Evaluating Law Schools and Expanding your Educational Opportunities through Visiting and Studying Abroad

 by Suzanne Natbony 

I. Introduction

​

I graduated from law school in the standard three years and still had the opportunity to study at five different law schools by participating in a study-abroad program, enrolling as a visiting student, and taking classes as a special student.  I may be one of the few students to have attended law school at opposite ends of the United States (Los Angeles and the District of Columbia), in different hemispheres (the U.S. and Australia), and three law schools in greater Los Angeles.  My unique educational experience led me to gain a better appreciation for my home school, seek exposure to coursework unavailable at one single law school, and widen my life-long networking circle.  I was also able to travel to different parts of the world and gain experiences that will have a lasting impact.  Accordingly, I highly recommend taking advantage of the myriads of benefits that come from enrolling as a visiting student or studying abroad.

This article benefits prelaw students in determining which law school to attend and helps law students determine whether to obtain credits as a visiting student.  This information can also assist any bitter law school student or graduate with recognizing the positives of a legal education and appreciating their law school surroundings through discovering benefits that they were unaware of (rather than ruminating over and retaining bitter memories of law school).  My narration of my experience at the five schools I attended should help prelaw and law students make informed decisions when selecting law schools or considering whether to pursue courses outside of their home school. 

​

As this article is intended to guide others, I discuss the benefits and disadvantages associated with attending different law schools from my own experience studying at five law schools: Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles (“SW”), of which I am a graduate.  In addition to SW, I studied at the University of Technology, Sydney (“UTS”) through a Santa Clara University study-abroad program, Loyola Law School in Los Angeles (“LLS”), Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. (“GULC”), and Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu (“Pepperdine”).

​

II. Studying Abroad, Visiting and Auditing

​

A. Expand Your Horizons!

​

Due to my constant thirst for new experiences and upward mobility, I attended three high schools, four colleges, and five law schools because I think one should aim high, keep progressing and try to get into the best school possible.  If you cannot transfer to a better law school after the first year, you should try to study abroad or attend classes at another school as a visiting student in order to have an unsurpassable experience.  From listening to an Australian professor compare abortion laws in the U.S. and Australia while demonstrating a mastery of both legal systems, to hearing a D.C. prosecutor decry California’s “crazy, liberal laws” in comparison to those of conservative Washington, D.C., my legal education was greatly enriched by my coursework at other institutions.

​

Furthermore, you will widen your network of contacts by not only meeting people who live in your selected city of study, but also those that, like you, have chosen to travel there.  In addition, you will be able to show future employers that you are able to function well outside of your comfort zone and to embrace challenges.  While some may argue that employers prefer students who stay in one place because it predicts future commitment to one employer, you can readily counter such doubts in two ways.  First, you can explain that because you were interested in a comprehensive education, you took classes as a study abroad or visiting student to learn certain legal subjects were not offered at your home institution.  For example, as former President of the SW Law and Medicine Society, I first petitioned my school to offer additional health law courses.  When I was unable to register for such a course at SW, I took it at Loyola.  When prospective employers interviewed me, they were all impressed with my initiative in seeking creative ways to deepen my understanding of this practice area.   Thus, I was able to take the course of interest to me, but remained loyal to SW through attempting to have additional Health Law courses taught at SW.  Second, you can say that you believe that you are a renaissance man/woman and rainmaker who will consistently continue to improve the services and increase the clientele base of the firm.  Those qualities are valued in a firm, but are not easily channeled and rewarded in law school.

​​

B.Challenges

​

There are several potential issues with studying abroad and visiting another institution.  First, law schools will not accept transferred grades into students’ GPAs; instead, transcripts just show credits as either a “pass” or “no pass.”  Depending on how a student performs, this policy could affect a student’s GPA positively or negatively.  For example, my high grades from GULC and UTS were not incorporated and I was unable to increase my cumulative SW GPA, but because my less favorable Pepperdine patent law grade was not incorporated either, my overall GPA was not significantly affected in either direction.  Additionally, the administrative burden of the application, enrollment, and orientation process can aggravate students.  Students have to get an I.D. card for each school, go through new parking procedures, and obtain wireless configurations.

