Once you’ve decided to become a lawyer, the next step should be selecting an appropriate law school. But how should this decision be made?
Consider your career goals first when selecting a law school. Make sure your chosen institution can get you where you want to be in terms of legal education.
Other considerations include the size and composition of your student body, school culture and faculty research activities.
Location
Legal school can be challenging even for the hardened scholar, with class preparation time often totalling 30-50 pages a week and no easy way to catch up once you fall behind. That is why so many students take part in student groups and law school organizations – these can assist with class prep while offering practical experience and networking opportunities which will come in handy later.
Finding a law school that fits both your personality and career goals is of utmost importance. Entering law school with lofty expectations of wealth and prestige won’t get you anywhere; doing so could even lead to frustration or bankruptcy later on. Experts advise taking into account many different factors when selecting their ideal school – specializations, bar passage rates, campus size/location as well as rankings but prioritizing those most relevant to you personally.
Specializations
Selecting a law school with specialized programs could help you secure employment after graduation. Such courses typically cater to specific industries or career fields such as labor and employment law, environmental protection laws or corporate and tax regulations. Before making your choice of law school, be sure to conduct a comprehensive analysis of what specializations they offer.
Admiralty Law is an interdisciplinary field which encompasses shipping, navigation, water rights, insurance, canals and even piracy. As such it makes a suitable study topic for students interested in maritime law or international legal issues.
Choose a law school with appropriate specialties as well as considering its connections to your desired industry, for example if you want to work in oil and gas it would be advantageous for you to attend a T-14 school near Texas rather than Massachusetts as proximity will make connecting with employers who work there easier.
Reputation
Many prospective law students view school rankings as an important criterion when selecting their law schools; however, many critics contend that rankings can often be subjective and do not take individual factors such as GPA or LSAT score into consideration.
When narrowing your law school options, take into account several other aspects, including location. If you have specific interests that need fulfilling, look for schools specializing in those fields.
Columbia Law School boasts an outstanding reputation and its graduates experience some of the highest job placement rates nationwide, but enrollment at this prestigious institution can be limited and costly. Students looking for cheaper options should check out CUNY or SUNY schools, which typically charge lower tuition but still provide quality education. Finding an ideal law school that fits with both your career goals and lifestyle will prove to be a difficult challenge; by taking time researching each institution you may just find one perfect for yourself!
Financial Aid
Determining which law school to apply to can be a difficult decision in America, with over 200 accredited law schools available for application. Doing research will reveal much about each institution from their reputation, culture and tuition charges to special programs and legal clinics available on campus.
As it’s essential that your academic profile meet the requirements for each school, law schools publish median LSAT scores and GPAs that can give an indication of what it takes to gain entry.
Finding the ideal school is key to your career aspirations. That means having a clear picture of your professional goals and selecting law schools with curriculums, clinics and opportunities that align with them. Also important: considering whether merit- or need-based financial aid will enable you to attend. Scholarships can help make college more affordable; to check eligibility fill out FAFSA early.
