법과대학원 law school

변호사는 판·검사에 비해 권위는 덜하지만 고소득을 올린다. 특히 21세기 글로벌시대를 맞아 국제변호사·특허전문가들의 활약상이 두드러지면서 인기는 대단하다.

차세대 법조인을 육성하는 법과대학원(Law School)은 의사를 만들어내는 의대(Medical School)와 함께 대졸자들에게 선망의 대상이다.

변호사는 법정에 나가 재판에 참여하는 소송변호사(Litigator) 쯤으로 인식하고 있으나 요즘에는 기업 합병이나 국제 특허 업무 등 법정에 전혀 나가지 않는 업무 변호사(Transactional)가 전체의 95%를 차지할 정도로 추세가 변하고 있다.

로스쿨은 들어가기도 힘들지만 이곳에서 살아남기도 어렵다. 로스쿨은 3년제로, 특히 1학년 과정은 엄청난 학업량과 끊임없는 독서량, 작문 숙제로 인해 흔히 ‘지옥’에 비유된다. 난생 처음 접하는 낯설은 법률용어 때문에 법전 10쪽을 읽는데 무려 3~4시간을 소모해야 할 정도다. 로스쿨에 지망하기 앞서 ‘왜 내가 이 길을 택했나’‘나에게 과연 맞는 길인가’에 대한 뚜렷한 신념을 가져야 한다.　

　　

◇미국의 로스쿨 현황

미국 로스쿨은 약 230개 정도 있다. 이중 미국 변호사협회가 인정하는 로스쿨은 200곳이 채 안된다. 입학 정원은 하버드, 조지타운대와 조지워싱턴대 등 로스쿨이 500여명으로 비교적 많고, 예일 190명, USC 195명 등 대개는 200여명 안팎이다.

로스쿨의 커리큘럼과 학위는 학교별 차이가 있지만 공통적인 것은 JD(Juris Doctor)과정이 가장 중심이 되는 과정이라는 점이다. 학위 과정은 법학사에 해당하는 JD과정과 석사과정인 LLM(Master of Laws), MCL(Master of Comparative Law, 비교법학 석사), 박사 과정인 SJD(Doctor of Juridical Science)로 나뉜다.

미국에서 변호사가 되려면 JD 과정을 거쳐 바시험(Bar Exam)을 통과해야 한다. 로스쿨 지망 학생들의 학부 전공은 정치학이 가장 많은 편이지만, 기타 영문학(작문에 도움이 됨), 생물·물리학 등 이공계, 의대, 심지어 음대 출신 학생도 상당수다. 이는 로스쿨에 입학하면 변호사 시험인 바시험에 응시할 수 있고, 합격률도 높기 때문이다. 또 로스쿨을 나와 큰 로펌회사에 취직하면 연봉 10만~16만 달러를 받는 등 높은 보수를 누리고, 사회 진출 기회도 타 전공에 비해서 훨씬 다양하기 때문이다.

　

◇로스쿨 진학

최고의 로스쿨로 평가받는 예일대 등 명문대는 무려 20대 1의 입학 경쟁률을 보이고 있다. 2010학년도 입시에서 예일대는 200여 명 모집에 3797명이, 하버드에는 550여명 모집에 7574명이 몰렸다. 경쟁률은 각각 7%와 11%였다. 로스쿨에 합격하려면 무엇보다 학부시절의 학점(GPA)과 입학시험(LSAT) 점수가 좋아야 한다. 또 학내 서클활동 및 인턴 등 특별활동 경력, ‘뭔가 특별한 경력’이 있으면 입학 사정관들의 주목을 받는다.

