A few interesting developments on the law school scene:
- The 2007 Law School Survey of Student Engagement was published recently and shows:
- Students at law schools with enrollments under 500 were more likely than their peers at larger law schools to work collaboratively and participate in class discussions.
- Students at larger law schools were more likely to participate in volunteer or pro bono activities.
- Private law schools appear to be more academically challenging than public law schools.
- Compared with their younger counterparts, law students over the age of 27 spent more time preparing for class and were more engaged in classroom discussions.
Although the report is aimed at law school administrators, it should also motivate you to think about what is important to you in a law school other than US News ranking. Do you want the opportunity to do a lot of pro bono work? Do you enjoy lively class discussion. If the latter you may prefer a smaller law school with an older average age. If the former, perhaps the larger law schools are more appealing.
Don’t follow the results of this survey slavishly, but do consider them as you decide where to apply and where to attend.
- 2L’s are enjoying a robust summer hiring season according to Law.com’s article "Summer Associate Forecast Brighter in ’08" The majority of firms interviewed for the story planned to increase summer hiring, and students interviewed reported that they and there friends were not having trouble obtaining internships.
- Minority enrollment in law schools is declining. Enrollment of blacks and Mexican-Americans has fallen by 8.6% in the past 15 years, according to a Web site created by Columbia Law School and the Society of American Law Teachers (SALT).
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