3 answers
Susan
Student
New York, NY
1
Question
Updated
519 views
What the best law school for a person looking to be a immigration lawyer
I am a second year college student. I have being doing my research on law schools and have yet to find one that is good for immigration law that I would like to attend. I have talk to other lawyers and have gotten great information but not one of them were immigration lawyers. #lawyer #college
Login to comment
3 answers
Andy Lusk
4
Answers
Updated
Andy’s Answer
With one exception, law school and being licensed as a lawyer is an exercise in broad and generalized legal concepts and lawyering. In other words, in order to graduate law school and pass a state bar exam, you will need to know a lot about many areas of the law: criminal law, contracts, torts, property, constitutional law, civil procedure, loan transactions, wills, evidence, corporations, agents, partnerships, tax, and a number of other topics. Tellingly, immigration is not a topic that is required to graduate most law schools and it is not a subject that is tested on the bar exam, and most law schools might only offer one to three classes or seminars concerning immigration law.
Notwithstanding the broad areas of coverage at law school and on the bar exam, once lawyers become licensed, many tend to specialize in a few areas, such as litigation, real estate, or, in your case, immigration. After being licensed, some lawyers may learn how to be an effective immigration lawyer by working with an experienced immigration lawyer and learning from them. If you want to be a great immigration lawyer, I'd focus less on the law school and more on finding a mentor who can teach you what you need to know once you get out of law school.
Notwithstanding the broad areas of coverage at law school and on the bar exam, once lawyers become licensed, many tend to specialize in a few areas, such as litigation, real estate, or, in your case, immigration. After being licensed, some lawyers may learn how to be an effective immigration lawyer by working with an experienced immigration lawyer and learning from them. If you want to be a great immigration lawyer, I'd focus less on the law school and more on finding a mentor who can teach you what you need to know once you get out of law school.
Desiree Giler Mann
Attorney
166
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Desiree’s Answer
Hi Susan,
You can easily look this up yourself and checkout the various ways law schools are ranked. For instance, one of the most well-known (infamous?) law school rankings is the US World News list: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings. However, if you want to focus on immigration, there are lists, like this: https://www.helptostudy.com/best-immigration-law-schools/ Take some time to research law schools, their clinic programs for immigration and other offerings. In addition to how well ranked the school is (and you should look at that ranking criteria!), you might also consider how well students do on the Bar Exam (do most pass the first time?), how diverse is the student body, how many graduates get jobs in the field of law, tuition expenses, cost of living at/near the school and other factors important to you.
Search on-line law school rankings, review the criteria used to rank the schools
Search for immigration law clinical programs
You can easily look this up yourself and checkout the various ways law schools are ranked. For instance, one of the most well-known (infamous?) law school rankings is the US World News list: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings. However, if you want to focus on immigration, there are lists, like this: https://www.helptostudy.com/best-immigration-law-schools/ Take some time to research law schools, their clinic programs for immigration and other offerings. In addition to how well ranked the school is (and you should look at that ranking criteria!), you might also consider how well students do on the Bar Exam (do most pass the first time?), how diverse is the student body, how many graduates get jobs in the field of law, tuition expenses, cost of living at/near the school and other factors important to you.
Desiree recommends the following next steps:
Jennifer Dauernheim
7
Answers
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
It is possible to attend a school that has a concentration or specialization in immigration law. If this isn't possible, it isn't necessary. You can find a law school that fits your needs based on location or cost and then gain exposure to immigration law through clinics, internships, or pro bono activities. By getting involved in additional exposure, not only gives you the information, but gives you practical experience as well as helps with networking with others who could have connections in the specialization.
A few schools that do rank at the top of the list are:
1. New York University
2. University of Virginia
3. City University of New York School of Law
4. Columbia University
5. Loyola Marymount University Law School
A few schools that do rank at the top of the list are:
1. New York University
2. University of Virginia
3. City University of New York School of Law
4. Columbia University
5. Loyola Marymount University Law School