David Partlett on Emory Law, Choosing a Law School, and Building a Legal Career

^{Last Updated: September 2026}

Choosing a law school requires much more than comparing rankings or looking at admissions statistics. Prospective students must consider academic quality, faculty accessibility, career opportunities, financial cost, geographic reach, student culture, and how a legal education fits into their long-term professional goals.

In this interview with Top Law Schools, David Partlett, former dean of Emory University School of Law, discusses the qualities students should look for in a legal education, the strengths of Emory Law, the role of rankings, financial aid, experiential learning, career preparation, public interest opportunities, and life as a law student in Atlanta.

Although the conversation originally took place in 2010, many of Partlett's observations remain useful for students evaluating law schools today. Statistics and descriptions of particular programs mentioned in the interview reflect conditions at the time and should be viewed as historical context. Students looking for current admissions, tuition, employment, and program information should also review the Emory Law profile on Top Law Schools.

Key Takeaways from David Partlett's Law School Advice

Partlett's broader advice to prospective law students centers on several principles that remain relevant:

Look beyond rankings when comparing law schools.
Consider the quality and accessibility of the faculty.
Evaluate the strength of the school's academic and professional community.
Examine career services, alumni networks, and employment opportunities.
Consider tuition, financial aid, and the potential effect of educational debt.
Look for opportunities to gain practical legal experience.
Think carefully about where graduates work geographically.
Choose a school that fits both your professional objectives and your broader life plans.

Students still deciding where to apply or enroll may also want to explore the Top Law Schools discussions about choosing a law school.

David Partlett's Perspective on Emory Law

TLS: Looking back at your leadership of Emory Law, what accomplishments were particularly important to you?

David Partlett: One of the most important priorities was strengthening both the student body and faculty. Recruiting outstanding students and scholars creates the foundation for a strong law school over the long term.

Emory also expanded its international focus, including the development of the Center for International and Comparative Law and additional international programs. Another major priority was making legal education more affordable by increasing financial aid available to incoming students.

Those areas—faculty quality, student quality, academic breadth, and affordability—are fundamental to building a law school that can prepare graduates for meaningful careers.

How Economic Conditions Can Affect Legal Education

TLS: Economic conditions were particularly challenging when this interview was originally conducted. How did that environment affect law schools?

David Partlett: Economic conditions can influence how quickly institutions expand faculty, programs, and financial aid. During difficult economic periods, law schools may have to proceed more gradually than originally planned.

However, maintaining the underlying quality of the academic program should remain the priority. A strong institution must continue investing in students, faculty, and the educational experience even when outside conditions become more difficult.

Editor's Note: This portion of the interview originally referred to the economic downturn following the 2008 financial crisis. The specific economic circumstances have changed, but prospective students should continue to examine how law schools respond to shifts in the legal employment market.

What Prospective Students Should Look for in a Law School

TLS: What are some of the most important qualities students should consider when choosing a law school?

David Partlett: Students should first understand that law school is academically demanding. They should be prepared to work hard in an environment with high expectations.

But academics alone should not determine the decision. Students should consider whether they will become part of a genuine community and whether the institution will support their development as future members of the legal profession.

The best legal education should challenge students intellectually while also helping them develop the judgment, ethics, professionalism, and character required of lawyers.

For applicants comparing schools, the Top Law Schools Emory Law profile provides additional information about admissions, tuition, curriculum, employment, and student life.

What Makes a Strong Law School Applicant?

TLS: What qualities did Emory look for in prospective law students?

David Partlett: Academic ability is important because students need the capacity to succeed in a rigorous legal education.

But law schools should also look beyond academic credentials. Temperament, character, professionalism, and a willingness to contribute to the community matter as well.

Legal education is ultimately preparation for a profession that carries significant ethical responsibilities. Students should therefore demonstrate not only that they can perform academically but that they have the maturity to become responsible members of the profession.

Applicants preparing their materials can also review the Top Law Schools Personal Statements resources for guidance on presenting their background, goals, and qualifications effectively.

Should Law School Rankings Determine Where You Attend?

TLS: Law school rankings strongly influence how applicants view different schools. How should prospective students use them?

David Partlett: Rankings can provide a broad framework for understanding where institutions stand relative to one another, particularly when applicants are trying to make sense of a large amount of information.

But rankings should never be treated as the only measure of a law school's quality.

Important factors can be difficult for a ranking system to measure. These include the accessibility of professors, quality of teaching, strength of the student community, mentoring, career support, and whether students feel intellectually engaged.

Students should therefore use rankings as one source of information rather than allowing them to determine the entire decision.

The most useful question is not simply, "Which school is ranked higher?" but rather, "Which school gives me the strongest combination of education, career opportunities, cost, community, and professional fit?"

Faculty Quality and Accessibility Matter

Partlett emphasized that one of Emory Law's strengths was its faculty.

In his view, prospective students should look for professors who are accomplished scholars but who are also willing to invest time in their students.

Faculty accessibility can affect the law school experience in ways that rankings may not capture. Professors can become mentors, recommend students for opportunities, introduce them to specialized fields of law, assist with research, and help students think through career decisions.

