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

Applicants to accredited GA law schools should begin their search by first considering law schools located in their desired geographic area. They also should consider the top 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 Georgia law schools:

1. Blogs on law schools in GA. A credible blog or other type of social media may have posts from students, faculty and law school experts sharing their personal experiences or professional opinions about Georgia law schools.
2. Rating services of law schools. Recognized experts may provide ratings of law schools that offer exceptional educational opportunities.
3. Recognition for individual law schools. The best law schools will have awards, grants and other accolades for their programs.
   

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Get advice for law universities in Georgia through blogs

Blogs contain advice, opinions and comments from law students, professors or lawyers on law schools in Georgia. They also may rank law schools according to specific criteria.

I recommend: The TaxProf Blog calculates and ranks the "value added" score for a variety of law schools, including Mercer University School of Law in Georgia. The Report Card blogs about education in Middle Georgia and contains recent posts with commentary on the rankings of Georgia law schools.

Study rankings of law schools in Georgia

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

I recommend: Vault Law School Surveys ranks law schools in Georgia on several categories based on surveys. PrelawAdvisor.com ranks admission data of top law schools, including the University of Georgia School of Law.

Look at law schools in Georgia that are awards recipients

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

I recommend: The Moot Court at Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law is nationally recognized and has won many awards over the past several years. Constangy, Brooks & Smith awarded its 2008 Diversity Scholars Award to a student at the Emory University School of Law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Law school applicants seeking a highly rated Georgia state law school should use the law school ratings to get a good overview of the schools. 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 online law schools in Georgia. An online law school in Georgia may provide a more affordable option for busy law school students.

Attending one of the Georgia law schools and earning your law degree in Georgia doesn’t necessarily mean you want to practice law. Georgia 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 Georgia and national laws.

There are a variety of Georgia laws schools throughout the state, from top-ranked private Georgia law universities to law schools in GA that strictly offer part-time evening programs. Before you can seriously consider a Georgia law degree, you’ll need to meet the academic requirements for Georgia law schools, which includes taking the LSAT exam. As you begin your search for Georgia law schools, consider the following:

1. Check out the rankings of Georgia law schools to ensure you get the best education possible.

2. If your time is limited, seek out part-time law schools in Georgia.

3. Find scholarships and loans to help you pay for tuition at Georgia law schools.

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Research Georgia law schools online and apply to top law schools in GA

Don't settle for anything less than the best: Research the top ABA approved law schools in Georgia to determine your best options in the state, then send in your applications for acceptance.

I recommend: U.S. News & World Report ranks more than 12,000 graduate programs throughout the country each year, including accredited law schools in Georgia. In 2008, Emory University and the University of Georgia law programs were ranked the highest among Georgia law schools at 22 and 32, respectively.

Consider part-time law schools in Georgia

If you run your own business, it can be difficult to find the time between work and home life to attend classes toward a Georgia law degree. Georgia part-time law schools are great options for busy business owners -or anyone, really - to get the education they seek.

I recommend: The John Marshall Law School offers a part-time law program, which equates to about 10 to 11 hours each semester. Students at the Georgia State University College of Law may also choose between a part-time or full-time program.

Check out funding options for Georgia law schools

Whether you opt for part-time law programs in Georgia or decide to bite the bullet and go full time, the cost of law universities in Georgia isn't cheap (the cost of the top two law schools in Georgia run anywhere from $30,000 and $40,000 a year). Fortunately, there are scholarships and private loans designed specifically for law students.

I recommend: Check out GradLoans.com for loan options or the Online Education Database for law school scholarships.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  During your search, look for accredited Georgia law colleges. These institutions have been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) to meet the standards set within the country's legal profession.

If you're interested in obtaining a law degree in Georgia, then you're in luck. There are several American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law schools in Georgia including Emory University School of Law, Georgia State University College of Law, Mercer University School of Law and University of Georgia School of Law. John Marshall is not listed with other ABA accredited law schools in Georgia, because it currently holds a provisional accreditation.

