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Home » Law Schools » Rankings and Profiles » Northwestern University Law SchoolPublished October 2006, last updated May 2012
A current 2L states, “The student body is excellent, most of which has done something interesting before law school. Students tend to bring interesting perspectives into the classroom as a result, and I think this is a major advantage over schools primarily composed of people straight through from undergrad.” Northwestern Law also places a heavy emphasis on global enterprises and practical learning, with some of the most highly regarded study abroad, clinical and interdisciplinary programs in the country. The school recently employed a sweeping initiative called “Plan 2008: Preparing Great Leaders for the Changing World,” in which it conducted extensive focus groups with law firm, corporate and governmental leaders, with assistance by a legal consulting firm, to mold the direction of the law school. In an exclusive interview with TLS, Dean of the law school David E. Van Zandt described it as a plan that “emphasizes the foundational competencies that most law schools ignore, but that industry leaders agree are critical for success in today’s legal careers.” Though the law school is one of the most expensive, especially when factoring in the higher expense of downtown city life , its students issue few complaints besides the cost and the cold. “Northwestern is just a pleasant place to attend law school,” a student said. “It has an atmosphere that makes it fun to be in grad school, instead of the hell on earth that 1L is rumored to be.”
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Northwestern Law School admissions are extremely competitive, with only 18% of applicants receiving offers for admission. The median LSAT score is a 170 (about the 98th percentile) and the median undergraduate GPA is a 3.7. Data suggest Northwestern prefers high LSAT scores to high GPAs, as its GPA range is one of the lowest of its peer schools, whereas its 75th percentile LSAT score is one of the highest. Unlike at other law schools where work experience and leaderships skills are perhaps considered small bonuses, here they are nearly requisite. Dean Van Zandt said:
The school is currently ranked #10 by the U.S. News and World Report’s 2009 law school rankings. It has climbed from a low of #16 in 1987 (the first year of the rankings) to a peak of #9 in 2008. Comparatively low peer and lawyer/judge assessment scores have traditionally hindered Northwestern Law’s rankings. Currently, it has the 14th lowest academic reputation score, and the 13th lowest lawyer/judge reputation score. Taken together, those two numbers count for a hefty 40% of a school’s rank.
Admissions Basics: Applicants should submit a personal statement, with a recommended length of one to three pages. In an exclusive interview with TLS, Dean of Admissions John Lee said introspection is a common theme of great personal statements. He continued:
Dean Van Zandt added:
There are also two option essays: a “Why Northwestern?” and a “diversity statement.” Students can choose to write zero, one, or both. Answers should be limited to one or two paragraphs. The school only requires one letter of recommendation. Unlike most law schools, Northwestern does not automatically prefer academic recommendations. Dean Lee said that especially for those applicants who have taken time off, the office prefers work-related recommendations to those from professors. “What we’re looking for is the depth of detail within the letter of recommendation. It’s important to us that the recommender really knows the student well, and can really speak to his or her ability as a possible law student, and/or work ability,” he said. The school’s website added:
Dean Lee also added that students should not blow off the LSAT writing sample, as the office does take it into consideration. “If, let’s say, we’re reading a personal statement, and it doesn’t really display an individual’s ability to write, we’ll turn to the writing sample to get a second opinion,” he said. Applications are accepted starting October 1st and the deadline is February 15. The application fee is $100. Merit-based fee waivers are disbursed via the LSAC’s Candidate Referral Service (largely based off of LSAT score and GPA), and need-based fee waivers may be granted by submitting documentation indicating your need. The Interview: Northwestern invites all applicants to interview, either with an alum locally or at the school with an admissions staff member. About 75% of applicants are interviewed. Dean Lee said that evaluation-wise, there is no difference in interviewing either on-campus or off:
Students said that interview questions tend to be basic (for example, there are frequently questions about why applicants want to attend law school, what sort of leadership experience they’ve had, and how their undergraduate and post-undergraduate experiences have prepared them for law school). Dean Lee said the interview serves to provide more information about an applicant and can sometimes markedly influence the office’s decision about an applicant. He said:
Work Experience: Work experience is weighted heavily at Northwestern. The vast majority (nearly 85%) of students have taken two or more years off of undergrad. Dean Lee said that there is a “slight disadvantage” for those applying straight out of undergrad indeed, only 2% of the first year class is comprised of such students. His advice for college seniors:
