Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Lawyers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Hastings College of Law, WSU College of Law, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and San Joaquin College of Law.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider UC Davis, University of La Verne, and Cal Berkeley.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Humphreys.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider UC San Diego, Stanford University, University of La Verne, and Cal Berkeley.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Humphreys.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Stanford University, Pepperdine University, Whittier College, and University of San Diego.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Stanford University, Whittier College, Loyola Marymount, and UC San Diego.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Stanford University, Southern Cal, Cal Berkeley, and UCLA.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Stanford University, Cal Berkeley, UCLA, and Southern Cal.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Southwestern Law School, California Western, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and Stanford University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of San Francisco • San Francisco, CA
Studying Law (completion in 1979)
• 9/14/2011
"I believe that the school actually improved as I went there. They found good teachers. My tax and corporation professors instituted the practice of working ethics into their classes, so we could see real life experiences."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would need to go back there to check, but I have been pleased with what I have heard. I also liked the fact that John Jay Osbourn is there. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | USF is well-known locally. The degree may not carry as much weight in, say, New York. On the other hand, the former DA of Sonoma County (Gene Tunney) was enrolled, as I hear it, in an Ivy League law school, but when he found out that that school's bar passage rate for the California Bar Exam was not good, he switched to USF. |
| Program Quality | 6 | USF was a good law school. I found that, with one exception, my first-year teachers were uninspired and uninspiring. My second and third years offered many good teachers and many interesting classes. |
| Instruction | 6 | I found that most of my teachers in the first year were simply "going through the motions." USF should have provided better teachers for those in the first year. In my second and third years, I found VERY good teachers-- for example, the man who taught Federal Income Tax Law (which should have been dull) and made it interesting. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I found myself lost in the first year, and found that some of my teachers were not helpful. In the second and third years, I found classes that were difficult (in the sense that they were challenging) but enjoyable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I was fortunate to get a semester's credit for a clerkship. However, I did not know which chair to take on my first trial. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | When I attended USF, we had the option (in second and third years) of day and evening classes. Since I am not a morning person, I was glad to take some evening classes. There were no online classes there in my time (1976-1979). |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | A very good law library. There was no shortage of classroom space. I had no real advisors, which is a facet of undergrad life at USF that I really appreciated. My study group was not good (I had bronchial pneumonia and they dropped me because I was holding them back). |
| Social Life | 5 | Law students are inherently intelligent. It was easy to find oneself in a discussion of anything from classic movies to politics to Woody Allen routines. On the other hand, they are usually stressed, sometimes impolite or critical, and often self-absorbed. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I found the people there in 1979-1980, when I was looking for a job, to be very helpful. Since then, I have been self-employed and have not had occasion to ask for their services. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I found that simply being an alumnus was a career booster. I also found the networking good. I was particularly impressed with the people there recently. |
University Of The Pacific, McGeorge School Of Law • Sacramento, CA
Studying Law (J.D.) (completion in 2010)
• 9/17/2011
"If I had to do it again, I would not change it. As part time programs go, it was the best choice. If I were to go full time, I may have tried to find somewhere slightly more intellectually stimulating, but I think that is mostly snobbery on my part."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely. McGeorge has the advantage of being a stand alone law school that is part of a University, so you get the best of both worlds. I think it's a fantastic place to go. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school is in the top 100 US News and World Report law schools.... I think it should be higher. |
| Program Quality | 10 | McGeorge gave me a lot of practical experience that other law students do not get. I feel my writing, research, and oral advocacy skills are better than some peers from other law schools. |
| Instruction | 9 | I had fantastic professors who really cared and put a lot of effort into instruction. They were up to date with current case law. The curriculum was well designed to help me pass the bar exam. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I was a part time student, and worked full time during school, so I had to work hard to fit things into my schedule. I enjoyed the challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As mentioned earlier, I feel my practical (oral advocacy, writing and research) skills are better than many of my peers from other institutions. Law school requires book learning, but this was a good mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | No online, but I don't think law school classes should be taught online. Other than that, the evening program was fantastic. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The campus is beautiful, and the classrooms are modern. They just opened a brand new library facility. |
