Choosing a Law School
Deciding Which School to Attend is a Major Decision
There are many factors to consider when choosing a law school, and choosing the right school can make all the difference in the world. Here are some factors to consider.
Choosing which law schools to apply to is a difficult process. There are currently 196 American Bar Association-approved law schools in 49 states (Alaska does not have one). So, deciding where you want to spend the next three years of your life can take some time.
Initially, it should be noted that one big mistake that students often make is looking at their LSAT scores, looking at their GPA, and then applying to schools based on their respective rankings in U.S. News and World Report. While these are important things to things to take into account, there are many more, equally important factors to consider.
Location
Believe it or not, the location of a school can make a monumental difference in how a student performs in school. Some students are more comfortable in an urban setting, some like a rural setting. Some students don’t mind cold weather, others detest it. You should be in a place where the weather either makes you happy or at least does not bother you and bring you down.
Curriculum
An additional consideration is what kind of curriculum the school offers. Almost all schools offer the same subjects in the first year of studies. Beyond that, however, many schools allow students to specialize in certain areas, such as immigration law or litigation. This can be important if you know what area of the law you enjoy and can see yourself practicing. Likewise, see what kind of clinics the schools offer, where you can gain real-world experience in the practice of law while earning class credit.
Reputation
The reputation of a school, while important, should not be a deciding factor in choosing a school. While it is indeed something to consider, many firms--and especially government agencies--do not care where attorneys went to law school. It is important, however, to consider a school’s national reputation if you are attending a school away from the area where you intend to practice. If you graduated from a far-off school that is not well known, that could hurt you in the job market.
Cost of Living
Students quickly learn that money is always a consideration when attending law school, and the cost of living is no different. States in the Northeast tend to have a higher cost of living than states in the Midwest and the South. California’s cost of living can be exorbitant. And of course, big cities, such as New York and Chicago, will usually have a higher cost of living than any rural city, regardless of which state it is in.
Job Success/ Bar Passage Rate
When you graduate, you are going to want a job to start paying off your mounting student debt. Investigate the career services office at the schools and find out how fast their graduates find jobs.
Alumni, Professors, and Students
You can do all the research in the world, but there is no substitute for talking to people who work at or attend the school. Call up some alumni and ask what they liked about the school and what they disliked. Talk to professors as well. This might need to be done via e-mail, but you should get a response nonetheless. And finally, current students are a valuable asset as well. They can give you a distinct perspective on what you can expect when you become a student, and they will often tell you things that you would never hear from professors or staff.
Final Tips
Before you start applying to schools, sit down and take a few minutes to decide what criteria are important to you. Also, check out the Official ABA Law School Guide. There is a print version of this as well, and both versions give all the statistics on each school that a person could ever want. And finally, visit the schools you are considering. Going to law school is a vitally important career decision, and visiting a school will go a long way in helping you decide if the school is a good fit.