​

As a continuing student, problems can also arise for students who do not start in the fall (traditionally the first semester) because students miss orientation and key events.  Accordingly, it can be harder to acclimate as easily in the spring and summer semesters.  Indeed, during the summer, the campus can feel more isolated because fewer students are attending classes.  The available courses may also be limited for three reasons.  First, some schools have their students register for their courses during the spring of the prior year; so many classes may be full if you attempt to register during the preceding fall or summer.  Second, fewer courses are available because fewer students enroll in the summer.  Finally, some classes are limited because they are in high demand, taught infrequently and only during the summer.  For example, SW only offers a Sports Law class during the summer.

​

Someone who really wants to study abroad in a particular location or through a certain program should verify that his or her home school will approve the program before applying for the program or before applying to your home institution.  For example, LLS only has a few summer abroad programs it sponsors, and my friends who were enrolled there complained that the administration would not approve outside institutional study-abroad programs for credit. I considered transferring to Loyola, but I found out that they would not accept my units from the Santa Clara University study-abroad program in Sydney.  LLS only has a few summer abroad programs and my friends complained that their administration would not approve outside institutional study-abroad programs.  Accordingly, in order to get credit, they had to participate in a LLS study-abroad program.

​

C. Auditing

​

Auditing is enrolling and paying to take a class for no credit.  Because students will not get credit for any audited classes, this option should be viewed as a last resort.  For example, I wanted to attend law classes at every major university in Los Angeles, but UCLA does not allow visiting students, although it allows auditing.  I did not consider auditing the UCLA law course because, to me, auditing a course was not worth the trade-off.  The time spent auditing an extra course, in addition to maintaining full-time status would offset the benefit of learning a unique subject area. On the other hand, a friend benefited from auditing a course at his home school because it was an inexpensive way to learn a subject of great interest to him.

​

III. Nontraditional Programs

​

If you are looking to enroll part-time, you should research different school’s part-time programs. Usually, part-time programs are offered in the evening, but some schools have part-time day programs if you are a certain type of student, such as a parent.  Further, many third year law students want to finish their last year of law school taking evening classes on a part-time basis because they want to work part-time during the day.  Thus, you may want to check if evening courses are available and if there is an evening program.  My Patent Law class at Pepperdine was in the evening, but because there was not an official “Evening Program;” after class the school felt like a ghost town with everything closed except for the library.  Another type of nontraditional program is a two-year law school program, such as one offered at SW.  Although on-line courses might seem like a good way to obtain credit while working part-time, prospective students should note that ABA requirements prohibit law students from taking classes at on-line schools unless they are enrolled students of those on-line schools.

​

IV. Location

​

Four of the five law schools that I attended were located in major world cities: Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Sydney.  The fifth law school, Pepperdine, is in Malibu, one hour from downtown Los Angeles.  You should absolutely consider whether you want to live in a metropolis, suburban, or rural area.  Personally, I advise being in a city because you want to be close in proximity to the courthouse for externships, major law firms for associate positions, major legal organizations for internships and, of course, diversions from law school.  Some of my friends who went to University of Georgia Law School in Athens, Georgia, an hour and a half from a major city, felt they graduated law school lacking the practical experience from clinics, externships and internships, which are readily available in a major city.  One of my Pepperdine friends had an internship in downtown L.A. and complained about the one-hour drive each way.  However, there are tradeoffs: while Pepperdine is an hour or more from downtown L.A., it is probably the most beautiful law school campus in the world, situated at the foothills of the Santa Monica mountain range, atop Malibu bluffs, looking out over the Pacific Ocean.

​

V. Campus Size

​

Another factor to consider is whether the law school is a part of a university with other schools and the law school’s proximity to the main campus.   For example, UTS is a large, public university, in a major city, with the law school and other graduate and undergraduate schools located within walking distance.  Pepperdine is a large, private university, outside a major city, with the law school located on the main campus.  LLS and GULC are large law schools located in a major city, separate from the main campus and SW is a private law school in a major city without university affiliation. 

