New England Law clinches a top 10 national spot for public service, a top 100 ultimate bar passage rank, and a first-place tie for Massachusetts Bar Foundation fellowships

BOSTON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Entering the new academic year, New England Law Boston is celebrating remarkable momentum across its campus, driven by a recent rise in national rankings, exceptional career outcomes, and elite academic recognition. The law school continues to build on a strong trajectory of attracting highly credentialed, well-rounded talent while positioning its current students and recent graduates for elite legal careers.

The boost to the school’s institutional prestige is mirrored by an increasingly competitive admissions landscape. The school saw a 25 percent increase in applicants for the incoming class, driving the acceptance rate down to a highly selective 55 percent. Reflecting a student body of deep academic ambition, 8.5 percent of the incoming first-year (1L) class already hold graduate degrees, while 99 percent of all enrolled students have been awarded scholarships to support their legal journeys.

“There is an undeniable energy on campus right now as our community realizes the full scale of what we are achieving together,” said James H. Kennedy III, CEO and Dean, New England Law Boston. “As an independent institution, our goal has always been to pair rigorous academics with early, immersive practical experience, and it’s clear that the blueprint is working. We are drawing highly credentialed applicant pools, our current students are earning the region’s most coveted opportunities, and our alumni are commanding elite positions in the legal workforce.”

New England Law Boston’s commitment to excellence before, during, and after graduation has yielded milestone markers across several key metrics:

• A Masterclass in Bar Passage: In its newly published national report, TaxProf Blog ranked New England Law Boston on its Top 100 list in the country for its ultimate bar passage rate, with the Class of 2023 achieving a stellar ultimate 93 percent pass rate. This elite performance places New England Law ahead of many traditional regional and direct peer institutions.
• A Premier Launchpad for Government Careers: For students looking to make an immediate impact in public service, New England Law has proven to be a premier destination. Law.com ranked the institution #10 in the United States for sending the highest percentage of graduates from its most recent class directly into government legal work. “Our team is intentional about developing relationships with public sector employers and ensuring that our students have the best opportunities available to explore careers at different levels of government, but I think it really speaks to the values of the students here,” says Patrick Niebauer, Assistant Director of Career Services.
• Leading the Commonwealth in Fellowships: New England Law students proved their elite standing locally by tying for the #1 spot in the total number of fellowship placements awarded through the highly competitive Massachusetts Bar Foundation Legal Intern Fellowship Program.
• Family Law Excellence: Highlighting the institution’s specialized academic strengths, preLaw magazine announced that New England Law will be recognized on the prestigious Family Law Honor Roll in its “Back to School” issue.

New England Law continues to distinguish itself as a sought-after school of access, drawing admitted students from 260 different colleges and universities across the globe. The incoming class features 34 percent of students from Massachusetts, 60 percent from other US states, and 6 percent from outside of the US. With ages spanning from 20 to 56, and 27 percent of students identifying as the first in their family to attend college or law school, the campus thrives on a rich variety of lived experiences.

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND LAW BOSTON

New England Law Boston was founded in 1908 as Portia Law School, the first and only law school established exclusively for the education of women. Today, New England Law offers its co-educational student body flexible, convenient programs that combine rigorous academics, dynamic community, and early access to practical experience, as well as a diverse, global alumni network spanning 29 countries, 50 states, and 99 practice areas. For more information, visit www.nesl.edu.

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SOURCE New England Law Boston