Many people ask me what fourth and third tier law schools they should apply to. There are a great amount of lower ranked law schools out there, but that doesn't mean that they are bad schools. With that in mind, I am going to sift through the data that I found and rate the top 3rd and 4th tier schools.
Keep in mind that US News does not rank the lower ranked schools, instead putting them all together in a big group. This does not help prospective students who are looking for schools that are not on the US News and World Report's top listings. With that in mind, I have ranked the schools that have offered a solid legal education for their students and have resulted in graduates finding legal jobs. There are many schools that deserve to be on this list, but these ten really shine as the top lower ranked (T3/T4) schools.
Does it matter if I go to third (or fourth) tier school?
It does not really matter, in the whole scheme of things, whether you go to a third tier (T3) or first tier school. Some third and forth tier schools offer great educational opportunities in places that are not served by first and second tier schools. The rankings, once you enter the profession, are largely seen as a myth. Few people even will care where you went to school, and outside of Harvard, Columbia, Stanford and Yale, it really does not matter where you went. What does matter is how you use the information you learned and what your goals are. And with that, here is the list of some of the best Tier 3 and 4 law schools.
*Next to each school is the GPA and LSAT that the school accepts for matriculating students.
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10. Florida Coastal School of Law
Keep in mind that US News does not rank the lower ranked schools, instead putting them all together in a big group. This does not help prospective students who are looking for schools that are not on the US News and World Report's top listings. With that in mind, I have ranked the schools that have offered a solid legal education for their students and have resulted in graduates finding legal jobs. There are many schools that deserve to be on this list, but these ten really shine as the top lower ranked (T3/T4) schools.
Does it matter if I go to third (or fourth) tier school?
It does not really matter, in the whole scheme of things, whether you go to a third tier (T3) or first tier school. Some third and forth tier schools offer great educational opportunities in places that are not served by first and second tier schools. The rankings, once you enter the profession, are largely seen as a myth. Few people even will care where you went to school, and outside of Harvard, Columbia, Stanford and Yale, it really does not matter where you went. What does matter is how you use the information you learned and what your goals are. And with that, here is the list of some of the best Tier 3 and 4 law schools.
*Next to each school is the GPA and LSAT that the school accepts for matriculating students.
_________________________________________________________________
10. Florida Coastal School of Law
| Florida Coastal School of Law | 2.83-3.34 | 145-151 |
This school gets a lot of guff, but the reality is that it is actually a pretty good school. Florida Coastal has been offering a solid legal education to people that otherwise may have not had a chance for a long time. As such, Florida Coastal School of Law has hired top scholars to prepare its students for the dynamic practice of the law. Its graduates can expect to work all across the United States. Florida Coastal's success has been mimicked by other law schools, but few can touch Florida Coastal in Moot Court competitions. Florida Coastal is a solid school in the lower tier and it's one you may want to consider.
Don't be intimidated by the fact that there are a big number of top law schools in the New York City area. Instead, if you are planning on practicing in the Northeast, consider NYLS. NYLS is a solid school with a solid reputation. Modern facilities, renowned professors, and graduates that work all over the world all got their start at NYLS. Many students end up transferring to higher ranked schools such as St. John's and Fordham, but that doesn't mean that you should worry if you are getting a degree from NYLS. Instead, employers, especially in Manhattan, look at NYLS graduates as valuable prospective members of their firms.
This years list sees a few schools in the Northeast, and that's party due to the fact that much legal hiring takes place in the Northeast. Suffolk University beat out New England Law Boston as the best lower ranked school in Boston. This is due to Suffolk's solid reputation as a bastion of legal education. Suffolk students often work side by side Harvard students at large firms in the northeast. Other Suffolk grads have found success by starting their own law firms.
Vermont law school gets 7th place not by virtue of its amazing location in Vermont, but due to the fact that it owns the market in Vermont. If you want to practice in Vermont, you should be going to this school. Vermont Law School is respected highly in New England with graduates working all over the country. If your idea of spending three years of law school is studying hard in the classroom and playing hard in some of the finest wilderness area in the country, then Vermont Law is the kind of school you should go to.
