Top Law Schools

If I'm planning on going into public interest, how much importance should I be placing on clinical offerings at a school? Specifically for civil rights and social justice?

I wouldn't say it's totally irrelevant, but I wouldn't significantly base my decision on it. As in, I wouldn't go to a much lower ranked/worse employment prospected/ more expensive school based on the fact they had better clinics but, among peer schools, I might take it into account.

For what it's worth, my school has very highly ranked and active clinical programs and I know they let students from other law schools in the area participate. So keep in mind going to a better school will often open more clinical opportunities even if it's not your school offering them.

May I ask if there are specific schools you're comparing?

The above. It makes sense to choose NYU over CLS if you want to go into education law if NYU has an education law clinic and CLS doesn't. It doesn't make sense to choose Brooklyn over CLS. If your school doesn't have a clinic in that area, look into a school year internship or externship, which are usually easier to get than summer internships.