This time of year, every year, I seem to get emails from law school applicants wanting my advice as to what law school they should try to attend. Some have multiple offers, but many have only a single offer of which they do not seem found.
So, what is my advice?
It is simple really. You should attend the law school that accepts you. If you have more than one acceptance, then you have a choice to make. If you only have one acceptance then you still have an option. That option is whether to go to law school or not.
The option first. I think it is important to first decide if law school is really an objective you want to pursue. Forget about what type of law you want to practice, or the fact that you do not know the type of law you want to practice. It is best to focus on whether you can enjoy the concept of law, the rule of law, logical reasoning, and developing into an all around well educated people. Law school typically goes beyond the single dimensions of college. It is multidimensional. The education caters to those that are self-motivated and who can pace themselves. I did not know in what field I would practice when I went to law school. My wife did not know. My sister did not know. Really, unless the idea is to go to law school for the purpose of practicing with a family member, then most people do not know. And, most people that do believe they know have a change of heart during law school. Why? They find other interests they never knew existed.
Besides, my Dad who is a physician use to say the problem with medical school is that the pathology in med school is a lot more exciting than the practice in many specialties. He like to point out that many med students fall in love with the pathology and the challenge of pediatrics in med school, only to find themselves working in a doc in the box treating snotty noses all day in an actual pediatric practice. Law school is much the same way. Family law is the same way, in my opinion. The legal issues, the pathology, is interesting. You get wrapped up in the best interest of the child issues, and think you can do so much good. In real life family law does not offer practical solutions for people sideways with each other, and most people cannot pay the freight to delve into the pathology you crave and they create. Or, at least that is my take.
The law of interest you end up with usually finds you in law school or soon thereafter. You do not have to pre-plan it. Or, maybe you find that although the practice of law is beneficial, that the practice of law is not what you want. I know a good many lawyers that have never practiced law but believe their legal education was beneficially to them.
The choices second. You need to go where you feel the most comfortable and appreciated. Choices of these types are so esoteric. I would not get wrapped up in in rankings or the scenery too much. Neither of those is the metal of the law school. I would not get into brands too much either. It is probably true if you can get into one of the top 5 or 6 law schools in this country that you might have more Big Law, teaching, judicial clerkship or governmental opportunities. Brands do matter to some extent in regard to these school, but beyond that I really do not think brand matters much in the outside World. Certainly, you might want to consider an ABA approved school over a non-ABA law school to keep your choices fully open, but even that is not necessary if you want to practice in the state you attend. If it is Big Law you seek, from my experience Big Law is going to take the top students from almost any ABA approved law school. You will at least get considered. Most students do not have Big Law possibilities anyway. Consistent high grades in law school are difficult at best.
I would advise you to go visit the law schools to which you have been accepted. Sit in a class. Do the tour. Go off the reservation and just randomly talk to an established 2L or 3L or several. Many law school will even get you in contact with 3Ls and some graduates. Ask them what they think, their plans, etc. Just sit in the common area and the library and get a feel of the place. Forget that it is subjective. Believe me when I say in this you will decide what is best for you.
Apart from this non-objective criteria, the two things that always concerns me are: (1) the total cost of the law school education at a given law school, and (2) the bar passage rate.
As for the total cost of education, do not pinch pennies if the school you want is a little more than the school you do not, but this is important. Look at not only the tuition and fees, plus the free money in the way of scholarships the law school will likely give you. And, make sure that the free money is not just some come on so the law school can buy a higher LSAT score for its rankings. When they tell you that you will continue a good scholarship based upon making a college type of high grade, and the tuition is otherwise expensive, you need to know that most law students have a hard time maintaining the grades they had in college. It is not a reflection or your will or your ability. It is a reflection of the curve. The chance is you will lose that scholarship after the first semester or year, and then will will you be?
As for bar passage rate, know that no matter what that bar passage rate is for a particular school there i still no guarantee that you will pass the bar the first time when you graduate. Admittedly, bar passage is as much about you and your circumstances at the time you take the bar as it is about the law school, but bar passage rates in comparison to the bar passage rate for the entire pool of graduates taking the bar is important. If nothing else it demonstrates the emphasis of the law school on the bar exam. Believe it or not, law school rankings rarely give much emphasis to a law schools bar passage rate. After all, whether you want to practice law or work outside of the legal field when you graduate, what good is it not to be able to achieve the one task of any legal education -- passing a bar exam and achieving a law license.
Remember, law school is still competitive. If you got an acceptance, feel proud. You have accomplished something important. And, best wishes to you in the choices and you must now consider.
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