Five Tips for Choosing the Right Law School

As you probably know, not all law schools are created equally. But what you may not know is that many of the "ratings" that you see regarding the top ten law schools in America (for example) are quite misleading. It's really a useless exercise to measure each school by the same yard stick, as different programs have different faculties, different areas of expertise, and different programs to offer.

Selecting a law school is a much more personal experience than merely opening up the U.S. News report and applying to the top five schools. Rather, the correct way to apply to law school is by doing hours and hours of research until you find the school that best suits your needs.

As this may seem a bit overwhelming, the following are five useful tips for choosing a law school:

1. One of the best things that you can do as you begin the process of choosing a law school is to talk to lawyers who graduated from your school of interest. If you don't know of any who graduated from a specific school, go to the alumni website and get a few email addresses. Most lawyers will be delighted to discuss both their positive and negative experiences with a given school. Find out what their experience was like and also be sure that those who graduated from a specific program end up in the types of jobs that you desire.
2. Consider location when you apply to law school. In what city do you hope to practice law? This is important, as it is often an advantage to attend school in the city where you plan to practice. Not only do firms appreciate a local applicant, you will have more opportunities to network with alumni if you practice in the same city where you attended school.
3. Before you apply to law school, do your best to decide on what type of law interests you. Although this is often subject to change once a student enters law school, having an idea of what type of law you intend to practice is a tremendous advantage during the application process. Different schools have different specialties, and you should apply to the schools with the best reputation in that given specialty as opposed to the schools with the best overall national reputation.
4. As you research a school, be certain to find out both bar pass rates as well as job placement rates. Programs with a bar pass rate of less than 70 percent should be avoided if possible. Remember, you can't practice law in a given state unless you pass that states' bar exam!
5. If possible, visit the schools that you are seriously considering attending. As each school will have a different personality, it is important that you select one with which you feel comfortable. When visiting, sit in on a few classes and speak to both professors and students in an attempt to get a feel for the vibe. Remember, you are going to be spending a lot of time on campus, so it should be one that fits your personality as much as possible!

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