Applicants visiting law schools should therefore consider asking:

How accessible are professors outside the classroom?
Are faculty members actively involved in student mentoring?
Do students have opportunities to participate in research?
How frequently do professors advise students about careers or academic interests?
Does the institution encourage meaningful interaction between students and faculty?

Tuition, Financial Aid, and the Cost of Law School

TLS: How important should tuition and financial aid be when students evaluate law schools?

David Partlett: Students should take the increasing cost of legal education seriously. Schools should make efforts to control tuition increases while expanding financial aid where possible.

Educational debt can affect the choices graduates are able to make after law school. Students who graduate with significant debt may have less flexibility when considering public interest work, government positions, smaller firms, or other legal careers that may offer lower starting compensation.

Prospective students should therefore compare not only tuition but also scholarships, living expenses, borrowing requirements, and likely career outcomes.

Current applicants should always verify the latest cost and scholarship information directly with the schools they are considering.

Legal Education Should Be About More Than Getting a Job

At the time of the interview, Emory Law used the phrase "More Than Practice" to describe its approach to legal education.

Partlett explained that preparing students to practice law was essential, but he believed legal education should go further.

Students should understand professionalism, ethics, public service, and the broader role law plays in society. They should also have opportunities to explore different subjects and career paths before committing themselves to a particular area of practice.

A legal education should therefore develop both practical skills and intellectual understanding.

Why Experiential Learning Matters in Law School

Partlett emphasized the importance of exposing students to a variety of experiences through clinics, centers, field placements, and other practical opportunities.

The legal profession increasingly requires lawyers who understand not only legal doctrine but also how law operates in business, government, nonprofit organizations, international institutions, and communities.

Clinics and field placements can help students:

Apply classroom knowledge to real legal problems.
Develop professional judgment.
Strengthen research and writing skills.
Work with practicing attorneys.
Explore practice areas before graduation.
Build relationships that may contribute to future employment.

Students evaluating schools should look carefully at the experiential opportunities available rather than focusing exclusively on traditional classroom offerings.

Academic Support and Peer Mentoring

Partlett also discussed Emory's Dean's Teaching Fellows program, which used high-achieving upper-level law students as academic counselors for other students.

The goal was not simply to tutor students in particular subjects. Instead, the program sought to help students develop the general academic skills required to succeed in law school.

Peer mentoring can be particularly valuable because experienced students understand the adjustment required during the first year.

Applicants may therefore want to ask prospective schools about academic support programs, peer mentoring, faculty advising, writing assistance, and resources designed to help students transition into legal education.

Law Reviews, Journals, and Legal Writing

Law journals have traditionally offered students an opportunity to improve research, writing, editing, and citation skills.

At the time of Partlett's interview, Emory Law students competed for journal membership through a joint writing competition involving a case note and citation exercise.

Although journal selection procedures can change over time, the larger lesson remains relevant: prospective students interested in litigation, clerkships, academia, or writing-intensive legal careers should investigate the scholarly and writing opportunities available at each school.

How Location Can Influence Legal Career Opportunities

One of the themes Partlett repeatedly emphasized was Emory Law's location in Atlanta.

He viewed Atlanta as an important advantage because students could gain exposure to a substantial legal and business community while still in school.

A school's location can influence:

Internship opportunities.
Alumni connections.
Part-time legal work.
Government and nonprofit placements.
Access to courts.
Networking opportunities.
Post-graduation employment.

However, applicants should also examine where a school's graduates actually work.

Students hoping to practice outside the school's home region should investigate whether employers in their desired market regularly recruit graduates from that institution.

Emory Law and the Atlanta Legal Market

Partlett described Atlanta as a diverse professional environment with law firms, corporations, federal and state courts, government organizations, and nonprofit institutions.

He believed students benefited from being able to gain practical experience in a major metropolitan market while completing their legal education.

Location can also make professional networking easier because students may interact regularly with alumni, judges, attorneys, government officials, and other professionals.

For law students, building these relationships early can have long-term career value. LawCrossing's guide on how to network in law school without feeling fake or desperate offers additional strategies for developing authentic professional connections.

Preparing Law Students for a Competitive Legal Job Market

The original interview took place during a particularly difficult period for legal hiring following the 2008 financial crisis.

Partlett explained that employer participation in traditional law school recruiting had declined substantially during that period. In response, Emory expanded connections with alumni, small and midsize firms, mentors, and other legal employers.

While the particular statistics discussed in the original interview are historical, the underlying career lesson remains important.

Law students should not depend on a single recruiting channel.

A strong legal job search can involve:

On-campus interviewing.
Alumni outreach.
Networking.
Direct applications.
Small and midsize firms.
Government employers.
Public interest organizations.
Judicial opportunities.
Practice-area networking.
Informational interviews.

Students should also develop strong resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, and professional relationships throughout law school.

For additional guidance, see LawCrossing's career strategies for law students seeking legal jobs and its guide to building a competitive law student career profile.

Why Alumni Networks and Mentoring Matter

Partlett described efforts to connect students with alumni who could provide information about practice areas, employment settings, and career strategies.

Those relationships can be valuable because graduates frequently have insights that students cannot obtain from job postings alone.

