Evaluating Law Schools Willimantic CT

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So you've decided to go to law school - congratulations! Now how do you choose the best law school? You could go a published ranking, such as the one put out by US News and World Report, but relying solely on such lists is a big mistake. To understand why, you have to understand how the rankings are compiled.

Different factors such as matriculation rate, bar passage rate, and statistics of teacher publications are quantified for a particular school and measured against those of other law schools. The law schools that boast the highest cumulative scores when all factors are considered are ranked as "Tier 1" schools, the next grouping is "Tier 2," and so on. If you select a Tier 1 school, the theory goes, you can be assured that your degree will be sufficient to qualify you for consideration in the most competitive large law firms (although that alone, of course, won't guarantee you a job). The problem, of course, is that different lists will produce different results - even though they all consider the same data. How can that be? It's because of the weight given to each factor. For one list, graduation rates may be more important than bar passage rates; for another list, the most important factor might be "number of graduates placed in jobs within one year."

Instead of relying on some faceless magazine editor to decide which factors are most important for your education and your career prospects, evaluate law schools based on your own needs. In other words - create your own ranking list based on factors that carry the weight you decide is appropriate. Here's how:

1. Decide what your needs are. Do you need to stay in your state for family obligations? Do you need to attend a part-time program? Are you interested in a joint degree program - say, J.D./MBA? What class size do you prefer and do your best work in? If you're not tied to your current state, or if your state boasts more than one school, what geographical area or features would feel most like "home" to you? Would you prefer mountains or sea? Small town or large city? Are you interested in a particular program or course of study? You wouldn't necessarily choose a school in a landlocked Midwest state if your dream is to open your own admiralty practice, for instance. Whatever is important to you, list those factors that will help you decide which schools are most likely to deliver.
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Author: Sheryl Schelin