What is the advantage education-wise of attending a higher ranking law school?

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USAobserver161 asked:

I understand that employers favor degrees from top law schools, but what are the ways in which the actual legal education is better? What I’d like to know is how is this related to the fact that graduates from lower ranking schools can only practice in the same area or state? Thanks.



Comments (4)    Posted in Higher Education (University +)    

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4 Responses to 'What is the advantage education-wise of attending a higher ranking law school?'

  1. Sweet n Sour - July 3rd, 2009 at 3:45 am

    I think that graduates of any law school can practice in any state or area they choose, provided they pass the bar exam in that state.

    The educational advantages to a more prestigious law school would be in the caliber of professors that you would have, and the other students around you.

    But there are some wonderful professors who know as much about practicing law who choose to live and teach in parts of the country that are not hotbeds of academia.

  2. Matthew Zajac - July 4th, 2009 at 4:43 am

    yeah I think that is hasting college for example you want to attend to I believe you have to go to a university first but you need to go to a good university to get into a law school for example UC Berkeley or UCLA and go toa law school the lowre rank for example the one that are not as famous or good as UC Berkeley for example Cal State univerity might not do it since it is a cheaper college and they do not have anything relating law minior majori in History or political

  3. Yogiandbooboo - July 4th, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    I would look at more than just the rank of the law school. Ranking for law schools in some instances is very vague. What area do you want to specialize in (in any know at this time? Is there a school that is particularly strong in that area? Also, what is the bar passage rate in the state that you want to practice of students from that school? And what connections does this school have in helping to find jobs in the specific area that you want to work? You may also want to look local to the area that you are wanting to practice. In some instances you may have an easier time finding a job coming from a smaller school that may not be as high ranking as one in that is higher ranking in a completely different part of the country. There are alot of factors that many may overlook in regards to law school. Sometimes high ranking is great but it may not fit your needs best.

  4. lizzgeorge - July 5th, 2009 at 5:30 am

    You generally want to study law in the state that you plan to practice in, because each law school focuses on their state law and trains you for their state bar. Plus you want to be able to benefit from the local connections and internships that you obtain (including classmates and professors).

    The education is better at top ranking law schools, but not by much. The important distinction is the calibur of other students professors, and recruiting law firms–which are all bound to be higher, if in varying degrees, at top schools.

    There are only a handful of outstanding law schools, so students who are smart enough to get in are more likely to go out of state for law school, even if they don’t plan to work there forever. It’s worth the trade off, in other words. If you can only get into a mid-level school, you’re more likely to go ahead and stay close to home for the advantages listed above.


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