You’ve decided that you want to pursue a career in law and that you’re going to apply to law school — now what? An important step in the application process is determining the law school features that best fit your needs. While law schools will be evaluating your academic fit and candidacy, you should do the same by researching specific features of each school on your list to determine whether they match your future career goals. Schools’ rank and reputation are not the only aspects that matter! Here are several law school factors that prospective applicants should research.
Curriculum and Electives
The first year of classes is similar at most law schools. According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), schools typically offer “a core curriculum of civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, legal research and writing, legal methods, torts, constitutional law, and property, though not necessarily all during the first year.”
During the second and third years, students usually have the freedom to take a variety of electives. If you have a particular area of law that you’re interested in, it would be wise to research each school’s website to make sure they offer it and look into faculty backgrounds and expertise. In addition, some schools, like Stanford Law School, provide the opportunity for a truly interdisciplinary education by allowing students to take courses outside the law school. You can also explore whether the school offers any joint degrees of interest, such as JD-MBA or JD-MA programs.
Below is a chart showing a few sample areas of study, and whether a particular group of highly selective law schools offers courses in those areas, illustrating the variability of curriculum offerings. For example, International and Comparative Law is available at all five of these law schools, whereas Health Law is only available at Georgetown and UVA.
Hands-on Experience
In your research, consider what kind of access the schools offer to law clinics, student law journals, clerkships, moot court competitions, and honor societies. Assess the number and types of law clinics offered and how competitive they are. These types of prestigious opportunities will allow you to acquire firsthand experience in a specific field of law and build your network of professional connections.
The chart below shows a sampling of clinics for the same group of five law schools – once again illustrating the variability of offerings. While all five provide clinics in Environmental Law, for example, only NYU and Northwestern offer clinics in LGBTQ+ Advocacy.
Being selected for a student-run law journal is one of the most prestigious honors for a law school student. Explore the different journals offered at each law school to determine if your particular interest is represented. For example, in addition to the renowned Harvard Law Review, Harvard Law School offers 14 other student-run journals, including the Harvard Business Law Review, Harvard Human Rights Journal, and Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. Similarly, Columbia Law School is home to 14 student-run journals, including the Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts, Columbia Journal of European Law, and Columbia Journal of Asian Law.
Student Body
Law schools differ in terms of size, diversity, and culture. How competitive versus collaborative is the school? What is the size of the student body? Small schools often have a closer community feel than large schools, but large schools may be able to offer more resources. Seeking out conversations with current students can be an excellent way to learn more about the culture at each law school in which you are interested.
Career Placement & Networking
Plan for your future law career by speaking with the career placement office at each school to which you are applying. Ask questions about graduate employment outcomes, average salary for recent graduates, and how the school assists in job recruitment. What kinds of positions do graduates get? What is the bar exam pass rate for most recent grads? Is there a strong network of alumni? Does the school provide exclusive on-campus interviews and employer recruitment events? Another resource, the American Bar Association (ABA), requires law schools to publish most recent graduate jobs and bar exam outcomes.
Location
Location is another important feature of a law school. What kind of environment do you want to live in for three years? Where do you want to practice law? Do you prefer working in a city, town, or rural area? Your internships and connections will be developed primarily in the nearby area of your law school. Many law students end up practicing where they studied, so make sure that you are considering the surrounding area in terms of industry, job opportunities, and lifestyle.
Cost
Law school tuition can vary widely and amount to over $80,000 a year, not including room and board. According to LSAC, the total cost of law school can be more than $150,000. Many law schools offer scholarship opportunities if you are a competitive candidate. As you consider the financial impact, compare the expected income in your desired field of law with the amount of loans you will have to repay to cover law school. If money is a concern, keep in mind that public law schools in your state of residency tend to cost less than private law schools.
How to Research Law Schools
- Look into each law school’s website. Take notes about faculty background and expertise, required curriculum, types of electives offered, and alumni careers.
- Attend a digital law school forum hosted by LSAC. These free online events allow prospective students to meet and question law school reps.
- If possible, visit the law school and attend a class. A school visit is very informative in assessing fit and law school features. At the very least, walk around campus and explore the neighboring areas around the school. Learn about options for on-and-off campus living accommodations.
- Participate in admitted students’ events. Whether admitted students’ days are online or in-person, taking part in these events will provide valuable insight about the law school and help guide your ultimate decision of where to attend.
- Connect with alumni. Alumni can give you a broad perspective of their law school experience as they have had time to reflect on their own journey and how their law school education led them to the career they are in now. Discuss how they chose their field of law and specific career path – these can potentially be contacts for future career networking!
There are many factors to be weighed in the process of finding your best-fit law school. If you would like assistance in identifying the best institution for you, or in guiding you with any other aspect of your pre-law preparation, contact Collegiate Gateway. As always, we’re happy to help!
