Whether you are making final decisions about where to enroll in law school, or just starting to think about the application process, there are factors you should consider when comparing law schools.
Which law school is right for you? Think about the following as you plan your legal career:
In what states do most of their graduates practice?
Some law schools are considered national schools, but many are regional schools. This means that the majority of graduates work in state, or in the geographic region. If you have a particular city you want to work in after law school, it makes sense to find this out ahead of time. If you look at ABA 509 standard disclosure report online, https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/
it will list the top three states recent grads found employment in, for each school.
What type of practice setting do most of their graduates work in?
Are most graduates working in law firms? Or in government? How many are doing judicial clerkships? How many are in large law firms? This information is also in the ABA 509 standard disclosure report for each law school, if you look at the employment report:
https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/EmploymentOutcomes.aspx
What is the bar pass rate?
Although the bar exam model may be changing, it is still very important to be aware of the current bar pass rate for each law school you are considering. This information is also in the ABA 509 Standard Disclosure Reports for each law school.
What is the employment rate?
Are all or most of the school’s graduates employed? If so, are they in legal jobs, or in non-legal positions? Is a sizeable percentage of the class unemployed? Look at the employment report again in the aforementioned ABA 509 standard disclosure reports for each school that is of interest to you.
Does the school have an LRAP program?
LRAP stands for Loan Repayment Assistance Program. At many law schools, if you go into a public interest career following law school, the school may be able to help you pay off some of your loans, depending on the program. Not all schools have this program, so it’s a good question to ask of them.
Does the school have a dedicated alumni/public interest career counselor?
All law schools will have a career center, some larger and better staffed than others. It is nice if a school has a dedicated public interest career counselor, or center, for students who want to go into government or public interest careers, instead of law firms. It is also nice when a law school has a dedicated alumni career counselor, as some schools do, to help graduates who want to change jobs or practice areas in future years, after they graduate.
Does the school have multiple clinics, journals and centers?
All schools have a Law Review. Most also have specialty journals beyond the law review. Most also have legal clinics. Some also have specialized centers. Interested in International Law? Entertainment law? Securities litigation? Do you have another specific law specialty that you want to learn more about? Check to see if the law school that interests you has a journal or clinic or center in your area of interest.
Does the school have scholarships that are guaranteed for all three years?
While many law schools now guarantee that your scholarship is good for all three years as long as you are a student in good standing, some have conditional scholarships. You could lose the scholarship if your GPA is not high enough — ask admissions and financial aid at each law school about their policy.
How do they work their waitlist?
Is the waitlist handled in a certain way or in a certain order? Is there a time when they typically make waitlist decisions? This is good to know as so many students find themselves waitlisted at a school that they would ideally like to attend.
What is the overall vibe of the school?
Beyond all of the reports and stats, this is arguably the most important factor. Do you feel comfortable at the school? Do you like the campus? Have you talked to current students? Could you picture yourself there? If so, it may help you make your decision.
