New Jersey 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 may also form the basis of a law school evaluation.

Applicants to accredited law programs in New Jersey 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 New Jersey law schools:

1. Blogs on law schools in NJ. A credible blog or other type of social media may have posts from students, faculty and law school experts sharing their personal experiences with New Jersey law schools.
2. Rating services of law schools. Recognized experts may provide ratings of law schools that offer an exceptional education.
3. Recognition for individual law schools. The best law schools will have awards, grants and other accolades for their programs.
   

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

Get advice for law colleges in New Jersey through blogs and forums

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

I recommend: Law School Discussion contains a recent thread that provides advice from first hand experience with Seton Hall University School of Law in New Jersey. The Law School Home Page of Benjamin Williams blog provides a current summary and commentary on courses at Rutgers University at Newark.

Study rankings of NJ law schools

Rankings for law schools in New Jersey 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.

I recommend: The U.S. News and World Report law school rankings for the mid-Atlantic region include several schools in New Jersey. Top-Law-Schools.com provides specific ranking information for Rutgers University School of Law at Camden.

Look at New Jersey law schools that is the recipient of awards

Awards and accolades can be an excellent way of identifying top tier law schools in New Jersey. 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: The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners named Paula Franzese, a professor at Seton Hall University, as the 2008 Educator of the Year. The International Trademark Association awarded the 2007-2008 Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition for the East Region to Seton Hall.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Law school applicants seeking a highly rated New Jersey 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 New Jersey law schools online. An online law school in New Jersey may provide a more affordable option for busy law school students.

There are many jobs for people who hold degrees from New Jersey law schools. From civil law to criminal litigation to business negotiations, lawyers are in high demand. Law schools generally accept students who hold a Bachelor's degree in any major, but they prefer students who majored in business, political science, legal studies or something similar during their undergraduate years.

Law schools in New Jersey have strict admission requirements, and being the best student you can be will only help your chances of getting accepted. You can begin with getting a paralegal certificate, then advance to get your A.S. or B.S., then proceed to law school.

1. Look into paralegal studies to start your journey to law schools in NJ. Paralegal careers pay well and offer great experience.

2. Get your undergraduate degree before applying to NJ law schools. All law programs require a Bachelor's degree for admission.

3. Apply for law programs in New Jersey. Choose a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association.

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

Consider a certificate in paralegal studies to help get you into a New Jersey law program

Paralegals assist attorneys, in short. Depending on their education, they may do almost as much as the attorney himself, although they do not hold bar cards. This is a great career for those interested in law but who don't have the time and/or money to attend law school for a J.D. degree. If you plan to eventually go to law school, you'll need a Bachelor's degree, but a paralegal certificate can be the first step in your preparation.

I recommend: Check out the A.A.S. program in Paralegal Studies offered at Bergen Community College. If you already have an Associate's degree and are considering a career in a law field, do the Paralegal Studies certificate program at Berkeley College to see if you like the field before committing yourself to law school. You can transfer your credits to a Bachelor's program at the college if you choose to proceed.

Prepare yourself for admission into law colleges in New Jersey with an undergraduate degree

Admission into law school is extremely competitive. Getting good grades while working on your Bachelor's isn't the only deciding factor as to your acceptance into a law program; teacher recommendations and extracurricular activities factor in as well. Choose a school with a program that interests you as well as has academic clubs and caring teachers.

I recommend: Princeton University has an extensive undergraduate program in Politics, with four concentrations to choose from. Choose from a few options at Monmouth University, including a Bachelor's in Political Science or a minor in Legal Studies.

Earn a J.D. degree from one of the accredited New Jersey law programs

The J.D. is the highest degree that can be held by those in the legal industry. These degrees are usually three-year programs designed to prepare you for taking the Bar Exam. It's important that these are ABA law schools; New Jersey students who go to schools that are not accredited risk not being allowed to sit for the bar.

I recommend: Apply early for admission into the Seton Hall University School of Law. Check out the timeline for the program at Rutgers University School of Law in Camden.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As a general rule, private schools cost more than public schools, but may offer a better curriculum. Carefully weigh your options before choosing a program of study to prepare yourself for getting a degree from a law school in NJ.

The pricing and costs of New Jersey law schools is generally very expensive compared to other types of formal education. The bar exam that is taken after graduation from law school also requires additional expenses, such as the course review, exam registration, transportation and accommodations.

