Expert: Bruce - 8/17/2006

Question
Hello Bruce, I was hoping you would be able to help with some confusion I have about selecting a law school.My son plans on attending law school in Sept.07.He is currently taking a LSTAT prep course(expensive-$1,200.00) with the hope that a good LSTAT score admits him to a prestigious law school.My question is,does graduating from a "prestigious" law school translate  into more job and greater salary opportunities or is it just passing the bar exam and attending a lesser know school all that is necessary to suceed? Thanks in advance. D.Armstrong

Answer
Dale,

I have known some people that have gone to law schools (fortunately, not in an adversarial way) and here's the sense that I have gotten.

The law school one attends does matter. But the situation can be like this:

If the choice comes down to a pretty good school vs a so so one, by all means reach for the good one.

If the choice comes down to a top end school vs a pretty good one; the top end is great but you can probably do OK with the "pretty good" option.  In fact, coming out in the top at a pretty good school might be just as marketbale as being a middling graduate of the prestige school. The "pretty good" school might also offer some scholarship possibilities.

If your son has a specific law interest already, that would be another thing to explore. It could be that a school that's not top rated overall may have a particular niche and attendant reputation in a specific area of practice - and so could be a viable choice.

As in any area of endeavor, anything that your son has going for him that enhances his resume is going to help, with admission and post law school employment; international experience, summer work, writing facility, foreign language skills.

My own son is planning for grad school in '07 (history) and I'm working with him on that. It's nice when 20+ kids still want our advice, isn't it.

Hope this helps. Glad to answer more questions.