| Social Life | 6 | There are lots of opportunities. I did not necessarily take advantage of many because I was an evening student, but there are lots of activities there, and they try hard to foster them. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I graduated in a tough economy, but was able to get a job. They were very supportive, but could have had more outreach. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | McGeorge is a powerhouse in the Sacramento legal market. I got externships during law school through alumni, which ultimately helped me land my job. |
Loyola Law School • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Law (completion in 1990)
• 9/24/2011
"I am very pleased and satisfied with my Loyola experience. The fact that I am underemployed is not the fault or responsibility of the school but rather the perceptions of the field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school was very helpful overall. The professors, with few exceptions, knew their stuff and were able to present the material in an understandable manner. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The school is nationally ranked very highly by all law school rating services. Further, the pass rate of their students ranks among the highest of all law schools for one of the most difficult of all bar examinations in the country. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Loyola provided assistance of any type I required to complete my Juris Doctor degree. My failure to obtain employment is not the fault of Loyola but rather the faulty perceptions of the people working within the field. |
| Instruction | 8 | The curriculum provided a sound basis for passing the California Bar Examination. Law is a field that requires on the job training due to the number of specialized areas of expertise required to fulfill the needs of the client. |
| How Difficult | 9 | My experience was that attending and graduating from Loyola Law School was the most difficult and challenging undertaking of my life. In my previous academic experiences, I was always one of the best students. However, all of the students in my classes there were also very talented. Therefore, the competition was fierce. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The learning experience was mixed. Due to the use of the Socratic method in class to explain the concepts, extensive book preparation and familiarity with the materials was required. In addition, there are/were clinics and internships available for participation providing "hands on experience" while still a student. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | All classes were offered during the day and in the evening. The same professors presented the evening classes as those in the day. The school made no distinction between day and evening students as far as the quality of student accepted and the classes presented. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All resources were of very high quality and were accessible. The hours were extensive. |
| Social Life | 5 | My social experience was very limited. There were many activities available. However, I was much older than the majority of the students and worked full time, so I was unable to participate. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have availed myself of the services provided, but am still without legal employment. I am currently seeking employment as a paralegal because I have been unable to secure a single interview as an attorney. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have received no support from the alumni network. However, to be completely fair, I have no contact with other alumni because I live in an outlying area and there a very few close by. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Juris Doctorate (completion in 1992)
• 10/24/2011
"UCLA is an excellent school with excellent faculty. The alumni network is strong, and has helped me in my career. Looking back, I wish I had attended a different school for personal reasons (since I had also attended UCLA as an undergraduate), but I do not blame the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Law is a difficult, stressful, challenging profession. The daily life of a lawyer is not glamorous, and is far from what you see on TV or in the movies. That being said, many people can have a rewarding - financially and otherwise - career. I would recommend that a person considering law spend a great deal of time thinking about WHY they want to become a lawyer (e.g. save the world, make a lot of money, help people, etc.) and then talk to practicing lawyers to validate assumptions about legal practice and see if they are choosing the right career. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UCLA School of Law is consistently ranked among the country's top law schools. It is very difficult to be admitted, and a degree from the school has cachet and is valuable for a resume. |
| Program Quality | 8 | UCLA School of Law did a very good job of preparing me for the theory of being a lawyer, and did a good job of preparing me for the actual practice of law. I was glad to have had the chance to participate in clinical education; that provided the best preparation for actual practice. |
| Instruction | 8 | The faculty was excellent, but I prefer practicality over theory. I thought that some professors were too focused on abstraction (which, is not unusual in legal training), which I found difficult to apply to actual case analysis. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Law school - especially the first year - is very challenging. At a top school like UCLA, all of the students are bright and driven, which makes for a competitive environment. Also, many of the ways that students had been trained to think, analyze, and communicate had to be changed to conform to legal practice. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Law school requires mastery of written case law and statutes; book learning is necessary. UCLA also provides an opportunity for clinical education, which gives the student the chance to work on real cases for real people. It is a good mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The first year of law school has a required curriculum; there is very little flexibility to schedule these classes since the students are assigned to class groups. The second and third year students have more choice, and many popular classes are offered more than once. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The law library and computer labs are very good, as are the clinical education spaces. The school has done a good job of upgrading the infrastructure and equipment when necessary. Tutoring - particularly for first year legal practice classes - has always been a strong point. |