Because Northwestern has aspects that feel like business school, it should be no surprise that the admissions process values work experience just as business schools do as well. Dean Lee noted several times the importance of those applicants who had unorthodox time off doing an interview, since he said that “the general overarching theme is that not all work experiences are created equally” and that he is particularly interested in the substance of the experience. He continued:
When to Apply: Dean Lee said that applicants should put much more emphasis on submitting the best application possible than on applying as early as possible and that an applicant has the same shot at admission whether he applies October 1st or January 1st. He said that applicants should ideally avoid submitting an application less than a month before the deadline. He said:
Applying Early Decision: Northwestern has a binding Early Decision program. An interview is mandatory, which must be completed by November 15th. The deadline for Early Decision applications is December 1st. Dean Lee said of evaluating Early Decision candidates:
Addendums: Dean Lee said that applicants should feel free to submit as many addendums as they want, but to remember that “the more addendums you write, the more the impact on the reader’s eyes tends to diminish.” He elaborated:
Scholarships: At Northwestern, a scholarship committee decides scholarships on a blended basis of merit and need. There are no completely merit-based or need-based scholarships. Applicants who would like to be considered for a scholarship must submit a separate “Need Access Application” along with a FAFSA. Said Dean Lee of the process, “It’s based on need-level, based on academic credentials, based on work-experience; it’s basically another applicant review process. We go ahead and assign scholarships accordingly.” According to LSAC data, Northwestern grants scholarships to one of the lowest percentages of students (31.6% in 2009) out of the Top 14 law schools. However, the median grant amount was the highest of all 14 schools at $20,000/year. Transfer Admissions: Northwestern Law accepts about 30-35 transfer students each year. They are eligible for all law school activities, including journals. Dean Lee said transfer applications are evaluated on a holistic basis. He continued: (back to top)
Northwestern Law’s culture is inherently distinct from other top law schools, as it is the only one which is comprised almost completely of students with one or more years of work experience. Students also say self-selection plays a role in attracting students who think they might thrive in the business school-like culture. Said a student, “we interview for admissions, thus we get fewer people who are well-qualified on paper, but horrible to be around.” Many students said that they treat law school as a job more than a reprise of college. More students have families or live further away from the law school, thus making the school less of a focal point of their lives. A student elaborated:
At a student body of 779, Northwestern Law is a medium-to-small sized school. Students say that bodes well both for job prospects and decreased competition between peers. A student said:
Another student said that the overall atmosphere is “pretty relaxed,” and echoed other students’ observations that the school has an overall “business-like vibe.”
The Student Body: Students say that their peers are smart, driven and mature. A student said:
Though the average student age at most law schools is about 24 years old, at Northwestern it is 26. Most students think the more mature student body is a boon to the school. Said a student:
Another student added, “I like the older student body. People seem surer of themselves and less annoying than 22 year olds. And almost nobody is in law school just because they didn’t know what else to do.” Northwestern also has a very diverse student body both racially, ideologically and geographically. According to the school’s Viewbook, Northwestern Law has had the highest percentage of ethnically diverse students among the top law schools for the past three years running. Students also have roots across the country, through the majority are from the Midwest and East Coast. Students say there isn’t a distinctive political bent.
The Law Buildings: Northwestern Law students almost universally cite the school’s incredible location, including expansive views of Lake Michigan from the library and clinical facilities. One student said the buildings are “extremely nice.” A student said:
There’s also a large atrium in the middle of the law school with lots of tables and couches, which is a popular meeting place for students and professors. (back to top)Professors Northwestern Law has one of the lowest student-faculty ratios in the country at 9.1:1 — bested only by Yale and Stanford. The school boasts that is has the highest percentage of PhD-trained faculty members of any law school — about 47% of the research faculty have social sciences PhDs. It comes as little surprise, then, that the school is known for its strength in law and social sciences. Other notable faculty strengths include tax law, trial advocacy and international law. In its Viewbook, the school reports:
In recent polls administered on legal blogger Brian Leiter’s website, Northwestern Law faculty was ranked #11 in Constitutional Law & Theory, #11 in Law & Economics, and #22 in Intellectual Property/Cyber Law.
