Get ALL tips to choose right Law school

WHILE a Law school’s reputation should certainly represent a significant component of  one’s decision-making process, it cannot be the only consideration. Here are some other key factors to help you choose the right Law school:

Choose great professors
Professors’ reputations are generally well known in their Law schools, and they can make even the dullest subjects interesting and get you excited to go to the class. Law schools, which do not provide faculty profiles should be asked to do so or should be avoided.

Check faculty size and teacher-student ratio at the Law school. Larger the faculty size, better this is for the student body. Also find out the following: Where are the faculty offices located? Are the faculty accessible? Are the faculty committed to getting involved with students on a day-to-day basis? A residential campus where all faculty members and students are provided accommodation by the Law school, wins hands-down over a Law school with no or inadequate hostel/faculty, housing facilities.

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Seek placement, internship information
For each of the schools you are seriously considering, research the academic and professional opportunities offered outside the classroom. These might include clinics, journals, or internships (with firms, companies, or judges) that you can complete during the school year. You should find out which Law school’s graduates get the most judicial clerkships or internship in top national and international law firms. Legal News portals like ‘LegallyIndia.com’ throw sufficient light on ‘day zero’ and final placements of graduating batches of leading law schools.

Location matters
If you are going to a top 5, even a top 10 Law school, national brand recognition will often outweigh the importance of location. Otherwise, location is absolutely essential. One should try to decide where one wants to live, work and practice law after Law school. You must try and aim to attend a Law school in that same geographic area.

Consider the cost
Know how much you can afford to pay to a Law school for five years. Eliminate Law schools that are simply not affordable for you. If you belong to a very humble background, always be clear about the scholarship money you might receive and the debt you may incur. A less expensive government college located in a city where you want to practice might be a better choice than a more “prestigious” private or National Law School where you will graduate with a huge debt. Of course, if affording it is not an issue, one must be ready to invest to study at the finest Law school possible even if a small bank loan has to be taken.


Ask alumni
Talk to alumni of every Law school. Ask about their experiences on campus, with faculty and the specific programme you’re planning to study. Also, question them about academics and social aspects such as life off-campus, and networking with other students.

Does the school have a culture of legal research and writing?
See if the Law school is publishing at least one academic journal, if not more. Ask for a copy of the Law Review of the Law school. Its quality speaks volumes about the academics of the school. Check whether the Law school students and faculty members are getting published regularly. A simple Google search will help you get a basic idea.

Check student satisfaction
Maybe some senior from your school or some friend’s friend is already studying in the Law school of your interest. Talk to him or her to gauge their satisfaction with the school. Ask about his achievements and how the Law school has contributed to his personal and professional development so far. Ask what he looks forward to becoming after graduating from that school. You may find answers to many of your questions this way.

Clinical programmes/ research centres at Law school
Check whether there are active and quality clinical legal programmes, and legal aid clinics available and functional within the school. Does the Law school have research centres in specialised areas of law? These will impart you practical experience. Make sure to know whether the research centres are just listed on paper or website, and if they are truly functional. Ask for the research reports or publications or even newsletters of the research centres. Try to collect some information about the professors heading these centres. For instance, does their work interest you? Answers to these questions can help you in a big way in your search.

A campus visit is a must
Judge the school not only by its printed materials and its reputation but by what you see when you visit. Discover what the culture and community is really like on each campus. Talk to students to find out more about the environment. How competitive is it? What is the social scene on weekends? You should also explore housing facilities, looking into on-campus and off-campus options. Lastly, experience some of the extracurricular and sports activities. While you should be able to easily find a list of student organisations on each Law school’s website, actually interacting with the students on campus or even on social networks will be much more revealing and informative.

The author, Anand Prakash Mishra is Programme Associate & Faculty Member at Jindal Global Law School