Each type of campus has various advantages and disadvantages to consider.  The positives of having a larger university within walking distance is that you reap the benefits of the main campus – health center, joint degree programs, larger food court, more people to meet, museums, auditoriums, events, and the like.   The downsides include an inconveniently dispersed administrative support structure where you have to walk 20 minutes to the other side of campus to visit the International Studies Office.  Thus, trying to complete administrative tasks can be inefficient when departments are in different buildings, not co-located within the law school.  For example, to find the Pepperdine student ID card office, I felt like I was on a scavenger hunt around a campus that is so large it has a tram system.  However, a Pepperdine employee told that if I had started at the beginning of the school year, I could have gotten one from a satellite office in the law school.  SW had just two buildings to accomplish most tasks that could be taken care of at a large university.

​

VI. Law School Facilities

​

A. Technology

​

Most law students are technologically savvy and have laptops, yet some schools have not installed desktop outlets or more convenient outlets.  While someone told me Pepperdine has high-tech classrooms, my Patent Law class was technologically challenged.  The classroom was located in the basement with no windows, limited outlets to plug in laptops and 70’s-looking chairs and tables.  In LLS, SW and GULC, we had outlets on top of or attached to the desks and advanced audio and video capabilities in some of the classrooms.  Pepperdine, however, gets an A+ for ease of use of its wireless connection.  Guests and students have instant online access without needing a password.  In contrast, the systems at LLS and SW were more complicated because they required entering a password each time one wanted to get online and necessitated several trips to Tech Support at each school to get my laptop working.  GULC used a bizarre, hilarious password that you entered just once (which I am certainly not permitted to give out).  I also thought that SW was technologically advanced because it had flat screen TVs broadcasting campus, local, national and international headlines above the elevators and in the rooftop cafeteria and modern stadium seating classrooms with close and convenient tabletop outlets.  Finally, ample and state-of-the-art campus computers and copiers can make a difference when you and every other first‑year law student are rushing to print out copies of your brief for Moot Court. 

B. The Law Library

Choosing a school based on the size of the law library or how many books it holds need not be a central consideration because other law school factors are more important.  For example, the ABA requires each law school to have a large law library. Almost all research can now be done online and most class assignments do not require library research (Legal Research and Writing and certain Seminar classes being the exceptions).

​

If you prefer to study in the library, then you should consider a school’s library rules and whether you would be comfortable in the environment.  For example, while SW’s library was stunningly large and elegant, the rules prohibited food and beverages.  For people who like to eat while they study, that rule may be aggravating.  I also had SW friends who said that they studied at LLS because SW was too cold.  My GULC friend told me that their library was enormous, but I never once had to use it.  Library safety should also be a concern – ask if you can leave your laptop unattended.  Pepperdine and Loyola were considered safe because people told me that it was okay to leave your laptop at your desk to go to the restroom.  If you study long hours, you should also consider the hours of operation and convenience to a coffee shop and other nearby, extended-hour establishments.  In addition, schools handle the free Westlaw and Lexis printouts differently, which are similar to the way drug companies would give physicians free samples (kickbacks).  At SW, our research was organized for students by last name, whereas at Pepperdine, our printouts were disorganized and gone if not retrieved immediately.

​​

C. Fitness Centers

Everyone should exercise regularly - yes, even law students; so, I feel your school should have a gym.  LLS is a satellite campus, with the main campus about 30-minutes away.  Thus, Loyola Law School does not really have a gym because having to drive that far is too inconvenient. Some law schools with satellite campuses have their own gym.  For example, Georgetown University Law Center’s gym, which is just for law students, was nicer than Pepperdine’s gym for the entire campus-wide student body.  SW has a large gym with lots of new machines and equipment although it is not affiliated with a large university.  I really enjoyed having a gym at SW because after exams, I could do a lot of cardio to release all of the adrenaline pumping through me (unlike some other students who wanted post-exam booze on campus). 

​

D. Parking

The parking situation is also something to consider.  Many students complain about expensive and limited parking in major cities; but even in smaller cities, such as Malibu, parking can be limited and far from your destination.  While Pepperdine’s law school had ample parking for students in the evening, when I had to drive around to other parts of the campus to accomplish administrative tasks or get tea and coffee, it was difficult to find parking.  I did not have to worry about GULC’s parking because I did not have or need a car.  Many LLS students complained about the parking situation because of the parking lot’s poor design, but I thought it was fine because I usually found nearby, free street parking.

