Make the Most of Law School Day

When deciding whether, where, and when to study law, it is important to learn as much as you can about different programs. Prepare a list of questions to review with admissions representatives from schools of interest to you at Law School Day. The following areas of consideration can help you create a list of questions on issues that are important to you.

National and Regional Schools

• Does the school attract applicants from across the country and abroad, or are most students from the region in which the school is located?
• Do most students want to work throughout the country or in the school's region following graduation?
  

Admissions Criteria

• Which does the school value more, GPA or LSAT score?   Will the school use the highest LSAT score or an average of multiple scores?
  
• If the school is a state school, does it give in-state preference?
• How much does the school value subjective factors such as personal statements or letters of recommendation?
• What additional factors are important?

Faculty

• What are their academic training and experiential backgrounds?
• Number of full-time vs. adjunct faculty?
• Student-faculty ratio?

• Number of female and minority faculty?

Facilities and Resources

• Do students have access to courses from a range of academic disciplines to supplement the legal curriculum?
• Is the library large enough to accommodate the schools' holdings and allow students to conduct research and study?
• How helpful is the library staff?
• In general, do the facilities provide a comfortable learning environment?

Student Body

• What undergraduate schools have they attended?

• From what geographic regions do they come?

• Is there diversity in interests and personal/cultural backgrounds?

• How competitive are students?

Special Programs

• What coursework is available in specialized areas such as international or environmental law?
• What types of internships are available related to special programs?
• Are there specialized institutes or journals in students' areas of interest?

Career Services

• What types of positions have recent graduates chosen after graduation?
• What resources are available to assist with job searches?
• What assistance is given if students are interested in a public interest position?
• How many employers recruit in the law school, who are they, and where they located?

Cost

• What tuition, housing, and transportation costs?
• How much financial assistance is available?
• Are merit-based awards available?

The Cornell Career Services Legal Careers Guide is also a good resource for helping you manage the information-gathering and application processes.