| Social Life | 5 | Law students are very busy. There is time, however, to socialize with fellow students, and UCLA has many clubs for students to join. Study groups are popular, and students often form close friendships through shared academic rigor. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The placement office does a commendable job of trying to match students and alumni with available jobs. Unfortunately, the legal job market is very poor, and jobs are hard to come by. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | UCLA is a major force in the legal market in Los Angeles. Many judges are alumni, as are prominent lawyers in many law firms. In my own office, our top two lawyers are UCLA alumni. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying JD (completion in 2009)
• 12/19/2011
"Overall, I think the leadership is lacking at our school - I was not a fan of the old dean and thought he was a bit silly and unprofessional. The school experience was great, but it would be nice to have the support on the backend as well (career services office), because the strength of the alumni network translates to the strength of a school's reputation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think UCLA is a great school in many ways - the resources are there, the professors love engaging with students, the campus is gorgeous, the schedule is flexible, and you are really able to take what you want out of the school. However, they have been a bit slow to catch up with their counterparts in the areas of study abroad programs, career services, and an alumni network outside of the Los Angeles area. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | My area of specialty has an excellent reputation and excellent professors. However, the reputation is more limited the further east one travels. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It is highly ranked and has great professors. That being said, I believe that I could have gone to a school with better name recognition. |
| Instruction | 10 | I enjoyed the curriculum of all of my classes, and I found them relevant to the courses I was taking. I also believe that the professors were topnotch and always willing to engage with students. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was rigorous. However, there was a lot of flexibility to design the schedule that worked best for the individual. Additionally, it was possible to complete all coursework during the day and have a great work-life balance. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were not very many clinical courses offered, and many classes were in a lecture format, with exams testing material learned. There were perhaps a few times when one was learning in a more hands-on way, but this was highly dependent on the teacher and not very clear prior to taking the class (unless it was a clinic). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Lots of flexibility in the 2L and 3L years, but the first year, the schedule is fixed and there is 0 flexibility. No summer offerings, but there are some evening options. No online options either. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Excellent resources and excellent campus - the library is topnotch and computers are everywhere. I always had access to resources, professors included. |
| Social Life | 8 | I believe Los Angeles is a little bit unique in the way that the social scene is. All of our bar reviews were at big Hollywood clubs, and I do believe that if you did not fit a certain demographic, you were probably very isolated. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The career services office is not helpful. It is still living in the past when the economy was great - but when even the best students in a class, on law review, are not getting any job offers, the career services office needs to step in and try to create job opportunities, and they do not do this. There is a story of them actually referring recent grads to Craigslist. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | The Career Center is not well connected and does not help its graduates in substantive ways. There are not enough resources to access alumni outside of Los Angeles, which is disappointing and limiting for a school on the rise. |
Chapman University School Of Law • Orange, CA
Studying School Of Law (completion in 2008)
• 12/29/2011
"I loved Chapman and look forward to an opportunity to come back and visit soon. I'm very happy with the education I received and I am thankful to my school for that."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I'm often asked for recommendations about law schools. I'm happy to recommend Chapman. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school is very well known locally. It is still gaining recognition nationally. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Chapman is an amazing school. The location is beautiful, the professors are outstanding and I made lifelong friends. |
| Instruction | 10 | I left school ready to open my own practice. I am thankful that they offered a tax emphasis program, as it helped me to become an estate planning attorney. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was a tremendous amount of work and probably the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. This is what you would expect from a law school, however. I was definitely challenged by my professors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a large amount of reading. Many teachers use the Socratic method in class, however, which is more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They offer a part-time program that has more flexibility. I was a full-time student. There is not a lot of flexibility with that, but in law school, you aren't doing anything besides going to class anyway! |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Beautiful campus. The school and its facilities are well maintained. |
