Law School: Tips and Stats

Smart Choices

For its 2009 Salary Guide, Robert Half Legal asked 300 lawyers which areas of practice offer the most opportunities over the next 10 years. Top 5: corporate and securities, litigation, intellectual property, international law, and environmental.

Insider Tip

Specialization isn't the only way to gain practical know-how in law school. Participating in legal clinics will give you the experience to impress potential employers. Nearly every school of law now offers its students a chance to gain courtroom experience. Among the newest: an immigration law clinic at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, a project in social enterprise and economic development aimed at small businesses at the University of Tulsa College of Law, and a national security and human-rights clinic at the University of Texas.

Getting In

Score High. On your GPA and your LSAT. Not that you can be reduced to just a number, but they're considered two of the best predictors of success. GPAs that get better by the year can demonstrate maturity and make up for a poor freshman year.

Your Essay. Your personal statement allows you to emotionally connect with the overworked admit dean, but it's less important than you'd imagine. Use it to put some meat on the bare bones of your acronyms (see above). Having something to write about is also critical (see below).

Are You Experienced? Work experience is a great topic for personal statements. Volunteering for a legal aid society or working as a legal intern shows you've invested time in the field—and have an inkling of what you're getting into.

Know Your Audience. Find out where past graduates have landed. If the strengths of the school are aligned with your own ambitions, your application has a better chance.

Reality Check

• Robert Half Legal projects average starting salaries will show little increase in '09, but young associates at big firms are still forecast to make $112,250-$138,250
• Your colleagues at big law firms with 10 years' experience will be averaging $173,500-$240,000
• Average compensation for first-year associates at small law firms: $50,250-$73,000
• Base compensation for mid-level paralegals at large law firms is expected to rise to $51,500-$65,500; for top legal secretaries, to $56,000-$71,500
• Legal specialty most likely to see a salary increase: contract administrator (forecast for four-plus years' experience: $57,750-$93,000)

• Reality Check Source: Robert Half Legal