An excellent law school can give you an edge in the legal industry. When selecting one that will best meet both your educational and financial goals, make sure it suits both.
Selecting one of nearly 200 accredited law schools may be daunting, so when making your choice consider these factors: Location, Specializations, Cost and Prestige.
Location
Law school applicants often consider several factors when making their selection of law schools, from rankings and clerkship statistics, to proximity to desired legal markets.
Your location choice for law school should be an important personal choice and can have a dramatic effect on your overall experience. After three years in school, an environment that makes you miserable could negatively impact both academic performance and mood.
However, in certain instances location may not be as crucial when selecting a school. For example, if a local law school offers you full tuition support and job placement guarantees in your chosen market, these factors might sway your decision over attending one with higher rankings. Some students may attend law schools within their home state in order to take advantage of in-state tuition discounts; but be wary of whether employment prospects in that state justify your investment.
Specializations
Law school specializations can have an enormous effect on a student’s future career path, so students should carefully consider which types of law interest them when narrowing down their list of schools to apply to.
Consideration should also be given to the school’s location, which may depend on its proximity to specific industries; for example, if your dream job involves working for oil companies then schools in their vicinity could be worth considering.
Maritime law is an area of specialization that covers regulations associated with commerce and trade at sea, making it suitable for professionals who enjoy working in maritime settings or oceanic regions. Education law offers another area of focus which investigates laws and policies surrounding education systems – this could be ideal for anyone passionate about student rights and equality.
Cost
Acquiring a law degree requires making a significant financial investment, and returns can vary widely between schools. To determine which school provides an optimal return, consider factors like cost, scholarships/grants available, qualifications for applying, etc. When making this decision.
Take into account the student culture at each school you’re considering when making your selections, as this can have an enormous impact on your experience. Some learners thrive best in competitive settings while others might flourish better with collaborative arrangements.
Students should apply to schools where they have an accurate estimate of admission. An effective way to do this is through using LSAC’s Law School Grid and UGPA/LSAT Credential Search, both of which offer ways of gauging chances at participating ABA-approved law schools. When making their choice, applicants should also keep in mind the annual costs of attendance so they have an idea of what financial aid packages may entail and can budget accordingly.
What type of lawyer should I be?
An important consideration when selecting a law school is your desired career goals as a lawyer. Whether they include working for local governments or international law, make sure the program and clinics available at each law school offer curriculum and programs to meet those objectives.
Successful lawyers possess many skills, including strong reading comprehension and writing abilities, analytical thinking capabilities and the ability to effectively communicate. If possible, it would be advantageous to major in something like political science, philosophy, history or English in order to develop these abilities more fully.
Class sizes have the power to greatly influence classroom interactions, professor accessibility and career opportunities available to you; thus it’s worth researching the class sizes at each of your top schools. Also check alumni experience which can provide crucial clues as to which might best meet your needs; ultimately this decision needs to be based on as much reliable data as possible!
