A law school is an institution or professional school specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a judge, lawyer, or other legal professional within a given jurisdiction. The American Bar Association (ABA), which was founded in 1878 in order to set the legal and ethical foundation for the U.S., has accredited and approved 199 institutions and programs that confer the first degree in law (the J.D. degree) in the United States alone. Many law schools offer additional legal education programs such as Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Science in Legal Studies (MSLS), and Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD).
[Last updated in June of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]