| |
|
« Top TLS Profiles - Third/Fourth Tier - TLS Programs - TLS Stats - Rankings The Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer UniversityRounding out the Top-100 of USNews’ national rankings, the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University leaves students with little to rave about. Quality-of-life is poor, the academic program is weak and employment prospects are near-depressing. Not all hope is lost, however, as several have graduated from Mercer Law School and done quite well for themselves. Admissions & Tuition Relatively speaking, admissions standards at Mercer University are low. The Princeton Review gives the school an “Admissions Selectivity Rating” of 79 out of a possible 100. Roughly 32% of applicants were granted admission last year (419 out of 1,317). Of those admitted, the 25th to 75th percentile GPA range was 3.2–3.6 and the range for the LSAT was 155-158. The medians for those crucial admissions factors were 156 and 3.44, respectively (Princeton Review). Mercer’s students enjoy a relatively low cost of attendance—thanks, for the most part, to two factors: a cheap cost-of-living in the Macon area, and a generous financial aid program. At $32,000 per year, tuition alone is not especially cheap; but Mercer students pay only about $7000 a year for room & board. This means that the total cost of attendance, when book costs and other miscellaneous fees are considered, is only $47,000 annually. If that was not enough, the financial aid office at Mercer is quite generous: a whopping 13% of students received grants equivalent to the full cost of tuition or higher last year. Overall, grants ranged from $8,000 to $28,600 for the 25th to 75th percentiles. But one would be mistaken to simply compare Mercer’s tuition and financial aid against that of other schools and declare Mercer to be a good value. Instead, students should always view tuition and other fees relative to the expected return on investment. For this, see the employment section below. Bar Passage & Employment Prospects USNews reports that 88% of Mercer grads pass the Bar the on their first try, exceeding Georgia’s state-wide passage rate of 85%. While this is a strong passage rate, it does not immediately translate to strong career prospects. In fact, only 62% of Mercer graduates are known to have employment at the time of graduation, leaving nearly 40% of graduates jobless for at least some time. There is hope for Mercer students, however: within nine months of graduation, 94% of students are employed. Of those who did find work, nearly 70% remained in Georgia. This is to be expected as Mercer is not well-known outside of the Georgia area. Some students did find work out-of-state, but very few (less than 5% of employed graduates) left the Southeastern region. Mercer graduates overwhelmingly flocked to the private sector. The Princeton Review reports that nearly 70% entered private-practice, while 12% secured judicial clerkships, 9% went into public-interest, and 6% found government work. Money seems to the motivating factor for the majority of graduates choosing to enter private-practice, as those who did so earned a median starting salary of $60,000—compared to $40,000 for those who entered public service. Academic In the classroom, Mercer students are likely to find that there is much to be desired. While the school currently holds the top spot on USNews ranking of “Legal Writing” programs, there is no other program for which it gains any real recognition; and the school fails to provide the type of well-rounded education that a law student needs. Much of Mercer’s academic inadequacy is the result of a lack of access to journals, clinics, and internships. Only two journals are currently published at Mercer, one of which is a historical journal that goes to print only once a year. What’s more, the school’s location in Macon provides few opportunities for internships and ‘hands-on’ clinical experience. This leaves Mercer students a step behind in the job-hunt, and it is perhaps the reason for the school’s terribly low employment rate. Quality of life The decision to attend Mercer is usually not based on the school’s quality-of-life, which is low. As a town, Macon can hardly be said to be an attraction for prospective students. Yes, there is some nice architecture and the town is rich in history; but, beyond that, there is simply nothing to do. Things are not expected to improve, either, as people continue to move out and crime continues to move in. Prospective students should not underestimate the effect that a poor quality-of-life will have on their law school experience. While the workload is always heavy for law students, law school should not be viewed as an experience existing only in the vacuum of the classroom; the town in which one lives and the social and recreational outlets it provides (or doesn’t provide) are huge factors in determining the extent to which one enjoys law school—as they most likely were for the 9% of Mercer 1L’s who did not return for their second year. An illuminating thread posted on TLS by unsatisfied Mercer 1L’s discusses the dissatisfaction several alumni feel. Conclusion Quality-of-life is low, career prospects are poor, and the academic program is weak overall. Mercer will have to make significant improvements if it hopes to attract higher caliber applicants. Quick Reference U.S. News Ranking: 100 |
University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law Mercer University Law School Stetson University School of Law Syracuse University College of Law University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law Pacific McGeorge School of Law Chapman University School of Law Cleveland State University, Marshall College of Law Creighton University School of Law Franklin Pierce Law Center Quinnipiac University School of Law The University of St. Thomas School of Law University of Wyoming, College of Law West Virginia University College of Law William Mitchell College of Law Florida International University College of Law Florida Coastal School of Law CUNY School of Law Campbell University School of Law Barry University School of Law Oklahoma City University School of Law Regent University School of Law South Texas College of Law Touro College – Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law The University of Dayton School of Law University of the District of Columbia - David A. Clarke School of Law University of Detroit Mercy School of Law University of North Dakota School of Law University of Tulsa College of Law Mississippi College School of Law John Marshall Law School (Chicago) Albany Law School Appalachian School of Law Ave Maria School of Law Southern University Law Center Southwestern Law School St. Mary's University School of Law St. Thomas University School of Law Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Thomas Jefferson School of Law Howard University Law School Texas Tech Law School New York Law School The University of Missouri – Kansas City Northern Kentucky University – Salmon P. Chase College of Law California Western School of Law |