Seoul National University School of Law

What Seoul National University School of Law does

Seoul National University School of Law is a graduate-level professional law school and one of the constituent schools of Seoul National University, Korea's flagship national university. The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor-equivalent professional law program, a general graduate law division for master's and doctoral research, an Executive Leadership Program (ALP) for senior professionals, and a specialized Financial Law Program. It also operates seven affiliated research and clinical centers including the Law Research Institute, Asia-Pacific Law Institute, Center for Legal Theory, Center for Future Legal Scholars, Public Interest Law Center, and Law Library.

The institution traces its lineage to the 1895 Law Training Institute under the Joseon Dynasty and was reconstituted in its current professional law school form in 2004 as part of Korea's graduate-level judicial reform; the ALP launched concurrently the same year. It is widely regarded as Korea's premier law school, having ranked first among domestic universities in the 2026 THE World University Rankings for Law and being the sole Korean institution in the global law rankings. The school maintains a structured moat in domestic legal education, evidenced by alumni placement in the judiciary, prosecutorial service, and top law firms, and a strong record in moot court and advocacy competitions.

As a department of a public national university, the school operates on a non-commercial model, funded through government appropriations, tuition, and donations channeled through the affiliated Law Development Foundation (법학발전재단). Distribution occurs via centralized graduate admissions and selective application processes for the ALP, which admits approximately 40 senior leaders per cohort and has completed over 40 cohorts since inception. The institution serves professional law students, graduate law researchers, senior executives participating in ALP, and international visiting scholars, with international outreach concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region and selective partnerships with leading U.S., U.K., Australian, and European law schools.

Name

Seoul National University School of Law

Legal name

Seoul National University School of Law (서울대학교 법학전문대학원)

Website

https://law.snu.ac.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seoul National University School of Law is Korea's premier graduate-level professional law school, offering a Juris Doctor-equivalent program, graduate research degrees, executive leadership training, and seven affiliated research centers within the national university system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAIAB

Non-ABA / State-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Law Schools

SECONDARYEDAHAIAC

LLM & Post-JD Graduate Law Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Law Schools

SECONDARYEDAHAIAJ

Law School Research Centers & Institutes (e.g., Law & Economics, Human Rights)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Law Schools

SECONDARYEDAGAFAG

Law & Legal Studies Scholarly Publishing

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Academic & Scholarly Publishing (Journals, Monographs)

Keywords

• Legal education
• Professional law school
• Graduate law programs
• Executive leadership training
• Legal research

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Seoul National University School of Law runs a 3-year professional law school (Juris Doctor equivalent) program established in 2004, a general graduate law school offering master's and doctoral degrees, an executive Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) for senior leaders, and a Financial Law Program for practitioners. It anchors a comprehensive legal education ecosystem that includes clinical training through the Public Interest Law Center, multiple specialized research institutes (Law Research Institute, Asia-Pacific Law Institute, Center for Legal Theory, Center for Future Legal Scholars), and a dedicated Law Library.

Product overview

Seoul National University School of Law operates as a comprehensive law education institution comprising multiple interconnected programs and research centers. The core offering includes the Law School (법학전문대학원), a 3-year professional graduate law program established in 2004, alongside a Graduate School (일반대학원) for advanced academic research. The institution also runs specialized programs including the Executive Leadership Program (ALP) for senior professionals and a Financial Law Program. Research activities are conducted through affiliated centers including the Law Research Institute, Center for Legal Theory, Asia-Pacific Law Research Center, and Center for Future Legal Scholars. The school publishes its own magazine (SNU Law Magazine) and newsletter, and operates a Public Interest Law Center for clinical education. The various programs share resources including the Law Library and collaborate through joint research conferences and academic forums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Advanced Leadership Program (ALP): Executive education program for senior leaders and professionals
• 공익법률센터
• 정의의 종

