Despite being a very young law school, the Chapman University School of Law has been climbing national rankings quickly in its first year as an ABA-approved program. It jumped from a fourth- to third-tier school in 2008. The school has also focused its resources on adding prestigious names to its faculty list, including four former Supreme Court clerks.

Chapman Law draws heavily from the academic strength of the Chapman as a whole, and thus the focuses of the law school reflect the larger university-wide concentrations. These include its joint JD/MFA degree in film and television producing, which combines the strength of the university's film department with the traditional structure of the law program. In this vein, Chapman also offers a program emphasis in entertainment law, as well as a one in environmental, land use and real estate Law. Chapman Law has yet to gain the reputation of some of its older neighbors, and its alumni network, though growing, is still in the beginning stages.