School of Law ranked for best trial advocacy
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The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Law (UMass Law) has been recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's best law schools for trial advocacy in its 2026 law school rankings.
According to U.S. News, law school specialty rankings are based solely on peer assessment surveys administered to law school faculty who teach in that specialty area on a 5-point scale.
UMass Law was also recognized as a top law school overall and for part-time programs, as well as in specialty rankings for business law, clinical training, contracts/commercial law, constitutional law, criminal law, dispute resolution, environmental law, health care law, intellectual property law, international law, tax law, and law schools with the most graduates in public interest law.
The recognition reflects UMass Law’s emphasis on experiential learning and practice-ready legal education. In April, UMass Law hosted its inaugural in-house trial competition, bringing together more than 50 students for simulated courtroom proceedings judged by leading members of the SouthCoast legal community. The event gave students hands-on experience in trial advocacy, including opening statements, witness examinations, and evidentiary objections, while strengthening the School of Law’s growing advocacy program.