Each school has its own unique programming, culture and atmosphere. While a first person visit is one of the best ways to learn about GA law schools, there are few other ways to get to the bottom of current news and trends coming from law universities in Georgia. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you seek out information about these places:

1. Many law schools devote a section of their website to news and recent developments.

2. Independent publishers rate law schools according to various factors of interest.

3. People who work at and attend Georgia law universities have unique insight that can't always be discerned through a one time visit to campus.

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Keep up with recent events at Georgia law schools by perusing school news websites

Most law schools maintain a respectable online presence, which typically includes an area devoted to recent events and activities. These sites are excellent sources for student activities and resources.

I recommend: Go to the University of Georgia Law School's student resources page for a list of campus student organizations and links to their sites. On the Mercer University School of Law website, you'll find a Student Life section which provides information about student organizations, law publications, recreational activities, moot court and life in Macon.

Explore each Georgia law school online through school news websites

Law schools are ranked by various sources including publishers and online websites. Often, these sites provide detailed information about where the school ranks when compared to other schools and how much money graduates of a particular law school can expect to make.

I recommend: Top Law Schools provides information about how the law school ranks when compared with other law schools. It also provides information about the average LSAT score and GPA for applicants, as well as student to faculty ratio. ILRG's Index to Law School Rankings also provides rankings, including links to U.S. News and World Report rankings.

Peruse student and professor blogs to get the inside scoop on Georgia law colleges

One of the best ways to learn about an institution is to go straight to the people who work at and attend the school on a daily basis. Professors and students can provide their own slant on recent news stories and trends, giving you a personal take on law schools in GA.

I recommend: The Statutory Construction Blog is written by Mercer University Law School professor David Hriclk. Melissa Koefod is a student at Georgia State University School of Law. She maintains a blog called, My Law Blog. On this blog she talks about her experiences as she goes through law school.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk directly to students earning a Georgia law degree by visiting local pubs and coffee shops.

Georgia law schools teach all aspects of law, from child advocacy and divorce representation to corporate and government law. Students at Georgia's many law schools have opportunities to experience community outreach, participate in public defense scenarios, and complete a comprehensive and in-depth legal education.

When attending or doing business with any Georgia law school, it's important to understand some of the key terms associated with law schools in Georgia and the Georgia legal community. Learn about some of the programs, statutes and people that are well-known in Georgia law schools.

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Criminal defense clinic

A criminal defense clinic is offered by some Georgia law schools to let law students experience working with criminal defendants. Students assist licensed lawyers with client interviews, research, negotiating plea agreements and other duties.

I recommend: The University of Georgia Law School provides a criminal defense clinic and explains how it introduces law students to the courtroom experience and teaches them criminal defense.

Moot court

Moot court is a mock-trial scenario in which law students practice their written and oral legal skills with written arguments and oral debates. Georgia law school moot courts are an important part of attending a Georgia law school.

I recommend: Mercer University School of Law explains the moot court process and how law school students can participate.

Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic

The Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic is a division of Georgia's Emory Law School. It functions to improve advocacy and representation of children in legal cases. Georgia law school students gain child custody and advocacy experience and local lawyers can participate in the clinic's programs.

I recommend: Childwelfare.net is the online home of Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic and explains its mission and purpose here.

Transition into Law Practice Program

The Transition into Law Practice Program is offered to all students at Georgia Law Schools by Georgia's Bar Association. The program lets students put learned skills to use in practical legal situations. Local law firms can provide assistance for participants in the program.

I recommend: Georgia Bar Association explains the benefits of the Transition into Law Practice Program.

Externships

Externships are offered to Georgia law school students to help them practice legal knowledge and skills under the supervision of licensed Georgia lawyers. Providing externships to Georgia law school students is a great way to earn publicity and recognition for a firm.

I recommend: Atlanta's John Marshall Law School explains its externship program.

Bar association

Georgia has a state bar association in addition to bar associations for each county. Graduating law school students are required to register with the state and local bar association once they become licensed.

I recommend: The Atlanta Bar Association explains how it helps Georgia lawyers and law students.