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What are some good law schools in NYC?

#attorney #law-practice #law-school #lawyer #law

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Doc’s Answer

Emily, If you plan to practice law in the United States, you must earn a law degree and pass the bar exam. While that may seem a long way off for an aspiring lawyer, your journey to your law degree and your dream career starts with your decision in your college and your major in your undergrad years. There are lots of factors to consider if you one day plan to be a lawyer and want to start your education off right. It’s a big decision since the right school can help your chances of getting into your top law program, which can in turn help you land the job you’ve been thinking about for years.

1.) NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW • https://www.law.nyu.edu/
Established in 1835, the New York University School of Law is the oldest aw school in the city of New York. Their programs are renowned for focusing on public interest and government. Law and business at NYU encompasses several scholarly areas taught by faculty who are leaders in their fields. Areas of expertise include compliance and enforcement, corporate and commercial law, international business law, intellectual property and innovation, labor and employment law, social entrepreneurship, and taxation. Located in the heart of the world's financial center, NYU Law has the most extensive range of law and business offerings in legal education, with outstanding programs in corporate law as well as specialized programs for those interested in less traditional career paths.
• Acceptance rate: 31.4%
• Average LSAT scores of students: 170
• Full-time tuition: $55,000 per year

2.) COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL • https://www.law.columbia.edu/
Columbia has always been ranked as one of the best and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A pioneering force in legal education for more than 160 years, Columbia Law School provides you with unmatched opportunities to study and engage in the law. Study with world-renowned faculty who are leading authorities in their fields of study, and collaborate with them on projects that tackle some of the most challenging issues of our time. Gain real-world lawyering experience by participating in clinics, externships, simulations, policy labs, workshops, and moot court programs. Learn to think critically and responsibly about the law and its impact on individual lives, judicial institutions, and global affairs.
• Acceptance rate: 21.3%
• Average LSAT scores of students: 171
• Full-time tuition: $58,000 per year

3.) CORNELL LAW SCHOOL • https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/
They have one of the lowest law school faculty to student ratio in the country, with 10 professors to 1 student. However, almost 90% of their graduates are able to find long-term JD-required jobs within a year of graduating. Our small student body means you can interact with your classmates in a supportive and friendly environment. And, in spite of our small size, we offer an impressively wide-ranging curriculum. In addition to being prolific scholars, our professors are committed to the classroom. With a low student-faculty ratio, you'll have more opportunities to interact with and get to know your professors than at most top law schools. When students participate in one of our many clinics or externships, they work together with real clients on real issues of law. They engage in actual cases and gain invaluable practical experience at all levels of the process.
• Acceptance rate: 29.9%
• Average LSAT scores of students: 167
• Full-time tuition: $57,500 per year

4.) BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL • https://www.brooklaw.edu/
The Brooklyn Law School is one of the top law schools in the New York area, with their 94% of their graduates passing the bar exam on the first take. Every year, Brooklyn Law School students engage in the extremely important process of selecting their courses and planning their upperclass programs for the following academic year. Students have an enormous amount of autonomy to structure their upperclass years, choosing from among over 240 courses in a wide variety of areas.
• Acceptance rate: 43.9%
• Average LSAT scores of students: 159
• Full-time tuition: $54,500 per year

PREPARE FOR LAW SCHOOL

Choosing where you go to college is a big decision no matter what, and you have to remember that where you complete your undergrad both does and does not affect your law school applications. Law schools do consider where you attended undergrad in terms of academic rigor, and where you attend undergrad can help you build connections and a strong application. While the schools on this list can help you excel and provide wonderful resources for your law school career, it's important to excel at your school and in your major, both academically and in your social or extracurricular activities. As you research schools, keep in mind that you want to make sure you choose the right school for you that will allow you to get the most out of your education and choose the best pre-law school for you.

ONE OF THE BEST PRE-LAW FEEDER SCHOOL • NEW YORK UNIVERSITY • https://www.nyu.edu/
Some of the best pre-law schools are known for being “feeder schools” for top law schools. If your goal is to go to a top-ranked law school, you definitely want to look into the big feeder schools, even if they don’t have a pre-law major. NYU is in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world, and certainly offers a ton of opportunities for internships both in the legal industry and beyond. NYU also offers the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program, or LAMP, for pre-law students. The school’s academics are rigorous overall, and has a strong record in the humanities, particularly English.

Since law schools want students that are academically strong and have analytical skills, you want to pick a school with a strong humanities program where you will become a well-rounded student. Common majors for law school are: political science, history, English, criminal justice, business, philosophy, economics, and other arts and humanities. Law schools love majors that prove you’re a critical thinker, and your GPA will be vital for getting into your top law school choices. It is really great in this case to get your bachelors in something you love and can excel at.

Emily, Getting into law school is no easy feat. Your path to law school may look quite different than someone else’s. You certainly don’t have to attend a top college or university to get into law school, and you don’t have to go to a top law school to be a lawyer. You do, however, have to make sure you study hard for the LSATs and build a strong resume. Your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and work experience are all important parts of your law school application, so make sure that for undergrad you choose the major and school that suits you best, where you’ll get a well-rounded college experience.

Hope this was Helpful Emily

Doc recommends the following next steps:

GPA – It can't be stressed enough, the importance of a good college GPA because your undergraduate GPA is extremely important to law schools.
LSAT – The Law School Admission Test (LAST) has a reputation for being very challenging. If you know you want to go to law school, give yourself ample time to prepare for the test.
BA – Preparing for law school in college doesn’t mean that you should take classes about the legal system. Law schools would rather you take challenging courses that will help you improve your analytical skills and reading comprehension.
Thank you comment icon Thank You Dexter for your Continued Support. The more we praise and celebrate life, the more there is in life to celebrate. Doc Frick
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Caridad’s Answer

It depends on your interest. If you are interested in Public Interest / Service work, CUNY Law may be a great option.

The tuition is affordable and the training is excellent.
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Grace’s Answer

I attended law school in New York and one of the absolute best parts about it is the opportunities you will have for internships and work experience during school. I interned with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan and in Brooklyn, with a major law firm, and with a federal judge in Brooklyn. These were all incredible opportunities that I would not necessarily have had attending school outside of a city, and it really builds your resume for your job search. There is also a major alumni network in New York since so many people attend school and then stay to work. Whichever school you attend in New York (and there is a wide range depending on your LSAT scores, GPA, etc.) you will be exposed to one-of-a-kind opportunities. Good luck!
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Jonathan’s Answer

NYU and Columbia Re the top two. Fordham Brooklyn Law and Cardozo are in the next tier. After that there is St Johns Nee York Law and Rutgers in NJ
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Philip’s Answer

Hi Emily,

There are a lot of great law schools in NYC as others have mentioned. I also wanted to mention, Pace University, just outside of NYC in Whiteplains, NY. I have a relative that graduated from there and now she has her own practice in the Washington, DC area. You may want to check it out to see if it might be right for you. I wish you all the best in your decision and future endeavors!

Philip recommends the following next steps:

Research the Pace University law school: https://law.pace.edu/
Research US News law school rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings
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