Albany Law School is one of the oldest and best law schools in the nation. In fact, Albany Law School holds the title as the oldest independent law school. Since the school’s establishment in 1851, it has developed into a premier educational center that is known around the world. Amongst the Albany Law School alumni are a number of successful people, including President William McKinley. The school’s law review, the Albany Law School Journal, is the country’s first-ever law review that is edited by students. To learn more about Albany Law School or to apply to the school, visit the school’s homepage and the Albany Law School admissions page.

Appalachian School of Law

What began as an attempt to increase economic activity in the region around Grundy, Virginia quickly became one of the best law schools in the country: the Appalachian School of Law. Since the school’s founding in 1994, the Appalachian School now has numerous programs for those pursuing a degree in law. The Appalachian promotes an education that forms and develops the student’s mind and character. The well-rounded, quality education at the Appalachian includes community service requirements and courses in professional responsibility and alternative dispute resolution. For information on applying to the Appalachian School of Law, people can visit ASL’s admissions page.

American University Washington College of Law

American University’s Washington College of Law is an institution that is known for its high quality education and its reputable student publications. The Washington College of Law has developed into one of the best schools in the nation, especially because of its public rights law and human rights law programs. WCL is also respected for its active involvement in promoting public sector work. The American University Washington College of Law has an easily accessible admissions page for those who want to apply to this school.

When Boston University was first founded in 1839, the university didn’t yet have a law school. It was not until 1872 that the Boston University Law School was established. Since then, BU Law has grown into one of the most respected and renowned law schools in the country. Amongst the many courses offered at BU Law are JD-MA, JD-MPH, and JD-MBA programs. Such joint-JD programs usually include courses from the university’s different schools. One of the unique characteristics of the BU Law system of education is the use of the dialogue-style teaching and interaction that Socrates is well-known for. Those who want to apply to the Boston University Law School can do so at the BU Law admissions page.

Boston College Law School

Boston College Law School is one of the best law schools in the country. With its numerous programs in various disciplines, BC Law has educated many successful alumni, including politicians, justices, and a former president of the American Bar Association. Some of the programs that have helped BC Law gain its reputation include public interest law, social justice, and human rights programs. Application to BC Law can be accomplished through the school’s website, through the admissions page.

Brooklyn Law School

When Brooklyn Law School was first founded, the vision for this institution was to provide an accessible means of legal education. Today, Brooklyn Law School is a school that has a high-quality education and a diverse student body that reflects its success in reaching its aims. Some of the joint degrees offered at Brooklyn Law School include JD-MA in Political Science, JD-MBA, and JD-Masters in Urban Planning. Those who want to apply to Brooklyn Law School just have to follow the application instructions at the BLS admissions page.

The Marshall-Wythe School of Law has a history that spans over 200 years. Established in 1779, the Marshall-Wythe School of Law is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Although the school’s official name is the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, it is commonly called the William & Mary Law School, because it is actually a branch of the College of William & Mary. Throughout its long history, W&M Law has developed into one of the best law schools in the country, with numerous programs that span from Election Law to National Security Law. To apply at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, visit the school’s admissions page.

Cornell Law School

There are only five Ivy League law schools, and Cornell Law School is one of them. As an Ivy League school, Cornell Law offers top-notch facilities and high-quality education. Some of the programs offered at Cornell Law School include Public Interest, International Human Rights Clinic, Externships, and Internation and Comparative Law programs. People can go for a LL.M., JSD, JD-Masters in Global Business, or a JD-MBA at Cornell Law School. Applicants can get more information about Cornell Law School’s application process through the school’s admissions page.

Columbia Law School

Another Ivy League law school is the Columbia University Law School, which has educated numerous successful politicians, ambassadors, justices, jurists, judges, and even former US presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt. Some of the courses that Columbia Law School specializes in include corporate law, intellectual property, and international law. For those who want to apply to Columbia Law School, information on application procedures can be found at the school’s admissions page.

The Charleston School of Law is a rather young law school, but already it has made a name as one of the best in the nation. The high-quality education offered at Chaleston School of Law is reflected in its three student-edited publications. The Maritime Law Bulletin, the Charlston Law Review, and the Federal Courts Law Review each offer a platform for students, faculty, practitioners, and other professionals to communicate their thoughts on various topics. Charleston School of Law has various programs and courses for students to choose from. To apply at CSOL, just visit the admissions page on the school’s website.

The Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Cleveland State Univerity’s school of law was originally known as the Cleveland Law School. When Cleveland Law School merged with another law school, known as the John Marshall School of Law, the institution took on the name “Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.” The school has become one of the most reputable law schools in the country, offering numerous degrees in different disciplines. Some of the programs offered at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law include dual degree programs, JD degree programs, and LL.M. programs. The school also offers night classes for those who want to have a flexible schedule. People who want to apply to Cleveland-Marshall College of Law can do so through the school’s admissions page.

CUNY Law

One of the main objectives of the City University of New York Law School is to produce law graduates who are competent in law and compassionate towards others. The school is renowned for its excellent courses in public interest law. Some of the specialized courses that can be found at CUNY Law include Immigrant and Refugee Rights, International Women’s Human Rights, Community and Economic Development, and Economic Justice Project. Applications to CUNY Law can be processed through the Internet, via the school’s admissions page.

Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law was established in 1964 as the law school of Arizona State University. Aside from being amongst the top law schools in the country, Sandra Day O’Connor College is also one of the best schools for legal writing. Some of the offerings at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law include JD-PhD in Justice Studies, JD-MD, JD-MBA, and JD-PhD in Law and Psychology. The school also has a two-year program for those looking to earn a Masters of Legal Studies degree. To apply to this prestigious law school, visit the Sandra Day O’Connor admissions page.

Baylor Law School

Baylor Law School has become known for having excellent education that also fosters personal development through its Christian teachings. As a testament to Baylor Law School’s high-quality education, numerous successful lawyers, politicians, ambassadors, justices, and judges have graduated from this school. Those who want to learn more about Baylor, the school’s website is a good source of information. In fact, people can easily apply to Baylor through the admissions page.

Ave Maria School of Law

Ave Maria School of Law is a fairly young school, but, already, it has made an incredible name for itself. From the time the school was established in 1999, it only took this schoolapproximately six years to become accredited by the American Bar Association. Ave Maria is a Roman Catholic School that integrates moral and theological teachings into some of its programs. Offered at Ave Maria School of Law are courses such as Papal teaching and the Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Dignity in the Workplace. To apply to Ave Maria School of Law, just visit the school’s website and head to the admissions page.

Campbell Law, which is part of Campbell University in North Carolina, is more formally known as the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. The school offers numerous law courses, which are focused on producing lawyers who are intelligent, morally upright, and compassionate. One of the programs at Campbell Law is the JD-Masters in Trust and Investment Management (JD-MTIM) program, which is a joint program between the law and business schools at Campbell University. To get more information about Campbell Law and its various programs, head to the school’s webpage, where there is also an admissions section for applicants.

Chapman Law

Another one of the top law schools in the country is the Chapman University School of Law, simply known as Chapman Law. Chapman Law is an ideal choice for anyone who is thinking of taking up law school. Some of the offerings at Chapman include Prosecutorial Science and Taxation LL.M. Degrees, Film and Television Production JD/MFA, and, the more common, JD-MBA. Chapman school is part of the Association of American Law Schools and the American Bar Association, which is a testament to the school’s involvement and participation with major organizations that influence legal education. The Chapman University School of Law admissions page has more information for those looking to apply.

Case Western Reserve Law

Case Western Reserve University has one of the oldest and most developed law schools in the country. The law school is named the Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law, but it is regularly called the Backus School of Law. Some of the programs offered at Backus include JD-MD, JD-MSSA (social work), JD-MPH (public health), JD-MBA, JD-MA in Bioethics, and US and Global Legal Studies LL.M. Program. Apply to Case Western Reserve University’s Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law through the website’s admissions page.

In the courts

You may not need to do litigation, but the courtroom can still be your workplace. Lawyers in clerkship jobs do research and recommendations.

Public service

Indeed, politics could be another step for attorneys who are tired of the traditional legal work. Choosing to work in the public sector can be rewarding, especially if money is not an important matter to you. Graduates of law school who wish to work in the public sector find fulfillment and satisfaction helping several people on their legal problems every day.

