Top Law Schools

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here! I plan (hopefully) to apply to law school by the end of this year (depending on how LSATs go).

Here's my question: which law schools have the best campuses? This can be based on the way the campus looks, its architecture, its facilities, the upkeep of the grounds, or any number of other factors.

I ask this only because I realize that if I am to spend three years somewhere I want it to at least look decent. I went by Columbia Law the other day and was surprised at how small the law school section was. The building was rather non-attractive and I don't know if i would be 100% happy or inspired in such a setting. Obviously, there are more important factors in deciding on which schools to apply to, but this is one of the factors that is important to me. It's maybe 6th on a list after academics, job placement, prestige, location, student body, etc.

Hands down WUSTL

hopeandwork wrote:Hello everyone,

This is my first post here! I plan (hopefully) to apply to law school by the end of this year (depending on how LSATs go).

Here's my question: which law schools have the best campuses? This can be based on the way the campus looks, its architecture, its facilities, the upkeep of the grounds, or any number of other factors.

I ask this only because I realize that if I am to spend three years somewhere I want it to at least look decent. I went by Columbia Law the other day and was surprised at how small the law school section was. The building was rather non-attractive and I don't know if i would be 100% happy or inspired in such a setting. Obviously, there are more important factors in deciding on which schools to apply to, but this is one of the factors that is important to me. It's maybe 6th on a list after academics, job placement, prestige, location, student body, etc.

Unlike academics, job placement, and prestige, campus appeal is entirely qualitative and subjective. Without knowing your general tastes it'll be extremely hard to offer any suggestions.

Best view: Northwestern.

Justice4All wrote:Hands down WUSTL

is the entire law school just Anheuser-Busch Hall? the building itself is stately.

Yale

hi_im_josh wrote:Yale

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Michigan. Cornell and Yale are lovely too, though.

Why is this in any way important?

Michigan's facilities vs. Columbia's? Michigan wins, easily.

Columbia wins in every other respect (99% of which are more important than facility aesthetics).

So...is there any chance you'd pick Michigan?

Seriously...get into a few places, then start dithering about whether or not school "X" is pretty enough...

Michigan

There's an entire thread devoted to this already.

/thread

MrOrange wrote:Why is this in any way important?

Michigan's facilities vs. Columbia's? Michigan wins, easily.

Columbia wins in every other respect (99% of which are more important than facility aesthetics).

So...is there any chance you'd pick Michigan?

Seriously...get into a few places, then start dithering about whether or not school "X" is pretty enough...

I don't want to get into but it seems an exaggeration to say that CLS trumps Michigan that decisively.

dresden doll wrote:

MrOrange wrote:Why is this in any way important?

Michigan's facilities vs. Columbia's? Michigan wins, easily.

Columbia wins in every other respect (99% of which are more important than facility aesthetics).

So...is there any chance you'd pick Michigan?

Seriously...get into a few places, then start dithering about whether or not school "X" is pretty enough...

I don't want to get into but it seems an exaggeration to say that CLS trumps Michigan that decisively.

Crap...where's the exit?

hopeandwork wrote:Hello everyone,

This is my first post here! I plan (hopefully) to apply to law school by the end of this year (depending on how LSATs go).

Here's my question: which law schools have the best campuses? This can be based on the way the campus looks, its architecture, its facilities, the upkeep of the grounds, or any number of other factors.

I ask this only because I realize that if I am to spend three years somewhere I want it to at least look decent. I went by Columbia Law the other day and was surprised at how small the law school section was. The building was rather non-attractive and I don't know if i would be 100% happy or inspired in such a setting. Obviously, there are more important factors in deciding on which schools to apply to, but this is one of the factors that is important to me. It's maybe 6th on a list after academics, job placement, prestige, location, student body, etc.

You know, I felt exactly the same way when I visited Columbia. UVA is also an incredible disappointment. It made me wonder why the schools chose to make their law schools so hideous, especially in comparison to the main campuses. The entire town of Charlottesville is beautiful except for the law school. Why?

Hands down
UVA

MrOrange wrote:

dresden doll wrote:

MrOrange wrote:Why is this in any way important?

Michigan's facilities vs. Columbia's? Michigan wins, easily.

Columbia wins in every other respect (99% of which are more important than facility aesthetics).

So...is there any chance you'd pick Michigan?

Seriously...get into a few places, then start dithering about whether or not school "X" is pretty enough...

I don't want to get into but it seems an exaggeration to say that CLS trumps Michigan that decisively.

Crap...where's the exit?

Eh, as I said, I don't want to get into it. No need to exit.

Whoever noted that the question of campus beauty is subjective is credited, as exemplified by my SO who somehow managed to find Chicago better looking than Michigan.

soullesswonder wrote:

hopeandwork wrote:Hello everyone,

This is my first post here! I plan (hopefully) to apply to law school by the end of this year (depending on how LSATs go).

Here's my question: which law schools have the best campuses? This can be based on the way the campus looks, its architecture, its facilities, the upkeep of the grounds, or any number of other factors.

I ask this only because I realize that if I am to spend three years somewhere I want it to at least look decent. I went by Columbia Law the other day and was surprised at how small the law school section was. The building was rather non-attractive and I don't know if i would be 100% happy or inspired in such a setting. Obviously, there are more important factors in deciding on which schools to apply to, but this is one of the factors that is important to me. It's maybe 6th on a list after academics, job placement, prestige, location, student body, etc.

Unlike academics, job placement, and prestige, campus appeal is entirely qualitative and subjective. Without knowing your general tastes it'll be extremely hard to offer any suggestions.

there's definitely truth to what you say, but i think some people can agree that there are certain schools that are just really up there in terms of their campus and their facilities. remember those lists from princeton review while applying to undergrad? best food, best campus, best professors. there is no law school equivalent out there. personally, the best grad school campus that i have visited (i haven't visited many) is Harvard Business School. it was an actual campus onto itself separate from the college. the buildings were pristine, the architecture was fitting, and the whole place just seemed to work well together. i would want to study there if i was to go business school.


that cordoned off gray structure is Columbia law. very underwhelming. i do like columbia's main campus however.


HBS. pic off google images

I am a fan of Mercer's law building:





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MrOrange wrote:Why is this in any way important?

Michigan's facilities vs. Columbia's? Michigan wins, easily.

Columbia wins in every other respect (99% of which are more important than facility aesthetics).

So...is there any chance you'd pick Michigan?

Seriously...get into a few places, then start dithering about whether or not school "X" is pretty enough...

well i want to make a list of where to apply and campuses are one of the factors im considering. albeit it's not the most important, but it is still a factor. and i don't have the privilege to visit every single school i am considering.

hopeandwork wrote:

MrOrange wrote:Why is this in any way important?

Michigan's facilities vs. Columbia's? Michigan wins, easily.

Columbia wins in every other respect (99% of which are more important than facility aesthetics).

So...is there any chance you'd pick Michigan?

Seriously...get into a few places, then start dithering about whether or not school "X" is pretty enough...

well i want to make a list of where to apply and campuses are one of the factors im considering. albeit it's not the most important, but it is still a factor. and i don't have the privilege to visit every single school i am considering.

Let me rephrase, then...if you're capable of getting into Columbia, and you hesitate because you think the building is dingy...you're silly. Extremely effing silly.

Yay, pictures! Yes, I know it isn't the law school.

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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zGTe5MsCVYc/R ... +Night.jpg

I get post pictures.
Lol.