| Social Life | 8 | There isn't a lot of time for socialization at school (in the form of parties, etc.), but I did make lifelong friends. There are lots of clubs and activities to encourage students to socialize, and I was heavily involved in those and enjoyed them greatly. |
| Placement Services | I opened my own practice. I did receive help and information, but I did not use their job placement services. | |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I live out of state, but I still stay in touch with the California alumni. The school frequently offers events out of state as well. |
Hastings College Of The Law • San Francisco, CA
Studying Law (completion in 2004)
• 1/7/2012
"I feel I got a really good legal education. I learned how to think critically, how to analyze, and how to structure my thinking. Overall, very worthwhile in terms of time spent, effort expended, and cost."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a very good education in a fun city (San Francisco). The school is very highly regarded by other attorneys and judges. Graduates have a better than average chance of finding a good job after graduation. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school has a very good national reputation. It is in the top tier of law schools. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Hastings is one of the best law schools in the U.S. |
| Instruction | 7 | The professors are highly regarded. There are plenty of clinical programs to gain experience practicing law before you graduate. |
| How Difficult | 9 | There was an enormous amount of work. The classes were demanding. Competition for good grades was fierce. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school has several very good clinical programs. Most of the learning is done through formal classroom instruction. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | This is a full-time program. There is some accommodation for students with health issues or pregnancy, but generally you are expected to complete the J.D. in 3 years going full-time. I don't think there are any night classes or part-time options. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The law library was very good: extensive collection and a new facility. Professors were available for consultation. The school has constructed at least one new building in the last 10 years. |
| Social Life | 3 | Most students study a lot. There's limited socializing. There are no athletic programs. School spirit is minimal. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Job placement was weak when I attended the school. The counselors were helpful and the resources were minimal. I think, however, that the school has improved the career services office in response to criticism. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni network is average. There are a number of alumni events locally. |
University Of California, Hastings College Of The Law • San Francisco, CA
Studying Law (completion in 2001)
• 1/13/2012
"As I've only attended one law school, I don't have a lot to compare it to, but I feel I received an excellent education at Hastings. I do wish the career services office had been more helpful, but part of that was my own failure to look into all of the options available to me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Hastings is expensive, and I'd probably suggest looking into cheaper options first. However, it's an excellent school with a very good reputation. For anyone considering a legal career - particularly big-firm or public interest, and particularly on the West Coast - it's a great option. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Hastings regularly appears in the rankings of Top Law Schools. Its alumni are disproportionately represented on the judicial bench in California. It has an excellent reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Hastings gave me a thorough legal education, both in substantive law and "how to think like a lawyer." It also offered opportunities for practical legal work (though I didn't take many of them). |
| Instruction | 10 | I felt that all of my professors were very knowledgeable. A few of them had somewhat difficult personalities, but that didn't make what they were teaching any less valuable. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The work load at Hastings, as at any law school, is very high. The tests given at the end of each semester are very difficult -- more so because they comprise your entire grade for the course. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There are a number of clinical education programs available at Hastings. However, they tend to fall within a fairly narrow range of practice areas, so there weren't a lot of opportunities outside of those areas. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Hastings is a traditional, full-time law school. There were no options for part-time study, online study, or evening or weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | One of the reasons I went to Hastings was the quality of its library. It has plenty of classroom space, and offered Internet access in most or all of the study spaces when I was there in the late 90s/early 2000s. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were a lot of social options and clubs available. I didn't take advantage of many of them, but I knew they were there. |
| Placement Services | 7 | To be honest, the career services office didn't do much for me. It was very heavily focused on big firm placements, or so it felt at the time. I believe that's starting to change, though. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The alumni network is very supportive, and there are a number of opportunities to meet with alums, sponsored by the alumni office. However, the network exists almost entirely on the West Coast, as I've discovered since moving back East. |
University Of La Verne College Of Law • Ontario, CA
Studying Business (In Undergrad) (completion in 2011)
• 2/1/2012
