Selecting your law school of choice is a hugely consequential decision that will shape both your academic and career future for three years.
To narrow your school list, consider what kind of law you’d like to study and your desired career goals; this will help you select the appropriate law schools.
Cost
Cost can be prohibitive for some students attending law school, which is why many schools provide various financial aid programs based on merit and need. Take full advantage of all applicable scholarships; some could cover your entire bill! Depending on your background and needs, perhaps taking a gap year or entering law school part-time could also reduce costs while maintaining professional experience.
If you know the type of law that interests you, seek a school with an outstanding track record in that particular area of law. This will enable you to gain valuable field experience while potentially starting off your career in an exciting direction.
Even if you don’t yet know what kind of law interests you, seek out schools with a diverse curriculum and robust experiential learning program – clinics, externships and internships which allow students to work on real cases under supervision from experienced attorneys can all provide invaluable experience – although be warned: many opportunities may be highly competitive or limited in availability.
Most law schools offer additional activities beyond academics; most student organizations or clubs allow you to engage in your preferred activity outside of class, providing you with opportunities to meet people with similar interests and create a support system as you transition into the workforce. Some organizations may specialize in particular areas like criminal or environmental law while others can be more general in scope.
Location should also be taken into consideration. When searching for law schools to attend, make sure they’re located somewhere convenient for both you and your family. Some law schools are situated in large cities which may offer greater networking opportunities while other can provide a more relaxed and community-centric setting.
Searching for the ideal law school is just as essential to achieving your career goals as searching for the ideal college. Research various programs available as well as their locations and alumni networks before selecting a particular law school – doing this will guarantee a productive yet enjoyable law school experience!
Location
Students looking for a law school should also consider where they want to live when making their choice, in addition to academic quality and cost of programs. Location can play an integral part in career development after graduation; certain schools located in larger cities provide students with access to various legal opportunities while those situated more remotely allow students to specialize in one specific area of law.
Some law schools are known for producing graduates with strong employment outcomes, indicating the quality of opportunities and curriculum provided to students. When comparing law schools, students should review how many employed alumni there are from each law school as an indicator of whether students intend to practice law there after graduation. They should also investigate which types of positions these graduates hold within the geographical region they hope to practice in postgraduate practice.
Career options at a school may also play a factor in what type of law a student chooses to practice. For instance, some may opt for law schools with programs in environmental or immigration law and then work with local firms in these fields after graduating; others might seek out Big Law specialized law schools – fields in which top graduates are highly sought after – before joining an organization like an international firm or multinational corporation.
Students should carefully consider the size of a law school when making their selection. Both campus size and student numbers have an effect on culture and social life at law schools, so it’s essential that prospective entrants feel at ease before enrolling. Furthermore, smaller schools offer students more personalized attention due to having higher faculty-student ratios.
Making the decision of which law school to attend can be challenging, but students can make informed choices by considering a range of criteria – prestige, cost and location are just three to consider when making this important decision. By carefully considering these elements they may find one that meets both their personal needs as well as professional goals.
Academics
Law school differs greatly from undergraduate studies in several ways. Classes tend to be more intensive with lectures and reading assignments as well as legal writing assignments like case briefs and memos due to time restrictions. Furthermore, exams tend to be more challenging; often requiring interpretation and application of laws, statutes, precedents to the cases they read along with legal theory analysis/arguments analysis as well as graded on ability to think critically while clearly communicating written or oral opinions and expression.
Many law schools adhere to a prescribed curriculum in order to meet the competencies set out by the American Bar Association, meaning you will likely not have much freedom when selecting courses during your initial year in law school. Once established in their careers however, students will often be given more discretion in selecting their own classes as time progresses.
As you research various law schools, pay particular attention to their curriculum and professors. A quality law school will have experienced faculty who share their expertise with students in class, extracurricular activities, and on an individual basis – this helps prepare them for real world experience and gives them greater insight into legal careers and legal industry as whole.
Additionally, law schools typically provide extracurricular activities designed to develop professional legal reasoning skills such as moot court. While such activities might seem dull or redundant, they’re crucial in helping students develop analytical and problem-solving capabilities essential to excelling in law school and beyond.
Your legal studies will also include learning how to present cases before a panel of judges, testing both legal writing and oral advocacy skills before going before a judge panel. However, this can be daunting and stressful at times; many schools offer study groups or law reviews where students help each other prepare for exams by sharing course materials among themselves and discussing course material among themselves.
While some students feel pressured into following in the footsteps of corporate law or working for large firms, it is generally wiser to pursue what truly excites you. Doing something you find satisfying will bring greater joy in the long run while making work load more manageable.
Student Life
Law school can be both rewarding and challenging. By choosing the appropriate institution, law school can become an opportunity to network and gain practical work experience. When selecting your law school of choice, make sure to consider their location, campus culture and extracurricular offerings – these factors will all impact both your experience as a law student as well as quality of legal education you receive.
As part of your evaluation for law schools, it is crucial that you compare your qualifications against those of past applicants. Use ABA data to gain an idea of which schools accepted students who scored LSATs and undergraduate GPAs over recent years. Once you understand your competitiveness and have established an accurate picture of where your potential fits best in terms of school selection, begin developing your list of ideal, realistic and safe schools before narrowing your choices and submitting an application.
As part of your research into law schools, it’s also essential to review their job placement statistics. This will give you an idea of the types of employment graduates from each school have secured, and whether or not their offerings fit with your career aspirations. Furthermore, take time to investigate which schools provide clinical programs and externship opportunities.
If you are serious about becoming an attorney, finding an ideal law school will be key. This includes selecting one with a high ranking curriculum tailored specifically towards your goals as well as one offering support services necessary for success.
Beginning law school can be daunting, particularly for those unfamiliar with independent study. Joining a study group is an excellent way to stay on top of classwork and maximize your law school experience; study groups provide invaluable help preparing for exams, reviewing case law and sharing notes between classmates.
St. John’s University School of Law may be an ideal fit if you have both an exceptional LSAT score and GPA, making them one of the top 15 law schools nationwide and being highly selective about who it admits. Boasting one of the country’s finest clinical programs as well as placing students with both government agencies and law firms.