{"id":14341,"date":"2022-07-08T10:00:15","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/?p=14341"},"modified":"2022-07-08T17:11:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T21:11:11","slug":"look-beyond-the-stats-law-school-selection-tips-choosing-where-to-apply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/look-beyond-the-stats-law-school-selection-tips-choosing-where-to-apply\/","title":{"rendered":"Look Beyond the Stats: Law School Selection Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

With 199 accredited law schools spread across the United States, \u201cWhere should I apply?\u201d can be a difficult question to answer.<\/h2>\n

Aside from the standard advice of applying to the highest-ranked schools that will most likely accept you given your LSAT score and GPA, you should consider several additional factors when compiling your list of target law schools. Although ranking is very important, depending on your circumstances, it may not or should not be your number-one consideration when choosing where to apply.<\/p>\n

Ranking<\/h3>\n

The rank of your law school is really important\u2026to an extent. The importance of the rankings really depends on where your target schools land. For example, if you are targeting the programs ranked 1\u201335, the best advice, subject to certain exceptions, would most likely<\/em> be to choose the highest-ranked school to which you are accepted. Institutions in the upper half of this band are national programs that are highly respected by legal employers across the country. Attending one of these schools will keep as many doors open to you as possible (which is something you will certainly want to do). As you move down the first tier and into the second, third, and fourth tiers of the rankings, several other factors become significantly more important.<\/p>\n

Location<\/h3>\n

Another major factor in your law school selection is location. If you graduate from a T14 program, you will likely be able to get a job in most areas of the country. However, outside of the very top programs, local ties often will outweigh law school ranking for employers. Hiring new attorneys is an investment that employers want to maximize, weighing not only potential success but potential retention as well. Therefore, if you are determined to work and live in a particular city post-graduation, especially if it is not in a major metropolitan area such as Manhattan or Los Angeles, consider applying to schools in that geographic location even if they may be lower ranked. For example, if you intend to work in the Atlanta area, it would likely make more sense to attend Emory over USC, despite the difference in ranking.<\/p>\n

In addition, it is really important\u2014particularly outside of the top national programs\u2014that you choose schools in locations where you would feel comfortable not only living for three years, but where you could conceivably live and work after graduation.<\/p>\n

Environment<\/h3>\n

Since you will be devoting three years of your life to law school, consider the on-campus and off-campus environments of your target schools. Research areas that are important to you: diversity, class size, rural or urban, faculty make-up, weather, sports teams, proximity to friends, etc.<\/p>\n

If you can, you should absolutely visit the campuses of the schools you are targeting. Although it may not seem critical now, the accessibility and availability of facilities such as libraries and housing will greatly impact your law school experience. Do not discount the importance of a school\u2019s social environment. Speak to current and past students to get a sense of what attending the school is like on a day-to-day basis: Is it competitive? Do people go out together? What do they do in their free time? Do you see yourself fitting in?<\/p>\n

Area of Interest<\/h3>\n

If you have a strong sense of the type of legal professional you want to be upon graduation, research the school rankings in those areas. Perhaps you want to become a law professor after school or you have a strong interest in a particular area of law that you would like to practice after graduation.<\/p>\n

Familiarizing yourself with the curriculum and extracurricular offerings can also be helpful in narrowing down your choices. For example, if you are interested in intellectual property and patent law, UVA has among its 24 clinics a Patent and Licensing Clinic<\/a>, whereas other law schools do not. U.S. News & World Report<\/em> also provides rankings of law schools for particular areas of study\u2014for example, international law<\/a> and intellectual property law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cost and Scholarship Opportunities<\/h3>\n

Although many students pursue law for reasons other than money, it would be imprudent to dismiss the financial realities of attending law school. Undeniably, law school is a costly undertaking. In most cases, you will be graduating law school with a significant debt load (see this article<\/a> for a ranking of schools based on debt). Depending on your financial situation, consider schools that can help lighten your financial load whether it be through scholarships or in-state tuition rates. Check out this Stratus blog post<\/a> for scholarship tips. In addition, living costs can vary greatly among law schools. Living in the West Village to attend NYU will be far more expensive than living in Charlottesville to attend UVA.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/h3>\n

Ultimately, when choosing where to apply to law school, the best thing you can do is to be informed. Here are some resources that can help you begin your research:<\/p>\n