The average student of law colleges in New Jersey leaves school with more that $84,000 in debt, which is a major factor in the decision of many law students to seek employment with major law firms, rather than in the public or non-profit sectors. There are three general factors that affect the cost of an New Jersey law school:

1. Tuition and other fees. Tuition can vary dramatically between law programs in New Jersey.
   
2. Additional expenses for New Jersey law programs. These costs for New Jersey law schools primarily consist of living expenses, books and other school supplies. Law school also requires unique fees, such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) fee, the law school application fee and the subscription fee to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).
3. Financial aid. Scholarships, grants and loans are a common way to reduce the costs for New Jersey law schools.
   

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

Compare annual New Jersey law school tuition prices

The tuition for private New Jersey law schools is often dramatically higher than it is for public law schools. Tuition and other law school expenses are typically less expensive for residents of New Jersey than for non-residents. The tuition and other fees for a year of law school in New Jersey ranges from $24,000 to $38,000 for residents.

I recommend: The Rutgers University School of Law at Camden charges about $24,000 per year for residents and $33,000 per year for non-residents. Top-Law-Schools.com estimates the tuition at Seton Hall Law School to be about $38,000 for full-time students and $29,000 for part-time students.

Determine the other costs of attending NJ law schools

Living expenses tend to be determined more by geography than by the law school. Some law schools in New Jersey may provide the average costs of living and other pricing information on housing, books, supplies and other miscellaneous law student expenses.

I recommend: The Rutgers School of Law–Newark estimates the additional expenses of attending law school to be $14,000 for on-campus students and $18,000 for off-campus students. The living expenses for Seton Hall University School of Law are about $8,000 for students living at home or with family and $18,000 for students living on their own off-campus.

Save money on New Jersey law schools with grants and scholarships

Financial aid, such as grants, loans and scholarships, is the most common way of reducing law school expenses. Federal loans like the Stafford and Perkins loans frequently have the lowest interest rates and are guaranteed by the United States government. Employment is also an option, but many law schools place limits on the number of hours per week a student may work while attending law school.

I recommend: The New Jersey State Bar Foundation awards one general scholarship to a student at each law school in New Jersey and four others with specific criteria. The State of New Jersey Commission on Higher Education awards the C. Clyde Ferguson Law Scholarships to minority or financially disadvantaged law students in New Jersey.

Prospective students should not only review various factors when reviewing New Jersey law schools such as cost, locality and academic record, but should also know New Jersey law schools key terms to help you find a law school that's right for you.

The reputation of the school and how well you performed in law school can greatly affect your ability to obtain a job offer after passing the state bar exam. If you are looking to attend a New Jersey school, there are a few New Jersey law schools key terms with which you may want to familiarize yourself.

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

State bar exam

The state bar exam is the test required for law students to become licensed attorneys. Individuals are required to undergo a character review before being eligible to take the state bar exam.

I recommend: Find out more about qualifications for taking the state bar exam at New Jersey Bar Exams.

Externship

Externship programs allow law students to learn the legal profession under the direct supervision of judges and lawyers. Students can extern in federal and state judicial branches.

I recommend: Read more about Nevada law school externship programs at Rutgers School of Law – Camden.

Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

The LSAT is the standardized test that determines whether or not a student qualifies for admission to a law school. Law schools have varying standards regarding minimum LSAT. Some allow students to write personal letters and other information if their scores are below the school's requirements.

I recommend: Find out more about taking the LSAT for New Jersey law schools at ApplyingToSchool.com.

Reciprocity policy

A law school's reciprocity policy allows students and graduates from other law schools to use its services under certain rules and conditions. Some law schools may require the request for reciprocity in writing.

I recommend: Check out the Seton Hall University School of Law to read more about reciprocity conditions.

Moot court competitions

Moot court competitions are interscholastic debates between second and third-year law students. During moot court competitions, students prepare briefs and perform oral arguments just as they would in a real court.

I recommend: Read more about moot court competitions at Rutgers Moot Court Board.

Pro bono

Pro bono legal services are those that are provided to communities and individuals in need at no charge. Law schools encourage their students to give back to the community by participating in pro bono programs.

I recommend: Learn more about New Jersey law school pro bono service requirements at Rutgers School of Law – Newark