Choosing the best laptops for law school is not as easy as it seems since these laptops are required to be highly capable of multitasking while remaining cost-effective. As law school students are required to undertake research on various topics, it is essential for their laptops to remain smooth even when there are over 20 tabs opened on their internet browser.

Hence, we have curated a list of the best laptops for law school that provide the perfect price-to-performance ratio. We have included laptops of varying price ranges to ensure that you get the best value for your money. Let us start with the list.

Top 3 Best Laptops For Law School In United States : High Rating Laptops

  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

    Microsoft Surface Book 3
    • Excellent Performance
    • Exceptional Portability
    • Touchscreen Versatility
  • 2020 Apple MacBook Air

    Apple MacBook Air Laptop
    • Excellent Performance
    • Vibrant Display
    • Highly Portable
  • Dell XPS 13 9310 Laptop

    dell xps
    • Exceptional Performance
    • Excellent Touchscreen
    • Fingerprint Security

Best Laptop Features for Law School Students

Processor

Since law school students are required to undertake various kinds of research, it is ideal to have a powerful processor. Hence, we recommend getting at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU for your laptop. The performance provided by these CPUs ensures that you get a cost-effective laptop without sacrificing performance.

Memory

For everyday computing requirements, 4 GB of RAM has become the standard. However, a law school student needs to multitask effectively, including researching on the web, taking notes, and more. Hence, we recommend choosing a laptop with at least 8 GB of DDR4 RAM to ensure smooth performance even under load.

Storage

Since SSDs have become quite common in laptops, we recommend getting an SSD with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage. It will ensure that you have adequate space on your drive for your files and folders, despite the multiple Windows updates. You can also opt for a laptop with a hybrid storage solution that balances space and performance.

Graphics

Since graphics are not a priority for laptops used for research and studies, you can skip getting a dedicated GPU. The integrated GPU on most laptops is powerful enough to undertake daily computing tasks, including watching 4K videos, light photo editing, casual gaming, and more. Hence, you can save your hard-earned dollars and spend it on a better CPU or RAM instead.

Display

Having a laptop with a good display makes a lot of difference in the user experience as you are constantly interacting with the screen when using the laptop. Hence, we recommend getting an HD or FHD screen with narrow bezels. Additionally, do check whether it has IPS and anti-glare technologies to ensure adequate visibility under direct sunlight.

Battery

Battery is an often-overlooked component when buying laptops. However, the battery is what makes the laptop portable and usable while travelling. Hence, you should get a laptop with the best battery capacity for your budget. Additionally, it should have fast charging capabilities to ensure that it can be charged quickly whenever required.

7 Best Laptops For Law School In 2024

RankPictureNameShops
#1

Dell XPS 13

  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: XPS 13 9310
Dell XPS 13Price
#2

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

  • Brand: Microsoft
  • Series: Surface Laptop
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3Price
#3

Lenovo Thinkpad T470

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: Lenovo Thinkpad
Lenovo Thinkpad T470Price
#4

ASUS ZenBook 14

  • Brand: ASUS
  • Series: ASUS ZenBook 14
ASUS ZenBook 14Price
#5

Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air

  • Brand: Apple
  • Series: MacBook Air
Late 2020 Apple MacBook AirPrice
#6

ASUS ZenBook 14

  • Brand: ASUS
  • Series: ASUS ZenBook Flip 14
ASUS ZenBook 14Price
#7

MSI GP66 Leopard

  • Brand: MSI
  • Series: GP66 Leopard 11UG-050
MSI GP66 LeopardPrice

Best Laptops For Law School Students : Ultimate Buying Guide

Dell XPS 13

dell xps

Specifications:

  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: XPS 13 9310
  • Screen Size: 13.4 Inches
  • Color: Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB
  • CPU Model: Intel Core i7 1185G7
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 16 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • Special Feature: Fingerprint Reader, Memory Card Slot, Anti Glare Coating
  • Card Description: Integrated

The Dell XPS has been renowned for being an all-rounder laptop with powerful performance. The Dell XPS 13 got a refresh recently, and it has become even better than before. Dell has equipped the new model with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 – 1195G7 CPU with up to 4.8 GHz of Turbo-Boost clock, 16 GB of LPDDR4X RAM with 4267 MHz frequency, 512 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage and an integrated GPU in the form of Intel Iris Xe Graphics.

Dell has also provided us with a 13.4” touchscreen InfinityEdge anti-reflective FHD+ display running at a resolution of 1920×1200 with 500 nits of peak brightness. Such excellent specifications ensure that the laptop can be used outdoors under direct sunlight if required. The laptop is extremely thin and lightweight, which provides additional portability. Moreover, the laptop is equipped with a Fingerprint reader for added security, while a built-in lid sensor ensures that the laptop is ready to go when you are.