톱 20위권 명문 로스쿨에 들어가려면 GPA가 보통 3.6이상이어야 하고, 중·하위권 대학 출신 지원자일수록 GPA가 더 높아야 한다. USC 로스쿨에 GPA가 3.4인 프린스턴대 엔지니어링 전공자 학생이 합격한 반면 GPA가 3.8인 비올라대 출신 학생이 불합격한 것이 좋은 사례다. 다음으로 중요한 것이 LSAT(Law School Admission Test)이라 불리는 로스쿨 입학시험이다. SAT와 유사한 학력 평가 시험이다. 점수는 120~180점 스케일이며, 예일대 합격자들의 평균 점수는 173점, 하버드 171~176점, 스탠포드 167-172점, 유펜 166~171점, UVA 165~171점, UC버클리 165~170점 등의 분포를 보이고 있다.

　

◇LSAT 시험과 추천서·에세이

LSAT은 로스쿨에서 필요한 비판적 독해와 분석적 사고 능력 평가에 초점을 둔다. 때문에 생각을 완전하게, 빠르게, 그리고 논리적으로 하는 연습을 해야 한다.

시험은 5개 섹션으로 나뉘는데, 특히 Logical Reasoning 시험 유형은 짧은 시간 안에 Reading을 해야 하므로 부담감이 크다. LSAT는 점수가 누적되므로 여러번 응시하면 불리할 수 있다. 시험 구성은 175분간 객관식 100여 문항과 30분간의 에세이. 5개 섹션은 △2 Logical Reasoning △1 Logical Games △1 Reading Comprehension △1 Experimental Section △Writing Sample 등으로 구성돼있다. Logical Games 35분간 약 24문제를 푸는 섹션으로, 마치 퍼즐을 푸는 것과 같아 문제 유형을 많이 연습할수록 유리하다. 보통 한국학생들은 여기서 만점을 받는 경우가 많다.

Reading Comprehension은 5분간 27문항을 풀게 되며, Writing Sample 시험은 30분 동안 2개의 주제 중 하나를 선택해 쓰면 된다. Writing은 점수에 포함되지는 않지만 응시하는 학교에 LSAT 점수와 함께 보내져 점수가 비슷할 경우 우열을 가리는 기준이 된다. 등록 웹사이트:www.lsac.org

이밖에 추천서와 에세이도 중요하다. 효과적인 추천서는 자신을 가장 잘 아는 교수로부터 받은, 솔직하고도 객관적인 평가서이다. 추천서는 2~3장이 적당하며, 직장을 다니다 지원한 경우는 직장 상사도 좋은 추천인이 될 수 있다.

또 에세이는 타인과 다른 자신만의 특별한 것을 보여줄 수 있는 좋은 툴이다. 진솔하게 자신을 보여주는게 좋다. 현재에 이르기까지 힘 들었던 시간을 적거나 직장 경력·인턴 경력 등을 돋보이게 표현해 보는 것도 좋다. 실제 로스쿨 지원자의 60%가량이 사회 경험이 있는 학생들이다.

LSAT시험 과목
시험과목문항수시험시간
Logical Reasoning24-2635분
Analytical Reasoning22-2435분
Reading Comprehension26-2835분
Experimental23-2835분
Writing Sample130분

◇로스쿨 과정

로스쿨은 첫해 1년이 가장 힘들고 중요하다. 끊임없이 읽고 써야 한다. 처음 대하는 법률 용어들이 너무도 생소해 마치 “전혀 다른 언어를 배우는 것 같다”는 게 신입생들의 하소연이다. 또 늘 생각해야 한다. 단순히 암기하고 배우는 것과 스스로 생각한다는 것은 큰 차이가 있다. 예를 들어 직접적인 피해를 일으킨 폭행사건과 간접 피해를 유발한 흡연사건은 전혀 다른 인과관계를 갖고 있다. 법대생들은 이를 두고 동료 혹은 교수들과 토론(argue)을 벌인다. 얼마나 활발한 토론을 벌이느냐에 따라 실력을 인정받는다고 하니, 이로 인한 스트레스가 만만치 않다고 한다. 또 문법적인 실수 하나 없이 하루 만에 많은 분량의 작문 숙제를 할 수 있도록 뛰어난 문장력도 갖춰야 한다.

