Business law is one of the broadest and most versatile areas of legal practice. Business lawyers can help launch startups, guide multinational corporations through complex transactions, advise the board of directors, navigate financial regulations, protect IP, and serve as in-house counsel for companies across all industries.
Yet no two business law programs look exactly the same. The schools featured here demonstrate the many directions a business law education can take within the ever-evolving world of business law.
These six law schools prepare students for careers in the field through hands-on clinics, industry-focused coursework and strong professional networks, earning an A+, A and A- in our annual honor roll.
(A+) The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law offers business-law students multiple opportunities to explore the field through practical experience, corporate engagement, and interdisciplinary study.
One of the program’s signature offerings is the Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic, where students work with startups, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits on matters such as business formation, financing, intellectual property, and governance. The EBLC recently expanded its work to include a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) initiative that helps Ohio State students and student-athletes better understand NIL agreements and related legal issues.
Students can also gain insight into corporate governance through the Board Fellows Program or pursue the Corporate Fellowship Program, which places recent graduates in the legal departments of major corporations for a paid 12-month-long clerkship-style fellowship.
Beyond experiential learning, the Law, Finance and Governance program connects students with entrepreneurs, executives, venture capital professionals, and general counsel through events and programming focused on business and corporate law. Students can further develop their interests through the Business Law Society and the Ohio State Business Law Journal, a student-run publication examining issues affecting businesses and the legal profession.
Another way Moritz stands out is by offering a JD/MBA dual degree in partnership with the Fisher College of Business, providing students with the opportunity to combine legal and business education to prepare themselves for numerous careers.
For students interested in entrepreneurship, corporate governance, business transactions, and in-house counsel careers, Ohio State offers a range of opportunities to explore the many dimensions of modern business law.
(A+) UC Law San Francisco
UC Law San Francisco offers a Business Law program shaped in part by its location in one of the country’s leading centers for entrepreneurship, venture capital, and innovation.
One of the school’s most distinctive opportunities is Startup Legal Garage, where students work directly with startup clients on matters involving business formation, financing, governance, and intellectual property.
Students interested in corporate practice can also gain experience through the Corporate Counsel Externship Program, which places participants in legal departments at companies and organizations throughout the region. Students seeking additional hands-on experience can participate in the Social Enterprise & Economic Empowerment Clinic, which gives students the chance to build skills in strategic planning, project management and legal research, and analysis to help their clients. In the Business Tax Practicum students can help advise clients on transactional tax issues affecting social enterprises.
The UC Center for Business Law San Francisco serves as a hub for business-law programming, sponsoring events and initiatives focused on topics such as venture capital, startup governance, financial regulation, and emerging business issues.
For students interested in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the legal side of innovation, UC Law San Francisco offers a business-law experience closely connected to the industries surrounding it.
(A+) William & Mary Law School
William & Mary Law School, the oldest law school in the U.S., makes sure its students know how the law works in the real world. They want their “citizen lawyers to lead in their communities, motivated by the desire for progress and by the knowledge that members of the legal profession have a special responsibility that comes with their degrees.”
The Business Law Concentration gives students the opportunity to explore both traditional corporate practice and emerging areas affecting businesses and financial markets. Coursework includes subjects such as corporations, securities regulation, taxation, private equity, leveraged finance, anti-money laundering compliance, data privacy, and cryptocurrency regulation. Students can also earn an MBA joint degree.
Experiential learning is built into the concentration through externships, simulation courses, journal work, and research opportunities. Students interested in tax and transactional practice can gain hands-on experience through the Low Income Tax Clinic, which represents low-income Virginia taxpayers before the IRS and U.S. Tax Court.
Outside the classroom, student organizations can lead to a more well-rounded law school experience and can build practical skills. The Transactional Law Team competition called Colonial Cup allows participants to draft and negotiate agreements based on real-world business transactions.
The Business Law Society and Blockchain Legal Society provide additional opportunities for networking and professional development, while the William & Mary Business Law Review gives students the opportunity to engage with current issues affecting business and corporate law.
The Ghost Law Society allows students to explore and learn about Williamsburg’s history with spine-tingling cases.