Most students echoed that viewpoint, adding that there are “lots of conversations after class, during office hours, and over e-mail. Northwestern professors will really go the extra mile for students during the clerkship process, too.” Students added that most professors take on research assistants, so for those interested in clerkships and academia especially, there are ample opportunities to form close relationships with professors. A few of Northwestern Law’s star professors include Steven Calabresi (founder of the Federalist Society), Martin Redish (civil procedure, first amendment) Ronald Allen (leading scholar on evidence and procedure), David Dana (environmental, property, and IP law), Andrew Koppelman (law and political science), and Fred McChesney (antitrust and corporate law). (back to top)Classes Northwestern Law’s practical orientation is manifested strongly in its curriculum. For starters, all 1Ls are required to take a year-long “Communication and Legal Reasoning” class, which focuses on teamwork and analytical exercises. A student said, “NU definitely seems more pragmatic than other law schools. We spend a lot less time on theory and more on how the law can be applied in practice. There is a preponderance of ‘buisinessy’ classes.” Another student said that there is a lack of “academically focused, ‘let’s think deeply of the law’ classes. But they’ve been trying to improve this and they have an actual faculty committee that’s trying to change it.”
The school uses a bidding system for registering classes. A student said: “I've had no trouble getting the classes I want. The bidding system lets students prioritize, so it's pretty much assured that if you really, really want something and bid a lot of points on it, you'll get it.” Students have the option of specializing in one of four formal concentrations — Business Enterprise, Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution, International Law, or Law and Social Policy. Students report that the schedule can be flexible, requiring students to take 16 credit hours of “related course study,” along with “at least one substantial research and writing project.” A grading curve is mandatory for all courses with more than 40 students. Most first year classes are held with sections of about 60 students, with some classes being bigger. Class rank isn’t recorded or reported. The curve, which is more generous than other law schools, is as follows: A+/3-7%, A/12-15%, A-/10-15%, B+/15-30%, B/20-35%, B-/10-15%, C+/0-7.5%, C/0-7.5%, D&F/0-7%. The B-School Tilt: Northwestern Law has been met with both praise and criticism for approaching the study of law from a business school angle. Skills like group collaboration, presentations, and practical application are emphasized, whereas at some other law schools they are barely touched upon. Dean Van Zandt explained the approach in an interview with TLS:
Students say that the curriculum at Northwestern Law is “incredibly practical, with a considerable amount of team-based collaborative work built in.” Said another student:
Class Offerings: Northwestern Law offers a wide breadth of class offerings, including all the basics along with specialized seminars like “Free Speech and the McCarthy Era.” Students say that offerings in transactional law and litigation are particularly robust. Said a student:
However, several students did say that the more corporate and business-themed classes command the course listings, with the litigation opportunities often being focused on the clinics and externships.
Studying: Though student study habits are of course across the board, several students did note that they felt Northwestern Law students take a serious, directed approach to their studies. “Many people I know will just sit down, do their studying, and then go home and be done with it. I’ve heard that at other schools younger students will spend hours in the library, but half the time they’re on Facebook or talking with people.” Northwestern Law Students Study Methods and Tips: (back to top) Placement For all its talk about reaching out to employers and marketing its students for the real world, Northwestern Law delivers in its employment prospects. In 2007, Northwestern Law took the number two spot for all law schools in sending the highest percentage of its graduates to NLJ 250 firms (the country’s biggest, most reputable firms). 73.5% of the class of 2007 accepted offers at such firms, nearly a 20-percentage point increase from the year before. Compare that number to its peer schools: at Virginia Law, 58.1% of its graduates took positions at such firms, and at Georgetown University Law Center, the number drops to 48.5%. The corporate law tilt at Northwestern is evident from both the structure of the law school and its employment statistics.
Said a student:
Said another:
Northwestern also benefits from having a stellar reputation with Chicago firms — one of the country’s major legal markets — but still places its graduates coast-to-coast. “Students aren’t just stuck working in the Midwest, as opposed to some other peer schools where they filter to literally one single market.” In recent years, nearly 80% of recruiters have been based outside the Midwest and more than half of students typically accept offers outside the Midwest. That being said, just about half of students do end up working in the Midwest, and several students say “it’s just easier” to get a job in Chicago. “It can be a little disappointing if you want to go to California when there’s not a lot of California firms here,” a 2L said. Employers are not allowed to pre-screen which students they’d like to interview for OCI (to which more than 800 employers have recruited in recent years), the benefits of which are twofold: students with less-than-stellar grades won’t be shut out from interviews, and students are less inclined to compete with each other for the highest grades in order to be able to interview in the first place. Northwestern Law also doesn’t rank its students, which several people say contributes to the “pretty much non-competitive” atmosphere.
