Choosing a Law School
Academic Factors
For the majority of students, the most significant factor affecting law school choice will be the academic one. It is often not where the applicant would like to go to school that dictates the final choice, but where admission can be obtained. Applications should be submitted to three categories of law schools, as follows.
Long shots
These are schools that have "numbers" (median GPAs and Law School Admission Test [LSAT] scores) somewhat higher than those of the applicant. Applications should be made to one or two desired schools in this category in the hope of somehow standing out from the other applicants and being admitted. The half-dozen most prestigious law schools in the country are long shots for even the very best students.
Reasonable chances
These are schools that have numbers approximating those of the applicant. Applications should be made to as many schools in this category as the applicant is willing to attend, but at least four or five. If the category is properly identified, an acceptance rate of approximately 50% should result.
Sure things
These are schools that have numbers clearly below those of the applicant, but which the applicant would attend if denials were received from all schools in the other two categories. Applications should be made to one or more schools in this category.
Since all law schools charge a nonrefundable application fee, most students will limit the number of their applications for monetary reasons as well as for reasons of volume. Eight to ten applications are recommended. Following the guidance set forth above should minimize expenses while ensuring almost certain admittance to a legal education.
In addition to making applications based on your "numbers," take into consideration the faculty, the availability of special programs, and the culture of the school, as discussed below.
Faculty
Investigate the composition and interests of the faculty at the schools you are considering. Determine, for example, the faculty's legal training. Find out whether faculty members are easily accessible to students. Consider, also, the diversity of the faculty and the ratio of faculty to students.
Special programs
If you know the type of law in which you would like to specialize-trial advocacy, for example, or health, environmental, corporate, or international law-determine which schools offer that specialization. Also, determine how much flexibility you will have in tailoring your program. Some schools allow more leeway than others. Certain schools also offer joint programs, allowing students to pursue a master's or doctorate in an academic area while concurrently working on their law degree. These programs are usually open only to extraordinarily talented and motivated students, so, if you are planning to apply, be sure to inquire about any additional admission requirements.
Culture
Knowing something about the culture of the schools will help you choose the program that best matches your personality and work style. Some schools encourage competition among their students, pitting one against the other in an atmosphere of "survival of the fittest." Other schools are more cooperative, supporting student study groups and providing experienced mentors for first-year students. Speak with faculty and administrators at each school. Inquire about the availability of academic support programs, size and type of student organizations, and the size and composition of the student body. Ask about the attrition rate: how many students drop out or fail each year, and why? Speak with current students, either during a campus visit or by telephone, about their satisfaction level and their perceptions of the school.
Guides and locators
Many of your questions about the academic aspects of a law school are answered in various publications available on the web and in libraries and bookstores. For example, the Boston College Online Law School Locator can be a valuable tool for determining at which law schools your application may be competitive. This web site lists the 25th to 75th percentile LSAT and GPA ranges of first-year classes at accredited schools.
The Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools lists all ABA-approved schools and gives detailed information on each. The Guide provides a grid of acceptance rates for various GPA/LSAT combinations for most schools, thereby making it possible for you to determine the percentage of applicants with scores similar to yours who were admitted to a particular school.
Rankings
Students will often turn to general rankings, lists, and evaluation tools when seeking to select the "best" law school. However, deciding where you will attend law school based on a general ranking is analogous to selecting a marriage partner based on People magazine's 20 Sexiest People list-a bad way to make a match. Choosing a law school is a very personal decision requiring careful consideration of your individual desires, needs, and goals. Students should not make such life-altering decisions based on the priorities of strangers whose primary goal is the sale of magazines. See the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) caution about rankings.
For students who feel strongly about incorporating rank as one of their criteria when selecting a school, the following are two of the most popular law school rankings available on the web:
- Leiter touts his methodology as superior to that of other ranking systems, basing his rankings on the quality of the faculty and the student body, with extra credit given to schools with exceptionally high-quality teaching.
- U.S. News & World Report ranks schools based primarily on reputation, as measured by a survey of law school faculty. In addition, they factor in selectivity, placement success, and faculty resources. Ranks may be viewed at their web site, as well as a description of the methodology used to create the rankings.