For students interested in both established areas of business practice and emerging issues involving technology, finance, and global markets, William & Mary offers a broad range of academic and experiential opportunities.
(A) Washburn University School of Law
Washburn University School of Law’s business-law offerings are centered on transactional practice and the skills lawyers use when advising businesses, negotiating deals, and helping organizations navigate legal and regulatory issues. Through the Business & Transactional Law Certificate, students can build a course of study focused on areas such as entrepreneurial law, corporate compliance, and transactional drafting.
Practical experience is a key part of the program. In the Small Business & Nonprofit Transactional Law Clinic, students work directly with startups, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations on matters including entity formation, contracts, governance, intellectual property, and tax-exempt applications.
Students can also develop drafting and negotiation skills through the Transactional Law Meet Competition, where teams draft agreements, review deal documents, and negotiate transaction terms based on real-world business scenarios.
The Business & Transactional Law Center serves as a hub for business-law programming, connecting students with attorneys, business leaders, and corporate legal professionals through workshops, guest speakers, networking events, and site visits. Students interested in combining legal and business education can also pursue J.D./MBA and J.D./M.Acc. dual-degree programs through Washburn’s Brenneman School of Business.
The Business Law Society provides additional opportunities for professional development and networking.
For students interested in becoming transactional lawyers, business advisors, or corporate counsel, Washburn offers a business-law program built around practical skills and hands-on experience.
(A) Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law’s philosophy Where Law Meets Business showcases that students should have a strong foundation in business because today’s lawyers need to serve their clients in a myriad of ways. Every student regardless of concentration has to take a week-long mandatory Business Module so they can not only write a compelling opening statement they can read a financial statement too. Villanova Law wants you to “become the kind of lawyer today’s competitive job market demands.”
A centerpiece of the program is the John F. Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurship and Law, which supports courses, competitions, externships, and events focused on entrepreneurship and business development. Students can also gain practical experience through the Clinic for Law & Entrepreneurship, where they work with small businesses, nonprofits, and emerging enterprises on matters involving entity formation, contracts, governance, and regulatory issues.
Business-law opportunities extend beyond the local market. Villanova’s International Entrepreneurship Program combines classroom study with externship placements in Cape Town, South Africa, giving students exposure to legal and business issues in a global setting.
Students can further develop their interests through organizations such as the Corporate Law Society and Entrepreneurship Law Society.
It is no surprise that Villanova offers a JD/MBA dual degree that can be completed in three years.
Together with the school’s business-law curriculum and experiential offerings, these opportunities provide multiple pathways for students interested in entrepreneurship, corporate practice, and business transactions.
(A) Seattle University School of Law
Seattle University School of Law takes a multidisciplinary approach to business law. Their Business and Corporate Law program makes sure all students start with a great foundation while also allowing them the flexibility to pursue the areas of business law that interest them most.
The university is in the heart of a major top-tier startup hub and is considered a cornerstone of the global tech economy so it is no wonder that one of the school’s most distinguishing features is its Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics (TILE) program, which examines the legal and business challenges created by new technologies. Through the Summer Initiative for Technology, Innovation, and Ethics (SITIE), students can take courses focused on startup formation, fundraising, in-house counsel practice, and other issues affecting technology companies and entrepreneurs.
Seattle U offers a dual JD/MBA degree that can be completed in less than 4 years for full time students.
Every business law student know that the pen is definitely mightier when coupled with strong legal writing and analysis skills. SU School of Law has a nationally recognized Legal Writing Program that includes Advanced Legal Research courses, contract drafting, and drafting labs.
The Business & Entrepreneurship Law Association allows students to make the most of their time in law school with networking opportunities and skill development. The Adolf A. Berle, Jr. Center on Corporations, Law & Society adds another dimension to the program through events and scholarship focused on corporate governance, economic systems, and the role of law in shaping modern business. The center’s annual Berle Symposium brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss issues affecting corporations and markets.
For students interested in both corporate practice and emerging technologies, Seattle University offers a business-law experience shaped by one of the country’s leading innovation economies.
This story is sponsored by Washburn University School of Law
