Deciding whether to go to law school can be a challenging question, but even after you make up your mind, you still have to decide where to go to law school – and that can be even more difficult. This is especially true for people who have jobs or other commitments that may prevent them from touring campuses before applying. Given that there are around 200 law schools in the United States, here are some factors to consider that can help you narrow your options.

Location

Listing location as a factor may seem obvious, but it is still worth mentioning. Where your school is located not only affects your experience as a law student, but also your career after graduation. This is because most schools have the strongest job prospects within their respective regions. While more prestigious schools can afford their students more nationwide opportunities, access to nearby networks of alumni and other attorneys still increases the odds of finding a job locally. Of course, this is not the case for everyone, so don’t panic if you don’t know where you want to work yet – I certainly didn’t when I was applying. 

There are also non-career factors to consider like housing options, proximity to family and friends, and generally what kind of lifestyle you want while in law school. Part of the reason I chose BC was because it is located just outside of Boston, providing easy city access without the immediate hustle-and-bustle, and it allowed me to stay close to my family and friends in the Northeast. It was only after I decided I wanted those things that I looked more closely at job placements and other career-related factors to make my final decision.

Specialization

This factor is really a subset of location, as law schools may offer more specialized classes depending on what legal industries are prominent in their region. For example, law schools in Los Angeles will have more courses geared towards entertainment law than schools elsewhere in the country. Look up the programs and course catalogues at the schools you are considering and see what interests you. Just be aware that even if you have an idea of what industry you want to work in, plenty of students wind up changing their minds, so be cautious of putting all your eggs in one basket.

Faculty

Even if the material sounds interesting, a class is only as good as its professor. But law school faculty do more for students than just teach classes. They are mentors who have years of experience in the legal field and love to foster interest in their practice areas. Professors can also be the bridge between new students and alumni, forging connections that could help you get an interview or even land a job. Many professors will also hire students during the school year as research or teaching assistants. After finding the course catalogue, look into the professors who teach the classes that pique your interest. Websites like the Princeton Review also rank law schools by “best professors,” which can provide insight into what schools have exemplar faculty. Seeing BC on that list (currently #8) was another factor that helped me decide to apply.

Ranking

Not everyone finds law school rankings to be reliable, but they are still important to consider. US News publishes the most revered ranking list, which also includes information like acceptance rates, as well as the median LSAT score and undergraduate GPAs of accepted students. Much of that information is also available through schools’ websites, so be sure to cross reference what you find. All this is worth looking at to get a sense of where you stand compared to admitted students. 

This is not to say you shouldn’t apply to a law school that has a low acceptance rate or higher median LSAT score than yours – if you are passionate about a school, try to connect with people in the community to get a sense of how you can make your application stand out. Similarly, don’t be afraid to apply to a school that is lower on the list – rankings aren’t everything, and applying to a school where your stats are above-average makes it more likely for you to get a scholarship.

Student Culture

Location, faculty, classes – all of these are factors that will define your law school experience, but you won’t be experiencing it alone. It is definitely worth investigating what the student culture is like before you commit to a school. Most if not all schools have student clubs relating to different areas of law, as well as political, religious, and ethnic groups. These clubs often have their own events and networking opportunities, and can be a great way to meet people with similar interests or backgrounds. Do some research into what clubs exist at the schools you are considering – some of them may even have their own social media accounts. You can also check out online forums like Reddit and school blogs to find posts from former and current students talking about their favorite parts of their law school.

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Eddie Godino is a second-year student at BC Law. Contact him at godinoe@bc.edu.