학기 중 모의재판(Mock Trial)도 심심찮게 열린다. 학생들은 이 재판에 의무적으로 참석해야 하며, 실제 판사·배심원·관중을 앞에 두고 자신의 주장을 논리적으로 펼쳐야 한다.

2학년으로 넘어가면 그토록 힘들던 로스쿨이 점점 재미있어 진다. 각종 서클에도 가입하고, 민주·공화당 등 정치 클럽에도 들어가 살아있는 정치를 경험한다. 또 실제 소송 사건을 맡아 의뢰인과 함께 법정에 서기도 한다. 2학년 여름에 학생들은 대개 직업을 갖는다. 큰 로펌 등에서 인턴을 하면서 최고 3만 달러의 용돈을 버는 학생들도 있다. 여름 한철 버는 수입치고는 엄청난 액수다. 로스쿨 학생들은 그만큼 학생이 아니라 전문가로 인정해 준다는 것이다.

로스쿨 졸업후에는 연봉이 높다는 대도시 로펌 취업이 선망의 대상으로 떠오른다. 이들 로펌은 좁은문의 위세를 떨치며 하버드 등 톱 20위권 로스쿨 졸업자들을 선호하는 분위기다. 그렇다고 이들 로펌이 괜히 많은 돈을 주는 것은 아니다. 그만큼 업무량이 엄청나다. 대형 로펌 근무자들은 하루 15시간 이상의 격무에 시달리는 경우도 있다.

반면 연방기관이나 기업체에 근무하는 로스쿨 출신자들은 근무 시간이 적어 비교적 여유로운 생활을 즐기지만 월급은 낮은 편이다. 로스쿨 졸업자들의 진로는 생각보다 훨씬 다양하다. 변호사 하면 흔히 법정에 나가는 소송변호사(Litigator) 쯤으로 인식하고 있으나 요즘에는 기업 합병이나 국제 특허업무 등 법정에 전혀 나가지 않는 업무변호사(Transactional)가 전체의 95%나 차지하고 있다. 또 판사를 도우면서 판사를 꿈꾸는 클럭십(Clerkship) 분야도 있고, 교수쪽으로 방향을 잡는 학구파도 있다. 대학 교수가 되려면 학교때 성적이 우수해야 한다.

◇기타 알아야 할 것

– 로스쿨 진학은 학부 성적만을 보기 때문에 고교때 들은 AP나 IB 과목은 참고가 되지 않는다.

– FBI(연방수사국), CIA(중앙정보국) 취업은 경쟁이 치열하다. 그러나 로스쿨 졸업자들에게 다소 유리할 수 있다.

– 로스쿨 졸업자들의 UN(유엔) 취업도 대단히 인기다. 유엔에 취업하려면 컬럼비아대 로스쿨 등 지리적으로 UN에 가까이 있어 평소 인턴 등 관계를 맺어두는 경우 유리하다.

– 로스쿨 학비는 일반 대학원과 비교할 수 없을 정도로 비싸다. 법과대학원 연 평균 학비는 5만5963달러다. 주립대학이 더 낮고 사립대학은 더 높다.

