Law school admissions have remained steady over the past few decades, with more and more students choosing law as their advanced education degree. Graduation from law school awards the graduate with what is called a Juris Doctorate. In all fifty states, a JD degree from an accredited law school is required to take the bar exam.
Does the law school offer the specialized areas of law that interest you? Although there are basic classes to be taken at all law schools, some specialize in areas, such as environmental law, that may interest you. Study the courses offered at different law schools and determine if it would provide you with solid instruction in the specific area of law you plan to go into.
Can you get into the top-ranked school? Grades and LSAT scores are listed with class rankings, and the top law schools typically require nearly perfect scores in both. Be realistic, because the top law schools have strong competition. In most cases, a letter of reference from a nationally recognized, or someone recognized from that law school will be very important in determining the likelihood of your admission.
Placement after school. How does the law school compare with actually finding a job in the field. What is the percentage of students graduating from that school who find jobs, and how long does it take? This is always important, particularly in a weak economy.
Attrition rate. How do students do in the first, second, and third years? The first year is difficult at all law schools because of the adjustment in teaching, which is different than undergraduate college. The higher the attrition rate, the more difficult the school.
Geography. Law school is very difficult and extremely challenging. Geographic factors can impact this, not just in terms of the weather, but also how far you are from family and friends.
Thanks for sharing.
All valid points to consider when choosing a law school.
select one here...