Washington is a state that could use another law school. There are only three in the state, two of which are in Seattle. Therefore, if you are planning on practicing in Eastern Washington, particularly Spokane, this school has the market on LOCKDOWN. Schools that have their market cornered are particularly good schools that should not be discounted, no matter what their 'rank'. As you may notice, the top three schools on this list each have their markets covered. Gonzaga is an incredibly respected school in Spokane and in the Northwest. Graduates of Gonzaga are presented with employment opportunities all over the Northwest. If you live in or want to practice in Spokane, apply NOW.
The only law school in the fourth largest state of the US. Need I say more? If you want to work in the gorgeous state of Montana, this school is where employers really expect you to have gone to. If you want to work in the Northwest, UM Law is well known from Seattle to Minneapolis and to Southern California. UM is renowned due to it's small class sizes, excellent professors and commitment to producing amazing lawyers. If you are thinking of the Northwest, think UM.
9. New York Law School
| New York Law School | 2.98-3.44 | 151-156 |
8. Suffolk University School of Law
| Suffolk University (MA) | 2.94-3.49 | 151-157 |
7. Vermont Law School
| Vermont Law School | 3-3.54 | 151-159 |
6. Touro College School of Law
Another Northeast powerhouse is Touro college. Despite its low rank, Touro is pumping out grads who are grabbing good jobs in the New York area. Enterprising Touro grads work all over the world, many of them at top firms in Manhattan. Touro's course offerings are diverse, and its study aboard options are solid. As part of a very large Northeast University, a degree from Touro law school primes you for success.
| Touro College (Fuchsberg) (NY) | 2.91-3.42 | 148-153 |
5. Drake University School of Law
| Drake University (IA) | 3.06-3.64 | 153-158 |
Drake University is almost second tier (and deserves to be there) but is instead in the third tier. That does not mean you should discount this school. The school has a fine reputation for getting grads jobs across the country. It's a solid midwest school with connections throughout Iowa. Graduates can expect to work in various fields, including law, business, and as consultants. Drake University is a highly respected school and its law school has a solid reputation among people in Des Moines.
4. Gonzaga University School of Law
| Gonzaga University | 3.15-3.51 | 153-157 |
Washington is a state that could use another law school. There are only three in the state, two of which are in Seattle. Therefore, if you are planning on practicing in Eastern Washington, particularly Spokane, this school has the market on LOCKDOWN. Schools that have their market cornered are particularly good schools that should not be discounted, no matter what their 'rank'. As you may notice, the top three schools on this list each have their markets covered. Gonzaga is an incredibly respected school in Spokane and in the Northwest. Graduates of Gonzaga are presented with employment opportunities all over the Northwest. If you live in or want to practice in Spokane, apply NOW.
3. University of Hawaii School of Law
| U Hawaii | 3.11-3.55 | 153-160 |
Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and it is home to only one law school. This school is where most of Hawaii's lawyers went to and one where Hawaiian law firms recruit from. If you want to practice in Hawaii, this is really a no brainer. If you want to practice anywhere else, going to law school in Hawaii will get you noticed.
2. University of Montana School of Law
| University of Montana | 3.23-3.62 | 152-157 |
1. Western New England University School of Law (Formerly Western New England College)
| 2.85-3.42 | 151-156 |
When it comes to the forth tier, some schools belong to be at the bottom and others do not. Western New England University is one of those schools that deserves to be ranked a LOT higher, but instead is low on the list. Why is that? First, Western New England does not try to game the list like other schools do. The school is instead concerned about giving its students a solid real world education. Western New England offers small class sizes, excellent scholarship opportunities, and modern facilities. Being located in New England, Western New England University offers its students a wealth of things to do. Law firms throughout the northeast and across the US hire Western New England graduates every year. In fact, WNE has employees all over the globe. If you are considering going to a forth tier school, THIS is the school you want to keep your sites on. You could do a lot worse than Western New England University School of Law.
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