Introduction
A school of law is a three-year postgraduate program that results in the student earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Students are typically referred to as 1Ls, 2Ls, or 3Ls based on how far along they are in the process of earning their law degree.
- In order to apply, a student must have a bachelor's degree with an acceptable GPA and qualifying scores from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Essays and letters of recommendation are generally required as well, since these application materials give the admissions committee a chance to better assess the applicant's personality. A legal education is challenging from an intellectual standpoint, and others, and it takes a certain type of person to do well in this environment. The ideal applicant is hardworking, dedicated, and has a well-thought out reason for wanting to study law. It is not necessary to have a professional practice area in mind, although many entering law students do express interest in specific areas such as international law, intellectual property law, or environmental law.
The environment is highly competitive and structured very differently from the typical undergraduate curriculum. Classes are graded on a curve at most schools, so an individual’s success often depends upon factors outside his control. Instead of using the lecture format typical of undergraduate coursework, many classes are taught using the Socratic Method. This teaching style involves calling on a random student to assess a specific argument and asking a series of questions designed to uncover flaws in his thinking. Exams often involve being asked to interpret the facts of a hypothetical case and writing an essay.
- To prepare for employment after graduation, law students are encouraged to build their resumes by participating in student organizations such as moot court and the school's law review or law journal. For part-time students who are juggling the demands of a full-time day job and a family, joining campus clubs or participating as a student member in the local chapter of the American Bar Association (ABA) is considered a good way to build knowledge of the legal field and add to one's resume.
- After earning a law degree, a student must sit for the bar exam before being allowed to practice in a particular state. If a student graduated from a school accredited by the American Bar Association, he can sit for the bar exam in any state. If the school is unaccredited, however, the student is only eligible to sit for the bar in the state where the school is located. The bar exam is either two or three days long, depending upon the state in which it is taken. The test consists of both multiple choice and essay questions.
- Earning a law degree is challenging, but this experience offers numerous practical benefits. Even if you eventually decide not to practice law, your experience will give you writing and public speaking skills that can enhance almost any career path. Since your coursework will involve intense study of how government policies and procedures impact American society at large, you'll also become a more informed citizen who is better able to participate in the community.
Evaluating Schools
Evaluating schools can be a complicated process. While you may have chosen to earn your undergraduate degree at a particular school based on your love for its football team or the fact that all of your family numbers were alumni, choosing the right law program requires a much more objective approach. Factors such as size, location, and student organizations are still important, but you'll need to take a close look at the specific ways in which a particular school can help you reach your career goals. You're looking at a substantial investment of time and money, so it's important to think carefully about what type of school will best fit your needs.
A school's reputation and accreditation are good indicators of the quality of education you'll receive. U.S. News & World Report's rankings are published each year and provide a starting point for this type of research. Even though some people may debate whether or not it's worth paying for the prestige of a name, there's no denying that graduates of Yale or Harvard have a leg up when it comes time to apply for their first professional position.
Since you can't stay in school forever, checking out a school's statistics regarding the placement of graduates into law firms is a smart move as well. What kinds of jobs are graduates being offered? What are their starting salaries? Does this match up with your professional goals? If possible, you may even want to see if you can personally speak with recent alumni to learn more about how their legal education prepared them for the workforce.
Reputation and Accreditation
As you're preparing to apply to various schools, reputation and accreditation are two excellent screening factors to help narrow your options.
Reputation
When it comes to reputation, schools can be highly regarded either nationally or regionally. So called "national" schools like Harvard, Yale, Chicago, Stanford and NYU are the most prestigious. Regional schools are not as well-known across the United States, but enjoy a strong reputation for quality in their geographic area.
If you aren't sure where you want to live after graduation, aiming for a nationally recognized school will give you the most opportunities. If you know what part of the country in which you want to practice law, a regional school can be a good choice.
Some law firms will use the reputation of your school as a screening factor when evaluating applicants for entry-level work. The reputation of your school becomes even more important if you didn't graduate at the top of your class. Applicants who attended a nationally recognized school will be assumed to have had a quality education even if their GPA is a bit lower than similar candidates who attended a regional school.
Since reputation affects the number of applicants a school receives, experts recommend that you apply to three categories of schools.
- Reach schools: This type of institution is a highly regarded institution that you would love to attend, but your qualifications are slightly below average for the type of student typically admitted.
- Likely schools: This is any university where the profile of the typically admitted student is a pretty close match with your GPA and LSAT scores.
- Safety schools: A safety school is a school that would not be your ideal choice, but is one you would be fine with attending as a back-up. Your GPA and LSAT scores should make you almost guaranteed to be admitted.
Accreditation
Most institutions offerign legal education in the United States are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). When you graduate from an ABA-accredited school, you are eligible to take the bar exam in any state in which you wish to practice law. If you choose a program that is not accredited by the ABA, you will only be able to take the bar exam in the state in which the school is located. This could be problematic if all your job offers come from another state, although some states will allow you to sit for the bar exam after practicing in another jurisdiction for a certain length of time.
Online schools are becoming increasingly popular as more people seek to enter the legal profession as a second career. For students with families and full-time jobs, online classes are very convenient. Unfortunately, these schools are not ABA-accredited institutions. Many are simply recognized by the California State Bar, which means you would be able to sit for the bar exam only in California.
Another reason to be cautious regarding applications to non-ABA accredited schools has to do with reputation. Accreditation isn't necessarily indicative of quality, but many employers do regard a degree from a non-accredited school with suspicion.
Placement of Graduates into Law Firms
Statistics regarding the placement of graduates into law firms are not a guarantee you'll land your dream job after graduation, but they can be a useful factor when deciding which school is best equipped to help you meet your professional goals. Placement statistics usually report the number of graduates with jobs at graduation, six months after graduation, nine months after graduation, or one year after earning their law degree. Starting salaries may also be included with this data, which can be important if you're feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of paying back your student loans.
The U.S. News & World Report rankings, which are considered to be one of the top indicators of quality for people interested in earning a law degree, use employment rates as part of the process of assigning scores to specific schools. The formula places a 12% value on the employment rate of students nine months after graduation, although it uses self-reported data from the schools and does not take into account whether or not employment is related to the legal profession. According to the U.S. News & World Report rankings, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia are considered the top law programs in the country.
The National Association for Law Placement (NALP), an association for people involved in career planning and recruitment within the legal profession, offers a variety of reports regarding job offers and salaries for recent graduates across the country. You can also find statistics for the placement of graduates into law firms on your school's website or in their admissions materials.
Keeping Your Job Search in Perspective
If you hope to work at a large firm that offers high starting salaries and lots of prestige, keep in mind that a school's placement rate for graduates isn't going to offer much input on your chances of achieving this goal. Associate positions at large firms are highly sought after, with most jobs going to graduates who rank in the top 10% of their class at a nationally recognized institution.
Depending upon the school, up to 30% of graduating law students will end up working for small firms with between two and 10 lawyers. These jobs may not seem as glamorous as the positions lawyers have on television, but they do offer a chance to take on professional responsibilities that would not be allowed when working for a larger firm. In addition, even though your starting salary at a small firm may be lower than you had hoped, these jobs often give you the best chance to obtain the work-life balance that is key to avoiding burnout in your legal career.
Size of the School
The size of the school you choose to attend is primarily a matter of personal preference. There are both advantages and disadvantages to each option, so you'll need to think about what size of institution is best equipped to help you make the most of your law degree.
Attending a Large School
At a large school, there will be more opportunities for internships, extracurricular activities, and other ways to enhance your resume. Students often feel like there is more diversity at larger schools, which may be important to you if you are a non-traditional student, a multicultural student, or a student with a disability. Large schools are also more likely to be located in urban areas, which can be nice if you're accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life.
The main drawback of attending a large university is that it's hard to stand out from the crowd. Law programs are very competitive in general, but the atmosphere at a larger one is often even more cutthroat simply because there are more people, and no one wants to be overlooked. At a large school, you're unlikely to be noticed unless you have outstanding grades or really make an effort to excel at extracurricular activities. Students who are naturally a bit shy and reserved will need to push themselves to make the most of their experience at a large school.
Attending a Small chool
Smaller institutions tend to be those which are regionally well known, but don't enjoy the national recognition of their larger counterparts. At a smaller school, you're more likely to receive personal attention from your professors. If you dislike feeling like just another face in the crowd, this can be very comforting. Having a personal relationship with your instructors can also be helpful when you need to obtain recommendation letters for internships or employment opportunities.
