Law Schools for Public Interest Law

In a September 2024 episode of LSAT Demon Daily, we tackled a question from a listener named Noah. 

Noah's dream is to become a prosecutor. He asked how he should choose a law school while staying true to his goals of practicing criminal law and graduating debt-free.

Noah has an LSAT score of 168 and a GPA of 3.69. He outlined his current criteria for selecting a law school: ranking, a full scholarship, a strong criminal law program, and proximity to his family in Connecticut for potential internships. 

Key Priorities for Selecting a Law School 

When you’re selecting a law school with the intention of working in public interest law, your priority should be going to law school for free. 

Public defenders and prosecutors typically don't earn large salaries, so minimizing debt should be your top priority. We suggest rearranging Noah's criteria:

Full Scholarship First

Paying for law school with little to no debt is crucial when entering public interest law, where salaries are modest. 

Location Near State/Region of Preference

If you don’t want to work in a highly competitive market or get highly prestigious jobs out of law school, there’s no need to attend one of the top law schools in the country. In regional markets, the schools within that region tend to punch above their weight. These schools are also likely to give out generous scholarships to qualified applicants. 

Ignore Criminal Law Program Quality

Every reputable law school offers a solid criminal law program because criminal law is fundamental to legal education. So, there's no need to prioritize this in the first or second spot when you’re making a decision.

Apply Broadly to Maximize Your Scholarship Opportunities

We strongly recommend applying broadly to law schools, regardless of your criteria and preferences. This strategy allows you to collect a range of offers and compare scholarship packages. 

Schools vary year by year in how they distribute financial aid, so applying to several schools increases your chances of securing a full scholarship.

In terms of location, the northeastern U.S. has a high concentration of law schools. So if you’re in or near Connecticut like Noah, you should find schools that meet your criteria without reaching too far geographically.

Ranking Should Not Be a Major Focus

While Noah mentioned ranking as a key factor, for criminal law, ranking matters less. Many highly ranked law schools may charge full tuition, while slightly lower-ranked schools may offer significant scholarships. 

It’s best to prioritize financial aid over ranking, as graduating without debt opens more doors in public interest law.

Gain Practical Experience and Stay Flexible

If your long-term goal is to work in criminal law, either as a prosecutor or a public defender, keep in mind that both career paths are common for law school graduates, and criminal law provides plenty of hands-on experience. 

Don’t get too caught up in choosing between prosecution and defense early on. Instead, stay flexible and focus on gaining experience in both areas. 

It’s common for lawyers to switch sides, and working as a prosecutor or public defender can provide valuable insights into the justice system.

Takeaway

If you want to work in public interest, you should aim to go to law school for free. With your best LSAT score and GPA, you have a good chance of securing scholarships, if you apply broadly. 

While top-ranked schools might offer admission, lower-ranked schools are more likely to provide the scholarships needed to help you avoid debt. In the end, graduating without loans will give you the freedom to pursue public interest law without worrying about financial constraints.