Planning where to attend law school can be a life-altering decision, impacting everything from your professional network to lifestyle choices.
How can You Determine Where You Should Attend Law School? With over 200 accredited law schools to choose from, your options vary in terms of geography, reputation, tuition costs and specific offerings. How Can You Identify Which School Should Attend
Location
Selecting an ideal law school can seem like an enormous commitment; after all, you will spend approximately three years there. Therefore it’s essential that you find one that aligns well with your interests, career plans and budget.
Some law schools specialize in specific industries, so if you’re focused on one specific area of law it can help to select one with expertise in that sector. Furthermore, certain locations may provide greater employment opportunities in specific legal specialties like Boston’s tech corridor for intellectual property work or Washington, D.C. for government and policy work.
Consider whether an urban or rural law school setting best meets your needs. Urban law schools tend to offer more opportunities for internships and externships in the local community, while providing easier networking access with employers. Conversely, rural schools can provide a more laid-back atmosphere with greater community support.
Tuition
Law school costs are often an important consideration for prospective students. Keep in mind that becoming a lawyer does not guarantee an extravagant lifestyle; therefore make an informed financial decision before applying!
To ascertain the cost of attending law school, the best way is to visit its website and search for tuition and fees. Many websites also feature useful tools which enable users to enter their GPA and LSAT scores and get an approximate estimation of admission chances.
Your target law schools should fit within your budget. Culture plays an integral part of law school experience – some may offer more competitive environments while others might provide a more collaborative atmosphere; talking to current and past students and alumni can give an indication of this campus vibe.
Careers
Many people’s perception of lawyers stems from what they see in movies and on television, but in reality there are numerous legal careers open to graduates of law schools that offer strong programs in areas that interest you. By selecting such an institute as your educational foundation you may increase your career possibilities significantly.
Experts agree that it is beneficial to have an idea of your career plans when searching for the perfect law school, yet you should leave yourself room for exploration when conducting research. Factors such as enrollment size, available activities, stated or unstated ideology and class diversity might play a factor in making a final decision.
If you know exactly which career path you want to follow, research schools offering internships and externships related to it. By doing this, you’ll gain practical experience before graduating, making job applications much simpler post-graduation as well as helping demonstrate passion in interviews and law school interviews.
Studying
If law school is your goal, take steps toward reaching it early on in your senior year. Set yourself apart by excelling academically in each class you take; study for and take the LSAT/GRE; build relationships with teachers and professors who can write strong letters of recommendation for you; find legal internship opportunities to give yourself an inside glimpse at day-to-day life as a lawyer!
Once admitted to law school, you should place great importance on developing analytical thinking skills rather than memorization. Law school can be an immense commitment; before making your final decision, consider how it fits into your lifestyle and goals before making any definitive decisions.
To help determine which law schools are ideal for your academic profile, the ABA data grids offer a useful way of narrowing your list down further based on past applicants and compare yourself with their stats. Once done, begin researching smaller details that can contribute to overall success at law school.