​

VI. Exams

​

Every law student should know the importance of exams – virtually every class grade is determined by one single grade from your final exam.  So, pay attention to the test taking rules and law school environments.  My most enjoyable exam experience was at GULC because there was NO Examsoft.  I hate Examsoft because my computer stopped working during one of my first year law school exams and Examsoft would not work.  LLS, Pepperdine and SW all use Examsoft, but GULC trusted students and used a Microsoft Word template.  At GULC, I took professional responsibility and was happy that our exam was open notes, book and Internet – anything was accessible, except specific knowledge from another on that particular exam question, so emailing and instant messaging were prohibited.  Accordingly, GULC students gave me the impression that they were more relaxed and confident exam-takers.  Regardless of the reason, the students I saw were more at ease than students at other law schools. 

Examsoft is an aggravating software program that you have to download to take your exams. It prevents students from cheating by locking out the computer from the internet and other programs.  It can freeze your computer and malfunction and when it does, the student is generally unable to type the exam and instead given a bluebook and forced to handwrite.

​

VII. Reputation

​

U.S. News & World Reports (2005 edition) ranks the top 200 law schools and the law schools that I attended ranged from top 15 to top 150.  Many people despise the report and ranking system.  However, while I am hesitant to admit it, I do feel that the rankings are somewhat indicative of how easy it will be to find a job, how much money you will make and how technologically advanced and ostentatious the law school’s facilities will be.   Accordingly, I chose GULC over the other three major D.C. law schools – American University, Catholic University and George Washington, not only because GULC has the best reputation (and a relative went there), but because  I knew that the quality of my education and experience would probably be better.  I wanted to work and study in Washington, D.C. during the summer after my second year of law school, so I first obtained a job at the Federal Judicial Center as a Legal Researcher and then began to investigate the four, major D.C. schools.  Ultimately I chose GULC because I believed it was probably the best D.C. school and the content of the course I wanted to take was not geared towards D.C. law (unlike George Washington’s class); rather, GULC’s class focused on the Model Rules, which would be more useful for my future practice in California.

​

While reputation is an important consideration when selecting a course to take at another school, you also have the added advantage of choosing a good professor (rather than a boring or disorganized one).  If you are considering studying at another school and do not know anyone, you could find students on Facebook and ask them about a professor whose course you are considering taking.  I happened to have a friend from college at American University Law and was able to ask her about my GULC professor because the professor had also taught at American.

VIII. The Faculty

​

The best law professors may not have joint degrees or Ph.Ds; rather, they deliver their lecture in an organized and engaging fashion.  They provide practice test questions and answers and give helpful feedback.  Visual aids, repetition, practical experience, and animation are a necessity, and comedy also helps.  Two professors stand out as having all of the above.  At GULC, Professor Stacy Ludwig provided practice exams and feedback and was very accessible outside of class.  At SW, Professor Catherine Carpenter used photos in her PowerPoint presentation with the key points and rules.  Despite both professors’ classes being either earlier later than what I would have preferred, I felt that they were both highly effective professors.  Further, Professor Carpenter made the subject matter more rousing, even though I lacked interest in Criminal Law.

​

When studying abroad, you should not only try to determine how renowned the professor is, but whether the program has professors who are citizens of the country in which you are studying.  Indeed, choosing a study-abroad program with foreign professors is more important than considering a school based on its reputation and ranking.  Why travel halfway around the world and spend thousands on travel expenses to be taught by an American professor?  With narrow exceptions, such as the lack of English speaking professors in the host country, I can think of few reasons that merit being taught by an American professor when studying abroad, such as having a notable number of guest lecturers from the country.  

​

When I looked into study-abroad programs in Sydney, Australia, two were of interest to me.  One was hosted by a top U.S. law school, University of North Carolina at one of the top schools in Australia, University of Sydney, and the other program was hosted by Santa Clara University at the University of Technology, Sydney by Australian professors.  I chose the latter because I thought it was likelier that I would learn more about Aussie culture if my professors were Australian (and I wanted to try to pick up the Aussie accent).  I will never forget when one of the Australian professors became upset because a fellow classmate was playing Sudoku for the second time.  In the United States, where American law students frequently surf the internet or play computer games in class, I found it very refreshing that Australian law students demonstrated a greater respect for their professors and class material, such that our Australian professor was shocked by the behavior of several U.S. visiting students.

