Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law was the first law school in Ohio to admit women, and one of the first to admit minorities, milestones that helped the school win the first ever Law School Admissions Council Diversity Matters Award.

The school continues to innovate, giving students access to one of the state’s first high-tech learning courtrooms as well as the Great Lakes Sports and Entertainment Law Academy. It also provides students with the opportunity to work pro bono in the community.

Unlike many law schools, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law offers flexible learning opportunities for students who might be considering going to school part time. Its part-time J.D. program has been ranked higher than its full-time program, with U.S. News placing it at 56th in the nation.

It is one of 10 schools nationwide that has a solo-practitioner incubator program, which offers guidance and resources for graduates looking to start their own practice.

It excels in health law (A), business law (A-) and tax (B+). In addition to a center in health law, it offers the Global Space Law Center, and is one of three law schools that excel in that area. It also has a criminal law center.