Choosing a Law School
There are many things to think about when selecting law schools. For the most part, law schools have general legal curriculum - you will not "major" in anything in law school. However, some schools do have a certificate or specialization program, especially through their clinical practice programs.
Some things to consider:
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Alumni network
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Breadth of curriculum
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Clinical programs
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Commitment to innovative technology and practices
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Cost
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Externship options
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Faculty accessibility
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Intensity of writing instruction
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Quality of Law library
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Location
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Part-time enrollment option
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Public interest programs and loan repayment assistance for low-income lawyers
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Quality of teaching
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Size and diversity within the faculty and student body
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Religious affiliation
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Specialized areas of faculty expertise
Condensed from LSAC.org
PRICE: In general, state schools will be less expensive than private schools. In addition, the rank of the law school affects the price, and more prestigious law schools often cost more. However, this varies for every individual.
It is a very good idea to visit the law schools you are considering so that you can get a sense for whether they are a good fit. Take into consideration that the time you are investing in law school includes both academic and social fit of an area. Each of these elements will add up to be key factors in your law school success.
RANK: If your goal is to become a law school professor or to work at a top-ranked law firm, school rank may be important. You may have more luck at smaller firms if you attend a regional law school. If, for example, you know you want to live in Arizona and practice law in Arizona, attending one of Arizona's law schools may be preferred over trying to attend a school with a higher ranking in another location.
You should talk with a Pre-Law Advisor about law schools. Also, you should spend some time on the Law School Admissions Council website where there are listings of law schools, rankings, etc. Please click on the link to the right to take you to the LSAC site.
The Boston College Law School Locator (select link to the right) can give you a view of the LSAT scores and GPAs of half of the entering classes for a good number of law schools.