Products and services

• Law School (Law School/로스쿨) Professional Juris Doctor Program 3-year professional graduate law program leading to a Juris Doctor-equivalent degree, designed for aspiring legal professionals preparing for the bar examination and legal practice in Korea.
• General Graduate School Law Programs (일반대학원 법학과) Master's, doctoral, and professional doctoral degree programs in law for students pursuing academic or advanced professional legal research careers.
• Advanced Leadership Program (ALP / 최고지도자과정) 6-month intensive executive leadership program for senior executives, government officials, corporate leaders, and legal professionals, offering training in law, governance, policy, and emerging technologies. Currently in its 41st cohort (September 2026 to February 2027) with approximately 40 participants per cohort.
• Financial Law Program (금융법무과정) Specialized professional program in financial law for practitioners seeking expertise in financial regulations and practices.
• Public Interest Law Center Clinical Legal Education (공익법률센터) Clinical legal education program providing students practical experience through field placements at public-interest organizations in fields including labor, disability, women, and legal aid.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• UC Berkeley Law SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2024UC Berkeley Law School Professor Laurent Mayali presented at the 2024 Foreign Authority Forum hosted by the Law Research Institute, introducing UC Berkeley's LL.M. and J.S.D. programs. The event was organized with support from Professor Lee Gye-jeong.
• Universitas IndonesiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024A delegation from Universitas Indonesia, led by Professor Hadi R. Purnama and including Ms. Tentiana Rusbandi from the Indonesian Investment Ministry, visited SNU Law School on November 13, 2024. The visit focused on discussing future academic exchange possibilities and the Korean overseas investment system.
• UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Regional OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2024The Asia-Pacific Law Research Institute and the UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Regional Office jointly hosted 'UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Day' on November 7, 2024, introducing UNCITRAL's activities to students and sharing professor experiences participating in UNCITRAL Working Groups.
• Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of KoreaminorOthers · 28 October 2024Prosecutor Myeong Jeom-sik completed his approximately 6-month visiting researcher program at SNU Law School (May-October 2024). During his tenure, he conducted research on 'Criminal Law Principles of Trust — Focused on the Trust System under the Urban and Residential Environment Improvement Act.'
• University of Oxford (Ekaterina Aristova)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2024Professor Ekaterina Aristova from Oxford University (also a researcher at the Bonaventure Human Rights Research Institute) presented at the 64th Asia-Pacific Law Forum on 'Corporate Climate Litigation: Global Trends and Lessons for the Asia-Pacific Region.'
• University of Basel (Kurt Seelmann)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2024The Law Research Institute hosted the 2024 Foreign Authority Forum with Professor Kurt Seelmann from the University of Basel, a renowned German legal philosopher, who presented on 'Naturrecht (Natural Law).' The event was organized with support from Professor Kim Jae-hyung.
• University of Oxford (Horst Eidenmüller)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024Professor Horst Eidenmüller from Oxford University (Vice-Director of the European and Comparative Law Research Institute) presented at the 62nd Asia-Pacific Law Forum on 'Game over: Facing the AI Negotiator.'
• Korea Legislation Research Institute (한국법제연구원)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2024The Asia-Pacific Law Research Institute at SNU Law (Director Heo Seong-wook) co-organized an international academic conference with the Korea Legislation Research Institute on September 27, 2024, titled 'Global Circular Society Strategies and Domestic and International Issues.'
• Korean Law and Courts Museum (법원역사박물관)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2024The Asia-Pacific Law Research Institute collaborated with the Korean Law and Courts Museum on academic programs and historical research activities.
• Australian National University (ANU) College of LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024ANU College of Law Vice Dean Will Bateman visited SNU Law School on September 25, 2024. The visit focused on discussions around student exchange and broader academic collaboration between the two institutions.
• California Asian Pacific American Judges Association (CAPAJA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 September 2024CAPAJA, comprising current and former Asian American judges from California, visited SNU Law School on September 23, 2024 for a town hall meeting. Professors Kim Ung-jae and Go Yoo-gang introduced Korea's law school education system and judicial training system.
• University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (UC Law SF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2024A delegation from UC Law SF (which counts U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris among its alumni), led by Dean David Faigman, visited SNU Law School on September 20, 2024. Dean Lee and the UC Law SF delegation discussed various academic exchange opportunities between the two law schools.