Northwestern Law places a considerable number of graduates in prestigious clerkship positions, though the percentage of its graduates who pursue clerkships is slightly lower than peer schools. In 2007, three Northwestern Law graduates were appointed to Supreme Court clerkships, a number only topped by Harvard and Yale for that term. For the same term, Northwestern placed 17 graduates in Circuit Court of Appeals clerkships, 21 in Federal District Courts, 5 in State Supreme Courts, and 1 in the Supreme Court of India. Predictably, Northwestern places one of the largest percentages of students in the business sector of all the top law schools. Students also seem to take comparatively fewer slots in the public interest and government sectors than other top schools. Northwestern’s loan assistance program, called the Public Service Fellowship Program, will contribute a maximum of $13,000/year for ten years of a graduate’s public interest position. The program is currently under revision.
Northwestern sent an e-mail to students in April of 2009 to aid students affected by the crippled legal market, offering a few means of assistance. Of particular note, the school opened up unpaid intern positions at the Bluhm Legal Clinic for deferred 3Ls, which could fulfill the public interest requirement that many firms placed upon graduates with deferred start dates in order to receive a stipend. The school also compiled a list of public interest employers interested in hiring Northwestern Law students and graduates. The school extended the deadlines for and offered to waive half the tuition of the school’s Tax and Human Rights LLM programs, and encouraged students to apply for forbearance of their loans and for short-term extended health insurance. Of course the efforts are an incredibly small consolation for students deferred from or out of a job, but students seem to appreciate the initiatives, as they are not universal across law schools. “It’s nice to have a school that works to create solutions for its deferred 3Ls instead of shooing them out the door and asking them not to fill out the employment survey,” a student said. 1L Summer Placement: Northwestern Law students enjoy a major advantage over students from law schools that aren’t located in the center of huge legal markets. “We have pretty much everything already here,” a student said. The main advice that the school’s career office gives to 1Ls is: apply everywhere. “Most of the things you’ll get through connections,” a 2L said. “Apply to your home regions. Send out letters to every DA office. All the government agencies will take people for free. In the past we had like 25% / 30% of 1Ls in firm jobs, that’s probably gone way down.” There’s also a very small 1L OCI, but it’s mostly small IP firms. For their 1L summers, most students either stick around Chicago or return to their hometowns. “I don't know anyone who is unhappy with their 1L job,” a student said. “I know a lot of people who got judicial externships (like mini-clerkships) and firm jobs. Other students are doing research for professors and working in the clinic. A couple of people have government internships.” The Student Funded Public Interest Fellowship Program, ran by Northwestern students, provides limited number of summer stipends (39 were given last year) of usually $5,000 to those students who accept qualifying positions (usually non-profit, government, public interest or clinical) Career Services: Student opinions on Northwestern Law’s Career Center:
Academia: Northwestern is likely known least for its production of eventual law scholars. Though a small percentage of its graduates go on to become law professors, it’s at a lower rate than most of its peer schools. Said a student:
The “Law Scholars” program is a new initiative for students who do wish to pursue academic careers. Students participate in a faculty-student research project during their first summer and are assigned faculty mentors. The NU website added: (back to top) Quality of Life The Northwestern Law School building is located right along Lake Michigan, separate from the school’s main campus in Evanston, and just north of the bustling Chicago “Loop” area. Almost every student calls the school’s Streeterville neighborhood location some variation of incredible. A student called the area “clean, pretty, safe, and with every amenity imaginable. It’s also very close to public transportation and great shopping. It is, however, one of the most expensive areas in the city.”
