World Online Ranking of Best Law Scientists – 2023 Report

by Imed Bouchrika, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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Research.com’s second edition of its law scholars ranking was released on May 17, 2023, after law and political science were separated into distinct lists. The goal of the ranking is not only to highlight highly cited legal researchers, but also to make it easier for students, academics, institutions, and organizations to identify experts in law and connect with them for collaboration, hiring, speaking, and research partnerships.

This updated guide explains what the ranking measures, how to interpret the results, what the country and institution patterns suggest, and why legal scholarship is increasingly shaped by digital research tools, AI-supported workflows, and specialized training. It is designed for readers who want a clearer picture of who leads the field and how to use the ranking as a practical reference.

Quick answer: what does the law scholars ranking show?

The ranking identifies leading law scholars based on bibliometric indicators, with eligibility requiring a D-index score of at least 40 for scholars who primarily publish in law. It weighs the D-index, the share of work tied to the relevant discipline, and awards or accomplishments. In the 2023 edition, Harvard University stands out as the institution with the most scholars on the list, and Cass R. Sunstein ranks first overall with a D-index of 114.

How the ranking is built

To compile the 2023 list, the research team reviewed nearly 400 profiles from OpenAlex, CrossRef, and other bibliometric sources. Each scholar’s background was checked to confirm relevance to law, and only scholars whose work is primarily in law and who met the D-index threshold were considered for inclusion.

The ranking is intended to reflect research impact, not popularity or nationality. That distinction matters because bibliometric rankings are best used as one input among several when assessing scholarly influence.

What the latest law research is focusing on

Current legal research is increasingly shaped by three themes: procedural reform, digital legal work, and interdisciplinary analysis. In criminal law, for example, New York State replaced its previous “blindfold” discovery law with a new statute that speeds up evidence sharing between prosecution and defense by default. The discovery law changes also require disclosure of all mass shootings or large-scale crimes to the defense, and ADAs must file a certificate of compliance once discovery is complete. For practitioners and scholars, this reflects a broader trend toward transparency, documentation, and faster case preparation.

Technology is another major influence. Law firms and researchers are using AI for document review, case management, and contract analysis, especially when working with large collections of records. Companies such as IBM are building legal research tools that use Natural Language Processing to help users search extensive document sets and public data more efficiently. That shift does not replace legal judgment, but it changes how research is conducted and how quickly information can be reviewed.

Why further legal education still matters for researchers

Advanced legal study can strengthen a scholar’s ability to design research, interpret complex sources, and work across disciplinary boundaries. For readers considering how to build a stronger academic profile, the most useful question is not simply whether a degree is “advanced,” but whether it develops research depth, methodological skill, and subject-matter focus that align with long-term goals.

Programs such as online master of legal studies programs may be a practical option for professionals who want deeper legal knowledge without pursuing a traditional law degree. These programs can be especially relevant for people in compliance, policy, administration, or research-oriented roles who need legal literacy rather than bar licensure.

Who should care about this ranking?

This ranking is most useful for people who need a fast way to identify influential law scholars, compare institutional strength, or find researchers working in a specific area of law. It is also helpful for universities, journals, legal organizations, and employers that want to locate experts for collaboration or advisory work.

• Students can use it to identify scholars whose work aligns with their academic interests.
• Researchers can find potential collaborators, co-authors, or guest speakers.
• Institutions can benchmark research visibility.
• Organizations can locate subject-matter experts for projects and commentary.

Key findings from the 2nd edition

• United States-affiliated scholars dominate the ranking with 284 profiles on the list.
• Nine out of 10 scholars in the top 1% are from the United States.
• Harvard University has the highest number of scholars in the ranking, with 18 affiliated scholars.
• Cass R. Sunstein from Harvard University, United States, is ranked first with a D-index of 114.
• Among the top 10 institutions in law, eight are located in the United States.
• The average D-index for the top 1% of scholars is 84.2, compared with 30.8 for all scholars in the ranking.

The full list is available in the best law scholars ranking.

