Campbell Law again named among best for practical training

RALEIGH - Campbell Law School has once again been named among the top law schools in the country for practical training by The National Jurist in its Spring 2026 issue.

Campbell Law consistently ranks among the top law schools in the nation for practical training by the magazine and its sister publication, preLaw magazine.

"I am thrilled that the word is getting out about the outstanding hands-on learning possibilities that are afforded to our students," said Dean J. Rich Leonard. "Our curriculum and programming, including the recent addition of two new pro bono clinics, allow our students to learn by doing, and we are confident that it goes a long way in helping them to become successful professionals once they graduate and pass the bar."

The school frequently earns an "A-" or higher rating for its experiential learning, highlighting a curriculum designed to prepare students for immediate practice through its pro bono clinics overseen by a dedicated Assistant Dean of Experiential Education, externships, fellowships, clerkships and an award-winning advocacy program. The school is also recognized for its "learn by doing" approach, featuring numerous student-led pro bono projects.

Since 2015, either the National Jurist or preLaw magazine has ranked Campbell Law among the best for practical training, maintaining an A- grade for four consecutive years.

According to the magazine's article, practical training in law school provides hands-on experience to put legal concepts into action. From writing a contract to negotiating a dispute to learning the nuances of litigation, the real-world practice helps prepare students to become lawyers.

To determine its "Best Schools for Practical Training Honor Roll," the magazine looked at the number of students each school has participating in clinics, externships, simulation courses, moot court and other special programs. The magazine gave the largest weight to clinics. It asked schools for the number of students who completed a clinic in the prior year. If a student was enrolled in a clinic for two semesters, that counted as two. Extra credit was given to schools that required clinic work.

After crunching the data, Campbell Law came in 36th on the 2026 Honor Roll out of the 72 institutions nationally to make the list. Elon is the only other North Carolina law school in the ranking. The complete list is available at this link.

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation's top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina's Capital City.

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