​

IX. Career Services Centers

​

You will have at least some access to the career service centers at the law schools that you attend as a visiting student or by studying abroad.  Indeed, I was able to get numerous counseling sessions and advice from career services counselors at my home school and LLS, Pepperdine and GULC.  If a SW counselor was not available, I could call GULC, LLS, or Pepperdine.  For example, GULC was able to schedule phone sessions with me early in the morning when my west coast law schools were not open yet.  LLS permitted me to meet with counselors but I could not participate in recruitment.  As a part of my study-abroad experience, UTS and its host school, Santa Clara University, set up an informational session with a biotechnology firm in Australia that was looking to hire American law students.  I considered moving to Australia and working for the firm. 

​

In addition, the career services counselors at all the L.A. schools were able to give me feedback on correspondence from prospective employers.  Similar to a panel of three judges writing opinions on a case, I was able to get detailed feedback from three different institutional counselors.  For example, I received different opinions from counselors about whether a thank you note following an interview could be handwritten or whether it always needed to be typed.  The experience demonstrated to me that career advice, like any other, varies among schools and individuals.  Indeed, sometimes I would get a dissenting and concurring opinion to what I believed to be the best communication to an interviewer.  While this was initially frustrating, it helped me to place more trust in my own judgment.

​

X. Competitiveness

​

If you are competitive, selfish and cold, then you will find other people just like that wherever you go because I feel that you get what you project.  While SW may be rumored to be one of the most competitive schools, I found it to have a supportive and friendly learning environment (with a little healthy competition during moot court, negotiation drills and other educational attorney simulations).  Indeed, SW has a low attrition rate, which is under 15%.  I really could not rate the competition level of the other schools that I attended because the student bodies all had a sense of camaraderie. Whenever I sought help at SW, GULC, LLS or Pepperdine, such as needing outlines or notes, people were willing to help.  Although people bent over backwards when I was a visiting student and studying abroad because I was in an unfamiliar city, I truly feel that a smile, reciprocity and a friendly personality bring out fairness and teamwork in others. 

​

XI. Religious Practice in Law School

​

If you are religious, consider choosing a school that at least has your community nearby.  Some law schools have chapels directly on campus.  GULC has a modest room in the basement.  Pepperdine has a large, stunning chapel that is used for weddings.  A religious presence on campus may be of interest as well, such as having a Jewish Law Students Association.  Typically, these organizations have holiday events and meals with professors.  Being a part of a religious organization can also assist with networking.  I heard my Pepperdine classmate tell another that he was hired through someone he met at church.  Indeed, Pepperdine, being a private, religious university, not only asks for an essay responding to its Christian Mission Statement, but also has many events sponsored by the Christian Law Society.  For example, when talking with Pepperdine students about their plans for the weekend, several said that they were going to a Christian Law Society beach BBQ.  I doubt I would have received an invitation to a beach BBQ by SW or LLS students.  

​

XII. End Note

​

I want to thank all of the people at Southwestern for their support and approval of my unique educational experience.  I love the experience that I had in law school and hope this article is helpful in advising students through this narration of my unique educational experience.  I have been whole-heartedly interested in attending law school since my first semester in college.  Thus, I was Vice President of the Pre-Law Club at Georgia State and Professional Development Chairperson of USC’s pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta.  I also took Barbri’s week-long Law School Prep course and read many of the major pre‑law publications, which included various issues of US News and World Reports on the Best Grad Schools, the ABA Guide to Law Schools, Barron’s Guide to Law Schools, Law School Confidential, Planet Law School, Becoming Gentlemen, OneL and I regularly read pre-law Insider, Student Lawyer and other ABA publications.  Finally, I admit, I come from a family of lawyers – both uncles and grandfathers and my father all went to law school and I am the first female to attend law school in my immediate family.  Accordingly, I wrote this based on my law school knowledge and experience, which was enhanced by growing up in a family of lawyers.