Pros

  • Exceptional Performance
  • Excellent Touchscreen
  • Fingerprint Security

Cons

  • Small Display
  • Average Speakers

Final Verdict

  • Dell XPS 13
    If you are looking for a performance-oriented laptop for law school studies, the Dell XPS 13 fits the bill perfectly. The laptop is extremely thin, and lightweight and is certified by Intel as an Evo design, which ensures that the performance will remain top-notch. Hence, we can easily recommend the Dell XPS 13 as an ideal laptop for law school.
OVERALL RATING

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Microsoft Surface Book 3

Specifications:

  • Brand: Microsoft
  • Series: Surface Laptop
  • Screen Size: 13.5 Inches
  • Color: Platinum
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i5
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is another excellent choice for law school students as it provides fantastic hardware from Microsoft. Being a part of the Microsoft Surface lineup, the hardware quality of the laptop is immaculate. To ensure that you get the best experience using the machine, Microsoft has equipped the laptop with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 – 1035G7 CPU running at 1.2 GHz base clock speed, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, 256 GB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage, and an integrated Intel Iris Plus GPU.

Such excellent specifications are complemented by an amazing 13.5” PixelSense display with 2256 x 1504 resolution, 201 PPI, and a 3:2 aspect ratio for enhanced productivity. Additionally, the display is also a touchscreen, and it can be interacted with via touch or using the Microsoft Surface Pen. Microsoft has also provided an infrared webcam for Windows Hello and Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Audio for an enhanced user experience.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Exceptional Portability
  • Touchscreen Versatility

Cons

  • Smaller Display
  • Average Speakers

Final Verdict

  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
    Being a Microsoft Surface product, the Surface Laptop 3 was bound to be a part of this list of the best laptops for law school. It combines the excellent hardware specifications of Microsoft with the enhanced versatility of a touchscreen device packaged in a highly portable form factor, ensuring a smooth user experience.
    Content
OVERALL RATING

Lenovo Thinkpad T470

Lenovo Thinkpad

Specifications:

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: Lenovo Thinkpad
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Color: Black
  • Hard Disk Size: 500 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i5
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 4 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
  • Card Description: Integrated
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Intel HD Graphics 520

The Lenovo Thinkpad T470 is a business laptop; hence, it looks sturdy and industrial. Additionally, Lenovo has equipped the system with robust hardware to ensure the performance is top-notch, making it ideal for law school studies. Lenovo has provided a 6th Gen Intel Core i5 – 6200U CPU with up to 2.3 GHz of Turbo Boost clock speed, 4 GB of DDR4 RAM running at 2400 MHz, 500 GB of hard disk storage running at a faster 7200 RPM, and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 GPU.

Such specifications ensure that the laptop runs smoothly even under load, while the older CPU helps in making the laptop cost-efficient. Additionally, Lenovo has provided an excellent 14” anti-glare LED-backlit HD display with a 400:1 contrast ratio. Being a business laptop, there are additional features such as a dedicated fingerprint sensor for added security, as well as a USB 3.1 Type-C gen 2 port with Thunderbolt 3 support to provide faster data transfer. The laptop is also certified with military-grade MIL-STD-810G certification, which ensures peace of mind.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Robust Hardware Quality
  • Fingerprint Security

Cons

  • Older Processor
  • Dated Aesthetics

Final Verdict

  • Lenovo ThinkPad T470
    The Lenovo ThinkPad T470 is an excellent choice for law school since it combines the best of business laptops with the robustness provided by an older system. It also saves costs while providing the best-in-class performance required by a law student. Additionally, being a business laptop, it also comes with added security and MIL-STD-810G certification, making the user experience much more special.
OVERALL RATING

ASUS ZenBook 14

ASUS ZenBook

Specifications:

  • Brand: ASUS
  • Series: ASUS ZenBook 14
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Color: Pine Grey
  • Hard Disk Size: 1 TB
  • CPU Model: Ryzen 9
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 16 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
  • Card Description: Radeon Vega 7
  • Graphics Coprocessor: AMD Radeon Vega 7

The Asus ZenBook 14 is an excellent, sleek, and powerful laptop, which makes it ideal for any student’s usage, while the extra features make it especially useful for law school studies. As part of the Ultrabook series of ZenBooks, Asus has equipped the laptop with a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 – 5900HX processor, 16 GB of LPDDR4X RAM, 1 TB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage, and an integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 GPU.

The laptop also rocks an excellent 14” 4-sided NanoEdge FHD display with 400 nits of brightness. Being an Ultrabook, Asus has also provided some enhancements which make it extremely useful for students, such as an ErgoLift hinge that provides ergonomic typing, optimized cooling, and an enhanced audio experience. The laptop also has a special trackpad that can transform into a number pad at the touch of a button and an infrared camera for Windows Hello security and MIL-STD-810G certification.

Pros

  • Exceptional Performance
  • Windows Hello Security
  • Military-grade Robustness

Cons

  • Average Speakers
  • Shorter Key Travel

Final Verdict

  • Asus ZenBook 14
    The Asus ZenBook 14 is a great choice for any law student as it is an Ultrabook with additional features such as an ErgoLift hinge, convertible touchpad, vibrant display, military-grade build, fast charging, thin and light design, as well as Windows Hello security. All these specifications ensure smooth performance while looking premium and being highly portable.
OVERALL RATING

Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air Laptop

Specifications:

  • Brand: Apple
  • Series: MacBook Air
  • Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
  • Color: Space Gray
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB
  • CPU Model: Unknown
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB

The 2020 Apple MacBook Air provides the best performance and aesthetics when it comes to modern laptops. Being a lightweight and thin laptop, it is extremely portable, which is ideal for a law school student. Apple has equipped their MacBook with an octa-core Apple M1 chip with up to 3.1 GHz clock speed, which provides exceptional performance, thanks to machine learning. It is also equipped with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM running at 4266 MHz, 256 GB of SSD storage and an integrated 7-core GPU.

