World Online Ranking of Best Law Scientists – 2025 Report
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On April 29, 2025, Research.com released the fourth edition of its ranking of the top law researchers. This report is designed to raise the profile of outstanding scholars and researchers in the legal field and to support stronger online collaboration among the academic community.
In addition, the report helps organizations, institutions, and other interested parties easily find legal professionals and academics. As a result, our list serves as a valuable tool for connecting legal experts with businesses, institutions, and individuals pursuing similar academic or research goals.
For the 2025 edition, our team evaluated about 350 profiles from OpenAlex, CrossRef, and other bibliometric databases. We carefully reviewed each scholar’s professional background and applied a range of criteria to determine their eligibility for ranking.
To be considered, scholars specializing in law needed a D-index of at least 40. Our ranking methodology takes into account the D-index score, the proportion of work contributed to the legal field, and notable awards and achievements.
Latest studies in legal research
Recent scholarly research in immigration law, transgender rights, and police use of deadly force reflects the evolving challenges societies face in balancing human rights, security, and justice. In immigration law, researchers are examining the impacts of shifting global migration patterns and stricter border controls on asylum seekers and displaced communities. The mass deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is also a prominent topic in legal research.
These areas of research are vital for informing public debate and ensuring that legal systems adapt to social changes while safeguarding fundamental rights.
Scholarship on transgender rights continues to grow, focusing on legal recognition, healthcare access, and protections against discrimination. In the area of police use of deadly force, recent studies highlight disparities across racial and socio-economic lines and call for reforms in training, accountability, and community engagement.
The global ranking of law researchers, such as this report published by Research.com, underscores the critical role scholars play in driving legal innovation and reform. Recognized researchers in these fields contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and practices by offering rigorous analysis and practical recommendations. Their work often shapes legislative initiatives, court rulings, and institutional guidelines, ultimately influencing the quality of governance and justice delivery in societies worldwide.
By highlighting and promoting leading scholarship, such rankings not only celebrate academic achievement but also enhance the practical impact of legal research in building more equitable and responsive legal systems.
The Key findings for the 4th edition of the best law scholars ranking
- United States-affiliated scholars dominate the ranking with 249 profiles on the 2025 list.
- Moreover, 9 out of 10 scholars in the top 1% are from the United States.
- In our 2025 report, Harvard University and New York University have the highest number of scholars in the ranking. Both have 17 scholars, with the former having 2 scientists fewer compared with last year.
- Cass R. Sunstein from Harvard University, United States, is the top scholar in the ranking with a D-index of 138.
- Among the top 10 institutions leading in the field of law, eight are located in the United States, one from the UK, and one from Canada.
- The average D-index for the top 1% of scholars is 92.5, against an average of 35.97 for all scholars included in the ranking.
The full ranking for the 2025 list of the best law scholars can be found here:
Countries with the highest number of leading law scholars
The United States is the country with the most scholars leading in the field of law. There are a total of 249 scholars included in our report who are affiliated with institutions in the U.S.
The United Kingdom ranks second with 40 scientists, adding four more scholars to the 56 total in 2024. Canada follows at rank 3 with 14 scholars, Australia with 9 scholars, and the Netherlands with 8 scholars.
The rest of the countries in the top 10 are Germany (6 scholars), Israel and Italy (4 scholars each), Switzerland (3 scholars), and Finland (2 scholars).
Please note that the country associated with a scholar is based on their affiliated research institution according to MAG, not on their actual nationality.
Institutions with the highest number of leading scholars
In the 2025 edition of our report, Harvard University is the leading institution with 17 scholars. It is also one of the most popular institutions for legal studies and is consistently at the top of our ranking. However, its total ranked scholars decreased by two compared to its 2024 total.
Tied with Harvard is New York University, also having 17 scholars; followed by Yale University with 16 scholars.
In the third spot is the University of Chicago with 12 scholars, followed by Columbia University and the Arizona State University, each with 11 scientists.
Completing the top 10 institutions are the University of California, Berkeley, also with 11 scholars, Stanford University with 10 scholars, the University of Toronto with 9 scholars, and the University of Oxford with 8 scholars.
Among the top 20 institutions, 16 are based in the U.S., while three are from the U.K., including the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of Cambridge. Completing the list is the University of Toronto from Canada.
Online universities strengthening legal research
Online universities have significantly expanded the reach of legal research and enhanced collaboration among researchers by removing geographical and logistical barriers. Through virtual platforms, scholars can now participate in joint research projects, attend online conferences, and access a broader range of legal databases and journals.
For instance, institutions like Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and the University of Southern California's Gould School of Law offer extensive online programs that encourage collaborative research through digital seminars, workshops, and shared publications. These programs enable researchers from different parts of the world to exchange ideas, co-author papers, and contribute to global discussions on pressing legal issues without the need for physical relocation.
Other examples of successful online collaboration include the partnership between Harvard Law School’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society and online programs at MIT, which work together on projects related to digital privacy law and internet governance. Similarly, initiatives like the Legal Education and Technology Consortium (LETC) bring together online and traditional law schools to share research tools, co-develop courses, and support interdisciplinary studies.
These collaborations among online universities foster a more inclusive research community, increase the speed of knowledge exchange, and allow legal scholars to collectively address complex, cross-border challenges such as cybersecurity law, international human rights, and environmental regulation.
D-index ranking-leaders, averages, and distribution
In North America, Cass R. Sunstein from Harvard University, United States ranks first in the region. Professor Sunstein is also the top scholar in our world, ranking with a D-index of 138.
In the Middle East region, David Weisburd from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, leads other scholars. He holds the fifth place in our world ranking with a D-index of 85.
In Oceania, John Braithwaite from the Australian National University, Australia, is the leading scholar. He also ranks 13th in our entire ranking with a D-index of 75.
In Europe, Jonathan Jackson from the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, leads other scholars in the region. He ranks number 20 in the world with a D-index of 62.
In Asia, Alec Stone Sweet from the University of Hong Kong, China is the leading law scholar. Professor Sweet is at the 76th spot in our world ranking with a D-index of 41.
The average D-index for the top 1% of scholars is 92.5, against an average of 35.97 for all scholars included in the ranking.
The average number of published articles for the top 1% of scholars in the ranking is 473.1, against an average of 181.75 for all scholars.
The average number of citations for the top 1% of scholars is 52,562 against an average of 10,123 for all scholars.
You can learn more about the methodology used to create this report here.
About Research.com
All research was coordinated by Imed Bouchrika, Ph.D., a computer scientist with a well-established record of collaboration on several international research projects with different partners from the academic community. His role was to ensure that all data remained unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date.
Research.com is the number one research portal for science and educational rankings. Our mission is to make it easier for professors, research fellows, and students to progress with their research and find the top experts in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Research.com is also a leading educational platform that helps students find the best colleges, academic opportunities, and career paths.
