Law School - How Do I Choose a Law School?

Attend Cal’s Law School Fair in October to talk face-to-face with law school representatives.

Check the Cal Career Center's online Calendar for Law School Visits and law related information panels.

Use the law school links on the Law School Admission Council’s website to access detailed program information such as courses, professors, costs, financial aid and application forms. Usually, contact information is provided. If you have specific questions, directly contact the school.

At the Career Center Infolab, and the campus or local library, you will find books, brochures, catalogues, directories and guides that list information on universities that grant graduate or professional degrees. One such guide is The Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, which contains descriptions of all accredited graduate programs.

Conduct informational interviews with current law school students, professionals, and faculty in the law programs you are considering to gain insider information about programs.

Visit the law schools and sit in on classes if possible.

After you have gathered information, here are some factors to consider when evaluating law schools:

• Admission considerations: It is a good idea to look at schools’ entering class profiles to see what their students’ average and mean LSAT scores and GPAs are and how your numbers align with them. However, don’t rely on "numbers" alone to select potential schools; applicants with other strong qualities and/or accomplishments will be admitted to schools even if their numbers are lower than average. Schools are interested in students who demonstrate potential for success, which may not be reflected by their grades/scores. Since admissions decisions can be unpredictable, a common strategy is to use comparisons of your LSAT and GPA to recent entering classes’ to develop three lists of potential schools:
  • Dream schools that are a "stretch"
  • Core schools where you application will be competitive
  • Safety schools where you will likely be admitted
• Diversity of student body and faculty
• Financial Considerations
• Location (Where would you like to begin your practice? Is weather a factor for you? Do you need to be near your family?)
• Availability of classes in your areas of interest
• Career services and placement rates
• Campus facilities (housing, library, classrooms)
• Faculty (legal training, areas of interest, accessibility, diversity)
• Extracurricular activities (Law Review, moot court, student clubs)
• Academic programs (clinical opportunities, joint degree offerings, study abroad options)