Why Study at a Midwest Law School?
Midwestern law schools are often overlooked when students consider where to spend their three years of law school – but they shouldn’t be. Quality law schools dot the Midwest, with strong history and great connections to the judiciary and strong local and national networks. A bonus of attending a Midwest law school is that they tend to be much more affordable than schools on either coast. That’s especially important because there’s no guarantee that students will remain in the area in which they went to school – so it’s best to be careful when it comes to cost. Plus many Midwest cities are actually cheaper than cities elsewhere in the country. For example, the cost of living for Chicago is about 23% lower than that of New York City. Kansas City is 20% cheaper. When you’re paying back tens of thousands of dollars of student loans, those savings really start to add up.
Another great benefit to attending law school here is the fact that most of the schools boast seriously diverse student bodies, many of which have international students. Studying law with individuals from cultures and countries all over the world helps to internationalize your legal studies – making you a more desirable law firm candidate in the global marketplace that the legal field has become . There are over 9,000 foreign-born people who are already lawyers in Chicago alone – think of what it would do for your resume to join them! Some law school graduates end up opening their own firms – or transitioning to other careers – but for those who do want to work in the field, having contacts from around the world will only make it easier to practice law or land a position with a global corporation.
The students at law schools in the Midwest are amongst some of the most driven and capable in the nation. The Midwest may not be the home of the Ivy League, but that doesn’t mean the schools here aren’t impressive! Many of them are on the American Bar Association’s lists of top law schools, and while they may not be as well known as Harvard or Duke, they’ve earned serious respect from regional law firms and the courts.
Attending law school here can help you to better acclimate yourself to working in this region – something that can be hard to do if you didn’t grow up here. Chicago has thousands of law firms and major corporations to choose from, as do all of the other cities on our list. All schools in the Midwest are accredited by the American Bar Association, so you can be confident that any law degree from the area is respected across the country and can be taken anywhere you want.
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School is located in the heart of the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park and is known for its rigorous academic approach and prominent faculty. In addition to its highly-ranked JD program, it also offers a combined MBA/JD, Executive MBA/JD, PhD/JD, and several joint degrees with other law schools.
Students here can take advantage of the school’s strong analytical approach to the law and its unique interdisciplinary approach, which allows for students to study other disciplines and share their expertise with lawyers and other professionals.
The University of Chicago Law School has a long list of notable faculty members, including former U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Antonin Scalia, several former Federal Circuit Court judges, and many distinguished scholars who have won prestigious awards for their teaching and research efforts.
The University of Chicago Law School has a number of highly ranked specialty programs, including in criminal law, international law and tax law. It also offers some of the most popular clinics and externships in Illinois, and its students have an impressive record of landing jobs at top firms upon graduation.
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
The Top Law Schools in the Midwest: A Guide for Aspiring Lawyers
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law takes an innovative approach to legal education, emphasizing interdisciplinary studies and experiential learning. Founded in 1859 as the Chicago College of Law, it is the first law school in the Midwest and the only one in Chicago that is affiliated with a private university. The institution became part of Northwestern University in 1870.
Northwestern Pritzker offers a dual-degree option that can expand a student’s skill set and career opportunities. JD students can combine their studies with a master’s in journalism, business, public policy, or public health. There is also an optional certificate in taxation for JD students.
The law school is located in downtown Chicago, where students acquire experience as early as their first semester of law school, through its various legal clinics, externships, and a career-management system that helps students find the work.
The school was one of the first to establish a clinical program. Today, it has approximately 20 clinics, including a Family Law Center, Bluhm Legal Clinic, Child and Family Justice Center, and Environmental Advocacy Center. A full range of topics is covered in its core curriculum, which includes Computer and Internet Law, Negotiation Theory and Skills, and Intellectual Property Law. First-year courses include Torts and Contracts, along with Legal Research and Writing, and lawyering skills. Northwestern University students are known as "Kelloggies" and can take advantage of many of Kellogg School of Management’s courses. Additionally, the law school’s faculty includes many legal scholars, who have received numerous awards and recognitions.
University of Michigan Law School
Determined to train the most skilled lawyers, the University of Michigan established its law school in 1857. On April 19, 1841, the Board of Regents administered the university charter and selected Professor Thomas M. Cooley as law professor. In the fall of 1859, Ralph E. Johnson, an attorney based in Ann Arbor, agreed to take on the role of adjunct professor, marking the first faculty of the University of Michigan Law School. In 1871, the Supreme Court appointed Cooley to lead the reorganization of the Michigan Supreme Court, which undoubtedly took his focus away from the university and led him to resign as Dean. His successor, Samuel T. Dana, served the school for the next six years and really gained attention for his teaching style. Professor Rollie Beal recommended the "small numbers and large brains" policy that the University of Michigan Law School follows today. It was this recommendation that led the school to accepting into the program shorter numbers of students with superior academic records. The Law School went from being a department of the College to a School of Law in 1927. For most of its history, it operated in Mason Hall, part of the University of Michigan Campus. The Law School’s present home is the Robert B. Aikens building, which was completed in 1933. The building added a five-story addition in 1974 and this adjoined to a new 10-story south addition of the Law Library in 1991. The school has a humongous library system with more than 800,000 volumes available for student access. The school offers JD, LLM, and doctoral programs. University of Michigan is ranked 5th in the nation for research productivity and the acceptance rate for the law school is 18%.
