public Interest Award, and the Leon M. Cain Community Leadership Award (SLS Press). Specialty prizes include the Frank Baker Belcher Evidence Award and the Steven M. Block Civil Liberties Award.
Pro Bono Honors
The Levin Center awards Pro Bono Distinction at three levels: Highest Pro Bono Distinction (300+ hours plus leadership), High Pro Bono Distinction (150+ hours plus leadership), and Pro Bono Distinction (50+ hours). Recognition is celebrated at the annual Spring Public Interest Celebration.
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The Judge Thelton E. Henderson Prize is awarded for outstanding performance in clinical courses (LawCrossing).
Honor Societies on Campus
Stanford Law School does not officially recognize traditional national legal honor societies like Phi Delta Phi in its primary honors listings, focusing instead on school-specific awards and journal membership (SLS Organizations).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
In lieu of traditional graduation honors, Stanford utilizes "Book Prizes" awarded in individual courses to recognize outstanding student performance: the Gerald Gunther Prize for exam classes and the John Hart Ely Prize for paper classes (Registrar). Each class is limited to one prize per 15 students (SLS Press).
USN #2Yale Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Yale Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif and does not award membership to its graduates (LawCrossing).
Latin Honors
Yale Law School does not award Latin honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude) (Wikiwand, LawCrossing).
Class Rank / Dean's List
Yale Law School does not compute individual class rank or Grade Point Average (GPA) (Bulletin). The grading system for JD students consists of Honors (H), Pass (P), Low Pass (LP), Credit (CR), and Failure (F). All first-term courses are graded on a credit/fail basis (Bulletin). Effective Fall 2025, courses with more than 15 students are subject to a 40% cap on Honors grades (Bulletin).
Flagship Law Review
The Yale Law Journal is the flagship publication. Students are selected through a two-part admissions competition each spring, consisting of a bluebooking exam and a writing competition (Wikipedia, Journal Website).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Yale's specialty journals include: the Yale Journal of International Law, Yale Journal on Regulation, Yale Law & Policy Review, Yale Journal of Law and Feminism, Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics, Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities, Yale Journal of Law & Technology, Yale Journal of Law & Liberation, and the Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal (Bulletin). Most secondary journals accept editors without a competitive tryout process (Wikipedia).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Morris Tyler Moot Court of Appeals is the primary moot court program. Its signature in-house competition is the Thurman Arnold Appellate Competition, where finalists argue before a panel of distinguished judges. Prizes include the Thurman Arnold Appellate Competition Prize (best student argument), the Benjamin N. Cardozo Prize (best brief), and the Harlan Fiske Stone Prize (best oral argument) (Bulletin).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Thomas Swan Barristers' Union manages the trial advocacy program. Signature competitions include the Prize Trial, with awards such as the John Fletcher Caskey Prize (best presentation of a case on final trial) and the John Currier Gallagher Prize (proficiency in presentation of a case) (Bulletin).
Order of Barristers
Yale Law School does not maintain a chapter of the Order of Barristers for student recognition at graduation (Bulletin, BCGSearch). Participation in advocacy is instead recognized through transcript notations (RC) and specific prizes.
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
The flagship merit-based/need-based scholarship is the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program, which provides full-tuition coverage for students with significant financial need (Yale News). Other named funds include the Roger S. and Virginia Aaron Scholarship, Carolyn E. Agger Endowment for Women in Law, and the Davis and Bessie Albert Scholarship (Bulletin).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Key graduation and paper prizes include: the Edgar M. Cullen Prize (best 1L paper), Benjamin Scharps Prize (best 3L essay), Colby Townsend Memorial Prize (best 2L research), Israel H. Peres Prize (best YLJ note), Edward D. Robbins Memorial Prize (best 3L contribution to a journal other than YLJ), and the Judge Ralph K. Winter Prize (best paper in law and economics) (Bulletin).
Pro Bono Honors
Yale does not have a formal "Pro Bono Honors" program with specific hour thresholds for graduation recognition. However, student pro bono work is central to the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization (LSO). The school participates in the AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll, recognizing one student annually (AALS). Clinical prizes like the Stephen J. Massey Prize also recognize public interest and pro bono excellence (Bulletin).
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical awards include the Charles G. Albom Prize (excellence in judicial/administrative appellate advocacy in a clinical program), the Stephen J. Massey Prize (best exemplifying the values of the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization), and the C. LaRue Munson Prize (excellence in investigation, preparation, and presentation of clinical cases) (Bulletin).
Honor Societies on Campus
Yale Law School does not currently award membership in traditional law honor societies like the Order of the Coif at graduation (LawCrossing). Historically, it hosted the Waite Inn of Phi Delta Phi, but it is not listed as a primary recognition program in current academic materials. The Yale Law School Association presents its highest honor, the Award of Merit, annually to an esteemed graduate or long-term faculty member (Official News).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Yale's grading and honors system is intentionally non-competitive, with a focus on written work and research. The "RC" (Requirement Completed) notation on transcripts reflects completion of the Moot Court or Barristers' Union requirements (Bulletin).
USN #2University of Chicago Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
University of Chicago has a chapter of the Order of the Coif (established 1911). Graduates in the top 10% of the class who have earned at least 79 credits in graded courses are eligible for nomination. JD Honors page
Latin Honors
Latin honors are awarded based on cumulative GPA: Highest Honors (182.0 and above), High Honors (180.5 and above), and Honors (179.0 and above). The school does not round grade point averages. JD Honors page
Class Rank / Dean's List
The Law School does not rank students and prohibits students from providing estimates of their class rank on resumes. JD Honors page
Flagship Law Review
The University of Chicago Law Review. Selection involves a Writing Competition. Approximately 20 students are selected via "Grade-on" (top 10% of the class eligible if their writing performance is in the top 50% of submissions) and 30 via "Write-on" (based on writing and editing scores). A Topic Access Program also exists for membership via comment writing. Membership Fact Sheet
Secondary & Specialty Journals
The Chicago Journal of International Law, The University of Chicago Business Law Review, The University of Chicago Legal Forum. Faculty-edited journals include The Journal of Law & Economics, The Journal of Legal Studies, and The Supreme Court Review. Journals page
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The signature in-house competition is the Edward W. Hinton Moot Court Competition (founded 1954), which includes three rounds: preliminary, semi-final (where the Llewellyn Cup recipients are selected), and final (where the Hinton Cup champions are selected). The program is run by the Hinton Moot Court Board. Signature interscholastic teams include Jessup International Moot Court and the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Moot Court Opportunities, Announcements
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Law School has a Trial Team that provides a forum for learning and practicing trial advocacy and competes nationally. Trial Team page
Order of Barristers
Y. The Law School has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in oral advocacy and brief writing through participation in moot court and trial advocacy programs. Order of Barristers Wiki
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
David M. Rubenstein Scholars Program (full-tuition merit scholarship); James C. Hormel Public Interest Scholarship; Rachel Nussbaum Animal Law Scholarship; D. Francis Bustin Scholarship; JD/PhD Scholarships. Scholarships page
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Joseph Henry Beale Prizes (outstanding written work in legal writing); Bell, Boyd & Lloyd Prizes (appellate brief/argument); Casper Platt Award (outstanding paper); Ann S. Barber Award (distinguished service); Kirkland & Ellis Scholars (top 10% of class). Announcements
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Service Initiative encourages students to complete a 50-hour pledge. Recognition includes: Dean’s Certificate of Recognition (50+ hours), Pro Bono Honors transcript notation (250+ hours), and an Award of Excellence for the graduating student with the most pro bono hours. Pro Bono page
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The Edwin F. Mandel Award is given to graduating students for exceptional contributions to the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic. Law School Announcements
Honor Societies on Campus
Order of the Coif (Chapter since 1911); Phi Delta Phi (Douglas Inn chapter). Accreditations, Phi Delta Phi Chapters
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Kirkland & Ellis Scholars: Designated for students in the top 5% of the class after 1L or 2L, expanding to the top 10% by graduation. JD Honors page
USN #4University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Chapter established in 1912. Selection is limited to the top 10% of the graduating class. Order of the Coif
Latin Honors
Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. Thresholds for 2021 were approximately top 2.8% for Summa, top 18% for Magna, and top 31% for Cum Laude. TLS Forum, PCL Class of 2021 Honors
Class Rank / Dean's List
The school does not rank its students. Summa cum laude is awarded to the top of the class, magna cum laude to the next highest, and cum laude to the next. GPA percentiles are generally not acknowledged publicly. TLS Forum
Flagship Law Review
University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Selection is via a competitive process that includes a 'write-on' competition. PCL Journals
Secondary & Specialty Journals
University of Pennsylvania Journal of Business Law, University of Pennsylvania Asian Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law & Public Affairs, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law, University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change, Journal of Law and Innovation. PCL Journals
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
Edwin R. Keedy Cup (signature intramural competition), Moot Court Board. PCL Awards
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
Mock Trial program, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association James J. Manderino Award for Trial Advocacy. PCL Awards
Order of Barristers
Yes, Penn has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in courtroom advocacy. Seattle Law Chapter List
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Toll Public Interest Scholars, Sadie T.M. Alexander Scholarship (historically), Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Post-Graduate Fellowship. Penn Almanac, Penn Today
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
David Werner Amram Prize (Civil Procedure), Barenkopf Award (Best record after 2 years), Oscar Milton Davis Prize (Highest work in 3rd year), Dean's Prize (Highest grades in 1st year), Peter McCall Prize (Highest marks for 3 years), P. Pemberton Morris Prize (Evidence, Pleading and Practice), George Shechtman Prize (Contracts). PCL Class of 2021 Awards
Pro Bono Honors
Mandatory 70-hour pro bono requirement for graduation. Recognition for exceeding the requirement. Professor C. Edwin Baker Award for highest number of hours. PCL Admissions, ProBono.net
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award (family law), Toll Public Interest Scholars and Fellows Program (Public Interest). PCL Class of 2021 Awards
Honor Societies on Campus
Order of the Coif. Order of the Coif Members
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Penn was the first law school to establish a mandatory pro bono program. Wikipedia
USN #4University of Virginia School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
UVA Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Membership is awarded to the top 10% of the graduating class based on cumulative grade point average (Order of the Coif).
Latin Honors
UVA Law does not traditionally award Latin honors (summa, magna, cum laude). Instead, it recognizes top academic performance through specific awards like the Traci Grieshaber Zeller ’99 Memorial Award for the highest academic record (Awards and Honors) and the Order of the Coif for the top 10% of the class. Some University-wide honors like 'Distinction' are generally reserved for undergraduate or distinguished majors programs rather than the JD (UVA Registrar).
Class Rank / Dean's List
The Law School does not use or disclose class rank except for limited purposes, such as determining eligibility for the Order of the Coif and certain academic awards (Academic Policies). Individuals may be notified of their own rank only for clerkship or judicial applications (BCG Search).
Flagship Law Review
The Virginia Law Review selects members through a combination of grade-on (top 15 GPAs), performance-on (top 15 scorers in the journal tryout), and the 'Virginia Plan' which considers students in the top 1/3 of the class who also rank in the top 1/3 of the tryout and submit a personal statement (Law Review Selection, UVABLSA).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
The school publishes a wide range of specialty journals: Journal of Law & Politics, Virginia Environmental Law Journal, Virginia Journal of Criminal Law, Virginia Journal of International Law, Virginia Journal of Law & Technology, Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law, Virginia Law & Business Review, Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal, and the Virginia Tax Review (Academic Journals).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition is the signature in-house intramural competition, involving two-person teams of 2L students; finalists receive the James M. Shoemaker, Jr., Moot Court Awards. The school also features a Moot Court Board and competes in the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court and the International Tax Moot Court Competition (Moot Court Advocacy).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Mock Trial at UVA Law team competes in national trials. The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Award is presented to a graduating student who best exemplifies the attributes of an effective trial lawyer (Trial Advocacy).
Order of Barristers
Y. UVA Law has a chapter of the Order of Barristers, a national honor society for advocacy. Selection is made by faculty based on excellence in intramural and interscholastic advocacy competitions and moot court/mock trial administration (Wikipedia).
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
The Karsh-Dillard Scholarships are the premier merit-based scholarship program, providing full tuition and fees for three years plus faculty mentoring (Scholarships).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Notable prizes include the Margaret G. Hyde Award (outstanding member of the graduating class), the James C. Slaughter Honor Award, and the Mary Claiborne and Roy H. Ritter Prizes (character and integrity). Others include the Edwin S. Cohen Tax Prize and the Shannon Award for outstanding scholarship.
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Challenge recognizes students who complete 75 or more hours of pro bono service (50 for transfers, 25 for LLMs). Honorees receive a certificate and recognition at commencement. The annual Pro Bono Award is given to the graduate demonstrating the most extraordinary commitment to service (Pro Bono Program).
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Clinic Student/Team Award is given annually to a student or team voted on by clinical faculty (Awards and Honors). The Mortimer Caplin Public Service Award recognizes a student entering a career in the public service sector (Awards and Honors).
Honor Societies on Campus
The School hosts a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Students may also be 'tapped' for the Raven Society, UVA's oldest and most prestigious honor society, based on academic distinction and leadership (Raven Society). The Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society also has an active presence (Minor Inn) (Phi Delta Phi).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Unique aspects include the 'Z Society Shannon Award' for outstanding scholarship and the 'Gregory H. Swanson Award' recognizing standards of character and integrity (Awards and Honors).
USN #6Harvard Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
No. Harvard Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Order of the Coif Chapters
Latin Honors
Latin honors are determined by a GPA calculation where Dean’s Scholar = 5.0, Honors = 4.0, Pass = 3.0, and Low Pass = 2.0. Summa Cum Laude is awarded to the top 1% of the graduating class, Magna Cum Laude to the next 10%, and Cum Laude to the next 30%. Calculations are based on an average of three annual GPAs, weighted equally. HLS Handbook of Academic Policies, The Harvard Crimson
Class Rank / Dean's List
Harvard Law School does not rank its students. The school uses a grading system of Dean’s Scholar (DS), Honors (H), Pass (P), Low Pass (LP), and Fail (F). For classes with more than 30 students, there is a recommended grade distribution of 37% Honors, 55% Pass, and 8% Low Pass. HLS Handbook of Academic Policies, The Harvard Crimson
Flagship Law Review
The Harvard Law Review is the flagship journal. Selection is based on a competitive process involving a first-year writing competition (the "Write-On") and academic performance. Harvard Law Review, HLS Student Journals
Secondary & Specialty Journals
The school publishes numerous specialty journals: Harvard Business Law Review, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, Harvard Environmental Law Review, Harvard Human Rights Journal, Harvard International Law Journal, Harvard Journal of Law & Gender, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, Harvard Journal on Legislation, Harvard Latin American Law Review, Harvard Law & Policy Review, National Security Journal, and Harvard Negotiation Law Review. HLS Student Journals
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The signature competition is the Ames Moot Court Competition, which includes Qualifying, Semi-Final, and Final rounds. Honors include Best Brief, Best Team Overall, and Best Oralist in the Final Round. The competition is administered by the Board of Student Advisers. Ames Moot Court Competition
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
Trial advocacy is supported through clinical programs and the Trial Advocacy Workshop. Students participate in external mock trial competitions through organizations like the HLS Mock Trial team. HLS Trial Advocacy Workshop
Order of Barristers
No. Harvard Law School does not maintain a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Order of Barristers Chapters
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Harvard Law School's financial aid is exclusively need-based and does not offer merit scholarships. However, it awards named scholarships to students with demonstrated need, such as the Pugsley Scholarship and the Henry B. Ely Research Fellowship. HLS Need-Based Aid Philosophy, Named Scholarships at HLS
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
The Fay Diploma is awarded to the student with the highest three-year GPA. The Sears Prize is awarded to the two students with the highest GPAs in their first and second years. Other major awards include the Morgan and Helen Chu Prize (highest final-year GPA), the William J. Stuntz Award, and the Joseph H. Beale Prize (Conflict of Laws). HLS Academic Prizes
Pro Bono Honors
Students must complete a minimum of 50 pro bono hours to graduate. Exceptional service is recognized with the Andrew L. Kaufman Pro Bono Service Award. HLS Pro Bono Graduation Requirement
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Graduation recognition includes the David A. Grossman Exemplary Clinical Student Award and the Gants Access to Justice Award. Students are also recognized with the CLEA Outstanding Clinical Student Award. HLS Co-Curricular and Community Prizes, HLS Today
Honor Societies on Campus
Harvard Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Prominent honor-based organizations include the Board of Student Advisers (BSA), which administers the Ames Moot Court and provides academic peer advising. Order of the Coif Chapters, HLS BSA
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The Dean’s Scholar Prize is an academic honor awarded to the top student(s) in a course, carrying a 5.0 weight for GPA purposes. HLS Handbook of Academic Policies
USN #7Duke University School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is awarded to the top 10% of the graduating class based on all grades (Academic Policies).
Latin Honors
Latin honors are awarded based on percentile thresholds: Highest Honors (summa cum laude) to the top 2% of the class (based on all grades); High Honors (magna cum laude) to the top 15%; and Honors (cum laude) to the top 35% (both based on upper-level courses). Eligibility requires at least 80% of coursework to be in graded credits (Academic Policies, FAQ).
Class Rank / Dean's List
Duke Law School does not release class rank. The school employs an enforced median grade of 3.5 for all classes. Faculty may recognize especially distinguished performance with grades above 4.0 (up to 4.3) on a slightly modified 4.0 scale (Academic Policies).
Flagship Law Review
The flagship journal is the Duke Law Journal (DLJ). Selection is primarily through a two-week competition at the end of the 1L year consisting of a 12-page casenote and a 500-word personal statement. Membership paths include "grade-on" for the top 10% of the class (requiring a good faith effort on the competition) and "note-on" based on the quality of academic writing (Duke Law Journal, ALDF PDF).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: Alaska Law Review, Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum, Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy, Duke Law & Technology Review, and Law and Contemporary Problems. The Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy and Duke Forum for Law & Social Change are former publications with archived issues (Journals).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Moot Court Board is a student-run organization that hosts the school's signature competitions: the Hardt Cup (1L competition), the Dean's Cup (the school's premier 2L/3L oral advocacy competition), and the Jessup Cup (International Law). Performance in these competitions serves as the basis for invitation to the Board (Moot Court).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Mock Trial Board hosts the annual Twiggs-Beskind Cup competition every spring. Top competitors are invited to join the board and participate in national interscholastic tournaments (Mock Trial Board).
Order of Barristers
Duke maintains a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on exceptional skill in trial advocacy, oral advocacy, and brief writing, typically awarded to top members of the Moot Court and Mock Trial boards (Order of Barristers, Moot Court Info).
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
The premier merit scholarship is the Mordecai Scholarship, a full-tuition award given to 4-8 students annually (Mordecai Scholars). Other distinguished named awards include the Robert Davies Scholarship, the Mark and Marsha Bookman Scholarship, the Colon W. Brown Scholarship, the J. McCoy Scholarship, and the Lee and Marianne Schmoody Scholarship (Robert Davies Scholarship, Scholarship Luncheon 2015).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Signature graduation honors include the Justin Miller Awards (presented for Leadership, Integrity, Citizenship, and Intellectual Curiosity) and the Richard Lin Service Above Self Award. Alumni awards include the A. Kenneth Pye Award and the Charles S. Rhyne Award (Justin Miller Awards, Alumni Awards).
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Pledge encourages students to complete 50 hours of law-related service. Graduating students who demonstrate exceptional commitment are recognized as Pro Bono All-Stars. The school also hosts an annual 1L and LLM Pro Bono Challenge to encourage early engagement (Pro Bono Program, Pro Bono All Stars).
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical awards include the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Clinic Student Award and the Outstanding Externship Student Award, which are nominated by clinical faculty (Duke Law News). Exceptional service in clinics is also recognized at an annual end-of-year celebration (Duke Law News).
Honor Societies on Campus
The primary honor societies are the Order of the Coif (academic) and the Order of Barristers (advocacy) (Academic Policies, Moot Court Information).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The D.O.N.E. (Duke Law Outstanding and Noteworthy Endeavors) Awards are sponsored by the Duke Bar Association to recognize students, faculty, and staff for contributions to civic discourse, community building, and service (LinkedIn).
USN #7NYU School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Yes, NYU has a chapter. Membership is limited to the top 10% of the graduating class who have completed at least 75% of their law studies in graded courses at NYU. Students are provisionally selected based on 5-semester averages, with final selection after the 6th semester Order of the Coif Policy.
Latin Honors
Summa Cum Laude: Awarded by the Executive Committee to students with a 'truly outstanding academic record.' Magna Cum Laude: Awarded to the top 10% of the graduating class. Cum Laude: Awarded to the top 25% of the graduating class Latin Honors Policy.