Standing out is also bit easier to do in a small school simply because there are fewer students. Even though the school is still likely to be competitive, you may find that your classmates at a smaller school share more of a sense of community. Smaller schools often invoke great alumni loyalty, which can provide valuable networking opportunities as you pursue your professional goals.
The main drawback of attending a small program is a lack of prestige when it comes time to apply for a job. Many law firms use the school's name and reputation as a preliminary screening factor to quickly sort through piles of applications. Without a degree from a well-known school, you need to work hard on developing a resume that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Law Student Organizations
Just as extracurricular activities are an important part of an undergraduate education, being involved in student organizations can help you make the most of your experience. In addition to giving you a chance to better know your classmates and professors, these activities can help you add polish to your resume.
Moot Court
Moot court is an appellate court simulation. You go through the motions of deciding a sample case that focuses on a specialty such as international law or intellectual property law. Most moot court teams consist of three to eight people. They are coached by older students or faculty with experience in this type of activity. The judging panel for moot court competitions is usually made up of attorneys or judges from the community and it is common for students to come watch the event as a form of campus entertainment.
Some programs allow first year students to participate in moot court; while others reserve this activity for 2Ls (second year students). Competition can be held on an intramural basis within your school or on a national level. Schools that compete on a national level typically choose their teams based on who wins during the intramural competitions.
Law Review and Law Journal
Since 1Ls (first year students) aren't allowed to participate in law journal and law review, 2Ls are considered the lowest on the staff totem pole. These students typically work as proofreaders or conduct citation checking to make sure that each footnote is correct by looking up the stated propositions in the various articles, journals, and cases that are listed. Students who do well at this work are allowed to apply for editorial board positions such as managing editor, executive editor, student business manager, or website editor as 3Ls (third year students).
Research Assistantship
Professors handpick students to work closely with them on their research. This is considered a prestigious opportunity to get hands-on experience in your chosen area of specialization. Having the chance to develop a close relationship with a faculty member will also be very helpful when you're interviewing for a clerkship, teaching position, or other opportunity.
School Clubs
Every school has a variety of clubs to join. These clubs include associations for people interested in a specific practice area of law, groups for minority students, clubs for part-time students, and clubs for older students. Most schools hold a fair at the beginning of the year to provide information on various clubs and how their members are selected.
Bar Association Membership
One excellent way to take advantage of local networking opportunities is to become a student member of the bar association in your hometown or the town in which you eventually hope to practice law. You will be able to socialize with practicing attorneys while attending various continuing education seminars. There is no requirement regarding the number of functions you must attend, so this type of extracurricular activity is especially usefully for part-time students who may have little free time after juggling their other commitments.
Location
Reputation, accreditation, and the placement of graduates into law firms are likely to be the top factors you are considering while deciding which school to attend. Location, however, can also be important.
Job Offers
If you know where you want to live after graduation, you may want to consider choosing a program that is located in the area. Regional schools with a strong reputation in their part of the United States often have the connections you need to get internships and job offers. Living in the community for three years while you attend school will also give you plenty of chances to network with prominent attorneys and judges, especially if you become involved in the nearest chapter of the American Bar Association.
For students who are unsure of their plans for after graduation, attending a school in a larger metropolitan area provides the best chance to explore all of their available options. Since large cities have the most law firms, you'll have an easier time lining up internships to build your resume. If you have an interest in a specific practice area such as environmental law, finding the best opportunities to reach your career goals will be easiest when you're in an urban setting.
Social Life
Law students do not have a lot of free time for socializing, but it is nice to be able to attend a school in an area that offers the types of recreational opportunities you enjoy. Law schools in larger communities are more likely to have theaters, poetry readings, museum exhibits, and other cultural events for you to attend. In a smaller community, you may be limited to just a few bars and restaurants. Think about what types of activities were important to you as an undergraduate and try to find law schools located in communities that provide those types of opportunities.
Personal Safety
Schools in smaller communities are less likely to have problems with crime. Law students must often study late at night and many people, especially young women, place a high priority on a school that values personal safety. Legal classes are tough enough without worrying about becoming a victim of crime.
Crime reports can be found online or at the local police department for the school you're considering. When you tour various campuses, you may also wish to speak with someone in the campus security office about what precautions are taken to keep students safe.