In-house legal counsel

Big entities and corporations hold their own legal divisions to attend to everyday tasks pertaining to legal matters. The responsibilities of an In-House Counsel do not have to entail high-profile issues. Administrative duties can also be assigned to the members of a company’s legal department. A Counsel In-House often works hand-in-hand with Finance or the Human Resources of his or her company.

The act of legislating

Lawyers can choose to work with a senator or other members of legislative bodies. The legislative lawyer would do research or draft bills which have enactment potential. Needless to say, those in this kind of work would be exposed to a lot of politics, and he or she could later on become a famous personality if he or she gets involved in a very big political issue.

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Presentation of queries

Queries inclined to go in your favor is not the best approach. Get the art of writing sentences which are neutral in presentation but contain the seeds of defense in favor of the side you are in.

The art of the KISS

No, this has nothing to do with that scary-looking band; it means “Keep It Short and Simple.” The courts ordinarily have sets applied to brief-writing, and the Supreme Court has one too. It was put in enforcement since the first day of 1990. If you are having a federal appeal, get the FRAP. No, it’s not the one you get at Starbucks, but the Federal Rules of Appelate Procedure documents. They give all the technicals of brief writing - from margins to the length of the briefs. Follow them to the letter, because there should be no deviation.

Get rid of the prose

The law parlance is filled with jargon, and facts are stated in a 5-line paragraph. But the most important thing you should remember is that the data have to be given in a clear fashion.

Statements of fact

Each lawyer knows that every fact in the brief has to be found in the known records. Consistency of the established data would give credibility to the entire brief. If one fails to adhere to this, the case can be lost. There are other facts, however, that could still be included if they have relevance. Be mindful that you give them in a descriptive fashion. Avoid the defensive tone as far as these data are concerned.

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Pro bono

The actual translation for this phrase is “for the good of the public.” Pro bono refers to those hours mandated by the American Bar Association for every barrister. The American Bar Association actually requires fifty hours, but state bars suggest less than that. If a law firm gives a lot of pro bono hours, then it is more probable that this entity could be rated higher and preferred by the top students just coming into the legal profession.

Billable hours

The term “billable hours” refers to the hours of services done which get paid. Simply put, the more hours a laywer spends on the case, the bigger his or her bill becomes. Law firms are partial to new lawyers in their firm who acquire a significant amount of billable hours.

The hierarchy in a law firm

Paralegal: Paralegals have not yet passed the bar exam, but they do have the knowledge to be hired within the industry. They do legal research, legal documents, and could even give advice to clients for as long as an actual lawyer is supervising them.

Summer Associate: Interns from the law schools, usually hired for just a period of 3 months, are referred to as summer associates. Later on, if a summer associate impresses the law entity, he or she can be pulled in to work for the firm in the capacity of an associate.

Associates: These are the newly hired members of the firm. The associate is the entry-level post in a law firm.

Partners: Partners refer to the post all newbies dream of getting in the soonest time possible. If one is an equity partner, he or she owns a fraction of the company. Not just that, the lucrative thing is that the partner shares in the overall revenues made by the company.

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Writing and debate organizations

Being a member of the school paper can be a great plus when applying to law schools. This is because joining such groups will hone your written communication skills, which are very important in legal discourse. Being a staff of your school or community paper means your trained to recognize bad sample law school personal statements from the good ones, as this is very important when reading sample law school personal statements as you write your own. Outstanding writing skills are traits of an excellent lawyer, and law schools would always appreciate an applicant who shows a lot of potential. Joining debate groups can help you hone your speech-making skills, which are also important if you wish to excel in law school. Even as a student, one has to be able to express his or her thoughts coherently. This is why those who join broadcast media organizations can gain an edge over other applicants.

Non-government organizations

Participation in a community or non-government organization is a big plus. When one is championing for a cause as part of his or her extra-curricular activities, this could pave the way to a specialization in law; joining an environmental group can expose you to environmental issues. However, you have to join these groups not because you want to enhance your resume. You have to sincerely believe in the group’s advocacies.

Positions held in organizations

Having a high organizational position typed on one’s resume would already speak volumes. It shows that one has the ability to take the lead and the skills to handle different people. Remember, organizational and leadership skills are always appreciated by law school admissions officers.

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