Class Rank / Dean's List
NYU Law does not rank students or maintain records of cumulative averages for its students. However, unofficial cumulative averages are calculated by the Office of Records and Registration solely for awarding scholastic honors (Scholars, Coif, Latin Honors). These averages are never published or included on transcripts Academic Policies Guide.
Flagship Law Review
NYU Law Review. Membership is selected from the first-year class (~50-52 students) through a multi-track process: approximately 15 via writing competition scores alone; 15 via 1L grades alone; 8 via a combination of grades and writing scores; and 12 selected by the Diversity Committee through a comprehensive review process Membership Selection.
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Annual Survey of American Law, NYU Environmental Law Journal, Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law, Journal of International Law and Politics, Journal of Law & Business, Journal of Law & Liberty, NYU Journal of Legislation and Public Policy, and NYU Review of Law & Social Change. The Tax Law Review is also a major publication Journals.
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Moot Court Board is the primary organization, managing the Orison S. Marden Moot Court Competition, the school's signature intramural competition featuring fall elimination rounds and spring finals Marden Moot Court. The Board also publishes the NYU Moot Court Casebook, used by law schools nationwide.
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The NYU Law Trial Advocacy Society (Mock Trial) manages the school's trial advocacy program, participating in national competitions. Membership is open to all years and selected through a dedicated interest and selection process Trial Advocacy Society.
Order of Barristers
Yes, NYU Law has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in advocacy as demonstrated through interscholastic and intramural moot court and mock trial competitions, as well as service to the school's advocacy programs Order of Barristers.
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarship (flagship full-tuition public service program), AnBryce Scholarship (full tuition for first-generation students), Furman Academic Scholars (for students pursuing academic careers), Hamilton Scholarship (premier merit-based full-tuition award), and Vanderbilt Scholarships (exceptional merit-based awards) JD Scholarships. Other fellowships include the Lederman Academic Fellow and Furman Public Policy Scholarship.
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Convocation Awards include the Kim Barry Memorial Award (public interest), Edmond Cahn Law Review Award, Harry J. Rudick Memorial Award (taxation excellence), Betty Bock Prize (competition policy), and the David F. Bradford Memorial Prize (tax law) Graduation Awards List.
Pro Bono Honors
Graduating students are recognized with the Pro Bono Service Award at convocation for outstanding commitment to pro bono work. While all graduates must meet the NY State Bar's 50-hour requirement, NYU encourages higher levels of service through the Pro Bono Scholars Program, allowing 12 weeks of full-time service in the final semester Pro Bono Requirements.
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical awards include the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award and school-specific recognition for 'outstanding work in a clinical course requiring student practice' (often presented as Convocation Awards) Convocation Awards.
Honor Societies on Campus
The school hosts a chapter of Order of the Coif (national legal honor society) and the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society (Field Inn) Phi Delta Phi Chapters. Unlike some other schools, NYU's primary academic honor designations are its 'Scholar' titles (Pomeroy, Butler, Allen, McKay).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Distinctive scholar designations include Pomeroy Scholars (top 10 after 1L), Butler Scholars (top 10 after 2L), Florence Allen Scholars (top 10% after 2L), and Robert McKay Scholars (top 25% after 2L) Scholars Designations.
Sources: NYU Law JD Academic Progress
USN #9Columbia Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
No. Columbia Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif, historically due to its policy of not ranking students by numerical percentile as required by the society's constitution. Order of the Coif Member Schools, drslawfirm.com
Latin Honors
Columbia Law School does not grant traditional Latin honors (summa, magna, cum laude). Instead, it uses a three-tier honors system (as of Class of 2025): Highest Honors (top 2% of class), High Honors (top 10%), and Honors (top 40%). Requirements include earning at least 15 letter-graded law credits in an academic year. Academic Honors and Prizes
Class Rank / Dean's List
Columbia Law School does not rank its students nor does it release a numerical average for each student. Academic honors are calculated internally based on GPA compared to students in the same class year. Academic Honors and Prizes, WikiCU
Flagship Law Review
Columbia Law Review. Selection is based on the results of a writing competition and academic performance (for rising 2Ls) or a transfer application process (for incoming transfers). Columbia Law Review Membership
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, Columbia Human Rights Law Review (publishes A Jailhouse Lawyers Manual), Columbia Business Law Review, Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts, Columbia Journal of Law & Social Problems, Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, Columbia Journal of Asian Law, Columbia Journal of European Law, Columbia Journal of Tax Law, Columbia Journal of Race & Law, Columbia Science and Technology Law Review, and The American Review of International Arbitration. Student Journals
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The signature competition is the Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court Competition (founded in 1925), which serves as the upper-year honors competition. First-year students participate in the Foundation Moot Court or specialized programs (e.g., Environmental, Human Rights, International). The program is led by the Moot Court Executive Board. Moot Court
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
Trial advocacy is offered through simulation courses like S. Trial Practice. Students also compete in external competitions, and the school hosts an Annual Mock Trial Competition. S. Trial Practice, News Archive
Order of Barristers
No active chapter of the National Order of the Barristers at Columbia Law School was identified; the school primarily recognizes advocacy through its internal Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court awards and the Robert Stephen Haft Moot Court Prize. Academic Prizes
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Named scholarships include the Hamilton Fellowship (full-tuition merit award), Butler Fellowship (half-tuition merit award), Greene Public Service Scholars (full-tuition for public interest), and Grace Rodriguez ’86 Scholars (full-tuition). Other endowed funds include the William S. Beinecke Scholarship and the Behringer Family JAG Scholars Fund. Endowed and Current Use Scholarships, Public Interest Funding
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Signature graduation prizes include the John Ordronaux Prize (highest cumulative GPA), Walter Gellhorn Prize (highest GPA for LL.M.s), Ruth Bader Ginsburg Prize (top 2% of J.D.s), Willis L.M. Reese Prize (teaching award), Lawrence S. Greenbaum Prize (best oral argument), and the Whitney North Seymour Medal. Academic Prizes
Pro Bono Honors
All students must complete a mandatory 40-hour pro bono requirement for graduation. The Pro Bono Scholars Program allows 3L students to work full-time in public interest for 12 credits, satisfying their pro bono and experiential requirements. Pro Bono Requirement and Program
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical and public interest awards include the Jane Marks Murphy Prize (excellence in clinical advocacy), the Carol B. Liebman Mediation Prize, the Allan Morrow Sexuality and Gender Law Prize, and the Jeffrey Williams Memorial Prize for Critical Rights Analysis. Academic Prizes
Honor Societies on Campus
The Story Inn of Phi Delta Phi, the international legal honor society, is active at Columbia Law School. Phi Delta Phi Chapters, List of Phi Delta Phi Inns
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Historical honors (pre-2025) included James Kent Scholar (3.800 GPA or top 8%) and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar (3.410 GPA or top 35%). WikiCU
USN #9University of Michigan Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif chapter considers graduates in the top 10% of the combined academic year class BCG Attorney Search. Eligibility requires a minimum number of letter-graded credits and faculty vote BCG Attorney Search.
Latin Honors
Latin honors are based on fixed GPA thresholds rather than percentiles: Summa Cum Laude (4.000 or higher), Magna Cum Laude (3.700 to 3.999), and Cum Laude (3.400 to 3.699) BCG Attorney Search. A minimum of 63 letter-graded credits is required for eligibility BCG Attorney Search.
Class Rank / Dean's List
University of Michigan Law School does not rank its students BCG Attorney Search. Honor point averages are calculated on a 4.3 scale, but no official rank is provided to students or employers BCG Attorney Search. There is no Dean's List Michigan Law.
Flagship Law Review
The Michigan Law Review is the flagship journal. Selection is based on a holistic review of a Unified Writing Competition, grades in 1L mandatory classes and Legal Practice, a personal statement, and a Note proposal Michigan Law Review. The journal also publishes First Impressions, an online companion Michigan Law Review.
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include the Michigan Journal of Law Reform, Michigan Journal of International Law, Michigan Journal of Gender & Law, Michigan Journal of Race & Law, Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review, Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law, Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review, and the Michigan Journal of Law & Society BCG Attorney Search, Michigan Law.
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition is the signature intramural competition, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025 Michigan Law. Other programs include the 1L Oral Advocacy Competition, Jessup International Law Moot Court, and specialty moots in Child Welfare, Criminal Law, and Intellectual Property BCG Attorney Search.
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Trial Advocacy Society and Mock Trial Team represent the school in external competitions, recently winning the Capitol City Challenge in 2025 Michigan Law. Intramural opportunities include the 1L Oral Advocacy Competition BCG Attorney Search.
Order of Barristers
Michigan Law has an active chapter of the Order of the Barristers. Selection follows the national criteria, emphasizing participation and excellence in interscholastic and intramural advocacy competitions and administration Order of the Barristers. The chapter is typically limited to 10 graduating students per year Order of the Barristers.
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
The Darrow Scholarship is the most prestigious merit fellowship, often covering full tuition and a stipend Michigan Law. Graduation honors include the Henry M. Bates Memorial Scholarship Award (highest graduation honor), the Daniel H. Grady Prize (highest standing), and the Class of 1908 Memorial Scholarship (highest average at start of 3L) BCG Attorney Search.
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Signature graduation awards include the Henry M. Bates Memorial Scholarship, the Jane L. Mixer Memorial Award, the Irving Stenn, Jr. Award for leadership, and the Dores McCree Award for community commitment BCG Attorney Search. The Certificate of Merit is also a signature academic award given per course Michigan Law.
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Pledge encourages students to complete 50 hours (JD) or 25 hours (LLM) of service Michigan Law. Completion is recognized with a Certificate of Pro Bono Service and acknowledgment during Honors Convocation Michigan Law.
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical and public interest awards include the Jane L. Mixer Memorial Award for social justice contributions, the Excellence in Pro Bono Service Awards, and various fellowships like the OUTlaws Public Service Fellowship and the Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship. Subject-specific clinical awards include the ABA-BNA Health Law Award and the Women Lawyers of Michigan Julia D. Darlow Award BCG Attorney Search.
Honor Societies on Campus
The school hosts the Order of the Coif and is the founding home of Phi Delta Phi (the Kent Inn, founded in 1869), which remains a thriving residential community Phi Delta Phi. University-wide honors include James B. Angell Scholars for consecutive terms of all A-level grades University of Michigan.
