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Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:17 pm
by elvenlord21
I was wondering if anyone knows of good schools for constitutional law. I am hoping on becoming a constitutional lawyer and want to go to a school where I can maybe do a concentracion in con law or at least focus on that subject/take lots of classes in it. Thanks to anyone who replies!

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:18 pm
by mallard
What does a constitutional lawyer do?

Follow the USN tiers.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:21 pm
by nealric
None of them and all of them.

Almost nobody is a "constitutional lawyer", unless they are a SCOTUS justice (or clerk), a law professor, or one of a small select handful of appellate advocates.

That said, Yale is your best bet. It's the only school that gives you better than an outside chance of falling into one of the aforementioned positions. If you merely want to engage constitutional issues in your practice, do criminal defense/prosecution- almost any school will do.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:24 pm
by elvenlord21
Thanks for replying!

Yeah, I am hoping to do work in like civil liberties/civil rights. I am looking for a school that can help me to go in that direction.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:25 pm
by mallard
elvenlord21 wrote:Thanks for replying!

Yeah, I am hoping to do work in like civil liberties/civil rights. I am looking for a school that can help me to go in that direction.
Go to the best school that will take you. Nonprofits that do this sort of work are very selective.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:42 pm
by acharyainc
I was doing a bit of research into this topic also. From what I've gathered, Yale, Harvard and Penn seem to have the most variety of const law classes and quite a bit of distinguished professors/scholars. I wouldn't venture too far out on a limb and say "best" but they certainly seem able to provide a lot of opportunities to students interested in this field.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:47 pm
by dukelawguy144
The t6. That's it

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:49 pm
by Kilpatrick
You have a better chance at becoming a real Elven Lord

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:53 pm
by jayn3
Kilpatrick wrote:You have a better chance at becoming a real Elven Lord
Win.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:56 pm
by MURPH
elvenlord21 wrote:Thanks for replying! Yeah, I am hoping to do work in like civil liberties/civil rights. I am looking for a school that can help me to go in that direction.
From the volunteer work I did at ACLU, I think that they want students from top schools but the most important thing is to show that you are really dedicated to PI and civil rights. If your school allows you to volunteer I would do so starting now or when ever you arrive on campus. Pick a civil rights group that you respect. Tell them you want to put in 5 - 10 hours per month and that you want to do it for the whole three years of law school. You can do more in years 2 and 3.
If your school discourages volunteering before December, as some do, just volunteer now before school starts and tell them you will be back over X-mas break. This should not violate the rule that you can't talk to employers during the first semester of 1L. Once class starts you stop talking to them. Then in December when you are allowed to interview for summer work, you will know them and they will know you. You can interview or you can just continue to volunteer and ask their advice about summer work.
Continue volunteering and networking for 3 years and your career should be off to a great start. It is better if you go to YHS. but not necessary. A few of the lawyers I met went to Hawaii and Loyola,LA and other not-T14 schools.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:59 pm
by rayiner
Yale.

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:57 pm
by iagolives
rayiner wrote:Yale.
+1

Re: Which schools are the best for Constitutional Law?

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm
by kalvano
Retake.




Oh, wait, nevermind.

Yale.