Choosing the best public law school involves considering factors such as cost, location, reputation, and curriculum. Tuition at public law schools is lower for in-state students, and location can affect housing costs and job opportunities. Reputation and curriculum should also be researched.
Law schools can be private or public, just like elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools in the United States. While each prospective student’s criteria for choosing the best public law school may be slightly different, there are several factors that must be considered by all prospective law students choosing a school. Cost and location, as well as reputation and curriculum should be important factors when choosing the best public law school.
Although classes at a public law school are lower than those at a private law school, classes can still vary between public law schools. For the average law student, cost will be a factor when deciding on a school. As a rule, tuition at a public law school is only significantly lower for in-state students, which means that if a law student wants to go to school outside of his or her state of residence, he or she may be paying as it should, at a private law school.
Along with cost, location is an important factor when choosing a public law school. Many US states have more than one public law school in the state, giving students the option of choosing a location. For some students, choosing a school close to family or friends can be important, as well as a way to save money on rent or housing. A prospective law student may also want to choose a school in or near a metropolitan area, which will offer part-time or summer job opportunities and/or internship possibilities while in law school.
The reputation of the law school is always an important consideration. There are several reputable institutions and magazines that rank law schools each year. While many of the private law schools occupy the top spots, several public law schools also reach the top tier each year. Additionally, if a student plans to focus his or her practice in a particular area of law, he or she should research which law schools have a reputation for exceptional educational opportunities in that area of law.
While all law schools teach basically the same curriculum in the first two years, there are opportunities for elective or advanced classes in specific practice areas in the third year. Additionally, a potential student may want to look into what internship or clinical opportunities the law school offers students. The law journal opportunities at each school are another curriculum area a student should explore before deciding on a public law school.
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