Countries with the strongest presence in law scholarship

The United States has the largest number of scholars in the ranking, with 18 scholars affiliated with U.S. institutions. The United Kingdom follows with 53 scholars, while Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands have 14, 10, and 7 scholars respectively.

The next five countries are Germany (5 scholars), Italy (4), Israel (2), Switzerland (2), and Denmark (2).

Note that the country shown for each scholar is based on the institution they are affiliated with in MAG, not their citizenship.

Institutions with the most ranked scholars

Harvard University leads the institutional list in 2023 with 18 scholars, reinforcing its long-standing visibility in legal scholarship. Yale University and New York University are tied for second place, with 16 scholars each.

Arizona State University is third with 12 scholars, followed by the University of California, Berkeley, with 12 scholars, and Columbia University with 11 scholars. Other institutions appearing among the top 20 include Stanford University, the University of Oxford, the University of Toronto, and the University of Chicago.

What the numbers suggest about research leadership

The distribution of scholars shows a clear concentration of research influence in the United States, especially at highly visible universities. That does not mean strong legal scholarship is limited to one country, but it does indicate where a large share of highly cited and widely recognized research is being produced.

For readers evaluating institutions or potential research environments, the numbers point to three practical considerations: publication impact, institutional reputation, and the concentration of active scholars in the same field. A school with a strong law research network can offer more opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and academic visibility.

How online legal education can support research development

Online legal education can be useful when it combines access, structure, and research training. The best programs do more than deliver content digitally. They should help students build legal writing, case analysis, source evaluation, and research design skills that transfer into academic or professional work.

When evaluating an online option, look for the following:

• clear accreditation status
• access to legal databases and digital libraries
• faculty support and feedback mechanisms
• training in legal research methods
• career or academic advising

Are online legal programs worth considering?

They can be, but only if the program matches your goal. If you want research skills, flexibility, and broader exposure to legal topics, an online format may be a strong fit. If you need bar eligibility or a degree tied to a specific licensure pathway, you must verify that the program satisfies the rules in the jurisdiction where you plan to work.

That is why students should not choose a program based on convenience alone. The more important questions are whether the school is accredited, whether the curriculum is rigorous, and whether the outcome supports the career path you want.

What fast online degrees can and cannot do

Accelerated programs can help motivated learners build credentials faster, but speed should not be the only factor. A shorter program may reduce time away from work, yet it can also compress reading, writing, and research expectations. For legal fields in particular, a fast format makes sense only when the curriculum still covers reasoning, analysis, and substantive content at a serious level.

If you are comparing options, resources such as fast online degrees can help you understand the types of programs that emphasize shorter completion timelines. Just remember that a faster degree is not automatically a better degree.

How affordability shapes access to legal scholarship

Cost is one of the biggest barriers to advanced study, and that makes affordability more than a budgeting issue. Lower tuition can broaden access to students who might otherwise avoid graduate education altogether. That matters because a wider range of backgrounds and perspectives can strengthen the future of legal scholarship.

For students starting earlier in the pipeline, the cheapest bachelors degree online may be a relevant route if the goal is to build a foundation for later study in law, policy, compliance, or research. Affordable undergraduate options do not guarantee access to top graduate programs, but they can reduce financial pressure and preserve flexibility for future specialization.

How to choose the right legal education path

If you are deciding between degree types, the best starting point is to define the outcome you want. Are you trying to become a practicing attorney, work in compliance, build a research career, or move into policy analysis? The answer changes which program makes sense.

1. Confirm your goal. Research careers, professional advancement, and bar licensure require different pathways.
2. Check accreditation. Never assume an online program automatically meets professional or academic standards.
3. Review the curriculum. Look for legal research, writing, analysis, and faculty expertise.
4. Compare total cost. Include tuition, fees, technology, books, and lost work time if relevant.
5. Ask about outcomes. Find out what graduates do next and whether the program supports your target role.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a program without confirming accreditation.
• Assuming all online legal programs qualify for licensure or bar admission.
• Focusing only on tuition and ignoring total cost.
• Relying on rankings without looking at fit, curriculum, and support.
• Assuming a faster program will automatically improve career outcomes.
• Overlooking whether the school provides access to legal research tools and mentorship.