학교명/소재지/순위학비와 기타비용풀타임 재학생수LSAT중간값
Stanford University 
Stanford, CA
#1 in Best Law Schools (tie)		N/A575173
Yale University 
New Haven, CT
#1 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$73,865(full-time)633175
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
#3 in Best Law Schools		$77,952(full-time)594173
Duke University 
Durham, NC
#4 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$75,738(full-time)754170
Harvard University 
Cambridge, MA
#4 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$75,008(full-time)1758174
University of Pennsylvania (Carey) 
PA
#4 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$76,934(full-time)808172
University of Virginia 
Charlottesville, VA
#4 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$71,200(in-state, full-time)$74,200(out-of-state, full-time)898171
Columbia University 
New York, NY
#8 in Best Law Schools		$81,292(full-time)1357173
New York University 
New York, NY
#9 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$80,014(full-time)1413172
Northwestern University (Pritzker) 
Chicago, IL
#9 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$74,552(full-time)763172
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor 
Ann Arbor, MI
#9 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$69,584(in-state, full-time)$72,584(out-of-state, full-time)972171
University of California, Berkeley 
Berkeley, CA
#12 in Best Law Schools		$62,603(in-state, full-time)$75,031(out-of-state, full-time)1022170
University of California–Los Angeles 
Los Angeles, CA
#13 in Best Law Schools		$56,455(in-state, full-time)$68,700(out-of-state, full-time)1006170
Cornell University 
Ithaca, NY
#14 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$77,593(full-time)585172
Georgetown University 
Washington, DC
#14 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$75,950(full-time)1851171
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
#16 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$48,964(in-state, full-time)$58,396(out-of-state, full-time)675168
University of Texas–Austin
Austin, TX
#16 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$36,429(in-state, full-time)$54,096(out-of-state, full-time)973171
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
#16 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$67,814(full-time)809173
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
#19 in Best Law Schools		$72,184(full-time)512170
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
#20 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$18,994(in-state, full-time)$37,752(out-of-state, full-time)530169
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
#20 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$27,992(in-state, full-time)$48,204(out-of-state, full-time)572166
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
#20 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$68,054(full-time)540169
University of Southern California (Gould)
Los Angeles, CA
#20 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$78,046(full-time)644169
Boston University
Boston, MA
#24 in Best Law Schools		$65,020(full-time)744170
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
#25 in Best Law Schools		$53,142(full-time)488165
Ohio State University (Moritz)
Columbus, OH
#26 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$34,086(in-state, full-time)$49,338(out-of-state, full-time)503165
Texas A&M University
Fort Worth, TX
#26 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$32,634(in-state, full-time)$49,002(out-of-state, full-time)443166
Boston College
Newton, MA
#28 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$66,600(full-time)765167
Brigham Young University (Clark)
Provo, UT
#28 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$15,076(LDS member, full-time)$30,152(Non-LDS member, full-time)369168
George Mason University (Scalia)
Arlington, VA
#28 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$26,950(in-state, full-time)$42,798(out-of-state, full-time)431168
University of Florida (Levin)
Gainesville, FL
#28 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$22,194(in-state, full-time)$38,430(out-of-state, full-time)662169
University of Utah (Quinney)
Salt Lake City, UT
#28 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$33,634(in-state, full-time)$43,598(out-of-state, full-time)291164
Fordham University
New York, NY
#33 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$72,282(full-time)$54,382(part-time)1162167
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
#33 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$24,917(in-state, full-time)$46,407(out-of-state, full-time)426167
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA
#33 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$55,550(full-time)380165
Arizona State University (O’Connor)
Phoenix, AZ
#36 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$28,839(in-state, full-time)$50,317(out-of-state, full-time)793167
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
#36 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$39,852(in-state, full-time)$49,852(out-of-state, full-time)519165
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
#36 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$31,426(in-state, full-time)$51,955(out-of-state, full-time)491163
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Madison, WI
#36 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$35,197(in-state, full-time)$52,893(out-of-state, full-time)698165
William & Mary Law School
Williamsburg, VA
#36 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$43,286(in-state, full-time)$66,043(out-of-state, full-time)529166




