Which famous alumni graduated from your dream law school?
One law school in Texas may not earn accreditation, while Harvard and Columbia boast some pretty famous alumni. Let’s take a look at the most interesting stories for aspiring law students.
Accreditation woes
The American Bar Association may not grant Dallas’ first public law school full accreditation status. Why not? Among the ABA’s issue with the law schools: too many new students have low LSAT scores, many land on academic probation, and some matriculants were dismissed from previous law schools they attended. The law school has one important thing going for them however: it’s the least expensive law school in Texas, costing “only” $15,000 for in-state students. The law school remains proud that it enrolls students who otherwise wouldn’t pursue a JD. “It’s a group of students that have a harder time getting into law school, and it’s a group that we believe has a lot to contribute,” said the law school’s dean. Students and administrators are understandably unhappy with the ABA’s move and plan to fight it. (The Dallas Morning News)
Famous alumni: the Columbia edition
Is past prologue? If you think you are destined for greatness or at least want to do great things, it’s a good idea to check out the most successful alumni of the law schools you are looking at. Take Columbia Law School for instance: Teddy Roosevelt (that’s the first Roosevelt to be elected president) attended Columbia but dropped out before completing his degree in order to run for office. His distant cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt also attended Columbia decades later—and he graduated. Current Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is another Columbia graduate, as is Robin Carter, a close associate of Thurgood Marshall who was lead counsel in Brown v. Board of Education. (Business Insider)
Famous alumni: the Harvard edition
Top-ranked Harvard Law School boasts a list of alumni that is no less impressive than that of Columbia. Among its most recent famous alumni are President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (He actually enrolled the same year she graduated, and they didn’t meet for years later). President Obama’s 2012 rival Mitt Romney also graduated Harvard Law School, but many years earlier than President Obama. Senator Ted Cruz is also a Harvard Law School alumni, as are three current Supreme Court justices: John Roberts, Elena Kagan, and Stephen Breyer. Lloyd Blankfein, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, graduated from Harvard too—which illustrates just how versatile a JD can be. (Business Insider)
Part-time JD
Not everyone is able or wants to focus entirely on academics while going for their JD. Many law schools have flexible part-time programs, which allow students to earn credit while also working. It may take longer to graduate from these programs, but it also allows students to keep up their professional live and earn a salary. After all, law school isn’t cheap. Georgetown Law received the most part-time applications—a total of 1,509. That high number makes sense, as U.S. News & World Report ranks it as America’s best part time program. It’s location in D.C. might also be a reason. There are lots of congressional staffers who may also want their JD. (U.S. News & World Report)
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