FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A LAW SCHOOL
- Size of school/class
Do you do better with small classes? Do you like a large school? The size of a school can affect your law school performance.
- Location and regional/national reputation
Do you know where you are going to practice? Perhaps you should choose a law school in that city with good connections for job placement after graduation. But schools with national reputations have connections across the country.
- Job placement statistics – after all that is why you are going to law school!
- Cost
- State versus private schools
- The scholarship money you might receive
- The debt you will incur
All these things are important factors to consider. A less expensive state school located in a city where you want to practice might be a better choice than a more “prestigious” private school where you will graduate $100,000 in debt.
- Quality of faculty and their reputation as teachers
Where are the faculty offices located? Are the faculty accessible? Are the faculty committed to getting involved with the students?
- Bar passage rate of graduates
- Student satisfaction
- Special programs/joint degrees
Are there clinics where you can get experience? How sure are you that you want to specialize in a given area? Will extra courses or an internship or clinical experience help you get an “edge” on a job afterward? For students who know going in what areas of law they want to specialize in, the choice of a school can be important. Generally, selecting a best law school you feel comfortable at is more important than selecting based on specialization. But all other factors being equal, areas of specialization can be important. To see how good the program is, look at how many faculty they have teaching in that area, how many courses they regularly offer, whether they have a clinic, whether they have a student journal, and whether they offer a certificate or concentration program. Finally, it is a plus if they offer advanced degrees (an LL.M.) in their specialty.
- Minority representation; religious affiliation; other “cultural” factors
Is this a law school where, given your value system and background, you will feel welcome and comfortable?
- Attrition rate of students –is there a good support structure?
- The “feel” of the law school.
You are going to be spending three years and many hours at this school. The friends you make will be your professional support structure throughout your career. Pick a law school where you think you will be comfortable.
Some tips:
- Make a list of criteria that are important to you
- Visit the schools you are considering. This is a very important career decision. Judge the school not only by its printed materials and its reputation but by what you see when you visit.
Questions,
please contact our office at Ext. 4229 or by email