The Black Student’s Guide

[Pages:48]The Black Student's Guide to Law Schools

2013 EDITION

THE BEST 25 National Law Schools for Black Students

THE 5 BEST Regional Law Schools (In 6 Regions)

THE 10 BEST Bargain Law Schools

THE 10 LL.M. Programs We Recommend

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Table of Contents

6 Publisher's Page 8 Meet The OBABL Law School Fellows 10 5 Law School Myths - Things Said To Be Important That Aren't 11 5 Law School Truths - Things That Actually Do Matter 12 OBABL Best Law School Rankings Methodology 14 The Best 25 National Law Schools for Black Students 16 Why Harvard Is #1 17 Why Howard Is A Great School for Black Students 18 The 5 Best Regional Law Schools East - Mid-Atlantic - Midwest 20 The 5 Best Regional Law Schools West - Mountain - South 22 The 10 Best Bargain Law Schools 23 3 Crazy, Cost-Cutting Ways to Become a Lawyer 24 LL.M. Programs For Black Foreign Attorneys 25 The 10 LL.M. Programs We Recommend 26 How Prepared Are You For Law School? 30 Law School Directory

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The editors at OBABL frequently hear from black prospective law students. The most common questions involve law school rankings. They want to know whether they should select the school with the highest ranking or the one offering the most financial aid. As of late, they are also wondering about the reliability of law schools' jobs numbers. What we try to get them to embrace is the idea that the answers are almost always dependent on a student's particular situation -- Should the honors economics graduate aspiring to become a law professor or Biglaw partner accept a full scholarship to a law school not known for producing either? Is it practical for a recent graduate with $60,000 in student loan debt to incur an additional $150,000 to attend a private law school when a public law school would cost less than half as much?

We've also realized that many black law students face additional challenges in law school. They are often first generation law students. They take out more student loan debt and are less likely to secure high-paying law firm positions. With very few exceptions, their black law school populations will be much smaller than those of their colleges.

This is our attempt to help black prospective law students navigate the law school terrain. Our research committee, comprised of OBABL's editorial staff, law school fellows, and professional advisors, including an attorneyCPA and an actuary, spent months researching the state of law schools. Having black law students at the forefront of our minds while evaluating law schools' data, yielded very different results from those found on traditional law school ranking lists.

OBABL was established in 2008 to report news of import to black legal professionals. We also wanted to promote the causes and contributions of African American attorneys. With a national reach, On Being A Black Lawyer has received recognition from the American Bar Association and The National Black Law Student Association, among others. We are read by law school students and Biglaw partners; advocates and academics; public defenders and prospective law students.

As the premiere source for news and information for black attorneys, we showcase the industries advances in diversity.

Yolanda Young CEO & Publisher

This special edition is published by OBABL, a new media company.

Copyright ? 2012 by OBABL.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system.

Reproduction available from the publisher.

OBABL (a new media company) 1776 I Street, NW Suite 900 Washington, DC 20006 ph: 202.756.1847 fx: 202.756.1301

Editorial Team

Christopher NELSON Editor Felicia PINKNEY Contributing Editor Jamie BRATHWAITE Writer & Special Projects

Upcoming Publications

The Big Book of the Best Black Boutiques (The B5) - November 2012

The Power 100 February 2013

Women Lawyers We Love March 2013

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NEED A JUMP ON LAW SCHOOL?

CLEO Can Show You How!

FRESHMEN

Do you know the importance of your GPA? Are you aware of your credit score? Have you met with a pre-law advisor?

SOPHOMORES

Are your research and critical thinking skills up to par? Have you met with any attorneys or mentors who

practice in your field of interest? Are you building relationships for your letters of

recommendation? Will you participate in any pre-law summer programs?

JUNIORS

Are you registered and prepared to take the June LSAT?

What will you write on your personal statement? Have you started identifying your list of preferred

law schools?

SENIORS AND POST-GRADS

Which law school forums will you attend? Are you registered for CAS? Are you satisfied with your LSAT score?

It's Never Too Early to PREPARE for Law School

CLEO...Supporting Diversity in Legal Education Since 1968

"CLEO assisted me in achieving success in the application process and made my dream of attending

law school a reality." ?Abe A., CLEO Fellow, UC Hastings

"CLEO provided me with academic training, professional development, networking

opportunities, and enriched my personal growth." ?Danielle M., CLEO Associate, Howard University

For more information about CLEO:

| cleo@ cleoscholars | 866.886.4343

Meet Our Law School Fellows (2012-2013)

ADREANNE STEPHENSON

The University of Notre Dame Law School

ANITA MITCHELL

CHARLYN STANBERRY

Florida International University College of Law

CHRIS ELLIS

Rutgers School of Law ? Newark

CLAIS DANIELS-EDWARDS

Seton Hall University School of Law

JAYNIECE HIGGINS

University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

JENEE GASKIN

Loyola University Chicago School of Law

KINGDAR PRUSSIEN

Stanford Law School

LAUREN DUNCAN

Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University

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LAVELL O. PAYNE

University of Akron School of Law

TIFFANY FOUNTAINE

University of Baltimore School of Law

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