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, has an impressive placement rate of 88% of students in permanent, full-time legal positions after they graduate. Their innovative curriculum and plentiful clinics, one of the more outstanding features of the university, make them a top pick for top-notch legal training in the midwest.
One of their most popular courses is The Negotiation Project , which is entirely taught through hands-on simulations. Students participate directly and directly apply the knowledge they learn in the course. They also have opportunities to work directly with clinics in fields as diverse as intellectual property and mental disabilities law, as well as general legal services and international human rights.
Notre Dame Law School
In the perennial battle between Notre Dame and Michigan on the gridiron, this legal alma mater comes out ahead in the legal education game. Founded in 1869, Notre Dame Law School is the oldest Catholic law school in the United States and was the first law school ever to offer a three-year program.
The school brings together an impressive blend of academic rigor, close relations with other departments, and dynamic international programs. In 1999, the school became the first U.S. law school to establish an international focus. Notre Dame Law School now partners with the Indian government’s National Judicial Academy to provide intensive training for judges and judicial leaders.
Three law school clinics focus on these cross-border ties, offering a variety of services to the public and to organizations addressing global issues. The Asylum and Human Rights Clinic represents women from Mali who have suffered gender-based persecution and advises on gender-based violence concerns in Africa. The Human Dignity in Law Clinic focuses on legal strategies for reducing poverty and inequality in cross-border contexts and for providing assistance to victims of human trafficking. The International Justice Clinic administers a Model Courts Program that seeks to enhance awareness of and response to human rights violations around the world.
In addition, the school has 12 centers or institutes that expand on the school’s mission of teaching lawyers "to think like lawyers." Students work side-by-side with faculty and practitioners on projects that develop their skills in advocacy, apply theory to practice, and address current domestic and foreign legal issues.
As a Catholic institution, Notre Dame Law School prides itself on helping students think critically about the intersection of law, ethics, and the moral dimensions of legal practice.
Things to Keep in Mind When Picking Your Midwest Law School
When it comes to choosing a law school in the Midwest, there are several factors that prospective students need to take into consideration. With many accredited options available, evaluating the pros and cons of each through a structured framework will allow you to better understand each of the schools on your list. The following areas of consideration are key:
Location
The Midwest is home to several high-quality law schools, and there’s bound to be one that meets your needs and budget. In addition to the quality of the education itself, you need to consider whether you want to stay within your immediate area or venture out into another city or state. Think about whether you’ll want to practice in your hometown, and whether there are enough job opportunities available to justify remaining there for law school. Which cities have the most opportunity for you?
Specialization
While it’s always possible to pursue a specialization as a practicing attorney, some schools offer courses that will allow you to focus on a particular area of law that interests you. If you have an idea of the area you’d like to focus on, then it’s time to research whether any of the schools on your list offer programs that align with those interests. This isn’t one of the most important factors in choosing a Midwest law school, but it can add an extra boost to your resume if you take advantage of this option.
Bar Passage Rates
It’s important to look at the passage rates for the schools you’re considering. If you’re applying to a mid-tier law school, there’s a higher possibility that students will have difficulty passing the bar on the first attempt. However, even mid-tier law schools have high bar passage rates. If a school has a history of low bar passage rates, then it could result in limited job opportunities after graduation.
Financial Aid Options
The cost of attending law school can be high, and it’s vital that you understand the options available to you to help pay for your education. Interested students should check out each school’s website for information on financial aid, scholarships, and loans. You should also contact the financial aid offices of the schools you’re considering.
Conclusion
Selecting the right law school is a significant step for aspiring lawyers, and each institution offers a distinct mix of benefits and challenges. When it comes to choosing a Midwest law school, applicants have a diverse menu of options, from public powerhouses like the University of Chicago to private institutions that provide specific advantages . The name-brand recognition and prestige of some of Chicago’s elite institutions can be very tempting, but it is also important to keep in mind that the big city experience is not necessarily best for everyone. Students who want an academic experience with more attention from the faculty may prefer to enroll at smaller law schools in other locations. The bottom line is that each student must weigh the pros and cons of each institution against their own career plans to select the best place to earn a law degree.