A
common
complaint
practicing
lawyers
have
is
that
while
law
schools
cost
a
fortune,
they
simply
don’t
teach
the
most
essential
skill
needed
for
professional
competency.
What
skill
might
that
be?
“How
to
be
a
lawyer,”
of
course.
Some
law
schools,
however,
are
trying
to
change
that
by
offering
skills-based
opportunities
so
that
their
soon-to-be
graduates
will
have
already
dipped
a
toe
into
practicing
law
before
even
taking
the
bar
exam.
But
which
law
schools
are
offering
the
best
training
opportunities
The
National
Jurist’s preLaw
Magazine recently
released
its
ranking
of
the
best
law
schools
for
practical
training,
highlighting
the
schools
that
are
really
doing
their
homework
when
it
comes
to
readying
their
students
for
their
future
careers
as
lawyers.
Here’s
the
methodology
that
was
used:
We
graded
schools
on
a
number
of
data
points,
focusing
on
key
practical
training
offerings
such
as
clinics,
externships,
simulation
courses,
pro
bono
hours
and
moot
trial
participation.We
gave
the
largest
weight
(32%)
to
clinics.
We
asked
schools
for
the
number
of
students
who
completed
a
clinic
in
2023-24.
If
a
student
was
enrolled
in
two
semesters,
that
counted
as
two.
Extra
credit
was
given
to
schools
where
clinic
work
is
guaranteed
or
required.
Externships
were
weighted
at
25%,
and
we
asked
schools
how
many
students
completed
one
in
2023-24.
Again,
if
a
student
has
two
externships,
that
counted
as
two.
Simulation
courses
accounted
for
20%
of
the
score.
We
asked
for
the
total
enrollment
in
such
courses.
Moot
court
and
pro
bono
hours
accounted
for
10%.
If
a
school
required
pro
bono
hours,
extra
credit
was
given,Finally,
we
gave
10%
to
additional
practical
training
offerings,
such
as
required
legal
writing.
We
asked
schools
to
provide
us
with
such
information
as
they
saw
fit.If
schools
did
not
respond,
we
used
ABA
data.
Without
further
ado,
according
to
preLaw
Magazine,
these
are
the
top
10
best
law
schools
for
practical
training:
- Northeastern
- Baylor
-
St.
Thomas
(MN) -
UC
Irvine - Denver
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- Pepperdine
- Wyoming
- Elon
Click here to
see
the
rest
of
the
ranking.
Congratulations
to
all
of
the
law
schools
that
made
the
cut
for
this
important
ranking.
Best
law
schools
for
practical
training [preLaw
Magazine]
Staci
Zaretsky is
a
senior
editor
at
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
You
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and Threads, or
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with
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on LinkedIn.