How to Choose a Law School

The law school you attend will determine what you learn, and will affect the career choices that you have upon graduation. Take the time to find a school that is the right fit for you. This page will outline how to choose a law school that's right for you.

How to Get Into the Law School of Your Choice

This video features advice by the CEO of a firm that does law related test prep, include both LSAT and Bar Exam preparation. He maintains that your LSAT scores, undergraduate GPA, and your personal statement are all important to getting accepted to law school. He also says you need to think about why go want to go to law school, and give up 3-4 years of earning potential. You also need to weigh whether or not you want to go to one of te top schools in the country, whethe or not you want to stay local, or whether or not night law school is the best option for you.

Comments (0)

Write a comment...
Introduction
- There are many law schools in the United States, and each is unique. Assuming you have the grades and LSAT scores to choose among several law schools, you'll need to think carefully about what makes the most sense for you, both as a person, and as an aspiring lawyer. Take the time to think about the type of law you want to practice, where you'd like to live, and how much you can afford to pay, when picking a law school to attend.
Step 1: Law School Specialization
- Law schools have strengths and weaknesses. Some do a good job of preparing students to enter public service, while others provide a fast track to big Wall Street Firms. Some have professors doing cutting edge work in intellectual property and copyright law, while others have faculties that are filled with renowned constitutional scholars. Review course catalogs, faculty biographies, and statistics on what types of law alumni are practicing, to get a sense of the school's strengths.
Step 2: Law School Location
- Although some law schools have national draw when it comes to hiring, most have better relationships with firms in their state or region. Attending a law school in the state you're looking to practice in will also help when it comes to the bar exam, as the bar is state specific, and some schools offer courses in state law.Wall Street Journal: Best Defense? Seeking a Haven in Law School (March 19, 2009)
Step 3: Law School Affordability
- Don't discount the cost of law school when comparing schools. If you're hoping to land a job as an associate with an elite firm and a large paycheck, attending an elite law school with a large price tag might make sense. On the other hand, if you're looking to open a small town practice, or pursue public interest law, you won't want to be burdened with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt when you graduate.
Step 4: Law School Prestige
If prestige is important to you, as you're looking to get a job with an elite firm that primarily hires from top ranked schools, then you might want to consider applying to one of the schools that U.S. News and World Report ranked as the top law schools in the country in 2008:U.S. News and World Report: Best Law Schools (Ranked in 2008)
Conclusion
- If you've carefully considered what type of law you're interested in, where you want to practice, and how much you can afford to pay, you'll have a good sense of what you want that you can use to evaluate offers from different law schools.