Law schools may be where you go to get a law degree, but they’re no longer meant exclusively for grooming lawyers. In fact, today’s top law schools produce an incredibly diverse spectrum of professionals, including entrepreneurs, politicians, investors, administrators, analysts and more. If you’re in the market for a law degree, screen your choices carefully in order to find the best school for you, your interests and your budget. A law degree from one of the nation’s best law schools has many benefits. Among them:

1. A law degree is versatile, as it can gain you entrance into a wide variety of jobs within a wealth of industries.
2. A law degree is dependable, as well-educated lawyers are extremely desirable in the job market.
3. A law degree is lucrative, as lawyers from the best law schools are paid top dollar.
4. A law degree is rewarding, as law schools’ graduates often report especially high levels of job satisfaction.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for accredited law schools

Consider only those law schools that have been accredited by the American Bar Association, as ABA-approved law schools measure up to both professional and educational standards within the legal profession.

I recommend: You can search for ABA-approved law schools online via the American Bar Association’s website; as of June 2007, 196 schools are ABA-accredited.

Choose law schools according to geography

Consider what area of the country you'd like to study in, as well as where you'd ultimately like to practice law. There are law schools all over the country, and being happy with your environment will increase your chances for success.

I recommend: Use The Princeton Review’s Advanced Law School Search to find law schools that match the criteria that are most important to you, including location.

Select law schools based on cost

Law schools aren't cheap. Annual tuition at law schools can be as low as $22,000 at a public university and as high as $45,000 at a private university.

I recommend: Scholarships and private loans designed especially for students at law schools include KeyBank’s LawAchiever Loan, Access Group’s Law Access Loan, Sallie Mae’s LAWLOANS loans and Nellie Mae’s LawEXCEL Loan.

Consider law school rankings when choosing law schools

Law school rankings can tell you a lot about the law schools on your short list. While the highest ranked law schools won't necessarily be the best for you personally, they'll at least give you a standard by which to measure your options.

I recommend: U.S. News & World Report ranks the nation’s best law schools every year. Another company that ranks top law schools is FindLaw. Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School and Yale Law School lead practically all lists of law school rankings.

Make sure you meet the academic requirements for law schools

Because law schools have notoriously strict admission requirements, research law schools' policies and prepare accordingly.

I recommend: One admission requirement that’s common to all law schools is a strong LSAT score. To learn more about the test, including how to register for it, consult the Law School Admission Council.

Consider online law schools

You don't have to quit your job or sell your business in order to pursue a law degree. Many accredited law schools are now offering distance education via online law schools.

I recommend: Consider online law schools, such as Concord Law School, Kaplan University and William Howard Taft University.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Law schools have different environments, cultures and student bodies. Visit them in person in order to judge compatibility with your personality.
• •  Find out how many students are being hired from your top law schools and who's hiring them, as well as what on-campus recruitment options are available.
• •  Decide if a full-time or part-time law degree program will work best for you.
• •  Research your top law schools' clinical programs. Clinics allow law students to develop their legal skills in real-world environments by representing real clients and working with real cases.
• •  Hot sectors of study within law schools today include technology law, public sector law and transaction law.