Choosing the Right College for a Law Major: A Comprehensive Guide

For students aspiring to a career in law, selecting the right college is a pivotal first step. This article provides a comprehensive overview of factors to consider when choosing a college with a law major, highlighting institutions with strong law programs, particularly in New York State, and exploring the broader landscape of legal education.

Understanding the Law and Society Major

A Law and Society major offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding law's role in society. It's a versatile degree that prepares students for various career paths, including law school, public service, and criminal justice.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Many colleges offer hands-on experiences to Law and Society majors through internships and research opportunities. For example, Ramapo College offers internships with the Mahwah Police Department, Bergen County Police Department, Bergen County Municipal Court, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), county and city courts, law firms, and state senators, the Ramapo Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center offers another opportunity for Law and Society majors to obtain hands-on experience in a new and exciting field in the only undergraduate training program in IGG in the country. The IGG Workshop (LAWS 365), where students learn how to conduct IGG and work on real cases from the IGG Center, provides 4-credits towards the Law and Society major.

Capstone Projects and Signature Events

Law and Society majors often complete a substantial thesis as their capstone project, with the best theses published in journals like the Ramapo Journal of Law and Society. Students may also have the opportunity to organize and participate in events such as the World of Law and SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) Discussion Series.

Top Universities for Studying Law

The global landscape of legal education is dominated by institutions in the UK and the US. This dominance reflects the long-standing traditions of legal scholarship and practice in these countries.

Factors Influencing University Rankings

University rankings are influenced by various factors, including academic reputation, research output, faculty expertise, and student success. QS World University Rankings are among the most recognized and respected. Universities that actively engage with QS by submitting data for the rankings are recognized.

Navigating Law School Admissions

For those considering law school after college, understanding the admissions process is crucial.

The LSAT

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test required for admission to most law schools in the United States. A high LSAT score is essential for gaining admission to top law schools. Enter an LSAT score to see your chances of getting into top schools.

The Importance of a Strong Application

Beyond the LSAT, law schools consider a range of factors, including academic record, extracurricular activities, work experience, and personal essays. Relevant work experience and volunteering can strengthen an application.

Top Law Schools in New York State

New York State is home to many prestigious law schools, each with its unique strengths and characteristics. Here's a closer look at some of the top options:

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Columbia Law School: Columbia has one of the best law programs in the country. Graduates from here move on to have some of the highest paying, most prestigious law jobs in the country. With a bar exam pass rate approaching 98%, you're also almost guaranteed to pass the bar if you study here and apply yourself. If you want a good chance of getting admitted, you'll have to hit a minimum of 170 on your LSATs. Even if you do, it's still difficult: the school's acceptance rate is only 16.8 percent. So, do your best to get your application in early and study hard. The school will also consider extracurricular activities.
New York University (NYU) School of Law: This private university is located in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. It is relatively large for a law school with a student body of around 1700. The school is quite tough to get into, but it's a smidge easier by acceptance rate than admissions for Columbia or Cornell. While there's an active social scene at this school, the workloads prevent too much hedonistic behavior. NYU law school is another historic campus - the school started in 1831.
Cornell Law School: This selective private university is one of the top 15 in the country. They're very particular when it comes to who enters the program. Acceptance is difficult to achieve - only about 1 in 5 applicants make the grade. That's a good thing, though, because this is not an option for slackers. If you're willing to work hard, you'll get an excellent start for your law career. And more important than curriculum is the network that the school provides. Alumni are very active and usually happy to mentor new graduates. With just over 600 JD students, Cornell University is considered small to mid-sized.
Fordham University School of Law: This private Catholic school has offered outstanding education since 1841 and draws on traditional Jesuit values. These values emphasize respect, hard work, and morality. But while the quality of the education you'll get is top-tier, entrance is slightly more relaxed in terms of LSAT scores. That said, you'll need to have a stellar academic background and application to gain entrance.
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University): The Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University is a private law school with a relatively large student body, featuring about 1000 students. But as long as you achieve an LSAT score of 157 or more, you've got a good chance of getting in. The competition for entry is average, so you've got a good shot at getting in compared to schools in the top 50. Although it's officially a Jewish school, the student population isn't particularly religious. While here isn't any religious influence on curriculum, but there is strong support for the Jewish community here.
St. John's University School of Law: As the name suggests, this is a Catholic school. A significant advantage here is that it is relatively easy to get accepted. LSAT scores required are lower than is the case for most top institutions. The school is in Queens, a borough of New York City. The school is expensively priced, a side effect of being in the Big Apple, but networking effects from being in the city can help with job projects post-graduation.
University at Buffalo School of Law: This law school sneaks in the top 100 by rankings with a reputation that's well above average. The campus is large, with a total of around 19,500 students, but the law school itself is small with under 500 Juris Doctor candidates. Gaining entry is relatively simple because of the scores required. The bottom 25 percent of students admitted have a score under 150, which represents the 40th percentile of test scores. The average cost of education here is reasonable, well below average for a law school in the top 100.
Syracuse University College of Law: Experts and graduates alike highly recommend this small private institution in Syracuse. It's class size is miniscule: 230, meaning it's still quite competitive to get into the school. That said, it's easier than trying to get into Columbia or Cornell, but it's definitely not a sure thing. That the school has a high bar passage rate despite its lower admission requirements speaks volumes about the quality of education there. While tuition is above average for a school of this caliber, the school offers financial aid.
Albany Law School: If you're looking for more individualized attention, this school could be a good fit. There is a total of around 2,200 students on the whole campus and 372 in the law school. Albany is a private school with above-average tuition. Many students do qualify for student aid. Private sector salaries are relatively high for a school outside of the top 100, and public position placement is high as well with relatively strong salaries.
Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law: At first glance, the bar passage rate for Hofstra University looks pretty low. It looks even worse when you compare it to the others on this list. So, how did Hofstra squeeze its way into the top ten? Well, at the end of the day, it's a pretty good school. The lower ranking could be related to the lower scores required to gain admission. But what made us include it here is that the school puts a lot of emphasis on the practical aspects of the law. And, if you plan to practice law, this emphasis on real-world experience is a significant advantage. Is the school up to the standards of Columbia or Cornell? No, not really. But, at the same time, not everyone can get into those top schools. Overall, you're getting a good education. The school is of a large size with around 820 students. The tuition is pretty steep, but if you're willing to work, you'll get your money's worth.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Law School

When selecting a law school, consider factors such as:

Location: Proximity to legal markets and networking opportunities.
Cost: Tuition, fees, and living expenses.
Faculty: Expertise and research interests.
Special Programs: Clinics, internships, and specialized courses.
Bar Passage Rate: A key indicator of program effectiveness.
Placement Rates: Employment outcomes for graduates.
School Culture: The overall environment and community.
Admission Requirements: LSAT scores and academic qualifications.

The Broader Impact of Legal Education

Legal education plays a vital role in shaping society by training future lawyers, judges, and policymakers.

The Role of Law Professors

Law professors contribute to legal scholarship through research and publications. They also play a crucial role in shaping legal discourse on important issues. For example, Professor Atinuke O. argues that world trade is becoming increasingly weaponized and there needs to be more rules. Professor Pamela K. notes that in vast numbers of debt collection cases, defendants never appear, leading courts to routinely issue default judgments, often rubber-stamping complaints, with devastating results for defendants’ credit, employment, and housing. Professor Chinmayi Sharma proposes a licensing framework that would professionalize the engineers who are building AI tech. Professors Sepehr Shahshahani and Maggie Wittlin argue that plaintiffs should also prove the confusion stems from protected trademark features in trademark infringement cases. Professor Ela Leshem analyzes dignity protections for dead bodies, and considers how her analysis casts a critical light on the mistreatment of some dead bodies- especially Black, Brown, and poor dead bodies. Professor Sean J. Griffith examines corporate speech rights, including the right to "negative speech" (the ability to refrain from speaking).

The Importance of Ethical Practice

Law schools emphasize the importance of ethical practice and preparing students to do good in the world. Assistant Dean Rochelle D. is so willing to help out and make connections. Rising lawyers should help others the way I have been helped and use their legal skills to help her family.

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