1. What are the top law schools?
Keep in mind that the list of top law schools may vary significantly from the list of best law schools for you! But since you've asked, U.S. News and World Report provides a yearly ranking popular with students.
To generate your personal list of top law schools, keep the following in mind:
- preferred geographic area
- area(s) of law most interesting to you
- size of school/student body
- cost/potential for scholarships
- reality of being accepted
- diversity of students and faculty
- availability of clinicals/internships/externships
2. What is the difference between a regional and a national school?
National law schools generally enjoy a stronger reputation than regional schools. The focus of your education at a "national" school will be on learning how to think like a lawyer rather than on learning specific law. Often both their alumni and employer bases are more widespread geographically. Also, the student body of a national school will be made up of students from most if not all the states. Regional schools teach you to think like a lawyer and they also begin to teach specific law. Both their alumni and employer bases tend to be local.
You can expect to apply to approximately eight to ten schools which will include some of each of the following:
- dream or reach schools: those schools you would ideally like to attend, however, your candidate profile (LSAT score and GPA) is not quite as strong as last year's class
- comfort schools: your candidate profile is similar to that of those candidates accepted last year - while it's not a guarantee, the expectation is that you would be accepted
- safety schools: those schools for which your candidate profile is stronger than that of those candidates accepted last year.
Use your LSAT score and your GPA to get started. While law schools do look beyond the numbers, these scores constitute approximately 80% of the formula. We recommend that you use them as a basis for selecting a range.
Remember! Your goal is to select a range of schools which will generate acceptances!
The BC On-Line Law School Locator is a great way to begin identifying schools likely to accept candidates with your profile.
4. How do I know if these are good choices for me?
To determine if these are good choices for you, ask yourself the following questions about each school:
- am I likely to be accepted?
- would I actually attend this school if I got no other acceptances?
- does the school "specialize" in the area of law in which I'm especially interested?
- what do Brandeis alumni have to say about their experiences here?
- what services do they provide to help me find summer and permanent employment?
- physically, is this a place where I'd be comfortable?
- do I believe that I'll get a good education here?
5. What if I don't have my LSAT score yet?
If you take your LSAT's in the fall semester (especially in December), you may be ready to begin selecting schools before you have received your scores. That won't keep you from getting started, however. Presumably you have done something to prepare for the LSAT. Use these "diagnostic" or practice scores to identify a realistic range and make a preliminary selection of schools. Once you do receive your actual score, you will have time to adjust your final selection.
6. What do schools think about candidates from Brandeis?
Good news! Law schools view the liberal arts education favorably. And Brandeis specifically enjoys a good reputation with law schools. As a matter of fact, certain law schools identify Brandeis as a "feeder school." Be conservative, even still, when selecting a range of schools. We encourage you to make your initial selections based upon your LSAT score and your GPA.
7. Which is more important: my GPA or my LSAT score?
Generally, the LSAT is the more important one. However, this varies school to school. Some, when reviewing a candidate's profile, will use an index. The index is a formula calculated from both the GPA and the LSAT score. By looking at the formula used by a specific school, you can determine whether your LSAT score or your GPA plays a more prominent role in determining your index score. LSDAS will provide you with a list of index formulae. Keep in mind that your GPA and your LSAT score are like apples and oranges. You can't "shave" a few points off the higher of the two scores to strengthen the lower.