George Washington University
Washington, DC
#41 in Best Law Schools		$69,740(full-time)$51,450(part-time)1560169
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
#42 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$66,414(full-time)799166
Indiana University–Bloomington (Maurer)
Bloomington, IN
#42 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$38,428(in-state, full-time)$59,478(out-of-state, full-time)530164
Southern Methodist University (Dedman)
Dallas, TX
#42 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$63,502(full-time)663164
University of California–Irvine 
Irvine, CA
#42 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$56,025(in-state, full-time)$68,270(out-of-state, full-time)467167
Baylor University
Waco, TX
#46 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$61,877(full-time)383164
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
#46 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$23,402(in-state, full-time)$29,753(out-of-state, full-time)362160
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
#48 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$20,693(in-state, full-time)$40,705(out-of-state, full-time)440165
University of Colorado–Boulder
Boulder, CO
#48 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$34,809(in-state, full-time)$42,279(out-of-state, full-time)491164
University of Washington 
Seattle, WA
#48 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$43,584(in-state, full-time)$55,617(out-of-state, full-time)522164
Villanova University (Widger)
Villanova, PA
#48 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$56,225(full-time)553164
Pepperdine University (Caruso)
Malibu, CA
#52 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$68,046(full-time)561164
University of Tennessee–Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
#52 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$20,408(in-state, full-time)$39,152(out-of-state, full-time)394162
Temple University (Beasley)
Philadelphia, PA
#54 in Best Law Schools		$31,053(in-state, full-time)$46,949(out-of-state, full-time)546163
University of Arizona (Rogers)
Tucson, AZ
#55 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$26,200(in-state, full-time)$30,700(out-of-state, full-time)376163
University of California–Davis 
Davis, CA
#55 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$57,183(in-state, full-time)$67,163(out-of-state, full-time)642165
University of Connecticut
Hartford, CT
#55 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$31,508(in-state, full-time)$62,550(out-of-state, full-time)387160
University of Maryland (Carey)
Baltimore, MD
#55 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$36,999(in-state, full-time)$53,655(out-of-state, full-time)594163
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK
#55 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$22,614(in-state, full-time)$36,759(out-of-state, full-time)527159
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
#55 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$38,135(in-state, full-time)$41,588(out-of-state, full-time)386162
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
#61 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$65,912(full-time)$44,106(part-time)826161
Seton Hall University
Newark, NJ
#61 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$66,780(full-time)$50,520(part-time)668160
University of Kentucky (Rosenberg)
Lexington, KY
#61 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$26,232(in-state, full-time)$51,380(out-of-state, full-time)408157
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
#61 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$23,877(in-state, full-time)$29,877(out-of-state, full-time)386160
Yeshiva University (Cardozo)
New York, NY
#61 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$70,646(full-time)$70,646(part-time)957164
University of Richmond
Richmond, VA
#66 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$53,440(full-time)408164
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
#66 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$23,722(in-state, full-time)$41,500(out-of-state, full-time)601160
Florida International University
Miami, FL
#68 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$21,115(in-state, full-time)$34,900(out-of-state, full-time)441160
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
#68 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$49,710(full-time)$29,475(part-time)563155
Northeastern University
Boston, MA
#68 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$60,408(full-time)$45,300(part-time)612163
Pennsylvania State University–University Park 1
University Park, PA
#68 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$56,436(in-state, full-time)$56,436(out-of-state, full-time)402161
St. John’s University 
Jamaica, NY
#68 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$71,664(full-time)$54,124(part-time)737162
University of Houston Law Center
Houston, TX
#68 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$34,942(in-state, full-time)$50,132(out-of-state, full-time)704161
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA
#68 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$62,981(full-time)$46,671(part-time)709161
Drexel University (Kline)
Philadelphia, PA
#75 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$54,635(full-time)396159
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA
#75 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$17,202(in-state, full-time)$36,810(out-of-state, full-time)524160
Pennsylvania State University Dickinson Law 
Carlisle, PA
#75 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$57,902(in-state, full-time)$57,902(out-of-state, full-time)272162
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
#78 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$55,258(full-time)$41,090(part-time)773160
Tulane University 
New Orleans, LA
#78 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$67,780(full-time)654161