"I am pleased to have a solid legal education and have succeeded in becoming an attorney; however, I wish I would have chosen a school with some weight behind it's name."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | La Verne Law is not currently ABA approved (only CBA approved), thus students who graduate from this school now can only sit for the California bar exam. In addition to this hurdle, La Verne Law's reputation has been dramatically hurt by our dean resigning and our overall failure to obtain full ABA accreditation. I cannot in good conscious recommend a law school without ABA approval to anyone, unless it is a last resort. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | The University of La Verne College of Law has a relatively poor reputation as of late. While the school is well known in the Ontario and Inland Empire area, it is completely off the radar nationally. It's standing has only gotten worse since losing provisional ABA accreditation here recently. |
| Program Quality | 2 | I chose La Verne law primarily because they offered me a very large scholarship to attend. In hindsight, I would have been much better off attending school in a state with a lower cost of living and/or selecting a school with better name recognition. |
| Instruction | 5 | Law school does a poor job preparing a graduate for being a lawyer. The majority of school is spent learning how to think and learning skills that help you prepare for the bar exam. While I feel my legal education was on par with that of other schools, legal education in general provides sub par preparation for working in the field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Law school is difficult no matter where you attend. One has to change the way that they think and read more than they have ever read before. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Law school in general is poor at providing hands on learning. I believe our school did a slightly better job at this by providing good moot court programs, a strong student government, clinical programs, and very involved student organizations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I found scheduling to be relatively simple. As long as one was prompt in putting in a request, it was usually met. Priority was given to upperclassman and in extenuating circumstances exceptions could be made by the registrar. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | For the size of our school, resources and facilities were adequate. Our building was newer, our library had what we needed and the computer lab was generally large enough for most situations. There was little "fancy" about our school and the campus was in a so/so area of town, but otherwise it was fine. |
| Social Life | 8 | I'm not sure what generated the school spirit at La Verne Law, but it seemed to be exceptional. Our school has gone through some trying times and while many of the students complained about the problems, we stuck together and enjoyed each other's company. We felt the need to prove our schools worth at inter law school competitions, and I believe it pushed us to work harder. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Our career services adviser was one of the highlights of our school. While placement for our students was, and still is, difficult, she did her very best and provided a multitude of resources to try and help our students and graduates. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | La Verne law did not have ABA accreditation until the year before I attended the school and they have since lost their accreditation. This has naturally deteriorated the enthusiasm for our institution and thus reduced the alumni support. While the alumni do have a presence and do attempt to provide some connection to the school after graduation, it is tenuous at best. |
University Of California, Hastings College Of The Law • San Francisco, CA
Studying Juris Doctor (completion in 2010)
• 2/10/2012
"I liked the challenge. I hated the competitiveness and the fact that I do not have a job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school to those looking to practice in Northern California. I would not, however, recommend the practice of law to anyone. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is a tier one law school. However, it is not in the T14 category (top 14). |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school is amazing. The Professors are top notch. I just wish my education led to a job. |
| Instruction | 8 | The Professors were amazing. The problem was that they made the material too theoretical. The practice of law itself is very cut and dry. |
| How Difficult | 10 | It's a tier one law school. It is very competitive because the students compete with students from other tier one schools in the region. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Mostly it was book learning. However, there were plenty of hands on programs available. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Only full time, day classes were offered. Classes were easy to get into, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school's library is amazing. Since it's located in the Civic Center in San Francisco, it lacks a full campus. |
| Social Life | 1 | This was my fault. I did not take initiative to network and meet people. |
| Placement Services | 1 | What can I say? I have not found a job but feel that I have experience and qualify. |
| Alumni Network | I moved out of the area. I have been unable to buddy up with any alumni so far. |
University Of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Studying Law (completion in 2010)
• 2/17/2012
"I really appreciated how caring the faculty was. My peers are brilliant and help me find career opportunities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a great value. With tuition increases, I'd look at other schools but I'd make the same choice nearly every time. I had a great experience. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is very easy to find a job. People really respect these credentials. |
| Program Quality | 10 | While expensive, my school prepared me well intellectually. I also received good support from career services. |
| Instruction | 10 | The Professors were top-notch. The clinical skills program was excellent in providing me practical skills. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The law requires a lot of reading and memorization. It was worth it, however, as the career I have obtained is excellent. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school had a great balance between classroom instruction and great hands-on clinics. The clinical program is excellent. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There are a lot of classes offered by great professors. My ability to choose two electives as a 1L was great. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | After renovations, things are excellent. The library is one of the best in the nation. |
