NEWS FROM THE CLC by Allison Fish, Intern at Community Legal Center & Senior at Rhodes College
DECISIONS, DECISIONS: How to Pick The Right Law School
think twice before applying to law school. I certainly had the fear of a hopeless future drilled into me by professors, journalists, friends, and family. For a while I must admit that I resented these opinions, as I did not think it was right for others to try to dissuade me from doing with my future what I had always wanted and planned to do. I have come to realize, however, that these less than optimistic opinions were actually useful to me—they forced me to really evaluate and think hard about the choice that had previously been a “no-brainer” for me. Even if these fi gures do cause a decline in law school admissions, it might serve the law community well, as the number of students really dedicated to the legal profession who enter law school and subsequently graduate with degrees might increase. But once a student has set their sights on law school, what type of law school is best in today’s economy? T is is an issue that has been getting much less attention. T e last several months of my life have centered on the law
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school admissions and decision-making process. My experiences working at the Community Legal Center proved to further
n today’s atmosphere of economic decline, articles and statistics pop up time and time again that suggest the fi eld of law is immensely overcrowded and that students should
solidify my commitment to the legal profession and I was ready to go. I narrowed my choices down to two schools that are both very good schools, but are also schools that are very diff erent. When making my pros and cons table, I came across one big trait that did not fi t into either column. T at trait was how each school approached the study of law. One of the schools teaches the law from a theoretical basis, focusing on getting students to “think” like lawyers. T e other institution teaches the law from a practical standpoint, focusing more on teaching to the bar exam and increasing bar passage rates. I realize that teaching and learning styles are often matters of personal preference, but in today’s tight legal market, is one better than the other? Is one type of education more desired by employers? T ese are questions that those of us who have made the commitment to the legal profession could use the answers to. For me, my school decision has already been made. For other’s sake, I think picking the right law school is an issue that should be given more attention, especially since law school is currently considered by so many to be a risky investment. t
Community Legal Center is a non-profit, legal services agency incoRporated in 1994 to provide legal services to people of limited means in Memphis and Shelby County and to educate them as to their rights and responsibilities under the law.
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