Alumni may help students understand:

Particular legal markets.
Different practice areas.
Law firm cultures.
Government careers.
Public interest careers.
Recruiting expectations.
Interview preparation.
Long-term career development.

Mentorship does not always lead directly to employment. Its broader value comes from helping students understand the profession and make better-informed career decisions.

Public Interest Careers and Educational Debt

Partlett also discussed Emory's public interest resources, including advising, student organizations, grants, clinics, field placements, and loan repayment assistance.

Loan Repayment Assistance Programs can be especially important for students interested in public service because they may make lower-paying legal careers more financially feasible.

Prospective students considering government or public interest careers should investigate:

LRAP eligibility requirements.
Scholarship availability.
Summer public interest funding.
Clinical opportunities.
Pro bono programs.
Public interest career counseling.
Alumni working in public service.

Because programs and eligibility requirements can change, students should verify current details directly with each law school.

Student Life and Community at Emory Law

Partlett described community as an important part of the Emory Law experience.

Law school can be academically intense, so the relationships students develop with classmates, faculty, mentors, and other graduate students can have a major effect on their experience.

At Emory, students also had access to the broader university community and opportunities to interact with graduate students in areas such as medicine, business, public health, and theology.

Partlett believed that a strong law school should create an environment in which students feel both intellectually challenged and personally supported.

Student Organizations and Professional Development

Student organizations can provide more than social opportunities. They may also help students explore practice areas, develop leadership experience, participate in public service, and meet attorneys working in areas of interest.

Partlett pointed to Emory organizations connected with health law, international law, public interest work, and other areas.

Applicants should consider whether a prospective law school offers organizations and activities that match their professional interests.

Participation can help students build both community and career direction.

What Should Students Ask Before Choosing a Law School?

One of the most enduring themes in Partlett's interview is that prospective students should ask difficult questions before enrolling.

Instead of concentrating exclusively on admissions statistics or rankings, students should investigate the full educational experience.

Important questions include:

What career outcomes do graduates achieve?
Where do graduates typically practice?
How accessible are faculty members?
What academic support is available?
What clinics and experiential programs are offered?
How strong is the alumni network?
What career services are available?
How much debt will I likely incur?
What scholarships or financial aid are available?
Does the school's community and culture fit the way I want to spend three years?

The Top Law Schools Choosing a Law School forum also contains discussions from applicants and students comparing cost, location, employment outcomes, scholarships, and other factors.

David Partlett's Advice for Future Law Students

TLS: What advice would you give prospective law students as they decide where to attend?

David Partlett: Students pursuing a law degree have many options, and the number of choices can sometimes become overwhelming.

They should carefully consider where they plan to spend the next three years and use every source of information available to evaluate both the educational program and the career opportunities associated with it.

Students should ask admissions offices difficult questions.

They should consider how three years of law school fit into their broader life plans and determine what resources will be available to support them academically and professionally.

Faculty should be another major consideration.

Students should seek professors who are excellent teachers and scholars but who are also willing to give students their time, provide advice, and help them develop as lawyers.

The surrounding student community matters as well. Law students should look for an environment in which classmates take their work seriously while still supporting one another and enjoying the experience.

Ultimately, legal education should not simply be viewed as three years to complete before obtaining a job.

Law school can be a period of intellectual exploration and professional discovery. Students have an opportunity to learn not only how law works but also how law shapes individuals, institutions, businesses, communities, and society.

The strongest legal education should prepare graduates not merely to practice law, but to make meaningful contributions through whatever career path they ultimately choose.

Final Thoughts

David Partlett's interview offers an enduring reminder that choosing a law school should be approached as a long-term professional decision rather than simply a rankings exercise.

Applicants should examine academics, faculty, cost, career outcomes, geography, experiential learning, alumni networks, student culture, and professional support together.

For students considering Emory specifically, the current Top Law Schools Emory Law profile provides additional information about admissions, tuition, academics, employment, and student life.

Students focused on preparing for employment can also read LawCrossing's Navigating Law School: A Career-Focused Guide for Aspiring Attorneys and Smart Networking Tips for Law Students with Zero Connections.

Related Top Law Schools Forum Discussions

Choosing a Law School Forum — Discussions about rankings, tuition, scholarships, employment outcomes, student life, and comparing law schools.
Interview for Emory Law — Discussion of preparing for an Emory Law admissions interview.
Emory AJD Program Discussion — Applicant discussion concerning Emory Law's AJD program and admissions considerations.
Emory vs. UGA Discussion — Discussion comparing Emory and the University of Georgia based on cost, location, employment, and portability.
Is Emory Law a Good Choice? — Forum discussion about scholarships, cost, geography, and career considerations when evaluating Emory.
Law School Admissions Forums — Broader discussions covering applications, admissions decisions, LSAT preparation, school selection, and law student issues.

Historical Note: This interview was originally published in January 2010. Statements concerning admissions trends, tuition, rankings, employment statistics, OCI participation, particular programs, student organizations, and other quantitative information reflect the period in which David Partlett was interviewed. Prospective students should consult current school disclosures and other up-to-date sources before making enrollment or financial decisions.