| Social Life | 10 | Excellent. People are nice, willing to share notes, and have great social events. The journals also put on great networking and social events. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Great. The CDO officers are always very helpful. The staff always goes out of its way to help. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Boalt alumni are always willing to help with a career. I think this is better than at almost all other law schools. |
University Of California, Hastings College Of The Law • San Francisco, CA
Studying Legal Studies (completion in 2010)
• 3/5/2012
"I was very satisfied with my school in the end. I wish they would have provided a better transitioning process from undergraduate students to first year law students in the beginning. It was difficult to figure out alone."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school has a huge network, is in a great location, and is very affordable for the quality of education you receive. I would recommend it to others interested in obtaining a law degree. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Our school's reputation is good. Though it may not be "Top 20," it is still a Tier 1 school, and most practicing attorneys in the area think highly of Hastings and the quality of lawyers that the school produces. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was great. There were many different areas of law to study and many different support programs to partake in. |
| Instruction | 8 | The clinics and hands on classes were the best. The lectures were good as an introduction, but a lot of stuff you will not use unless you are a general practitioner. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program was very challenging. Most classes were graded on a strict bell curve so you had to really earn your way to an A, and most students were used to being at the top of their class in previous years and had a very good work ethic. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes are focused on lectures, but the school highly encourages clinics and hands on classes such as moot court, trial advocacy, and negotiations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Our school had a very strict and traditional schedule. Full time students only, and mostly day time classes. There were no evening or online programs available. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had a lot of great resources, mostly because we were very close to San Francisco City Hall and many different court houses. It would have been nice to have more up to date classrooms and a bigger campus (the campus is only 2 buildings). |
| Social Life | 10 | Most people were very friendly, tolerant, and accepting of others. |
| Placement Services | 8 | There were many seminars and job placement opportunities in the career office. I think they had different informational events every week. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Our school graduates about 400+ lawyers every year, so our alumni network is significant, especially throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. |
UCLA School Of Law • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Law Degree (J.D.) (completion in 2008)
• 3/22/2012
"I ended up liking UCLA School of Law much better than I expected. I do not think I would be in the job I am in today--which I love--if I had gone to a different school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I don't recommend to people that they go to law school unless they are sure that they really want to practice law. The job market is flooded, and too many people go to law school because they don't know what else to do. But, if someone does want to go to law school, I would highly recommend UCLA. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I believe UCLA is widely seen as the best law school in Southern California. I have never heard anything negative about its reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UCLA's law school did a great job of preparing me to be a lawyer. A trial advocacy clinical program I took in my third year was the most valuable aspect of my education, in terms of preparing me for my current job. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of the professors that I had were very good. They were accessible outside of class, and many of them were compelling speakers. I don't give this a 10, because any school will have some professors that aren't particularly good communicators or teachers. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work was challenging, but do-able. I had to study a lot, but I was also able to maintain some of my personal life. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Clinical programs, such as the one I took, offered hands-on learning. There were not enough spaces in those classes for everyone who wanted them, however. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | There are not many law classes offered at UCLA during non-traditional hours. I doubt one could complete a law degree with only those classes, though I am not sure. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had a beautiful library and good computer resources. Some of the technology in the classrooms could probably use updating, but it wasn't bad. |
| Social Life | 8 | At UCLA, there is virtually no interaction between the law students and the undergrads, so I don't know anything about school spirit, sports, etc. But I made wonderful friendships with some of the people who attended law school with me, so I see the social experience as a positive one. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The school offered more placement opportunities to students who wanted to work at big law firms than those of us who wanted to work in public interest or government jobs. But I think that is a reflection of the legal job market as much as it is any shortcoming of the school. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I have not taken advantage of the alumni network since graduating, so my experience is limited. I did, however, get my first job out of law school with an alumnus, so I appreciate that. |
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