How to Choose the Right Law School For You

There are over 250 different law schools in the US. Did you choose the right one? Are you choosing between law schools right now?

Choosing the right law school can make all the difference when you graduate. Big firms have general rules based on the particular law school -- I should know, I've recruited lots of associates for big law positions.

Your law school can make getting the right job easy or impossible. Sometimes it feels impossible to choose between different law schools.

But, there are a few factors and a few general rules of thumb that you should take into account that make it easier. Taking these factors into consideration will help make sure you pick the law school that is right for you.

Even if you've already chosen your law school, you'll find this video invaluable. You can confirm you made the right choice. And if you didn't you might consider transferring to the law school you should have chosen (transferring is an option if you have the grades!).

By the end of this video you'll know the right law school for you. AND you'll learn about what it takes to get into Big Law from any law school in the country.

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★ Got law school questions? Ask in the comments!
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[josephwolf]

My goal University of American Samoa with a specialization in Bird law

[EzPzLemonYeezy]

“Just go to a top tier law school”

*gets rejected from the entire t50*

[reesaspieces]

My choice for law school was a combination of specialty, location, and financial aid - in that order. I start my 1L in August, and I’m so excited!

[AMH]

I have been watching your videos for 2+ years now, and I was just admitted at Duke University Law today. Thank you for sharing such amazing insights!

[orianadelacruz]

Amazing how I realized I didn't want to be a doctor but a lawyer from one day to another. I have been watching your videos non stop. Thank you for this!!

[Edmund._.Dantes]

My choice of law school initially was based on pedigree/prestige after further consideration I'm hoping to apply to a law school with a small class size

[JohnArmwood]

As someone who followed your advice, back in the mid 1980s, I can say it is the right way to go. Pick a top tier law school in a city where you want to practice and which guarantees you financial aid all three years. Some top ten schools only guarantee their level of scholarship for the first year. Like in real estate location matters.

[lyyliv]

From my perspective after attending a Tier 1 state school, I would say state schools often teach you the law for that state, which is helpful if you know you will practice in that state. If you are looking for a State Supreme clerkship, many judges prefer state schools if they are highly ranked. For evidence, this was really helpful to me. My professor wrote the book that all judges and attys here use. My law school had tons of on campus interviewing from Big Law in the state. They really work their connections. Most of the partners were from the same law school I attended. I think alumni donations and job placement factor into the school's ranking.

[dylansmith]

I'm 16 and have always wanted to be a DA. My close friend was in the DA's office for 30+ years. However, he sadly passed away in 2018. I always had an interest in following in his footsteps.

[musicloversdream]

Currently got my first acceptance and scholarship package, but I'm still waiting to see for my two top choices. This video helps, cause while financial aid is needed, I also should consider more the other two that are better ranked

[DOSBoxMom]

Since my son wanted to join his dad's law practice in our hometown, financial aid was far more important than the law school's ranking. Both the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU-C) offered him financial aid, but UIUC offered a partial tuition scholarship while SIU offered a full-tuition scholarship, so SIU was where he went. (That, and also because he had just finished his undergrad degree at UIUC, and he wanted to go someplace different.) Since graduating, he's continuing to live at home, so he can plow the vast majority of his pay into paying down his student loans. At the rate he's going, he'll have approx. $60K total student loans (undergrad & law school) totally paid off in 4-5 years (maybe sooner?)

[djrom]

I took the LSAT….got an average score, 3.1 GPA. I applied to ten schools, got admitted to three. I enrolled in a Summer entry program at a mid-tier school to see if it was for me, but it just wasn’t. Got an MPA instead and went into law enforcement. No regrets. 👍😋

[ignitionfrn]

0:35 - Chapter 1 - What legal job do you want ?
1:45 - Chapter 2 - Where do you want to practice ?
3:35 - Chapter 3 - How much can you afford ?
5:35 - Chapter 4 - What field do you want to practice ?
6:45 - Chapter 5 - Do you want to be a big law attorney ?
10:50 - Chapter 6 - Higher ranking open options
12:55 - Chapter 7 - Go to law school in the state you want to practice

[HoangNguyen-sedg]

NYU(#6) sends ~75% of its class to Big Law firms, ~ 10% to clerkships(which are as prestigious if not more than big law firms), and the other 15% is in public interest(which is something that people often choose to do even if they are a top student). The rest of the T14 have similar numbers, down to Georgetown which is ~60% of its class. The video is wrong in that you do not need to be top 1/3rd of your class for Biglaw at T14's(which pays 190k as of 2021). You can be a below-average student and chances are pretty high you will still get a good job. You can search up law school employment statistics" if you don't believe me over Devin(which is fair). I think this video kind of underestimates the safety that T14's guarantees its students.

[jkholtgreve]

I’ve always been told that if you want to practice in Louisiana you basically *must* go to law school there because of the Napoleonic Code, and that’s very much worth considering for anyone who wants to get into the energy industry.

[kellymcvay]

What about a video on what kind of law to specialized in? Criminal, family? Wills and trust?

[hagenziegelitz]

fun fact, i can go to any law school here in germany and have the same chances of getting a "top job" as long as my grades are good. law school names dont matter.

[marziyafatima]

This video is a Life saver. Thank you so much!

[vickyyyy]

some of your information is incorrect. you don't need to be in the top third of your class to get a biglaw job from the T14. T14 law schools send anywhere from 80-60% of their graduating classes into Biglaw. You typically need to be in the top third for schools ranked 20 to 40-ish.

[lorenacuenca]

I am applying to law school this fall and I am trying to decide on my list before applications officially open. My list right now includes schools close to the firm I want to work at and its different locations and I couple of schools that are just generally good school and some that are just "safety"