Top Law Schools

DocHawkeye wrote:I haven't looked into it, but doesn't the ABA require a minimum of 27 months for a JD? If they're doing it in 24, how do they stay accredited?

DocHawkeye wrote:I haven't looked into it, but doesn't the ABA require a minimum of 27 months for a JD? If they're doing it in 24, how do they stay accredited?

briancarr wrote:I want to clarify and correct, in some cases, important facts about Washburn Law and its 2-year program.

I graduated from Washburn Law last month and took the traditional 3-year route. More to your particular situation, however: I am an active duty Army officer attending Washburn Law through the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP). Besides myself, there are two other FLEPs at Washburn (one Air Force and the other is Army), and we have one Army FLEP inbound this Fall. Two of my classmates this year were selected on the active duty Army JAG primary list; last year's class had two people on that list. Additionally (I don't know the numbers off-hand), we have several people each year selected for Kansas Army & Air National Guard and USAR JAG immediately upon passage of the Bar. Finally, the 36th U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Thomas J. Romig is our law dean and is always available to provide mentorship and professional advice to his students. So, if "going JAG" is in your cards, you can do it at Washburn Law.

--> Washburn Law is NOT a Tier 4 law school according to the U.S. News and World Report. It is a Tier 3 law school. When choosing a law school, I would caution you in using the magazine's rankings alone. You should visit several law schools and then take a long, hard look at what you intend to do with your law degree. Ask yourself: How does this school fit me? How do I fit in this school? Balance the answers to those questions with the answer to this question: What do I intend to do with my law degree?

You will have greater success in returning to the JAG Corps as a 27A if you *excel* at the accredited law school you attend. This means doing well in school academically, staying in physical shape, and participating in (and leading) co- and extra-curricular activities. In short, they want a person who brings a lot to the table and is balanced.

Now, I invite you to take a look at the JAG selection lists on JAGCNET. (You'll find Tier 4 schools listed.) You will find, with very few exceptions, that no school has more than one student on each list (two lists each year), and, in all cases, no law school had more than two students on each list. This can only be deliberate: While going to a law school that has a "good" reputation can help, the Army is more interested in you as a whole person. Your accomplishments in and out of the classroom speak more of the kind of officer you will be than the school you attended.

--> The two-year program of study at Washburn Law is accredited by the ABA. It is marketed by the law school as the "Fast Track Accelerated" program. Note: It is accelerated, not truncated. The program is geared towards the working professional or individual that cannot participate in the full 3-year program. It is also true, as DocHawkeye wrote, that this type of accelerated legal education program will minimize your "free time" during the summer and limit opportunities for outside employment. In practice, you will be in law school for two years and will have very little breaks between semesters. To be sure, it's a whole lot of work in a short amount of time. The program is not a shortcut and not for everyone: you will still be required to take and pass 90 credits hours, the same as any traditional 3-year student.

Honestly, it will be harder for you to get back to JAG doing the accelerated program, because you'll have less opportunities to shine. (You can do it, however, if you are willing to work that much harder.) My recommendation to you, if you can, that you complete the traditional 3-year program. If you don't have that luxury, look into the accelerated program.

Hope this helps. You can contact me via http://washburnlaw.edu/contactus/?who=carr.brian. I'm also available on AKO.

B. Carr
J.D. 2011, Washburn University School of Law

They would have to be an idiot not to take me.

armyparalegalnco wrote:Has anyone looked into this and or went to Washburn? I know it's a Tier 4 school, but for someone like myself who is dead set on the JAG Corps it look slike a great oppurtunity to get in and out faster. Plus its a cheap crap school. Thoughts??

halostarbucks wrote:I have just been accepted to Washburn for the Spring and I am eager to start. I am wanting to go straight into solo practice but I am also going to try for JAG.

mrtoren wrote:

halostarbucks wrote:I have just been accepted to Washburn for the Spring and I am eager to start. I am wanting to go straight into solo practice but I am also going to try for JAG.

You should re-evaluate your life course.

Hannibal wrote:

DocHawkeye wrote:I haven't looked into it, but doesn't the ABA require a minimum of 27 months for a JD? If they're doing it in 24, how do they stay accredited?

NU has an accelerated JD as well.