Students said that on nice days they can cross the street to study on the Lake Michigan beach. There are many restaurants nearby and popular bars are a short cab ride or long walk away. Millennium Park and Grant Park, where events are often hosted, are right near the law school as well. Said a student:
There are perks and drawbacks to the school’s separate location from the rest of the school. On the one hand, most students would almost inarguably rather be located in the law school’s prime downtown Chicago location, as opposed to the main campus’s more suburban and far north Evanston, Illinois locale. However, some students cite the inaccessibility of the rest of the campus as a downside in terms of taking other classes or participating in events hosted by various Northwestern University programs. Social Life: A student said that people go out “Fairly often. I’d say less than the UVA stereotype but a lot more than the UChicago stereotype. Bar reviews are usually pretty well attended.” Said another student:
Popular areas to grab a drink seem to be the Old Town, Lincoln Park, and the Wrigleyville areas, all of which are quite accessible by either public transportation or short cab rides. Students said that because there is a “slightly more mature student body,” there is a “larger percentage” of people who don’t go out, but there are also “a lot of people who get drunk all the time.” Another student said, “People tend to do their thing. There’s not necessarily school-organized social events. This isn’t UVA with the softball tournaments.” Another student said that people will often hang out in the Streeterville area during the week informally. The city of Chicago has much more to offer than law schools which aren’t in the heart of big cities. For example, students can and do attend Cubs games, comedy shows, and musical events throughout the year. A student added:
Housing: Streeterville offers several high-rise apartment buildings in the area immediately surrounding the law school. However, several of these buildings are expensive for a student budget. “People will complain about affordable housing,” a student said, with some of the most popular apartment buildings offering one-bedroom apartments at upwards of $1,300 a month. Some of the most popular buildings are the McClurg, The Grand Ohio, The Streeter, and The Onterie, all of which are within a few blocks of the law school. “A huge chunk of students will live in the area directly south of the law school, and then a number of people sort of sprinkled in the 1 to 2 mile range” a student said. Several other students are spread out through the entire Chicagoland area. Students say that transportation between the law school and Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Old Town, three of the most popular areas for students who are not living in Streeterville — is relatively easy and quick, often being less than a 15-minute bus ride away. Students advised living near express bus stops. (back to top)Degree Programs Northwestern has made waves in the legal community twice over by being the first university to offer a three-year J.D.-M.B.A program, and then again in summer of 2008 when it announced a two-year J.D. program. A testament to the corporate-leanings of the school, more than 100 law students take Kellogg courses or a course taught jointly by law and business school faculty each year. The school also has an established JD-PhD program for those students interested in entering the world of academia. However, unlike most schools, Northwestern does not grant terminal Masters degrees. Therefore, students who want to pursue such a joint degree would have to do so at another school. Northwestern Law grants a one-year leave for this, but needless to say, it is not a very popular option. JD-MBA Program: For those interested in pursuing a J.D./M.B.A, Northwestern is arguably one of the top schools to attend. The Kellogg School of Management is ranked as the country’s third best business school by the leading ranking system, and students can finish the dual degree in three years instead of the usual four. This joint degree option is one of the most popular, with JD-MBA students comprising about 10 percent of the total JD student body. There are about 153 applicants for a total class size of 26. Students spend their first full year of the program taking classes at the law school and their second taking classes at Kellogg. The third year is generally at the law school, but students may take classes at Kellogg. The LSAT is not required for admission, though the GMAT is. Students need only submit one application to be considered for the program. Accelerated JD Program: Northwestern University School of Law’s Accelerated JD (AJD) program, in its fourth year as of May 2012, became a permanent fixture of the Law School by unanimous faculty approval in February 2012. Students enrolled in the AJD program complete the same number of credit hours as traditional, three-year JD students in five semesters instead of six. Accelerated JD students begin classes in May, completing six courses during the first summer. They join the three-year JD students during the fall and spring semesters, and work during their second summer. They then return to the Law School for two more semesters and graduate in May, two calendar years after they begin. This faster pace means AJD students must take, on average, one additional class per semester, though AJDs have the opportunity to select from the full range of electives offered by the Law School, as well as participate in all extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including journals, trial team, moot court, clinics, and student organizations. AJD students participate in the Fall On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) process upon completion of their first term, with one semester of grades. AJDs thus receive the same 2L summer employment and permanent employment opportunities and benefits as three-year JD students. In terms of the percentage of students acquiring jobs through OCI, AJDs have been at least as successful as students in the three-year JD program. Prospective students are required to complete either an on-campus or off-campus interview as part of the application