How to Choose a Law School: Tips for Making Your Decision

As of 2025, there are nearly 200 ABA-approved law schools in the United States, and dozens of others that aren’t approved.

With such a wide selection, how do you choose the best law school for you?

I’m glad you asked. Below, I’ll break down everything you need to know when you’re weighing your options—from the obvious to the often-overlooked. Whether you’re applying to top schools or exploring low-key law schools in your region, this guide will help you move forward with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Accreditation Is Non-Negotiable: Only consider accredited law schools approved by the American Bar Association if you want full bar exam and employment eligibility.
• Location Shapes Your Career: Where you study impacts where you’ll network, intern, and likely get your first job—think local bar exams and regional firms.
• Prestige Isn’t Everything: A top-ranked school can open doors, but a scholarship at a less flashy school could offer better long-term ROI.
• Culture and Fit Matter: You’re not just picking a school—you’re picking your people. Talk to current students, visit campus, and trust your gut.
• Build Your Own Scorecard: Create a personal point system for each factor—like scholarships, bar support, and location—to make the choice that fits your goals.

Accreditation: Non-Negotiable

Let’s get this out of the way: Make sure the law school is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Attending an unaccredited program can limit your eligibility to take the bar exam in many states, and some law firms won’t even consider graduates from non-ABA schools. It might sound basic, but it’s a common pitfall.

Location: More Than Just the Weather

Sure, everyone dreams of sunshine and palm trees, but location has career implications, too. Law firms often recruit locally, so going to school in the city or state where you want to practice can give you a big networking advantage. Plus, different states have different bar exams and legal cultures. Planning to live in New York forever? Maybe skip that California school.

Pros of studying close to home:

Lower travel or relocation costs
Familiar support systems
Easier networking with local law firms

Cons:

Fewer opportunities for personal and professional growth
Might limit your exposure to other legal markets
Miss the chance to explore new parts of the world

Personally, I’m very much of the mindset that you need to move away from your hometown at least once in your life, even if you go back. I have a friend who grew up in a small, rural town in Wisconsin. Since she moved to a metro city, I’ve never seen her so happy—and she didn’t even know what she was missing out on until she went for it.

Law school can be a phenomenal opportunity to explore new cities, cultures, and environments. I say, if you feel safe and it’s financially reasonable to do so, go for it!

Prestige & Rankings: Flashy, but Not Everything

We all know the top schools: Yale, Stanford, Harvard. Attending a highly ranked law school can open a lot of doors—especially for clerkships, academia, or Big Law. But rankings don’t tell the whole story. If you’re not aiming for a $200K Big Law salary, fit and focus matter more than prestige.

Ask yourself:

• Does the school specialize in your area of interest?
• Do their graduates succeed in the jobs you want?
• What are their actual employment outcomes?

Specialties, Faculty & Curriculum: Know What They’re Known For

Many law schools offer a general legal education, but others have standouts in areas like environmental law, criminal justice, or civil procedure. Look into the faculty bios, see what kinds of clinics or journals they have, and check if a particular program fits your goals.

For example:

• Passionate about social justice? Find a school with strong public interest law offerings.
• Want to go into intellectual property? Look for tech-focused faculty and clinics.

The school’s student-to-faculty ratio can also tell you how accessible your professors will be.

Culture: You’re Going to Be There a While

Law school is no joke. The environment matters a lot. Are the students cutthroat or collaborative? Do they host student organizations that align with your interests and identity? Have you talked to anyone who actually attended law school there?

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, think about whether you want a:

• Competitive or supportive vibe
• Diverse or traditional student body
• Strong emphasis on clinics vs. classroom theory

And don’t forget about weekend classes or flexible formats if you’re a nontraditional student.

Price Tag: Don’t Sleep on Scholarships

Law school is expensive—like, mortgage-level expensive. Financial aid, tuition, and cost of living should be front and center in your decision-making. Some top schools offer generous aid, while others expect you to take on a mountain of debt.

Key pricing questions:

• What’s the total cost (tuition + living expenses)?
• What kind of financial aid or merit scholarships do they offer?
• What are your long-term earning prospects after graduation?

A lower-ranked school with a full ride might be a smarter financial move than a top-tier school with no aid. It all depends on your goals and values.

Return on Investment: Let’s Talk Numbers

This is where everything comes together. Look at each particular school’s bar passage rate, average student debt, and employment outcomes within 10 months of graduation. If the numbers look bleak, think twice.

Use ROI as a filter when comparing other law schools. A school might look good on paper, but if 40% of their grads are unemployed and $200K in debt? Hard pass.

Extras to Consider

You’d be surprised what small things make a big difference in the law school experience.

• Clinics & Externships: Real-world experience is gold.
• Alumni Network: Strong networks help with jobs, clerkships, and mentorship.
• Bar Prep Support: Do they offer bar review help built into tuition?
• Facilities & Campus Vibe: You’ll be studying here for three years. Make sure it doesn’t feel like a prison.

A Realistic Pros and Cons Comparison (and How to Actually Decide)

I feel like everyone knows the old “make a pros and cons list” strategy for making a decision, but it really isn’t that simple, particularly when you’re choosing between two options with similar value. In this section, I’m going to help you make that list mean something.

Let’s say you’re comparing two very real options:

➡️ School A: A well-regarded regional law school offering you a half scholarship.
➡️ School B: A nationally ranked T20 law school with no aid.

Here’s how that might shake out:

School A Pros:

• 50% tuition scholarship = significantly reduced debt
• Close to where you want to practice (easier networking, local job market alignment)
• Focus on practical experience and solid bar support

School A Cons:

• Limited national brand recognition
• Fewer Big Law or federal clerkship opportunities
• May require extra hustle if you want to move out of state later

School B Pros:

• Prestigious name opens doors across the country
• Strong pipelines to Big Law and elite clerkships
• Larger alumni network = potentially broader career options

School B Cons:

• No financial aid = likely six-figure debt
• Higher cost of living depending on location
• Possibly more competitive or high-pressure academic environment

This kind of decision is tough—but it’s also personal.

So… What Should You Do?

If your goal is financial security, reduced debt, or staying local, School A probably wins. If your goal is maximum mobility, elite opportunities, or a name-brand resume boost, School B might be worth the cost.

But don’t just wing it—make a scoring system that reflects your priorities.

Here’s an example:

Tweak it based on what matters to you. Hate debt? Scholarships should be a higher point value. Dream of the Supreme Court? Add points for clerkship pipelines. Prioritize family or mental health? Weight location or campus culture more heavily.

This isn’t about being “objective”—it’s about being intentional. The more you build a system around your own values, the easier it’ll be to ignore flashy rankings or pressure from others and make a decision you won’t regret.

What Real Law Students Are Saying

Want a simpler route? Just follow this Redditor’s advice:

“Get the US News and World reports rankings. Attend the highest-ranked school to which you can gain admittance and can afford to pay for.”

Or, if it feels better to you, this response to that comment:

Final Thoughts

Choosing where to attend law school isn’t about picking the “best” one overall—it’s about picking the best one for you. Think about your long-term goals, the environment you’ll thrive in, and what kind of return you need on your investment. Some people chase prestige, others chase purpose. Neither path is wrong. Just be honest with yourself about what matters most.

And remember, generally speaking, you’re not just choosing a law school. You’re choosing a community, a lifestyle, and a launching pad for your legal career. Choose wisely.

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