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
#78 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$24,810(in-state, full-time)$29,810(out-of-state, full-time)386158
University of Nevada–Las Vegas (Boyd)
Las Vegas, NV
#78 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$29,678(in-state, full-time)$42,578(out-of-state, full-time)382160
Drake University
Des Moines, IA
#82 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$47,998(full-time)322154
Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern)
Portland, OR
#82 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$56,296(full-time)$42,220(part-time)404160
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
#82 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$27,532(in-state, full-time)$39,232(out-of-state, full-time)438158
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco 
San Francisco, CA
#82 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$48,273(in-state, full-time)$55,207(out-of-state, full-time)1125160
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
#82 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$63,506(full-time)1123162
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
#82 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$16,082(in-state, full-time)$37,442(out-of-state, full-time)454158
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
#82 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$46,264(in-state, full-time)$57,586(out-of-state, full-time)471158
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
#89 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$61,124(full-time)469160
University of Denver (Sturm)
Denver, CO
#89 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$59,792(full-time)$43,876(part-time)682160
Belmont University
Nashville, TN
#91 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$54,380(full-time)350160
Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge (Hebert)
Baton Rouge, LA
#91 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$23,665(in-state, full-time)$39,105(out-of-state, full-time)614157
University of Pittsburgh 
Pittsburgh, PA
#91 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$39,681(in-state, full-time)$50,697(out-of-state, full-time)380160
Duquesne University (Kline)
Pittsburgh, PA
#94 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$55,500(full-time)$42,914(part-time)408156
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO
#94 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$48,814(full-time)$35,530(part-time)497156
The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC
#94 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$58,916(full-time)$40,730(part-time)283158
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
#94 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$20,605(in-state, full-time)$44,088(out-of-state, full-time)300155
American University (Washington)
DC
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$63,088(full-time)976162
Indiana University–Indianapolis (McKinney)
Indianapolis, IN
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$32,536(in-state, full-time)$52,600(out-of-state, full-time)568155
Stetson University
Gulfport, FL
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$51,212(full-time)$33,680(part-time)752158
University of New Hampshire (Pierce) 
Concord, NH
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$40,320(in-state, full-time)$48,320(out-of-state, full-time)359156
University of St. Thomas
Minneapolis, MN
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$48,379(full-time)476155
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH
#103 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$30,042(in-state, full-time)$30,142(out-of-state, full-time)314155
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
#94 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$20,605(in-state, full-time)$44,088(out-of-state, full-time)300155
American University (Washington)
DC
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$63,088(full-time)976162
Indiana University–Indianapolis (McKinney)
Indianapolis, IN
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$32,536(in-state, full-time)$52,600(out-of-state, full-time)568155
Stetson University
Gulfport, FL
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$51,212(full-time)$33,680(part-time)752158
University of New Hampshire (Pierce) 
Concord, NH
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$40,320(in-state, full-time)$48,320(out-of-state, full-time)359156
University of St. Thomas
Minneapolis, MN
#98 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$48,379(full-time)476155
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH
#103 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$30,042(in-state, full-time)$30,142(out-of-state, full-time)314155
Mercer University (George)
Macon, GA
#103 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$43,132(full-time)399155
Rutgers University 
Newark and Camden, NJ
#103 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$32,062(in-state, full-time)$46,695(out-of-state, full-time)1037158
Samford University(Cumberland)
Birmingham, AL
#103 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$45,236(full-time)449155
University of Montana (Blewett)
Missoula, MT
#103 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$22,060(in-state, full-time)$47,794(out-of-state, full-time)262154
Chapman University (Fowler)
Orange, CA
#108 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$61,354(full-time)$49,028(part-time)409161
Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent)
Chicago, IL
#108 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$53,270(full-time)$39,150(part-time)630159
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
#108 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$41,040(in-state, full-time)$45,600(out-of-state, full-time)639159
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA
#108 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$41,596(full-time)$31,236(part-time)320157