process. Applicants must have at least two years of substantive post-undergraduate work experience, preferably in a non-legal setting, and ideally have demonstrated managerial and leadership experience to qualify for the program. Prior classes have comprised students with diverse professional backgrounds in non-profit/government, finance/banking/real estate, consulting, technology/health/science/manufacturing, and media/entertainment. A student in the program said most people are pleased with it so far. He noted that “almost all of our class has a strong business background,” with many students coming from investment banking or consulting fields. He described the program as composed of “extremely driven people who are very driven to learn the law, but they’re also keen on helping their classmates.” He called his class a “cohesive group” and said that there are regular bar reviews. (back to top)Beyond the Classroom Should they choose to, Northwestern Law students have ample opportunities to apply their interests outside of their classes. With the school’s emphasis on practical learning, it comes of little surprise that there are an above-average number of clinics, journals and other activities in which students may participate. Said a student:
Northwestern Law has about 50 student organizations, including the standard affinity groups, service organizations and more eclectic clubs, like Habeas Chorus, the student a cappella group, and a Scotch-drinking club. The school also offers a plethora of team-building activities and workshops. Every year the students put on the “Wigmore Follies,” a parody of life in law school. Clinics: About 120 students take clinical courses at Northwestern each year. The clinical programs moved into a new space in 2007, which has beautiful views of Lake Michigan. According to the school’s Viewbook, “nearly 90 percent of Northwestern JD students participate in clinical work in some capacity while getting their degree.” Students say that some of the most popular clinics are: Center on Wrongful Convictions, Children and Family Justice Center, Program on Civil Litigation, and the Small Business Opportunity Center (a transactional clinic which, a student notes, is “not nearly as much work as the litigation ones”). Other clinics are the Center for International Human Rights, the Roderick MacArthur Justice Center, the Investor Protection Center, the Fred Bartlit Center for Trial Strategy, the Program on Advocacy and Professionalism, the Program on Negotiation and Mediation, the Appellate Advocacy Program, Clinics can sometimes be tough to get into, since they can cost a large number of “points” of the school’s class bidding system (students are allotted a number of points, and different classes go for different amounts of points). A student said, “If you want to get into it, you can, but you’ll be using most of your points so you won’t be able to get into other things.” Journals: Northwestern has six student-edited scholarly journals: The Northwestern Law Review, the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, the Journal of International Law and Business, the Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property, the Journal of International Human Rights, and the Journal of Law and Social Policy. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology is one of the most widely read and widely cited publications in the world; it is the second most widely subscribed journal published by any law school in the country. The Law Review publishes four issues a year. According to its website, students are selected for Law Review on the basis of grades and a writing competition. It says:
Most of the other journals also select their members via a combination of applicants’ writing competition scores and grades. Moot Courts: Moot court competitions are particularly popular at Northwestern Law, with one program even required for all first-year students (in it, students present briefs and argue cases against other students in front of a court of alumni and faculty). There is also a law school-wide moot court competition for second year students. Northwestern Law has seen recent success competing in the Jessup International Moot Court Competition, which is the biggest moot court competition in the world. The school has traditionally had strong moot court teams across the board. Externships: Northwestern offers a plethora of practicum seminars in which students take subject matter-based seminars (such as criminal law, civil government, and corporate counsel) which meet once a week in conjunction with working about 12-15 hours a week at a corresponding Chicago institution. For example, those participating in the Public Interest Practicum often secure externships with the ACLU or Legal Assistance Foundation, whereas those in the Judicial Practicum might work for District Court or Court of Appeals judges. Study Abroad: Northwestern Law stays true to its stated focus on globalized education by offering both school year and summer study abroad programs. Popular Northwestern programs are in Australia, Belgium, Amsterdam, Israel, Argentina, and Singapore, but students can participate and earn credit for summer study abroad programs offered by other American Bar Association-approved institutions.
Northwestern University’s Law School has much to offer: an enviable location, a mature and experienced student body, and some of the best job prospects for law students in the country. Students not only learn legal theories and concepts, but they learn how to apply them in their future jobs. The school’s administration is continually assessing the legal market and the state of legal education and doesn’t hesitate to shift the law school paradigm with the times. Perhaps most notably, the school’s students speak incredibly positively about both the educational experience and the communal aspect of the law school. For people looking for a big city, professional, pragmatic law school that will comprehensively prepare them for a legal career, Northwestern Law can hardly be beat Interview: Dean David E. Van Zandt of Northwestern University School of Law Contact Information: Northwestern Law School Quick Reference: U.S. News Ranking: 10th
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