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The school uses a unique 4.3 grading scale where A+ is 4.3 BCG Attorney Search. The Certificate of Merit is awarded to the top student in each class section Michigan Law. Alden J. \"Butch\" Carpenter Memorial Scholarship is a major award for students serving economically depressed communities Michigan Law.
USN #9Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Northwestern has a chapter of the Order of the Coif (established 1907). Graduating seniors in the top 10% of the class who have completed at least 75% of their studies in graded courses are eligible, with selection also considering law school activities. Registrar - Grading Policy
Latin Honors
Latin honors for the Class of 2003 and subsequent are based on fixed cumulative GPA thresholds: Summa cum laude (4.200), Magna cum laude (3.970), and Cum laude (3.650). LLM students with a 3.500 CGPA or higher graduate with Honors. Registrar - Grading Policy
Class Rank / Dean's List
Northwestern Law does not compute or record class rank on official records. For JD students, a Dean's List is awarded on a semester basis for achieving a grade point average of 3.500 or higher in at least 9 semester credits of law coursework. Registrar - Grading Policy
Flagship Law Review
The Northwestern University Law Review (founded 1906) is the flagship journal. Membership is determined through a mandatory Spring Write-On process for JD and JD-MBA students, and a Summer Write-On for transfer students. Journals
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Journal of International Law and Business, Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property, Journal of Human Rights, Journal of Law and Social Policy, and the Northwestern Law Journal des Refusés. Journals
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Julius H. Miner Moot Court Competition is the signature 2L intramural competition; honors include the William Jennings Bryan Award (Winner), Adlai E. Stevenson II Award (Best Brief), International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award (Best Speaker), and Lowden-Wigmore Prizes (Finalists). The Arlyn Miner First-Year Moot Court Program is the 1L capstone, featuring the Arlyn Miner Book Awards for excellence in written advocacy. Moot Court and Trial Teams
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Bartlit Center for Trial Strategy hosts the Bartlit Center National Trial Team (established 2003) and the National Trial Team. Moot Court and Trial Teams
Order of Barristers
Yes; Northwestern Law participates in the Order of Barristers, a national honorary organization recognizing graduating students for excellence in oral advocacy and brief writing. Selection is typically based on performance in interscholastic and intramural competitions. The Order of Barristers
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Named merit-based honors include the Dawn Clark Netsch Public Interest Scholarship (full tuition), the Jay A. Pritzker Fellowship ($50,000 for public interest graduates), and the Kirkland & Ellis Scholars Program (awarded for top performance in core courses). Public Interest Financial Support, Student Academic Prizes
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Signature graduation awards include the Wigmore Key (voted by the class for upholding traditions), the John Paul Stevens Prize for Academic Excellence (highest GPA), the Raoul Berger Prize (best Senior Research paper), the Leigh B. Bienen Prize (best JCLC note), the Barnet & Scott Hodes Prize (local government law), and the Charles Cheney Hyde Prize (international law). Student Academic Prizes, 2023 Award Winners
Pro Bono Honors
Students who complete the 50-Hour Public Service Pledge are recognized at Commencement. The David S. Ruder Prize is awarded to a student who has logged the highest number of public service hours by the end of their 2L year and intends to work in public interest. Pro Bono and Public Service, 2023 Award Winners
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The Rivers Casino Criminal Justice Award is given to a law student who has demonstrated exemplary work in the Bluhm Legal Clinic through the Center on Wrongful Convictions. 2023 Award Winners
Honor Societies on Campus
The Booth Inn chapter of Phi Delta Phi, the international legal honor society, was established at Northwestern in 1880. Phi Delta Phi Booth Inn
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Unique honors include the Northwestern Pritzker Entrepreneurship Prize ($5,000 biannual) and the Lowden-Wigmore Prizes, which recognize the best written contributions to each of the school's seven legal journals. Student Academic Prizes
USN #12Vanderbilt Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif chapter exists. Election is limited to the top 10% of the graduating class who have completed at least 75% of their law studies as graded class hours. Law School Catalog
Latin Honors
Vanderbilt Law School awards Latin Honors to the top 25% of the graduating class. Summa Cum Laude: top 5%; Magna Cum Laude: next 8% (top 13%); Cum Laude: next 12% (top 25%). GPA thresholds are determined annually based on the previous year's graduating class (e.g., Spring 2026 thresholds for A&S were Summa 3.989, Magna 3.956, Cum 3.901). Vanderbilt Registrar
Class Rank / Dean's List
Vanderbilt Law School does not rank students individually in their class and there are no published cumulative percentile rankings. The only mark of academic distinction published is the Dean’s List. Career Services
Flagship Law Review
Vanderbilt Law Review. Membership is based on the result of the First-Year Writing Competition (Write-on), which includes scores from a mini-note and bluebook exam. Law School Catalog
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law (JETLaw), Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, Environmental Law & Policy Annual Review (ELPAR), Social Justice Reporter (SJR), Journal of Risk and Uncertainty. Vanderbilt Publications
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
Moot Court Board. Signature competition: Bass Berry & Sims Moot Court Competition (Intramural Appellate Competition). Signature award: John Cortner Intramural Moot Court Competition Award (winning team). Other honors: John A. Cortner Award, K. Harlan Dodson Moot Court Staff Award. Law School Catalog
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
Mock Trial Board. Signature competition: Intramural Mock Trial Competition. Award: John Cortner Intramural Moot Court Competition Award (also supports mock trial). Law School Catalog
Order of Barristers
Yes, Vanderbilt Law has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in oral advocacy and brief writing through intramural and interscholastic competitions. Law School Catalog
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
John W. Wade Scholarship (highest honor, full tuition + $5,000 stipend), Patrick Wilson Scholars’ Scholarship (full tuition), Law Scholars Merit Awards, Henriksen Charitable Trust Fellowship, Zeppos Family Scholarship, Robert R. Krivcher Scholarship, Seward & Kissel Scholarship, Ethel and Cecil Roberts Scholarship. Law School Catalog, GiveCampus
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Founder’s Medal (highest honors), Bennett Douglas Bell Memorial Prize (ethics), Philip G. Davidson III Memorial Award (leadership/service), Archie B. Martin Memorial Prize (highest 1L GPA), Robert F. Jackson Memorial Prize (highest 2L GPA), Richard A. Nagareda Award (litigation/dispute resolution), Vanderbilt Scholastic Excellence Award (highest grade in course). Law School Catalog
Pro Bono Honors
Pro Bono Pledge: Requires completion of at least 75 hours of service for J.D. students and 25 hours for LL.M. students. Pro Bono News
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Junius L. Allison Legal Aid Award (most significant contribution to Legal Aid Society), Carl J. Ruskowski Clinical Legal Education Award (excellence in clinical practice), and clinical courses/externships recognition. Law School Catalog
Honor Societies on Campus
Order of the Coif. Law School Catalog
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Founder’s Medal is awarded to the student in the graduating class with the highest GPA (first honors). Law School Catalog
USN #13Cornell Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Cornell has an active chapter (est. 1915). Membership is granted to students ranking in the top 10% of the graduating class who have completed at least 63 graded credits (approximately 75% of their coursework) (Cornell Law Student Handbook).
Latin Honors
Cornell Law awards Latin Honors based on class percentiles: Summa cum laude (awarded by special faculty vote for exceptional performance), Magna cum laude (top 10% of the graduating class), and Cum laude (top 30% of the class). For the Class of 2023, the GPA cut-off for magna cum laude was 3.8364 and for cum laude was 3.6627 (Cornell Law Student Handbook).
Class Rank / Dean's List
Cornell Law School does not release individual academic rankings. However, specific thresholds are used for honors: the top 10% for magna cum laude and the top 30% for cum laude. Term-based recognition is provided via the Dean's List (top 30% per semester) and the Myron Taylor Scholar award (top 30% of the class at the end of the second year) (Cornell Law Student Handbook).
Flagship Law Review
The Cornell Law Review selects approximately 50 members annually through a Writing Competition (including Write-on, Grade-on, and Composite-on paths). Membership is reserved for approximately 15 students based solely on first-year grades, 15 based on writing competition performance, 8 on a combination of both, and 12 through the Diversity Committee (Cornell Law Review Selection).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary student-edited journals include the Cornell International Law Journal (ILJ) and the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy (JLPP). The school also publishes the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies (peer-reviewed), the International Journal of Legal Information, and regional specialty journals like the SAIPAR Case Review and the Zambia Social Science Journal (Cornell Law Journals).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Moot Court Board organizes three signature intramural competitions: the Francis P. Cuccia Family Moot Court Competition (Cuccia Cup) for upper-class teams, the Faust F. Rossi Moot Court Competition (Rossi Cup) for upper-class individuals, and the Langfan Family First-Year Moot Court (Langfan Competition) for 1Ls. The Louis Kaiser Best Brief Competition is awarded in conjunction with these tournaments (Cornell Law Moot Court).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Cornell Law School Mock Trial Board hosts an internal Spring Competition open to all students and coordinates teams for external competitions such as the AMTA (American Mock Trial Association) tournaments and the Big Red Invitational Classic hosted at Cornell (Cornell Mock Trial).
Order of Barristers
Yes, Cornell maintains an active chapter. Selection is limited to graduating students who demonstrate exceptional skill in trial advocacy, oral advocacy, and brief writing through participation in the school's moot court and mock trial programs (Cornell Law News).
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Signature named merit scholarships include the Charles Evans Hughes Scholars (full-tuition), the Berger Scholarships (full-tuition for business law), and the Dean’s Scholarship (full-tuition). Other named funds include the Henry W. Sackett Scholarship, Alfred M. Saperston Scholarship, Rudolf B. Schlesinger Fellowship, and the Norma and Stewart J. Schwab Scholarship (Cornell Law Financial Aid).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Key graduation and academic prizes include the Boardman Third-Year Law Prize (highest work through 2L), the Fraser Prize (scholarship and character), the Tauro Dean's Prize (academic excellence), the Tomaino Family Prize (collegiality and ethics), the Toohey Family Prize (first-generation excellence), and the Weisberg Prize (Constitutional Law) (Cornell Law Prizes).
Pro Bono Honors
While Cornell students must meet the New York State 50-hour pro bono requirement for bar admission, the school specifically honors students through the Public Service Awards, including the Freeman Award for Civil-Human Rights and the Stanley E. Gould Prize for Public Interest Law (Cornell Law Pro Bono).
