Several famous actors, musicians, and athletes have attended law school. Here is the list of Top 20 Famous People Who Went to Law School. Some of these celebrities studied law before they were famous while others waited until they retired to focus on higher education. Nelson Mandela tops this list. The former President of South America attended law school at the University of Witwatersrand.
20. Tony La Russa
MLB player Tony La Russa received his degree from the Florida State University College of Law after he retired from baseball.
19. Wassily Kandinsky
Artist Wassily Kandinsky studied law at the University of Moscow.
18. John Grisham
Novelist John Grisham received his degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and he worked as a lawyer for several years before turning to writing.
17. David Stern
Former NBA commissioner David Stern received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1966.
16. Andrea Bocelli
Singer Andrea Bocelli received his law degree from the University of Pisa.
15. Julian McMahon
"Nip/Tuck" actor Julian McMahon studied law at the University of Sydney, but he did not graduate.
14. Julio Iglesias
Singer Julio Iglesias studied law at the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid and received his degree from Complutense University of Madrid.
13. Hill Harper
The Skulls actor Hill Harper graduated cum laude, from Harvard Law School.
12. Howard Cosell
Sports commentator Howard Cosell received his law degree from New York University School of Law.
11. Charlie Korsmo
Can't Hardly Wait actor Charlie Korsmo left acting to become a lawyer. He received his degree from Yale Law School in 2006.
10. Jerry O'Connell
Stand By Me actor Jerry O'Connell studied law at Southwestern Law School, but he did not graduate.
9. Geraldo Rivera
Talk show host Geraldo Rivera received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1969.
8. Ben Stein
Ferris Bueller's Day Off actor Ben Stein received his degree from Yale Law School.
7. Steve Young
NFL player Steve Young received his law degree from Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, after he retired from football.
6. John Cleese
Monty Python funnyman John Cleese studied law at Downing College in Cambridge.
5. Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro studied law at the University of Havana, graduating in 1950.
4. Jerry Springer
Talk show host Jerry Springer received his law degree from Northwestern University in 1968.
3. Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler studied law at Glasgow University and briefly worked as a trainee lawyer in Edinburgh.
2. Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi studied law at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
1. Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela went to law school at the University of Witwatersrand.
20. Tony La Russa
MLB player Tony La Russa received his degree from the Florida State University College of Law after he retired from baseball.
19. Wassily Kandinsky
Artist Wassily Kandinsky studied law at the University of Moscow.
18. John Grisham
Novelist John Grisham received his degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and he worked as a lawyer for several years before turning to writing.
17. David Stern
Former NBA commissioner David Stern received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1966.
16. Andrea Bocelli
Singer Andrea Bocelli received his law degree from the University of Pisa.
15. Julian McMahon
"Nip/Tuck" actor Julian McMahon studied law at the University of Sydney, but he did not graduate.
14. Julio Iglesias
Singer Julio Iglesias studied law at the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid and received his degree from Complutense University of Madrid.
13. Hill Harper
The Skulls actor Hill Harper graduated cum laude, from Harvard Law School.
12. Howard Cosell
Sports commentator Howard Cosell received his law degree from New York University School of Law.
11. Charlie Korsmo
Can't Hardly Wait actor Charlie Korsmo left acting to become a lawyer. He received his degree from Yale Law School in 2006.
10. Jerry O'Connell
Stand By Me actor Jerry O'Connell studied law at Southwestern Law School, but he did not graduate.
9. Geraldo Rivera
Talk show host Geraldo Rivera received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1969.
8. Ben Stein
Ferris Bueller's Day Off actor Ben Stein received his degree from Yale Law School.
7. Steve Young
NFL player Steve Young received his law degree from Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, after he retired from football.
6. John Cleese
Monty Python funnyman John Cleese studied law at Downing College in Cambridge.
5. Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro studied law at the University of Havana, graduating in 1950.
4. Jerry Springer
Talk show host Jerry Springer received his law degree from Northwestern University in 1968.
3. Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler studied law at Glasgow University and briefly worked as a trainee lawyer in Edinburgh.
2. Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi studied law at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
1. Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela went to law school at the University of Witwatersrand.
