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« TLS Profiles - TLS Programs - TLS Stats - Rankings University of Buffalo—SUNY Law School
Admissions & Tuition It is not terribly difficult to gain admission to Buffalo Law. Roughly 33% (~700 out of 2,104) of applicants were granted admission in 2009. For those who matriculated to the 2009 entering class, the 25th to 75th percentile GPA range was 3.19–3.73 and the range for the LSAT was 153-159—with medians hovering around 3.52 and 157, respectively. Once admitted, prospective students must weigh Buffalo’s pros and cons against those of other schools. Certainly, the school’s low tuition goes in the ‘pro’ category. New York residents pay only $16,010 in tuition, while out-of-staters barely crack $25,000. This makes Buffalo one of the cheapest law schools in the Top-100. What’s more, students pay less than $10K annually for room & board, while book costs and miscellaneous fees stay under $5,000. The total cost-of-attendance, then, for New Yorkers, is just over $30,000 per year—cheaper than tuition alone at most law schools. Non-residents still get away with a total-cost of around $40,000. With such low tuition and fees, it is no surprise that the Buffalo financial aid office cannot afford to be especially generous—last year, the 75th percentile grant was $13,200, but the median falls all the way to $2,200. Buffalo students still graduate with only $55,000 of debt, on average (USNews). Employment Prospects LSAC reports that 80.6% of Buffalo’s graduates pass the New York Bar the on their first try. This is not an exceptional passage rate, and it is five points lower than the state-wide rate of 85.6%. After the Bar, some Buffalo graduates struggle to find immediate employment. In fact, over 17% of 2007 graduates were jobless at the time of graduation. Within nine months of graduation, however, nearly 94% of graduates were employed. With respect to the fields-of-law pursued by Buffalo graduates, trends are similar to those of law school graduates around the country. Most Buffalo graduates (50%) entered private-practice; 13.5% went into business, 15% to government, and 4% to public-interest. The remaining graduates spread themselves out among judicial clerkships, academic posts, and jobs listed as ‘other’. It seems safe to suggest that money is the reason for the migration towards private-sector work. Those who entered the private sector earned a median salary of $68,000 to start in 2007. By contrast, those entering public-interest started with a median salary of roughly $53,000. Most Buffalo students can expect to remain in New York after graduation, as Buffalo is, without doubt, a regional law school. The school is not quite as regional, however, as other schools similarly ranked. While nearly 75% of graduates generally find work in New York, Buffalo graduates in recent years have been employed all over the country, with 2% making it as far as the Pacific Coast. Academics Buffalo does not stand out academically. The school fails to make an appearance on any of USNews’ specialty rankings lists, and is not well-known outside of New York. Nevertheless, Buffalo provides a plethora of academic resources—more than enough to prepare students or a career in law. Buffalo Law School offers students the opportunity to work on a number of journals, including the Buffalo Law Review, the Criminal Law, the Environmental Law Review, the Human Rights Law Review, and the Intellectual Property Journal, among several others. Students also have access to valuable, hands-on experience through Buffalo’s clinical program. Current offerings include the Affordable Housing clinic, the Immigration Law Clinic, and the Women, Children and Social Justice Clinic, among others. If all of this is not enough, dual-degrees are available for those who really want to get a leg-up on the competition. Students can add a MSW, MBA, MPH, or even a PhD to their JD. The above opportunities, however, at many other schools, merely represent chances for students to add to an already stellar classroom experience. At Buffalo, that is not the case; and students often have to go the extra mile in order to get the education they deserve. Quality of Life Buffalo is New York’s second-largest city. And, while it will forever live in the shadow of that other big city in New York, Buffalo has plenty to offer. Arts, entertainment, recreation, a diverse population, great food… the list goes on. Buffalo really is a wonderful place to spend three years, or many more. That is, of course, as long as one doesn’t mind a brutally cold winter here and there. Conclusion Like every school, Buffalo Law School has its pros and its cons. Ultimately, whether the pros outweigh the cons will depend on each student’s personal interests. Students—especially those interested in working in New York—are encouraged to make the trip to Buffalo Law School and decide for themselves. Quick Reference U.S. News Ranking: 85 |
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Enjoying great quality-of-life and increasingly strong career prospects, Buffalo Law School students have a lot to be excited about; but with only a regional reputation, Buffalo graduates can expect their career prospects to be limited, and this is certainly something prospective students should keep in mind.