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The school awards the Barry Strom Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award (for faculty/alumni mentorship) and recognizes clinical excellence through prizes such as the Freeman Award for Civil-Human Rights and the Stanley E. Gould Prize for Public Interest Law, often bestowed for work performed in clinical settings (Cornell Law News).
Honor Societies on Campus
Active chapters include the Order of the Coif (scholastic) and the Order of Barristers (advocacy), as well as professional legal fraternities (Cornell Law Student Handbook).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The Myron Taylor Scholar designation is a distinctive 2L honor for students in the top 30% of their class. The school also participates in the Pro Bono Scholars Program, allowing students to take the February Bar and perform full-time pro bono work in their final semester (Cornell Law Student Handbook).
USN #13UCLA School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
UCLA Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Graduating students in the top 10% of their class who have completed at least 75% of their units in letter-graded courses are eligible.
Latin Honors
Latin honors at UCLA Law are awarded based on graduation GPA percentiles: Summa Cum Laude for the top 5%, Magna Cum Laude for the next 5% (top 10%), and Cum Laude for the next 10% (top 20%). Specific GPA cutoffs are calculated annually; for the Class of 2025, Magna Cum Laude was approximately 3.976 or better.
Class Rank / Dean's List
UCLA Law does not rank the student body as a whole. Exceptions include the top 12 students in each class (recognized as Masin Scholars) and students in the top 10% of each graduating class (eligible for Order of the Coif). Rankings are also provided for students applying for judicial clerkships and academic positions (Career Services Policies).
Flagship Law Review
The UCLA Law Review is the school's flagship journal. Selection is typically based on a combination of academic performance (GPA) and a competitive write-on process.
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: Asian Pacific American Law Journal, Chicanx-Latinx Law Review, Criminal Justice Law Review, Disability Law Journal, Dukeminier Awards Journal of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Entertainment Law Review, The Indigenous Peoples’ Journal of Law, Culture & Resistance, Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, Journal of Gender and Law, Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs, Journal of Islamic and Near Eastern Law, Journal of Law and Technology, National Black Law Journal, and Pacific Basin Law Journal.
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Moot Court Honors Program is student-led. Signature intramural competitions include the Roscoe Pound Moot Court Competition (final round), the Skye Donald Competition (1L Spring), and the Internal Competition (upper-level), which leads to the Tournament of Champions. Specialized competitions include the Williams Institute Moot Court and the Cybercrimes Moot Court.
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Barry Cappello Program in Trial Advocacy features the Trial by Combat signature competition and offers a Cappello Certificate in Trial Advocacy. Students can also win the Irving H. Green Prize for excellence in the field.
Order of Barristers
Yes, UCLA Law has a chapter of the Order of the Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in oral and written advocacy through interscholastic teams and intramural competitions (Order of the Barristers Constitution).
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Signature named scholarships include the UCLA Law Distinguished Scholars Award (binding early decision, full tuition), the UCLA Law Achievement Fellowship (for high-achieving students who overcame major hardships, full tuition), and the Graton Scholarship (Native American law focus, full tuition). Merit-based recognition includes the Michael T. Masin Scholars (top 12 after 1L) and the Tax and Business Law Scholarships (TABLS).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Significant graduation and academic prizes include the Shepard Broad Award (top 5 GPAs after 1L), Masin Family Academic Excellence Gold/Silver/Dean's Awards for course performance, the Irving H. Green Prize in Trial Advocacy, the Statue of Justice Recipient, and honors for faculty research assistance.
Pro Bono Honors
The Judge Rand Schrader Pro Bono Program awards Pro Bono Distinction to students who complete at least 50 hours of pro bono service. LL.M. students can earn Pro Bono Distinction (20 hours), High Distinction (50 hours), or Highest Distinction.
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Awards for clinical excellence are often distributed through the Masin Family Academic Excellence Awards, which recognize the highest-performing students in various law school courses, including clinics. Special recognition is also given for substantial contributions to the Criminal Justice Program.
Honor Societies on Campus
Key honor societies include the Order of the Coif (academic) and the Order of the Barristers (advocacy). Other professional honor societies like Phi Delta Phi may have chapters but are less prominently featured in official academic honors (UCLA Law Website).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
UCLA Law has a strict grading curve with a maximum median of 3.3 (B+) for most courses. The Lowell Milken Institute also provides specialized business law awards and fellowships.
USN #13Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Yes; WashU Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Graduating J.D. students in the top 10% of their class who have completed at least 75% of their credits in graded courses are eligible. WashU Law Student Handbook
Latin Honors
Latin Honors are awarded based on final class rank: Summa Cum Laude (top 2%), Magna Cum Laude (top 10%), and Cum Laude (top 33 1/3%). BCG Attorney Search
Class Rank / Dean's List
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law does not provide individual class rankings to students except upon graduation for the top 10% (for Order of the Coif eligibility). BCG Attorney Search. Dean's List is awarded to J.D. students whose semester GPAs are in the top 1/3 (33 1/3%) of their class. BCG Attorney Search
Flagship Law Review
Washington University Law Review (founded in 1915). Selection is generally through a combination of a competitive writing competition and/or academic performance. Washington University Law Review
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Washington University Journal of Law and Policy; Washington University Global Studies Law Review; Washington University Jurisprudence Review. WashU Law Publications
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
WashU Law Moot Court Board; Signature intramural competition is the Wiley Rutledge Moot Court Competition (established 1867), which features awards like the Golden Gavel (Best Advocate) and Golden Quill (Best Brief). WashU Law Competitions
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
WashU Law Trial Team; Students are selected through competitive tryouts involving closing arguments. WashU Law Competitions
Order of Barristers
Yes; Selection is based on excellence in advocacy as demonstrated through participation in interscholastic and intramural competitions, advocacy boards, and performance in advocacy-related coursework. National Order of Barristers
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Dean's Fellowship (full tuition); Webster Society Scholarship (full tuition + stipend for public service commitment); Scholars in Law (merit-based); Olin Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship (university-wide prestigious fellowship). WashU Law Scholarships
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Judge Amandus Brackman Moot Court Award (proficency in briefing/arguing); Academic Excellence Award (top 15% of class). BCG Attorney Search
Pro Bono Honors
WashU Law provides public interest and pro bono recognition, though specific hourly thresholds for graduation honors are not publicly detailed beyond the university's broad commitment to 100k+ annual pro bono hours. WashU Law Clinical Programs
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
WashU Law recognizes clinical excellence through awards such as the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award. WashU Law Clinic Newsletter
Honor Societies on Campus
Order of the Coif; Order of the Barristers. WashU Law News
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Academic Excellence Award recognizes students in the top 15% of the class. LinkedIn - Ryne Tipton
USN #16University of Texas at Austin School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Texas Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Selection is limited to the top 10% of the graduating class, computed once annually to include August, December, and May graduates Order of the Coif Info.
Latin Honors
Graduates are recognized with Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. Due to the school's no-ranking policy, specific GPA thresholds are not published; honors are determined by faculty judgment based on academic distinction Diplomas and Honors. Alumni records suggest 'High Honors' and 'Honors' designations are also utilized on transcripts Pirkey Barber Profile.
Class Rank / Dean's List
Texas Law maintains a strict no-ranking policy, except to determine eligibility for honor societies (Chancellors and Order of the Coif). The school does not publish GPA cut-offs or individual ranks. Instead, it provides grade distribution reports and percentile statistics (e.g., Top 25%, Top 50%) to assist students and employers No-Ranking Policy.
Flagship Law Review
The Texas Law Review is the flagship journal. Membership is determined through a multi-journal 'Write-On' competition held after the first year, which typically includes a writing exercise (Comment/Note) and a Bluebooking exam. It publishes seven issues annually Texas Law Review.
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: American Journal of Criminal Law; Texas Environmental Law Journal; Texas Hispanic Journal of Law and Policy; Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal; Texas International Law Journal; Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law; Texas Journal on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights; Texas Review of Law and Politics; The Review of Litigation; and the Journal of Law and Technology at Texas Journals List.
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The advocacy program is led by the Board of Advocates. Signature in-house competitions include the Thad T. Hutcheson First-Year Moot Court Competition and the Susman Godfrey Moot Court Competition. The school also hosts and competes in the Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition Advocacy Program.
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Trial Advocacy program offers extensive coursework and interscholastic competition opportunities. Signature activities include the White Collar Criminal Mock Trial team and participation in national tournaments such as the NBLSA Constance Baker Motley National Mock Trial Advocacy Opportunities.
Order of Barristers
Yes, Texas Law has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. It recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated excellence in advocacy through participation in moot court, mock trial, and other advocacy competitions Catalog Honors.
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Advocacy-specific scholarships include the Atlas & Hall Advocacy Scholarship, Broadus A. Spivey Scholarship In Trial Advocacy, Baker & Botts Advocacy Scholarship, Nick C. Nichols Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Advocacy, and the Stanley P. & Claudie P. Wilson Endowed Presidential Scholarship for Excellence in Trial Advocacy Advocacy Scholarships.
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Key awards include the Dean's Achievement Award (top student in each course section), the Beck Center Awards (legal writing), and the Virgil C. Lott Medal (honoring contributions to social justice) Beck Center Awards, Virgil C. Lott Medal.
Pro Bono Honors
The Mithoff Pro Bono Program manages the Pro Bono Pledge, which encourages 50 hours of service by graduation. Recognition levels include Pro Bono Honors (fulfilling the 50-hour pledge), Pro Bono Torchbearers (100+ hours), and Pro Bono Beacons (highest hours in class). 1Ls are also recognized for meeting a 10-hour benchmark Pro Bono Awards.
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The school presents the Clinical Student Award to graduating students for excellence in clinical work. The clinical faculty also recognizes students through the Clinical Professor of the Year award Texas Law News. Additionally, the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law honors students with the Justice Center Graduating Student Award for outstanding contributions to the public interest community Justice Center Awards.
Honor Societies on Campus
The most prestigious honor society is the Chancellors (est. 1912), which recognizes the 16 students with the highest GPAs after completing 42 semester hours (typically the end of 2L). Officers include the Grand Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Clerk, and Keeper of the Peregrinus Chancellors. The school also hosts a chapter of the Order of the Coif, recognizing the top 10% of the graduating class Order of the Coif.
Distinctive Honors & Notes
A unique tradition at Texas Law is the Keeper of the Peregrinus, the fourth-ranked officer of the Chancellors society, named after the school's mascot Texas Law Magazine.
USN #16UC Berkeley School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Berkeley Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Each year, it extends invitations to the top 10% of graduating JD students by GPA. To be eligible, students must have at least 75% of total credits (minimum 64 units) in graded law courses. Order of the Coif
Latin Honors
Berkeley Law does not grant traditional Latin honors (summa/magna/cum laude). Academic excellence is instead recognized through the grading system of High Honors and Honors, as well as the Order of the Coif and course-specific prizes. Grading Policy
Class Rank / Dean's List
Berkeley Law does not rank its students by academic record or calculate Grade Point Averages (GPAs). The school uses a grading system of High Honors (HH), Honors (H), Pass (P), Pass Conditional (PC), and No Credit (NC). In first-year JD classes, the curve limits HH to the top 10% and H to the next 30%. In second- and third-year classes, HH is limited to 15% and H to the next 30%. Grading Policy, Academic Rules
Flagship Law Review
The California Law Review (CLR) is the flagship journal, founded in 1912. Membership is selected through an annual Write-On competition, which evaluates writing and analytical skills; grades are not a factor in acceptance. California Law Review, Student Journals
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: Asian American Law Journal, Berkeley Journal of Black Law & Policy, Berkeley Business Law Journal, Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law, Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law, Berkeley Journal of Entertainment and Sports Law, Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice, Berkeley Journal of International Law, Berkeley Latine Journal of Law & Policy (formerly Berkeley La Raza Law Journal), Berkeley Technology Law Journal, Ecology Law Quarterly, and the Berkeley Journal of Middle Eastern & Islamic Law. Student Journals
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The primary internal competition is the McBaine Moot Court Honors Competition (Advanced). Other advocacy programs include the Halloum Negotiation Competition (Introductory), the Halloum Business Competition (Advanced), and the Prozan Motion Practice Intensive. External competitions are managed by the Board of Advocates (BOA). Internal Competitions
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Bales Trial Competition is the primary internal trial advocacy competition for introductory students. The Board of Advocates (BOA) manages external trial advocacy teams. Internal Competitions
Order of Barristers
Berkeley Law has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in advocacy as demonstrated through participation in moot court, mock trial, and other advocacy programs. Order of Barristers Chapters
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Named scholarships and fellowships include the Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship (BLOS) (full tuition for first-generation students), Public Interest Scholars, Berkeley Law & Society Scholars, Leadership Academy, Native American Opportunity Plan, Military Promise Scholarship, and PDST-Increase Offset Awards (PIOAs). JD Scholarships, Scholarship Categories
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Signature graduation prizes and awards include the Eleanor Swift Award for Public Service, the Pro Bono Champion award, and the Jurisprudence and Prosser Prizes for course excellence. Social Justice Awards, BCG Guide
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Pledge recognizes students for voluntary service. For JD students, 'Pro Bono Honors' requires 75 hours of service, while 'Pro Bono Honors with Highest Distinction' requires 200 hours. Recognition is also given to 'Pro Bono Champions' at graduation. Pro Bono Pledge Requirements, Awards
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical and public interest awards include the Brian M. Sax '69 Prize for Excellence in Clinical Advocacy, the Sax Prize Honorable Mention, and the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Clinical Student and Externship Student Awards. The Francine Marie Diaz Memorial Award is also presented. Social Justice & Pro Bono Awards
Honor Societies on Campus
School honor societies include the Order of the Coif, the Order of Barristers, and the Jones Inn chapter of Phi Delta Phi. Order of the Coif, Phi Delta Phi Chapters
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The Jurisprudence Prize is awarded to the highest-ranking student in each class/section, and the Prosser Prize is awarded to the second highest-ranking student. BCG Law School Guide
USN #18Georgetown University Law Center
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Top 10% of the graduating class are elected to the Order of the Coif. Eligibility requires at least 64 graded credits at the Law Center (transfer credits included in this minimum) (Georgetown Law Registrar).
Latin Honors
Summa Cum Laude is granted at the sole discretion of the faculty (minimum 71 credits at GULC and 3.70 GPA; typically awarded to 1 student). Magna Cum Laude is awarded to the top 10% (3.87 cutoff for Spring 2025). Cum Laude is awarded to the top third (3.70 cutoff for Spring 2025) (Georgetown Law Honors).
Class Rank / Dean's List
Georgetown Law does not rank its students. Academic honors include Dean’s List, Diplomas with Honors, and Order of the Coif (Georgetown Law Registrar). The Dean’s List is awarded to J.D. students in the top third of their class based on annual GPA; for 2024-2025, the cutoff was 3.81 (Georgetown Law Honors).
Flagship Law Review
The Georgetown Law Journal (GLJ) is the flagship journal, publishing six issues annually and the Annual Review of Criminal Procedure (Georgetown Law Journal). Selection is primarily through the annual Joint Journal Write-on Competition (Georgetown Law Journals).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: American Criminal Law Review, Food and Drug Law Journal, Georgetown Environmental Law Review, Georgetown Immigration Law Journal, Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law, Georgetown Journal of International Law, Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives, Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy, Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy, Journal of National Security Law and Policy, and the online-only Georgetown Law Technology Review (Wikipedia).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Barristers’ Council manages the advocacy programs. Signature in-house competitions include the Robert J. Beaudry Cup (Appellate Advocacy), the William E. Leahy Competition (Moot Court & ADR), and the Everett Bellamy ADR Negotiation Competition (Barristers' Council).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Trial Advocacy Division of the Barristers' Council hosts the William W. Greenhalgh Mock Trial Competition as its primary qualifying event (Greenhalgh Competition).
Order of Barristers
Georgetown maintains a chapter of the Order of Barristers, selecting graduating students who excel in oral and written advocacy through the Barristers' Council competitions (LinkedIn).
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Named programs include the Blume Public Interest Scholars (full-tuition), Public Interest Law Scholars (PILS) (up to 1/3 tuition), Global Law Scholars, Technology Law & Policy Scholars, and Business Law Scholars (Georgetown Law Scholars).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Graduation awards include the Thomas Bradbury Chetwood, SJ Prize (highest academic average in LLM programs), Francis Lucey, SJ Award, Charles A. Keigwin Award, Sewall Key Prize, and the Bettina E. Pruckmayr Memorial Award (BCG Guide).
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Pledge recognizes students completing 50 hours (JD), 35 hours (transfer), or 20 hours (LLM) of service. Honors include a certificate and an honor cord; special and exceptional recognition is given for 100 and 200 hours, respectively (Georgetown Pro Bono).
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The Dean’s Certificate is presented to graduating students for special and outstanding service to the community (Georgetown Law Awards). Specific prizes include the Joyce Chiang Memorial Award and the Bettina E. Pruckmayr Memorial Award (BCG Guide).
Honor Societies on Campus
The primary honor society is the Order of the Coif (Georgetown Law Registrar). While some alumni mentions include other societies, the school's official registrar focus is on Coif (Georgetown Law Registrar).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
LL.M. students can graduate 'With Distinction' (top third, 3.72 cutoff for 2025-2026) and be named to the Graduate Program Dean’s List by specialization (Georgetown Law LLM Honors).
USN #18University of North Carolina School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Students in the top 10% of the graduating class are eligible for election to the Order of the Coif, provided they have completed at least 75% of their law studies in graded courses. UNC Law Grading FAQ
Latin Honors
UNC Law awards honors based on GPA and class rank: Highest Honors (GPA of 4.0 or higher), High Honors (top 10%), and Honors (top one-third/33.3%). Percentile thresholds for the Class of 2027 are 3.751 (Top 10%) and 3.544 (Top 33.3%). UNC Law Grading FAQ
Class Rank / Dean's List
The school publishes grade cutoff points for the top 10%, top 33.3%, and top 50% of each class. The Dean's List is awarded to students in the top 50% of their class in any given semester, provided they have no grades below 2.00. UNC Law Grading FAQ
Flagship Law Review
The North Carolina Law Review is the flagship journal. Selection is typically through a Joint Journal Competition (write-on) involving grades and a writing component. North Carolina Law Review
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: North Carolina Banking Institute Journal, North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review, North Carolina Journal of International Law, North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology, and First Amendment Law Review. UNC Law Grading FAQ
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Holderness Moot Court Program is the primary advocacy organization. It includes several teams such as the National, International (Middle Temple), and Civil Rights teams. 1Ls participate in a mandatory intramural competition as part of the Research, Reasoning, Writing, and Advocacy (RRWA) program, with top performers receiving the Eugene Gressman & Daniel H. Pollitt Oral Advocacy Awards. UNC Law Grading FAQ, Holderness Moot Court
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Broun National Trial Team represents the school in national trial competitions. The school also hosts the Kilpatrick Townsend 1L Mock Trial Competition. UNC Law Grading FAQ, Campbell Law News
Order of Barristers
Yes, the Order of the Barristers is a national honor society with a chapter at UNC Law. Membership is offered to graduating students for outstanding achievement in moot court and trial advocacy service. LawCrossing
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
The Chancellors Scholarship is the school's highest merit-based award. Other scholarships are available to 1Ls and 2Ls with a focus on pro bono and public service. UNC Law Grading FAQ, UNC Law Scholarships
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Signature awards include the James E. and Carolyn B. Davis Society induction, Coates Rule of Law Essay Award, Bain Outstanding Writing Award, Block Improvement Award, and the William T. Joyner Awards for journal writing. The Certificate of Merit is awarded for the highest grade in a course. UNC Law News, UNC Law Grading FAQ
Pro Bono Honors
UNC Law provides transcript notations for logging 50, 75, or 100+ pro bono hours. Students with 75+ hours are invited to the 'Pro Bono to Practice' dinner, and those with 100+ hours receive recognition at graduation. The Sylvia K. Novinsky Award and Pro Bono Publico Awards recognize individual and group excellence. UNC Law Pro Bono Handbook, Pro Bono Awards
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical awards include the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award, which recognizes excellence in clinical programs. The Pro Bono Publico Awards also recognize outstanding service in clinical and public interest settings. UNC Law News, Pro Bono Awards
Honor Societies on Campus
