April 7, 2026
Dispute resolution and part-time J.D. programs also earn national ranking
The St. Mary’s University School of Law Advocacy Programs ranked in the top 15 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report — tied for the No. 12 spot in the 2026 Best Graduate School Rankings of Trial Advocacy Programs released today. This is an increase of four spots from last year’s ranking in this category.
St. Mary’s Law also tied for No. 38 on the Best Part-Time Law Programs ranking. The School of Law’s rankings for its part-time program continue to remain high since the inception of a highly competitive Online J.D. Program option. The overall ranking for St. Mary’s Law is tied for No. 150 in the nation among Best Law Schools.
“St. Mary’s University School of Law remains committed to providing an excellent legal education that includes exceptional opportunities for skill building to talented students who embrace our Catholic and Marianist values of service, justice and peace,” said Patricia Roberts, J.D., St. Mary’s School of Law Dean and Charles E. Cantú Distinguished Professor of Law. “Outcomes for our students reported in Fall 2025 exceed those from the last decade, and St. Mary’s is steadfast in its goal of continued improvement.”
Advocacy Rankings
The St. Mary’s Law Advocacy Programs prepare students for real-world litigation by developing their trial and appellate courtroom skills. The Advocacy Programs at St. Mary’s include the National Team, which focuses on trial advocacy, moot court and alternative dispute resolution competitions across the country; and the Board of Advocacy, which administers competitions throughout the year at St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s Law tied for No. 12 in U.S. News and World Report rankings of Best Trial Advocacy Programs. The School of Law also tied for No. 18 in the rankings of Best Dispute Resolution Programs. This is a substantial rise from No. 35 in last year’s ranking.
For the second consecutive year, two members of the St. Mary’s Law National Dispute Resolution Team were named national champions at the American Bar Association Negotiation Competition. Kendall Michaelis and Caroline Villarreal, both third-year J.D. students, won the 2026 national championship in Chicago. This qualifies them to compete for the second time on the international level.
Michaelis and Villarreal will be competing in the 2026 International Negotiation Competition for Law Students this summer in Canada. In July 2025, Michaelis and Villarreal brought home second place in the 2025 International Negotiation Competition in London.
A.J. Bellido de Luna, J.D., Associate Dean of Advocacy and International Partnerships, congratulated the J.D. students on this remarkable achievement.
“This national title is a powerful affirmation of the excellence, discipline and competitive strength of our students, our program and the spirit of our entire National Team,” he said.
The National Team is ranked No. 4 in the nation by the American Bar Association for 2025. For the last eight years, the St. Mary’s Advocacy Program has been ranked by the ABA in the top 10 in the country.
Clinical Training Ranking
St. Mary’s Law tied for the No. 75 ranking on the U.S. News and World Report 2026 list for Best Clinical Training Programs. The Clinics at St. Mary’s Law include the Consumer Protection Clinic, Real Estate Clinic, Family Law Clinic, Criminal Justice Clinic, and the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. A sixth clinic, the new Microenterprise and Community Development Clinic, opened in Spring 2026.