The laptop is also equipped with a vibrant 13.3” Retina display with P3 wide color support. It also has an excellent FaceTime HD camera for video calling and combined research. The exceptionally smooth MacOS combined with the large trackpad make the user experience a delight. Additionally, the laptop also has an excellent battery life, thanks to the power-efficient CPU and GPU. Hence, Apple is claiming up to 29 hours of usage on a single charge.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Vibrant Display
  • Highly Portable

Cons

  • Smaller Display
  • No Number Pad

Final Verdict

  • Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air
    The 2020 Apple MacBook Air is ideal for law school students since they need to undertake research and case studies, which will require a powerful system. The laptop also provides exceptional battery life, thanks to the ML-enabled CPU. All these factors ensure the laptop is the ideal companion for any law student.
OVERALL RATING

ASUS ZenBook 14

ASUS ZenBook

Specifications:

  • Brand: ASUS
  • Series: ASUS ZenBook Flip 14
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i7
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 16 GB

As mentioned earlier, The Asus ZenBook 14 is an exceptional laptop for law school studies since it combines the aesthetics of a professional laptop with a robust performer to provide you with a competent Ultrabook. While we have already checked out the AMD CPU version above, this is the Intel CPU model. The laptop features a quad-core 8th Gen Intel Core i7 – 8565U CPU that can Turbo Boost up to 4.6 GHz, 16 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, 512 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage, and an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU.

Asus has also equipped the laptop with a 14” FHD 4-sided NanoEdge display. The laptop also boasts of the ErgoLift hinge, an infrared camera for Windows Hello Sign-in, MIL-STD-810G certification for added robustness, and an exclusive touchpad that can transform into a number pad at the touch of a button. The laptop also has excellent battery life and quick charging capabilities.

Pros

  • Exceptional Performance
  • Windows Hello Security
  • Military-grade Robustness

Cons

  • Average Speakers
  • Shorter Key Travel

Final Verdict

  • Asus ZenBook 14
    The Intel version of the Asus ZenBook 14 is running on an 8th Gen CPU, which may not be the best CPU option, especially since the AMD version comes with a later CPU. However, the 8th Gen Intel Core i7 is a mean beast, especially considering law school studies as the intended usage. The CPU can easily handle any tasks thrown at it, while you can splurge the money saved on buying other accessories for your laptop.
OVERALL RATING

MSI GP66 Leopard

MSI GE66 Raider

Specifications:

  • Brand: MSI
  • Series: GP66 Leopard 11UG-050
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Core Black
  • CPU Model: Core i7 Family
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 16 GB

The MSI GP66 Leopard is primarily a gaming laptop. However, if you can look past the gamer aesthetics, you can see that the laptop is an exceptional performer, thanks to the powerful CPU and the dedicated GPU. MSI has equipped the laptop with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 – 11800H CPU with a Turbo Boost frequency of 2.4 GHz, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM running at 3200 MHz, 512 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage, and a dedicated GPU in the form of the mighty Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 with 8 GB of VRAM.

Such exceptional specifications are combined with a 15.6” narrow-bezel FHD display running at a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, making the laptop feel buttery smooth. Being a part of the excellent ‘SteelSeries’ of gaming laptops from MSI, it also has an RGB-backlit keyboard and angular design, ensuring that the laptop is as capable as the hardware it is equipped with.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Gamer Aesthetics
  • Dedicated GPU

Cons

  • Average Battery Life
  • Bulky Design

Final Verdict

  • MSI GP66 Leopard
    The MSI GP66 Leopard is a great choice for any law school student as it provides the performance, the aesthetics, and the cool quotient desired by students. Additionally, as a gaming machine, it also comes with a higher refresh rate display and a dedicated GPU, ensuring a smooth user experience.
OVERALL RATING

Conclusion

Law school studies require a decent laptop with excellent performance and good battery life. Additionally, being thin and lightweight is an added advantage since the laptop needs to be carried around. Hence, we have curated a wide range of laptops in this list, from everyday performance machines to Ultrabooks to gaming laptops.

The Dell XPS 13 is an all-rounder when it comes to performance, with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 being another strong contender for a law school student. The Lenovo ThinkPad T470 may not look the part, however, the performance will blow you away. The AMD and Intel CPU versions of the Asus ZenBooks are as excellent as Ultrabooks, and the Apple MacBook Air is renowned for its lightweight yet powerful dynamics. We have added the MSI GP66 to the list to round it off with all kinds of laptops. The ultimate choice will be yours, hence, we have provided a handy pros and cons list and our final verdict on the machines.