via
Getty)
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:
The
largest
weight
(32%)
went
to
clinics.
We
asked
schools
for
the
number
of
students
who
completed
a
clinic
in
2024-25.
If
a
student
was
enrolled
in
two
semesters,
that
counted
as
two.
Extra
credit
was
given
for
guaranteed
or
required
clinic
work.
Externships
accounted
for
25%.
If
a
student
had
two
externships,
that
counted
as
two.
Simulation
courses
accounted
for
20%.
We
asked
for
the
total
enrollment
in
such
courses.
Moot
court
and
pro
bono
hours
accounted
for
10%.
Required
pro
bono
hours
got
extra
credit.
We
gave
10%
to
additional
practical
training
offerings,
such
as
required
legal
writing.
If
schools
did
not
reply,
we
used
ABA
data.
Without
further
ado,
according
to
preLaw
Magazine,
these
are
the
top
10
best
law
schools
for
practical
training:
- Northeastern
-
St.
Thomas
(MN) - Baylor
- Minnesota
- Denver
- Quinnipiac
- Arizona
- Pepperdine
-
UC
Irvine -
San
Diego
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
/
National
Jurist]
Staci
Zaretsky is
the
managing
editor
of
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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on LinkedIn.