When asked about the factors they were evaluating in choosing a law school, the most popular response was rankings. 30% of respondents thought rankings were more important than factors like cost (12%) or even job placement statistics (8%). Of course if you've read this column recently you already know that post graduation employment statistics play an important part in the rankings themselves. 86% of those surveyed said that rankings were either ''very important'' or ''somewhat important'' in choosing a law school.
Not surprisingly, students planning to go to law school are self confident. Over 60% believe that their Facebook profile, if viewed by admissions officers, would enhance their prospect of getting that all important letter of acceptance. Over half are ''very confident'' that they will find a job in the legal field after graduating but only 16% think that a majority of their classmates will find legal work.
Interestingly, for 36% of respondents, the decision to attend law school happened within the last year. In a period where the legal job market is taking a beating (head counts at the AM 100 are down for the second year in a row) law school still has enormous appeal, even to students for whom the law has not been a long term goal.
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