Undoubtedly, researching law schools is an important part of the application process. Finding schools that specialize in the area(s) you are interested in can be more critical than the school’s overall ranking.

Why? The knowledge and experiences you gain through the program’s specialized curriculum will provide unique qualifications other candidates might not possess. Scroll through this page to learn more about researching law schools and finding programs that meet your interests.

Spreadsheet to help document findings!

Compiling your list of law schools to apply to

Once you have begun researching law schools and exploring ones of interest, start breaking down your list of schools in the following manner:

• “Target schools”: Schools where your GPA and LSAT scores fall around the 50th percentile of the school’s GPA and LSAT scores.
• “Reach schools”: Schools where your GPA and LSAT scores fall below the 25th percentile of the school’s GPA and LSAT scores.
• “Safety schools”: Schools where your GPA and LSAT scores fall above the 75th percentile of the school’s GPA and LSAT scores.

FYI: Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)

The National Conference of Bar Examiners states, “The UBE is designed to test knowledge and skills that every lawyer should be able to demonstrate prior to becoming licensed to practice law. It results in a portable score that can be used to apply for admission in other UBE jurisdictions.”

It is important to know which states fall under the UBE.

For example, the UBE does not cover California. So, if you go OUTSIDE California for law school but want to practice in California, you must take the California State Bar separately.

When you’re near your final year, your law school should be able to help you navigate the bar exam process. Click here to find which states fall under the UBE and the contact info for each state’s bar examiner office.

If you want an additional resource, check out the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements.