Choosing The Right Law School

A wide variety of considerations typically influence a student’s choice of laws schools:  (1) reputation, (2) ranking, (3) cost (including scholarship offers, if any), (4) future job prospects, (5) location, etc.

One often overlooked factor – which will be more important to some law students than others – is the difference in the law school experience between various law schools. Law school involves two primary concepts: (1) learning “black letter law,” and (2) learning how to “think like a lawyer.”  All law schools should be teaching both, but the emphasis is likely to differ between higher-ranking and lower-ranking law schools.

“Black letter law” is what is tested on the State Bar. It includes the laws pertaining to contracts, torts, civil procedure, etc. An example of “black letter law” would be that a binding contract generally requires an “offer,” “acceptance” and “mutual consideration.”  In contrast, learning how to “think like a lawyer” involves legal reasoning, analysis and problem-solving.

Generally, higher-ranking law schools focus more heavily on “thinking like a lawyer.” Lower-ranked law schools have a greater concern about their students passing the State Bar, so they tend to focus more on “black letter law.”  A small difference in ranking between law schools is unlikely to impact one’s law school experience much. However, one is likely to see a difference in the law school experience when the ranking disparity is larger.

“Thinking like a lawyer” is also the skill tested on the LSAT (see here for the LSAC’s description of the connection between the LSAT, law school, and the practice of law). The direct connection between the LSAT and law school is one of the many reasons I always emphasize that pre-law students should insist that their LSAT Prep instructor has received high-quality legal reasoning training in law school and through the practice of law.

Cost. Reputation. Ranking. Future job prospects. Location. Proximity to your boyfriend/girlfriend. The nature of the law school experience. All of these factors are worth considering when choosing the right law school, and certain ones will matter more to some students than others. If you have any questions or need help in making the right decision for you, please feel free to contact me at mark@scoreitup.com or (949) 355-1413.  Good luck!!