• Korean Bar Association / Seoul Bar Association / Korean Legal Clinics CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2024SNU Law's Public Interest Law Center co-hosted the '2024 Prospective Lawyer Public Interest Human Rights Program' with the Seoul Bar Association and the Korean Legal Clinics Council in August 2024, providing field placement opportunities at 18 partner organizations.
• UC Irvine School of Law, Korea Law CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024UCI Law School's Korea Law Center, led by Faculty Director Sung Eun Kim and Program Director Grace K. Lee, visited SNU Law School on July 23, 2024. Following a prior visit by the UCI Law Dean in April, this follow-up meeting explored possibilities for expanding student and faculty exchange programs between the two institutions.
• Springer NatureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2024Springer Nature, a leading international academic publisher, sent a delegation (including Vice President Christina Brian, Editorial Director William Achauer, and Editor Anushangi Weerakoon) to SNU Law School on July 8, 2024, to discuss publication opportunities for SNU Law faculty research. Springer Nature had previously signed a 3-year open access agreement with Seoul National University.
• Cornell University (CTAI, Center for Trustworthy AI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2024SNU's AI Policy Initiative (SAPI) and the Center for Trustworthy AI (CTAI) at Seoul National University collaborated with Cornell University on the 'Seoul AI Policy Conference 2024' held August 12-13, 2024.
• Korean-Chinese Law Society (한중법학회)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2024The Asia-Pacific Law Research Institute and the Korean-Chinese Law Society co-organized an academic conference on 'New Trends in Chinese Law: Recent Legislative Trends and Major Amendments (2018-2023)' on July 6, 2024.
• Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2024Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), a Japanese government-affiliated financial institution established under the International Cooperation Bank Act in 2012, visited SNU Law School on June 18, 2024. Dean Jae-Min Lee and JBIC Research Department Head Nao Kawakami discussed possibilities for international academic exchange and collaboration in legal fields.
• Seoul National University Law School Alumni Association (서울법대 동창회)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alumni Association (snulawa.or.kr) supports the school's development, organizes alumni events, and manages networking opportunities for graduates of Seoul National University Law School.
• Seoul National UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNU Law School is an integral part of Seoul National University, one of Korea's premier national universities, sharing resources, infrastructure, and institutional governance with the broader university system.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yonsei University Law School: Another elite Korean JD-granting law school in Seoul with a parallel 3-year professional law curriculum; competes head-to-head with SNU Law for top applicants and corporate-law placements.
• Hanyang University Law School: A major Seoul-based JD-granting law school that competes with SNU Law for mid-tier applicants and shares the same Korean accreditation framework.
• Sungkyunkwan University Law School: A leading Seoul-based Korean law school with both JD-equivalent and general graduate law programs; comparable in scope, faculty research output, and applicant profile to SNU Law.
• KAIST Executive Education / MBA Programs: Korea's premier STEM executive education provider; the closest direct competitor to SNU Law's ALP in the domestic senior-executive education market.
• Ewha Womans University Law School: A Seoul-based Korean law school offering the same JD-equivalent curriculum; competes for applicants and faculty within the same regulatory and accreditation system.
• Korea University Law School: One of Korea's top three JD-granting law schools and the most direct domestic competitor to SNU Law; competes for the same applicant pool, faculty, and bar-passage outcomes under the same Korean accreditation regime.
• Korea University Executive Education (KUEP): A direct competitor to SNU Law's ALP for senior-executive cohort recruitment; comparable in audience (government officials, corporate executives) and program duration.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Law School: Global benchmark for elite law schools and a peer in research and LLM programming; SNU Law's THE #1 ranking places it in the same global reference class though the institutions do not compete for the same students.
• UC Berkeley Law School: An international research-law partner and aspirational peer; comparable in research output, faculty caliber, and LLM/JSD programming rather than as a direct applicant competitor.
• Seoul National University (parent): The parent national university that hosts SNU Law; comparable only at the institutional level since SNU operates many other professional schools and colleges outside the law-specific scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/snulaw

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Seoul National University School of Law