Honor societies include the Order of the Coif, the Order of the Barristers, and the James E. and Carolyn B. Davis Society, which recognizes students for excellence in academics, leadership, and service. UNC Law Grading FAQ, Davis Society
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The school features a unique 'Middle Temple' exchange program with British barristers-in-training, including a moot court competition in London. Middle Temple Program
USN #20Boston College Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
BC Law has an active chapter of the Order of the Coif (chartered 1964). Selection is limited to students in the top 10% of the graduating class who have demonstrated high standards of scholarship. Order of the Coif
Latin Honors
Latin honors are awarded based on the following percentile thresholds: Summa Cum Laude (Top 2%; 2024 threshold: 3.920), Magna Cum Laude (Top 10%; 2024 threshold: 3.804), and Cum Laude (Upper third of the class; 2024 threshold: 3.631). Latin Honors 2024 PDF
Class Rank / Dean's List
Boston College Law School does not rank students individually, except for those in the top 10% of the class. Official grade distributions are published periodically to allow students to determine their relative standing. Student Handbook, Latin Honors 2024
Flagship Law Review
Boston College Law Review (BCLR). Selection is based on first-year academic performance (Grade-on) or performance in a summer writing competition (Write-on). In 2017, BC Law consolidated its specialty journals into BCLR, expanding its staff and frequency of publication. Law Reviews
Secondary & Specialty Journals
The Uniform Commercial Code Reporter-Digest is the primary secondary journal. Previous specialty journals (Environmental Affairs, International & Comparative, and Law and Social Justice) were merged into the flagship BCLR in 2017. Law Reviews
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The signature intramural competition is the Wendell F. Grimes Moot Court Competition, held in the 2L year. BC Law also hosts an annual Negotiation Competition (1L) and Mock Trial Competition. Students also participate in interscholastic teams such as the National Moot Court Team and Jessup Moot Court. Advocacy Programs
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
BC Law features a robust Mock Trial competition and interscholastic mock trial teams. The annual Mock Trial Competition crowns champions from the 2L class. Advocacy Programs
Order of Barristers
Yes, BC Law has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is made by the faculty from graduating students who have demonstrated excellence in the school's advocacy programs. Order of the Barristers Snip
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Named scholarships include Dean's Scholars (full tuition, awarded through the Early Decision program), BC Scholars, and the Public Service Scholarships (full-tuition merit awards). Specific named awards include the Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Program ($5,000) and the Morgan Lewis Scholarship. Tuition & Financial Aid
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Significant graduation prizes include: The Attorney Michael A. Flanagan Award (highest rank), The Dean Dennis A. Dooley Award (second highest rank), St. Thomas More Award, Philip Joseph Privitera '95 Commencement Award, Richard G. Huber Award, William J. O’Keefe Award, Cornelius J. Moynihan Awards, John D. O’Reilly, Jr. Award, Sheila McGovern Award, Aviam Soifer Award, and the Lewis S. Gurwitz Award. BC Law Magazine Awards Announcement
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Pledge recognizes students who complete 50 or more hours of law-related community service. Graduates who meet this threshold are recognized at the Graduation Awards Celebration and may be named to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) Pro Bono Honor Roll for Law Students. PIPS Pro Bono
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical awards include the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Award for Outstanding Clinical Student, the CLEA Award for Outstanding Extern, and the Drinan Award for public service. BC Law Magazine
Honor Societies on Campus
The primary academic honor society is the Order of the Coif. Order of the Coif
Distinctive Honors & Notes
BC Law also offers a Public Interest Designation Program for students who complete 15 credits of relevant coursework and 50+ pro bono hours. Public Interest and Public Service
USN #20Notre Dame Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Notre Dame Law School does not have a chapter of the Order of the Coif. It is one of several top-tier schools that do not participate, primarily because it does not rank its entire graduating class as required by the Order's constitution (WikiLawInfo).
Latin Honors
Latin honors are awarded based on class rank percentiles: Summa Cum Laude (top 5%), Magna Cum Laude (top 15%), and Cum Laude (top 30%). For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Bulletin of Information listed a 3.800 GPA threshold for Summa Cum Laude and 3.600 for Magna Cum Laude (2024-2025 Bulletin of Information). Honors are calculated in February based on the first seven semesters and finalized after graduation (University Registrar).
Class Rank / Dean's List
Notre Dame Law School does not provide class rank to students, with the exception of the top 10 percent. Students in the top 10 percent of their class at the end of their first and second academic years are notified of their status and designated as Dean’s Circle Fellows (Hoynes Code § 7.3.4). The school also maintains a Dean's Honor Roll for semester-based achievement (SmartCGPA).
Flagship Law Review
The flagship journal is the Notre Dame Law Review. Membership is typically selected through a combination of academic performance (grade-on) and a writing competition (write-on) (Notre Dame Law Review).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include: the Journal of Legislation; the Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law; the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy; the Notre Dame Journal on Emerging Technologies; and The American Journal of Jurisprudence (NDLScholarship Journals).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Notre Dame Moot Court Board facilitates appellate advocacy. Signature in-house competitions and honors include the A. Harold Weber Moot Court Competition and the annual Religious Freedom Tournament (ND Moot Court Board). The Board fields teams in Showcase, ABA, Jessup, IP, and 7th Circuit competitions (ND Moot Court Board).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Trial Advocacy program includes the Mock Trial team and competitions. Notable awards include the Edward F. Barrett Award for Trial Advocacy, the Kyle D. Smith Mock Trial Award, and the Salvi Mock Trial Fellow Award (NDLScholarship Awards Archive).
Order of Barristers
Yes, Notre Dame Law School has a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in courtroom advocacy through moot court and trial advocacy programs (NDLScholarship Awards Archive).
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Prominent named fellowships and merit scholarships include the Kopko Family Law Fellowship (full tuition for public service), the Polking Family Fellowship (Ethics and Culture), the Edward J. Murphy Fellowship (Church, State, and Society), and the Thomas L. Shaffer Public Interest Fellowship (Notre Dame Law Scholarships). Other awards include the Peter A.R. Lardy Scholarship and the John Bruce Dodds Memorial Scholarship (NDLScholarship Awards Archive).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
The top three academic honors are the Colonel William J. Hoynes Award (highest honor), the Dean Joseph O’Meara Award, and the Farabaugh Prize (Notre Dame Law News). Other signature awards include the Anne C. Hamilton Award (peer help), the Captain William O. McLean Community Citizenship Award, and the Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Award (NDLScholarship Awards Archive).
Pro Bono Honors
Students who complete at least 150 hours of pro bono service during their law school career receive a "Pro Bono Honors" notation on their transcript and recognition in the graduation ceremony materials (Montana Courts/Notre Dame Presentation).
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical and public interest recognition includes the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award, the Dean Konop Legal Aid Award, and the Tia B. Paulette & Erika S. Gustin Award for commitment to the Exoneration Justice Clinic (NDLScholarship Awards Archive). The school also honors students as Champions for Justice (Notre Dame Law News).
Honor Societies on Campus
The school designates the top 10% of students as Dean's Circle Fellows (Hoynes Code § 7.3.4). Historical records mention the Honor Scholars Program and the Hague Honors Scholars Program (Notre Dame Law Academics).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The school is governed by the Hoynes Code, a compilation of faculty resolutions and administrative regulations named after the first dean (Hoynes Code).
USN #22University of Minnesota Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Active chapter since 1915. Members selected from the top 10% of the graduating class who have completed at least 75% of their studies in graded courses (min 66 credits at UMN). BCG Guide, Coif Chapters.
Latin Honors
Summa Cum Laude (Top 1% or GPA ≥ 4.000), Magna Cum Laude (Top 15%), Cum Laude (Top 40%). Percentile thresholds for the Class of 2026: Top 10% ≥ 3.843, Top Third ≥ 3.610. Grades & Percentiles, BCG Guide.
Class Rank / Dean's List
The Law School does not rank students individually, except for the top 10% and top third of each class after each semester. Ranking is based on the cumulative GPA. Grades & Percentiles. Dean's List is awarded each semester to students who achieve a semester GPA of 3.666 or better with at least 12 letter-graded credits. Dean's List Info.
Flagship Law Review
Minnesota Law Review. Selection is via a competitive petition process (write-on) and academic performance (grade-on). Journals.
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality, Minnesota Journal of International Law, Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology, Constitutional Commentary (Faculty-edited), ABA Journal of Labor and Employment Law (Faculty-edited). Journals.
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
Moot Court Board. Signature intramural competition: Maynard Pirsig Moot Court (includes the Pirsig Oral Honors Tournament). Signature honors include the Harold Will Cox Award (best oral arguments) and the Dorothy O. Lareau Writing Award (best brief). Experiential Learning.
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
Intercollegiate Mock Trial Team, Trial Practice course, Intercollegiate Mock Trial Team (participates in National Trial Competition). Experiential Learning.
Order of Barristers
Yes, a chapter exists. Selection is based on excellence in oral advocacy and brief writing through moot court, mock trial, and other advocacy programs. Order of the Barristers.
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Walter J. Trogner Scholarship (full tuition), Walter F. Mondale '56 Scholarship (full tuition for public service commitment), Sidney J. Kaplan Legal Scholarship Fund, William Reynolds Vance Scholarship, Judge Betty W. Washburn Scholarship, Gustav E. and Jeanette Zwick Law Scholarship. Admissions & Aid, Scholarship Repository.
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
William B. Lockhart Award (Excellence in Scholarship, Leadership, and Service), Mondale Hall Engagement Award (Service and Mentorship), Steven M. Block Prize (Civil Rights/Liberties Paper), Dr. Matthew Stark Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Student Award, Lee and Barbara Bearmon Award (Legal Ethics), Minnesota Law Equity & Diversity Award. Commencement Program 2020.
Pro Bono Honors
Law School Public Service Program (LSPSP) 50-Hour Challenge. Students who complete 50 hours of law-related public service receive a notation on their transcript and recognition at graduation. Public Interest.
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award (recognizes excellence in field work and seminar components of a clinic), Clinical Teacher of the Year Award. Commencement Program 2020.
Honor Societies on Campus
Order of the Coif. BCG Guide.
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The school is recognized for excellence in legal writing, winning the Burton Award for Legal Achievement multiple times. Wikipedia.
