Where You Attend Law School Does Matter for Some Jobs

Where You Attend Law School Does Matter for Some JobsWhere You Attend Law School Does Matter for Some JobsAs the time for law school seat deposits rapidly approaches, many potential law students are wondering the same thing How much does it matter which law school you attend? The answer, if were talking about legal careers, is A lot. Deciding which law school to attend is probably the single biggest decision you make for your legal career. Law Is a Snobby Profession Lawyers are a snobby bunch. They care about precedent, and they care about hierarchy. Attending a prestigious law school can open many doors, which will otherwise remain closed. That being said, of course, there are many successful attorneys who didnt attend fancy law schools. In fact, some have suggested that graduates of less prestigious schools are actually more successful in law firms. Its definitely possible to be a happy, successful attorney if you go to a less prestigious school. But, there are certain jobs (la w professor, Supreme Court clerk, etc.) youll be hard-pressed to get if you make that choice. drehort Matters For most potential students, the single most important consideration in which law school to go to should be location. (This advice assumes you dont have the option of one of the few truly national schools at the top of the prestige heap.) If you know where you want to practice, aim to go to law school in that area. There are several reasons for this. One, it gives you an opportunity to participate in the legal community for three years. Youll have opportunities for networking, internships, and so on that simply wont be possible if youre not geographically located where you want to practice. Two, it shows youre serious about the location. Especially in highly desirable areas (or highly insular ones), studying where you want to work shows that youre committed to the area. No one wants to hire someone whos just going to move in a couple of years, so sending the signal that youre here to stay is valuable. Three, you can interview on a moments notice. When a desirable job opportunity comes up, far better to be ready to go If you have to fly across the country for an interview, versus just popping across town, your options are far more open. Finally, it might help you pass the bar exam Particularly for states with notoriously difficult bar exams (California, were looking at you), attending a local school can expose you to more of the law youll be tested on, making it easier to pass on the first try. Your School Is Your Network The people you meet in law school, whether its professors, classmates, or alumni, are your professional network when you graduate. Of course, its possible to overcome the lack of a network where you want to practice and meet lawyers in the local area, but its far easier to keep in touch with law school friends and cultivate those connections over time When deciding between different schools, ask about the strength of the alumni network. (And, even better, test it out by asking to speak with some recent graduates to see if theyll talk with potential students.) A strong alumni network will pay dividends far into the future, so its something to look for upfront. Consider the Opportunities Each School Offers Whether youre pretty sure you want to work in a certain area of the law, if youre keeping your options open, look at the opportunities each school offers to explore your career interests. Are there clinics and externships available to develop your practice skills? How competitive are these opportunities? Does the school offer a loan repayment plan for public interest work? If you have any interest in this option, investigate it thoroughly. How about jobs? What do the schools job numbers look like? Can you trust them? Try talking to recent graduates, to get the real scoop on jobs and other opportunities, rather than just relying on glossy brochures from the schools