Questions to ask before enrolling

• Is the program accredited, and by whom?
• Does the curriculum match my professional or academic goal?
• Will this degree support licensure, if licensure is my goal?
• What research tools, faculty support, and advising services are included?
• How long does it take to finish, and what is the full cost?
• What do graduates typically do after completing the program?

How law scholarship is evolving in the digital era

Digital tools are changing how legal scholarship is produced and shared. Researchers increasingly rely on searchable databases, analytics platforms, and AI-assisted workflows to manage source-heavy work. That can improve efficiency, but it also raises the bar for judgment, source evaluation, and methodological care.

Institutions that invest in research infrastructure, data access, and interdisciplinary training are better positioned to support modern legal scholarship. For students and researchers, that means the best environment is often not just the one with the most prestige, but the one that gives them the tools to produce credible, original work.

Career impact: can legal scholarship improve earning potential?

Strong research credentials can support advancement into specialized, academic, or leadership roles, but they do not guarantee a higher salary. In many legal and policy-related careers, the practical value of scholarship lies in expertise, credibility, and the ability to contribute to evidence-based decisions.

For readers thinking about long-term returns, it can help to compare legal education with broader career-oriented fields, including most lucrative majors. The better question is not whether a degree is “high paying” in the abstract, but whether it supports the role, location, and work setting you actually want.

What an online doctoral degree adds to legal research

An online doctoral degree can deepen research training for scholars who want to produce original, advanced work while maintaining flexibility. Doctoral study is especially relevant for people interested in academic research, policy analysis, or high-level expertise in a specialized legal area.

Still, doctoral study is a major commitment. Before enrolling, confirm that the program offers serious methodological training, faculty supervision, and research resources strong enough to support a dissertation or equivalent project.

D-index leaders, averages, and regional distribution

Across regions, several scholars stand out as leading figures in the ranking. In North America, Cass R. Sunstein of Harvard University, United States, ranks first in the region and also leads the world ranking with a D-index of 114.

In the Middle East, David Weisburd of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, leads the region and ranks eighth globally with a D-index of 75.

In Oceania, John Braithwaite of the Australian National University, Australia, is the top scholar in the region and ranks 11th worldwide with a D-index of 70.

In Europe, Jonathan Jackson of the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, leads the region and ranks 24th in the world with a D-index of 56.

In Asia, Alec Stone Sweet of the University of Hong Kong, China, leads the region and ranks 93rd globally with a D-index of 32.

Clifford Shearing of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, leads Africa and ranks 116th worldwide with a D-index of 30.

You can review the methodology used for this report here.

How to use this ranking wisely

This list is most valuable when treated as a starting point, not the final word. A scholar’s position can help you identify influence, but it does not tell you everything about teaching quality, recent research direction, mentorship style, or fit for a specific project.

If you are a student or researcher, use the ranking to build a shortlist, then look at each scholar’s publications, institutional context, and current research themes. If you are an organization, use it to find experts whose work aligns with the issue you need to address.

About Research.com

All research was coordinated by Imed Bouchrika, Ph.D., a computer scientist with extensive experience collaborating on international research projects across academic disciplines. His role was to help ensure the data remained unbiased, accurate, and current.

Research.com is a research portal focused on science and education rankings. Its mission is to help professors, research fellows, and students find leading experts across disciplines, while also guiding learners toward strong colleges, academic opportunities, and career paths.

Key insights

• The 2023 law scholars ranking is built around bibliometric impact, with a D-index threshold of at least 40 for inclusion.
• The list shows a strong concentration of leading scholars and institutions in the United States, especially at Harvard, Yale, and New York University.
• Use the ranking as a research and networking tool, not as the only measure of scholarly quality or program fit.
• Online, accelerated, and affordable legal programs can be useful, but only when accreditation, curriculum, and career goals align.
• For students and professionals, the most important decision is not which program is fastest or cheapest, but which one best supports the legal role you actually want.