When selecting a law school, be sure to include class size in the equation.
It’s your first day of law school. You enter your torts class and feel lost among the 110 other students milling about. Will this get better?
Law schools don’t let first-year students pick their courses. Instead, students are divided into sections, where they are taught the foundational courses — torts, contracts, property, civil procedure, etc. — with the same group of classmates.
While law school class sizes used to border on too big, a number of schools are turning the tide. The average entering class has four sections, with 52 students in each section. But depending on the school, sections can range in size from 23 to 109, or more when part-time students are factored in.
At Georgetown University Law Center, class size varies considerably depending on the subject being taught.
“Our first-year students are part of a cohort of about 100 and will have one or two classes each semester with the entire cohort,” spokesperson Merrie Leininger said. “Other classes will be much smaller, with each student enrolled in a legal writing class of about 25 students.”
Your cohort becomes your “group” in law school. You share the same curriculum at the same pace as you work. A cohort represents the body of students entering law school at the same time, working toward your J.D.s together.
Georgetown Law plans to reduce section sizes significantly, starting with the class that will enter in Fall 2024, Leininger said.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law’s current first-year class has 126 students, fulltime and part-time combined.
“Class size is just one of many factors to consider when deciding which law school to attend,” said Andrew Whall, assistant dean of enrollment management at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “Ultimately, what works for a student depends on individual preference.”
Smaller classes allow for lower faculty-to- student ratios and more individualized attention, while larger classes allow for more camaraderie and class diversity.
Whall said Bowen students have a choice when it comes to class size.
“Students who are in our full-time day program can see the likes of 100 students or more in a single class,” he said, “whereas students in our part-time evening program enjoy smaller classes of 30 or fewer.”
At Cooley Law School, which has campuses in Michigan and Florida, students appreciate the smaller class size of multiple writing classes, some seminar courses and second-semester electives, said Paul Zelenski, senior vice president and associate dean of administration, enrollment and student services.
“Our Cooley Law School professors, in addition to having deep knowledge in their area of teaching, have also practiced law on average for 11 years prior to entering the classroom,” Zelenski said. “Smaller classes allow time for learning the law but also having their professor bring the law to life based upon their practice experience.”
Know your learning style
Do you learn better by listening or through direct participation? Do you feel comfortable in a large group, or does the smaller group bring out your strengths? Knowing your learning style can help you decide whether to choose a law school with small or large class sections. Where will you do best?
If you like the back-and-forth with a professor, know that the greater the class size, the less time a professor may have for individual interaction. However, if you are pursuing law school and considering virtual learning, know that interaction with your professors may be via Zoom or other video call platforms as well as email and messaging through the campus portal.
Seek a law school that caters to your need for socialization, meets your desired level of professor interaction and gives you enough flexibility to meet your demanding schedule.
While class and section sizes are not the only factors to consider when choosing a law school, they should be weighed heavily to meet you where you are and help you excel.
The art of networking
Networking can be essential to successfully completing your J.D. and establishing your career.
A large class section may provide a larger group in which to find people with goals and interests similar to yours. A bigger class section also could mean a broader network for help landing a job upon graduation. A small class section may provide closer relationships with other students, the professors and the law school.
Whether your law school has small or large class sections, networking can help you make the most of your legal education.
Check out the article in the Spring 2024 preLaw digital issue for the law school listings of smallest to largest sections.
