University of Georgia Prelaw Guide
Chapter 7
CHOOSING WHERE TO APPLY
It is wonderful to have lifelong dreams of attending a certain
school, and you should work towards those dreams whole-heartedly.
Admission to law school, however, is very competitive, and you need to
be realistic to ensure your success. Take the time to investigate
law schools! www.lsac.org is an excellent place to begin. There are several publications that give a review
of schools. These are available from the prelaw advisor, the University
library and career counseling services, through LSDAS,or through
commercial outlets. Read catalogues from several law schools. If
at all possible, VISIT the schools you are considering.
Law school is a challenging three-year period at best. Attending a law school that is not a "good fit" for you can turn "challenging" into "miserable"!
FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
- Geographical location
- Class / School size and makeup - Some law schools are geared more towards "traditional" students, i.e., ones who have recently graduated from college and will attend law school full-time. Others are made up primarily of "non-traditional" students - ones who have been out of college longer, who want to attend law school part-time, etc.
- Faculty - accessibility and expertise are the factors to consider. Are they full-time and available to students after class, or are they simply teaching on a lunch break from their private practice? Are they known experts in the field in which they are teaching?
- Programs / Clinics - Does the law school offer a program or practical clinic experience in the fields and areas in which you believe you are interested?
- Employment placement assistance - How many staff are dedicated to helping law school students locate employment? How many employers come on campus to interview? What externship opportunities are available while you are in school?
- Dual degree programs - JD/MBA; JD/MPA; JD/PhD; JD/MD
These are just some of the factors you will want to consider in selecting a school. Spend the same time researching and selecting a school as you do preparing for the LSAT. Remember, getting in is only the first part of the battle - you have to survive the next three years that follow!
RESOURCES:
- LSAC Law School Forum - over 150 ABA law schools attend to provide information and answer questions of prospective law school students. A Southeastern Forum is held in the fall in Atlanta.
- www.lsac.org
- Law school catalogues
- Law school alumni - they can tell you what the school is really like.
- Materials available from your prelaw advisor, the Career Center, bookstores, and the library.
In 1971, the American Bar Association approved standards for law
schools. Law schools which meet its standards are called "ABA-Approved." (You
may access the list of ABA-Approved
Law Schools through the American Bar Association Web Site.)
Most states will allow graduates of any ABA-approved law school
to take the state bar examination and thereby become licensed to
practice law in that state. A law degree from an unapproved law
school may limit your ability to take the bar exam. Before enrolling
in a law school not approved by the ABA, you should carefully check
the state bar regulations where you plan to practice law.
You should
consider the cost of attending the law schools that interest
you. There is a great deal of financial aid, both public and private,
available to law students, and most students require financial
assistance. You will receive financial aid information, concerning
scholarships, grants, and loans, from the schools where you are
accepted. You will want to think carefully about how much debt
you are willing to incur in order to earn your degree, because
that may have an important impact on the type of employment opportunities
that you can explore after graduation.
In Conclusion
Resources are available to assist you in your selection of a
law school. USE these resources to make sure you follow the adage to not only choose early but to also CHOOSE WISELY!
Teresa Angle , JD
Prelaw Advisor and Program Director
tangle@uga.edu
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