University at Buffalo–SUNY
Buffalo, NY
#108 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$29,248(in-state, full-time)$34,238(out-of-state, full-time)434156
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
#108 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$38,843(full-time)$21,450(part-time)236154
Brooklyn Law School 
Brooklyn, NY
#114 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$70,381(full-time)$52,931(part-time)1099160
Seattle University 
Seattle, WA
#114 in Best Law Schools (tie)		N/A527156
University of Arkansas–Fayetteville
Fayetteville, AR
#114 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$17,898(in-state, full-time)$39,732(out-of-state, full-time)375156
Albany Law School
Albany, NY
#117 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$58,044(full-time)572155
University of Missouri–Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
#117 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$23,774(in-state, full-time)$29,774(out-of-state, full-time)402154
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
#117 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$26,320(in-state, full-time)$43,672(out-of-state, full-time)314155
Gonzaga University 
Spokane, WA
#120 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$53,359(full-time)510154
Syracuse University 
Syracuse, NY
#120 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$62,050(full-time)680157
University of Maine School of Law
Portland, ME
#120 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$26,440(in-state, full-time)$38,560(out-of-state, full-time)261157
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) School of Law
University, MS
#120 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$18,470(in-state, full-time)$38,880(out-of-state, full-time)519157
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
#120 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$29,864(full-time)323156
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY
#120 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$17,946(in-state, full-time)$36,426(out-of-state, full-time)226154
Washburn University
Topeka, KS
#120 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$24,584(in-state, full-time)$37,240(out-of-state, full-time)290154
New York Law School
New York, NY
#127 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$64,824(full-time)$49,818(part-time)898156
University of Hawaii–Manoa (Richardson)
Honolulu, HI
#127 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$23,164(in-state, full-time)$46,588(out-of-state, full-time)227158
University of South Dakota (Knudson)
Vermillion, SD
#127 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$16,794(in-state, full-time)$36,334(out-of-state, full-time)243151
Hofstra University (Deane)
Hempstead, NY
#130 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$68,860(full-time)$51,580(part-time)792156
Howard University
Washington, DC
#130 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$38,612(full-time)487155
Loyola University New Orleans 
New Orleans, LA
#130 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$52,350(full-time)$38,840(part-time)550151
Suffolk University
Boston, MA
#130 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$57,748(full-time)$43,216(part-time)927155
Campbell University (Wiggins) 
Raleigh, NC
#134 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$49,730(full-time)552155
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
#134 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$52,145(full-time)$34,054(part-time)445158
Pace University (Haub)
White Plains, NY
#136 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$53,886(full-time)$40,420(part-time)643152
University of Akron
Akron, OH
#136 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$26,115(in-state, full-time)$26,215(out-of-state, full-time)304154
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
#136 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$46,724(full-time)$35,719(part-time)592154
University of Louisville (Brandeis)
Louisville, KY
#136 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$25,400(in-state, full-time)$30,400(out-of-state, full-time)370156
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
#140 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$42,891(full-time)322154
University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
#140 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$34,980(in-state, full-time)$51,014(out-of-state, full-time)509154
University of Memphis (Humphreys)
Memphis, TN
#140 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$20,000(in-state, full-time)$25,282(out-of-state, full-time)283155
Quinnipiac University 
Hamden, CT
#143 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$54,880(full-time)313153
University of Arkansas–Little Rock (Bowen)
Little Rock, AR
#143 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$16,728(in-state, full-time)$32,671(out-of-state, full-time)338152
Southwestern Law School 
Los Angeles, CA
#145 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$58,537(full-time)$39,042(part-time)718155
University of Idaho 
Moscow, ID
#145 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$51,864(in-state, full-time)$90,336(out-of-state, full-time)396151
Willamette University College of Law
Salem, OR
#145 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$50,944(full-time)344N/A
Elon University
Greensboro, NC
#148 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$50,058(full-time)445153
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH
#148 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$28,226(in-state, full-time)$28,426(out-of-state, full-time)309152
CUNY School of Law
Long Island City, NY
#150 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$16,013(in-state, full-time)$26,203(out-of-state, full-time)462153
Northern Kentucky University (Chase)
Highland Heights, KY
#150 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$24,719(in-state, full-time)$39,383(out-of-state, full-time)280152