USN #22Texas A&M University School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Texas A&M Law was admitted as the 87th member of the Order of the Coif in 2019. Selection is restricted to the top 10% of the graduating class. Order of the Coif Member Schools
Latin Honors
Juris Doctor students qualify based on final cumulative GPA thresholds: Summa Cum Laude (3.80 or above), Magna Cum Laude (3.60 – 3.79), and Cum Laude (3.40 – 3.59). Prior to May 2019, honors were percentage-based (top 2%, 5%, and 10%). Aggie One Stop
Class Rank / Dean's List
Texas A&M Law utilizes a 4.0 grading scale with a minimum GPA of 2.33 required for good standing. Class rank is calculated and disclosed at the end of the fall and spring semesters. University-level honors include the Dean's Honor Roll (3.75+ GPA with 15+ graded hours) and Distinguished Student (3.50–3.74 GPA with 15+ graded hours). Registrar Disclosure, Student Handbook
Flagship Law Review
Texas A&M Law Review: Selection is based on a "write-on" competition involving a petition and a case note. Students in the top 10% of their class may receive invitations or credit in the scoring process. Law Review Policies
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan Journal of Real Property Law). Predecessor titles include the Texas Wesleyan Law Review. Peer-Reviewed Series
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
Managed by the Board of Advocates, a student honorary organization. Signature intramural competitions include the 1L Moot Court Intramural Competition, 1L Negotiation Competition, and the 1L Mock Trial Competition. Notable interscholastic achievements include the Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition and the Elliott Cup (5th Circuit regional qualifier). Advocacy Page, Law Blog
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The school fields nationally recognized Mock Trial and ADR teams under the Board of Advocates. Competitions include the 1L Mock Trial Intramural and interscholastic events such as the TYLA National Trial Competition. Advocacy Competitions
Order of Barristers
Yes; Texas A&M Law has an active chapter. It is a nationally recognized honorary organization that inducts a maximum of 10 students annually based on excellence in advocacy. Advocacy Page
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Professor Malinda L. Seymore Endowed Scholarship, MacLean & Boulware Endowed Law Scholarship (for exemplary student service), and the Lechner and McFadden merit scholarships (A&M System-wide awards applicable to law students). Alumni Awards Info, Law Blog
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Daniel Denton Award (honors the graduate with the highest state bar exam score), Mark Faris Memorial Award (recognizes perseverance and dedication), Excellence in Appellate Advocacy Award (sponsored by the State Bar of Texas), and the Judge Joe Spurlock II Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award. Law Blog, Alumni Awards
Pro Bono Honors
Equal Justice Pro Bono Program: All JD students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of pro bono work. The Equal Justice Award is presented at graduation to the student with the highest number of pro bono hours. Equal Justice Page
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinic Award for Professionalism and Leadership (awarded for excellence in clinic assignments and case file maintenance), Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award, and the Selfless Service and Leadership Award (clinical recognition). Law Blog
Honor Societies on Campus
Order of the Coif (Texas A&M Chapter, established 2019), Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society (represented at commencement with Light Blue/Red/Gold cords), and National Order of Scribes. Commencement Program
Distinctive Honors & Notes
The school places a heavy emphasis on its "Aggie Core Values" (Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service) in its award criteria. Distinctive university-wide honors like the Buck Weirus Spirit Award are also awarded to law students. Law Blog
USN #24Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
Official Site
Order of the Coif
BYU was chartered as a Chapter of the Order of the Coif in 1984. To be eligible, a student must rank in the top 10% of the graduating class and have completed at least 75% of their law studies in graded courses (Policies & Procedures).
Latin Honors
Latin Honors are awarded to the top 32% of the graduating class (Graduation Requirements at a Glance). Thresholds are: Summa Cum Laude (top 2%), Magna Cum Laude (next 10%), and Cum Laude (next 20%) (BCG Guide, LawCrossing). Historical GPA thresholds include 3.80 for Summa, 3.60 for Magna, and 3.45 for Cum Laude.
Class Rank / Dean's List
The Law School maintains class rankings but does not post them publicly under FERPA policies (Policies & Procedures). The Dean’s List recognizes students in the top 30% of their class for any semester in which they complete at least 9 graded credits (Policies & Procedures). GPA thresholds for honors and rankings are determined annually based on the performance of the graduating cohort.
Flagship Law Review
The BYU Law Review is the school's flagship journal, published six times annually (BYU Law Review). Selection is primarily through an anonymous write-on competition that considers a combination of 1L grades and performance on a writing/citation exercise (YouTube).
Secondary & Specialty Journals
Secondary journals include the BYU Journal of Public Law, the BYU Education and Law Journal, and the BYU International Law & Management Review (BYU Law Digital Library).
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
The Moot Court Board oversees advocacy training and competitions. The Rex E. Lee Moot Court Competition is the signature in-house intramural competition used to select members for the National Moot Court Team (BCG Guide).
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
The Trial Advocacy Board manages mock trial programs. The Woody Deem Trial Advocacy Competition is the primary intramural competition for selecting trial advocacy team members (YouTube).
Order of Barristers
BYU maintains a chapter of the Order of Barristers. Selection is based on excellence in oral and written advocacy, typically inducting members of the National Moot Court and National Trial Advocacy teams (Order of Barristers).
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Signature merit programs include the J. Reuben Clark Scholars (Clark Scholarship), which offers full tuition and a $10,000 annual stipend (YouTube), and the Achievement Fellowships (Achievement Scholars) for students who have overcome significant personal or environmental challenges (Admissions Resources). The Fritz B. Burns Merit Scholarship is also a significant named award (Annual Report).
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Prominent awards include the Wendy C. Archibald Meritorious Achievement and Distinguished Service Award, the J. Reuben Clark Faculty Award (for excellence, integrity, and service), and the Christensen Memorial Award for Excellence in Advocacy (LinkedIn, LinkedIn).
Pro Bono Honors
The Pro Bono Pledge encourages students to complete at least 50 hours of pro bono legal service before graduation (BYU Daily Universe). Recognition for service is included in the commencement program.
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
The Distinguished Clinical Practice Award is awarded annually by the faculty to students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication to the clinical practice of law (LinkedIn, BCG Guide).
Honor Societies on Campus
Brigham Young University has a chapter of the Order of the Coif, the Order of Barristers, and Phi Delta Phi (Policies & Procedures, Phi Delta Phi).
Distinctive Honors & Notes
BYU Law emphasizes a religiously-affiliated educational environment with a focus on "Lawyers with Purpose." Academic schedules reserve Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 11:00 AM for University Devotionals and Law School Forums (Policies & Procedures).
USN #24Boston University School of Law
Official Site
Order of the Coif
Yes; Alpha of Massachusetts Chapter. Membership is limited to the top 10% of the graduating JD class. Order of the Coif
Latin Honors
Summa Cum Laude (Top 2%; 4.06 cut-off for Class of 2025); Magna Cum Laude (Top 10%; 3.91 cut-off); Cum Laude (Top one-third; 3.71 cut-off). BU Law Registrar
Class Rank / Dean's List
Class rank is not released publicly beyond specific percentile cut-offs for the top third of each class (top 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and one-third). Rank is calculated at the end of each academic year and mid-year for 2Ls and 3Ls. BU Law Registrar
Flagship Law Review
Boston University Law Review. Selection is based on a voluntary week-long writing competition (administered after 1L exams), first-year GPA, and a personal statement. Approximately 15% of the class is invited; 9 seats are reserved for 'grade-on' (top 3 per section) provided they score in the top 1/3 of the writing competition. BU Law Review, Selection Overview
Secondary & Specialty Journals
American Journal of Law & Medicine; Review of Banking & Financial Law; Boston University International Law Journal; Journal of Science & Technology Law; Public Interest Law Journal. BU Law Journals
Moot Court & Signature Competitions
Administered by the Legal Writing & Appellate Advocacy Program. Signature competitions: J. Newton Esdaile Appellate Moot Court (1L required); Edward C. Stone Moot Court (2L intramural); Homer Albers Prize Moot Court Competition (signature 2L/3L intramural). Moot Court Program
Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
BU Law Mock Trial Program; students participate in interscholastic competitions like the National Trial Competition. Mock Trial Program
Order of Barristers
Yes; Chapter selects graduating students who have demonstrated excellence in advocacy programs (interscholastic teams, intramural competitions, and advocacy board service). BU Law Advocacy Office
Named Scholarships & Merit Fellowships
Dean's Scholar Program (Full-tuition merit award); Distinguished Scholar Binding Early Decision (Full-tuition); ASPIRE: Antiracist Scholarship; Public Interest Scholars. JD Scholarships
Signature Graduation Prizes & School Awards
Alumni Academic Achievement Award (highest 3-year cumulative average); Dr. John Ordronaux Prize (exemplary performance and leadership); William L. and Lillian Berger Achievement Prizes (scholastic excellence); Sylvia Beinecke Robinson Award (contribution to school life); Dennis S. Aronowitz Award (academic excellence in Banking and Financial Law); Melville M. Bigelow Scholarship Award. Commencement 2021 Awards
Pro Bono Honors
JD students who complete at least 50 hours of law-related pro bono work receive a 'Pro Bono' designation on their official transcript. Public Service Programs
Clinical & Public Interest Awards
Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award, which recognizes excellence in clinical fieldwork and advocacy. BU Law Record
Honor Societies on Campus
Order of the Coif (Alpha of Massachusetts chapter); Phi Delta Phi (Story Inn); Phi Alpha Delta. Order of the Coif, LinkedIn
Distinctive Honors & Notes
Scholarly Categories recognize top students annually: G. Joseph Tauro Distinguished Scholars (Top 15 1Ls), Tauro Scholars (Top 10% 1Ls); Paul J. Liacos Distinguished Scholars (Top 15 2Ls), Liacos Scholars (Top 10% 2Ls); Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholars (Top 15 3Ls), Hennessey Scholars (Top 10% 3Ls). BU Law Registrar
Methodology Notes
- Ranking basis: 2026-27 U.S. News peer-reputation rankings reproduced by TaxProf Blog (Apr 2026). Where U.S. News reports ties, the tied rank is preserved (e.g., #2 Yale and Chicago; #9 Columbia, Michigan, Northwestern).
- Data collection: Each school's official law school website, registrar pages, journal mastheads, honors societies pages, and student handbook were the primary sources. Where official pages were silent, secondary recruiter-facing references were used.
- Order of the Coif: National rule requires top 10% with 75%+ graded credits; school chapters may add stricter requirements. Yale and Harvard famously have no Coif chapter — Harvard substitutes the Fay Diploma + Sears Prize, Yale rejects GPA-based honors entirely.
- Journal prestige: Reference the TJAGLCS hierarchy in the master directory: top-20 primary reviews > peer-reviewed journals > top-50 primary > top-10 specialty > top-100 primary.
- Moot court rankings: See the University of Houston Blakely Advocacy Institute Moot Court National Championship rankings for current program-level rankings.
Companion piece: The Comprehensive Directory of Law School Honors & Awards.
