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
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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.

Earning an Alaska law degree doesn’t necessarily mean you want to practice law. Alaska law degrees can be put to use in a variety of different ways for your business, from learning about business investments to ensuring the administrative aspects of your company are in compliance with Alaska and national laws.

Unfortunately, there isn't a single dedicated Alaskan law school. But, that doesn't mean you are without options if you wish to pursue a degree in the legal profession. Alternatives to pursue traditional law school in AK include:

1. Seeking pre-law advice or a pre-law degree in Alaska

2. Finding online law schools in Alaska

3. Considering law schools in Alaska for paralegals

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Find a pre-law school in AK

While you will need to go out of state or consider online programs because of the lack of Alaska law school programs, you can stay right at home to get a solid educational foundation with a pre-law degree in Alaska.

I recommend: University of Alaska Anchorage has a Justice Center that can help pre-law students prepare for law school by learning more about the Alaska Bar Association, the LSAT and more. The center also gives students access to many resources including the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). The American Indian Law Center, Inc., offers an intensive two-month Alaska law school program to prepare Alaska Native people and American Indians for law school.

Check out an Alaska school of law for paralegal studies

Alaska law programs for paralegals can also provide a great foundation for your legal education. In fact, if you don't ultimately want to practice law but want to bone up on a certain aspect of the law that applies to your business, this may be all you need in terms of an Alaska law degree.

I recommend: The ABA has designated both the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks as accredited law schools in Alaska for paralegal studies. The National Paralegal College is an online option to receive a law degree in Alaska for paralegal studies.

Consider earning an Alaska law degree online

If you run your own business, it can be difficult to find the time between work and home life to attend classes toward an Alaska law degree. An online law degree in Alaska is a great option for busy business owners - or anyone, really - to get the education they seek. Most online programs toward an Alaska law degree take anywhere from two to six years to complete.

I recommend: Check out TheEducationEdge.com to search for schools that offer an online Alaska law degree. Concord Law School was the first to offer a fully interactive online law degree program, beginning in 1998.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Since there are no Alaska law schools, you may choose to go out of state to earn your J.D. If so, look for accredited law schools. These institutions have been approved by the ABA to meet the standards set within the country's legal profession.

Law schools in Alaska advice and ratings use many statistics, such as employment prospects, median salary and tuition. Intangibles such as campus life, teaching methods and learning atmosphere may also form the basis of a law school evaluation.

Applicants to the unaccredited law schools in Alaska should begin their search by first considering law schools located in their desired geographic area. They also should consider the online law schools in the state where they plan to practice. Applicants should then select the schools that are within their budget and meet their specific needs. There are three general sources for evaluating Alaska law schools:

1. Blogs on a law school in AK. A credible blog or other type of social media may have posts from students, faculty and law school experts sharing their personal experiences with Alaska law schools.

2. Rating services of law schools. Recognized experts may provide law schools in Alaska advice and ratings that showcase colleges that offer an exceptional education.

3. Recognition for individual law schools. Law school alumni will have awards, grants and other accolades for their careers.

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Seek advice for obtaining an Alaska law degree through blogs

Blogs contain posts from law students, professors or lawyers who have personal experience with various law schools. They can provide valuable law schools in Alaska advice and ratings for choosing the best law schools in Alaska.

I recommend: The Cleveland Law Library Weblog provides posts that provide law school news and advice to law students considering Alaska. The Faculty Lounge blogs regarding the lack of American Bar Association accredited Alaska law programs.

Study rankings of Alaska unaccredited law schools

Rankings for law schools in Alaska are an effective and credible source of advice and ratings. Each rating service should provide their methodology. Rankings typically consist of weighted factors, such as assessments of law professors, selectivity and placement rate for a law school AK.

I recommend: US College Search offers rankings of law schools in Alaska. DirectoryM offers insight into online law schools, including Alaska online law schools.

Look at an Alaskan law school that is the recipient of awards and a blog on Alaska law.

Awards and accolades can be an excellent way of identifying top tier law schools in Alaska. Law schools may receive awards for legal research, academic programs or specific papers. The best law schools will also receive grants for their programs.

I recommend: Capital University Law School alumni have won a variety of awards, which is an endorsement of the quality of the program. Duke University offers the most complete blog on Alaska law, which is recommended reading for anyone considering online or unaccredited Alaskan law schools.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Law school applicants seeking an Alaska law school should use the law school ratings to get a good overview of the schools and understand that none of the schools in Alaska are accredited. However, applicants should be more concerned with finding a law school that will meet their particular needs, rather than attending the highest ranked law school on a list. Law school students may also wish to consider attending Alaska law schools online. An online law school in Alaska may provide a more affordable option for busy law school students.

Even though there aren't any law schools in Alaska, if you want to practice law in the state or see a pre-law education in Alaska there are some terms you'll need to know. The state offers many opportunities for law school students to intern during the summer. However, a student must attend a law school outside the state to earn a degree. The law schools in Alaska key terms relate more to practicing law within the border and official bodies that regulate the industry. These terms also make for an excellent starting point for any research seeking to practice law in the state of Alaska or to attend law school later.

Action Steps
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American Indian Law Center

The American Indian Law Center offers a pre-law summer institute specifically for Alaskan natives. This institute is excellent preparation for law school and caters to the needs of the Alaska native communities.

I recommend: Review the program information and profile available at the American Indian Law Center.

Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center

The Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center is a clearinghouse for Alaskan law related material, which receives its funding from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.

I recommend: Study the scope and purpose of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center for more information.

Alaska Justice Forum and the Justice Center Alaska Justice Forum

The Alaska Justice Forum provides Alaskan legal information on cases relevant to the lawyers in the state. The Alaska Justice Forum is a division of the Justice Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The Justice center also has information on Bachelor of Arts degrees in Justice available at the college.

I recommend: Evaluate the online articles from the Alaska Justice Forum for further data. Assess the course information and Alaskan law data available at the Justice Center.

Alaska Bar Association

The Alaska Bar Association is the official licensing agency for anyone wanting to practice law in the state of Alaska.

I recommend: Examine the scope and purpose of the Alaska Bar Association.

Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degree

The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers programs for Legal Assistant and a Paralegal Degrees. While these degrees aren't from a law school in Alaska, they are in the field of law and can be a stepping stone to law school admittance.

I recommend: Assess the synopsis of the Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degree programs at Match College.

Law School Admission Council

The Law School Admission Council is a non-profit company that specializes in providing assistance for students trying to gain admission into law school. For any person attempting to gain access to law schools outside Alaska this is an excellent resource.

I recommend: Use the goals and objective at the Law School Admission Council website to attain further details.