South Texas College of Law Houston
Houston, TX
#150 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$41,110(full-time)$27,740(part-time)824153
Creighton University 
Omaha, NE
#153 in Best Law Schools (tie)		N/A395152
Ohio Northern University (Pettit)
Ada, OH
#153 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$33,600(full-time)196148
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK
#153 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$36,500(full-time)427149
St. Mary’s University
San Antonio, TX
#153 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$43,460(full-time)$29,276(part-time)685152
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
#157 in Best Law Schools		$23,552(in-state, full-time)$23,552(out-of-state, full-time)318150
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA
#158 in Best Law Schools		$58,464(full-time)$45,936(part-time)571159
New England Law Boston
Boston, MA
#159 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$57,048(full-time)$42,784(part-time)826153
University of the Pacific (McGeorge)
Sacramento, CA
#159 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$59,580(full-time)$39,517(part-time)427156
Ave Maria School of Law
Naples, FL
#161 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$49,656(full-time)274152
University of Illinois–Chicago
Chicago, IL
#161 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$40,572(in-state, full-time)$49,572(out-of-state, full-time)810152
University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA
#161 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$31,040(in-state, full-time)$40,322(out-of-state, full-time)281150
Mitchell Hamline School of Law 
St. Paul, MN
#164 in Best Law Schools		$52,620(full-time)$38,280(part-time)371154
Lincoln Memorial University (Duncan)
Knoxville, TN
#165 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$46,063(full-time)351150
University of San Francisco 
San Francisco, CA
#165 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$54,250(full-time)329153
Widener University–Pennsylvania (Commonwealth)
Harrisburg, PA
#165 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$53,670(full-time)$39,390(part-time)286148
Mississippi College
Jackson, MS
#168 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$38,202(full-time)362150
Touro University (Fuchsberg)
Central Islip, NY
#168 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$57,810(full-time)$45,655(part-time)337150
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
#168 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$17,462(in-state, full-time)$33,241(out-of-state, full-time)236150
Vermont Law School
South Royalton, VT
#168 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$51,700(full-time)395152
Roger Williams University 
Bristol, RI
#172 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$46,464(full-time)551150
Southern Illinois University–Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
#172 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$21,555(in-state, full-time)$21,555(out-of-state, full-time)272149
St. Thomas University
Miami Gardens, FL
#172 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$46,200(full-time)645152
University of North Texas–Dallas
Dallas, TX
#172 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$18,756(in-state, full-time)$31,638(out-of-state, full-time)267153
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School 
GA
#176 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$52,006(full-time)$31,868(part-time)226150
Faulkner University (Jones)
Montgomery, AL
#176 in Best Law Schools (tie)		$39,900(full-time)324150
Appalachian School of Law 
VA
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$41,000(full-time)161146
Barry University 
FL
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$43,150(full-time)$32,826(part-time)624149
California Western School of Law 
San Diego, CA
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$60,430(full-time)$45,230(part-time)552153
Capital University 
Columbus, OH
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$42,875(full-time)$38,370(part-time)347150
Charleston School of Law
Charleston, SC
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$46,134(full-time)675153
Cooley Law School (Cooley) 
Lansing, MI
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		N/A106149
Florida A&M University 
Orlando, FL
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		N/A275151
Golden Gate University 1
San Francisco, CA
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		N/A196154
Inter-American University 
San Juan, PR
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$15,635(full-time)$12,240(part-time)379142
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$13,444(in-state, full-time)$36,116(out-of-state, full-time)359148
Nova Southeastern University (Broad)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$46,339(full-time)$34,747(part-time)530153
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico 
Ponce, PR
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		N/A299139
Southern University Law Center 
Baton Rouge, LA
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$20,182(in-state, full-time)$33,782(out-of-state, full-time)605147
Texas Southern University (Marshall) 
TX
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$21,885(full-time)548150
University of Puerto Rico 
Rio Piedras, PR
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		N/A362148
University of the District of Columbia (Clarke)
Washington, DC
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$13,438(in-state, full-time)$25,874(out-of-state, full-time)153151
Western New England University
Springfield, MA
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$50,070(full-time)$32,900(part-time)214149
Western State College of Law at Westcliff University
Irvine, CA
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$49,040(full-time)$32,760(part-time)237152
Widener University–Delaware
Wilmington, DE
#178-196 in Best Law Schools		$57,470(full-time)$42,550(part-time)546150