5 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Law School

Deciding to attend law school is just the tip of the decision-making iceberg when it comes to getting a legal education. After that, it is time for LSAT registration and preparation and the daunting application process that follows. But, before you can start the application process, you have to decide what schools you want to apply to. Many students (my younger self included) get wrapped up in shiny object syndrome and spend a lot of time focusing on things like rank and prestige above all else. However, at the end of the day, those things bear very little impact on the future success of a law student. As you try to determine the right school for you, make sure you consider the following five factors.

1. Cost

In a perfect world, cost wouldn’t be the number one factor I would urge you to consider when choosing a law school. However, I am almost six years post-grad and my law school loan’s ever-growing balance reminds me that it would be negligent to not forcefully address cost.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you only apply to the most inexpensive law schools. However, you should set a budget for yourself and do your best to stick to it when applying to law schools. After those acceptance letters start to roll in, you should once again consider cost. This is the time to explore different scholarships and grants that might be available to you as well as your opportunity to leverage the offers to go to your dream school at your dream price.

Your future self will thank you for taking time up front to carefully consider the cost of law school.

2. Culture

Personally, I think the culture of the school you attend is the most important factor for success because academics matter little if you are completely miserable. You should absolutely visit in person any school you are seriously considering attending. You’ll want to learn about the living arrangements such as on campus housing , the status of the student body (FT, PT, online, commuter, etc.), the level of competitiveness between students, availability of mentoring opportunities, how involved the alumni are, etc. For better or worse, your law school friends become your family. But, these are family members you actually get to choose, so choose wisely.

3. Location

Law school is only three years (give or take depending on your program). For this reason, I think many students underestimate the importance of location given the temporary nature. However, three years is actually a really long time. Spend some time thinking about what kind of environment you’d most thrive in (rural/suburban/urban?) and focus your search in areas that meet that need.

Another angle to think about with location is where you ultimately want to be after law school. You don’t have to go to law school in the same city or state you want to practice in, but it is definitely something to think about. This is particularly true if your school has a strong local alumni network.

4. Potential Practice Interests

Most, but not all, students go into law school with some idea as to what type of law they want to practice when they graduate. If you have a strong desire to practice environmental law, for example, you should definitely research strong environmental law programs. However, this factor comes with a word of caution. Your interests may change drastically once you get to law school. So, don’t pick a law school you otherwise hate just because they have a good program in your speciality. Remember, this is just one factor among many to consider.

5. Academic Support Programs

Full disclosure, having started my teaching career as an academic support professor, I am entirely biased in favor of academic support programs. However, that doesn’t make this piece of advice any less important. Find out what academic support programming each potential school offers. This may include pre-orientation and orientation “how to law school” events, 1L classes and workshops on case briefing, class notes, exam preparation, legal writing, time management, etc., and a wide array of bar exam preparation initiatives. These programs, and the people who run them, are your law school lifeline, make sure that the schools you are considering each have these resources available to meet your needs.  

Choosing the right law school is a highly personalized decision — only you know which factors are most important to you. This important and expensive decision will impact the rest of your life, so make sure you give it the thoughtful attention that it deserves.

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Kerriann Stout is a millennial law school professor and founder of Vinco (a bar exam coaching company) who is generationally trapped between her students and colleagues. Kerriann has helped hundreds of students survive law school and the bar exam with less stress and more confidence. She lives, works, and writes in the northeast. You can reach her by email at [email protected].