The U. of Chicago law school is perhaps the most academically rigorous legal education in the United States. Not only is it tough to get in, plan on working hard until graduation. It also boasts one of the highest (and sometimes the highest) bar exam pass rates in the country. One recent year (late 90's) featured a 100% pass rate, which may not be repeated given the falling Illinois bar pass rate (67% in February, 2001).

Ties

A friend of mine named Jonathan, who graduated close to the top of the class, will be clerking on the U.S. Supreme Court. Prof. Hill, a former professor of Jonathan's who taught him at Wheaton College (IL) had a conversation with Richard Epstein, a professor (and interim Dean) with whom Jonathan worked. Hill told me that Prof. Epstein asked Prof. Hill to send more students like Jonathan from Wheaton to Chicago Law.

In fact, (former?) Dean of Admissions Badger of the U. of Chicago told the Wheaton Pre-Law Director that he had never been disappointed by a Wheaton student. He said that he considered Wheaton (IL) on the same level as other top, small liberal arts colleges like Carleton. I know many of the fellow Wheaton alumni who have gone on to U. of Chicago Law through this pipeline formed by the strong performance of Wheaton graduates who had done well at Chicago Law.

Besides Wheaton ties, I know a bunch of other University of Chicago students/alumni and others tied to the school. In fact, the firm I'm working at (Ross & Hardies, www.rosshardies.com), features a number of Chicago Law alumni. Indeed, I've been involved in the interviewing process for Ross & Hardies--including a number of U. of Chicago Law candidates.

The U. of C. is the crosstown rival of my law school alma mater, Northwestern. Sometimes there are joint functions that take place. I won't dwell too much though on who won the last annual softball game between the two schools at Comiskey Park (where the White Sox play)!

Law & Economics

This integration is considered a forte. Chicago has one of the (if not THE) most reputable economics departments in the world. Nobel Prizes are almost par for the course in the department. During one stretch of time, Chicago faculty took something like 4 out 5 Nobel Prizes in Economics in one half decade.

Chicago also boasts some of the leading proponents of law and economics. Professors Epstein, Richard Posner (formerly Chief Judge of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals), Judge Easterbrook (a fellow high and mighty one on the 7th Circuit who served as the Chief Justice of Northwestern's Miner Moot Court finals), Eric Posner (yes, the son of Judge Posner) and others there are considered highly influential scholars in this realm (and other realms as well).

However, some people think that law and economics must be tempered by a broader, interdisciplinary context. Moral hurdles are sometimes leaped over in a single, utilitarian bound. The danger of reductionism also poses a very real peril.

Nonetheless, if law and economics is your cup of tea, I do not know of a stronger law school in this field than the U. of Chicago. If you find little appeal in law and economics, a present student told me it can be avoided to some extent by one's course/professor selection.

Judicial Clerkships Galore

A large percentage of U. of C. graduates garner highly sought after clerkships with judges. In fact, there's no question that the percentage of alumni who gain clerkships is one of the highest in the nation.

Clerks work as the closest aides to a judge. They do many of the same things the judge does--to the extent that the particular judge delegates. Clerkships, especially federal clerkships, are prized as invaluable apprenticeships that provide an inside experience on the legal system.

Do not expect to be rolling in the dough in a clerkship though. Clerkships can offer roughly a quarter to a third of what the highest paying firms do. Yet a clerkship, I am told, can mark one in multiple ways for life. You shouldn't let Mammon run your life anyways, right?

So if a clerkship is of interest to you, Chicago Law has one of the best track records of placing their students/alumni into clerkships, many times with highly selective judges. If you care not for a clerkship, then it's a different story.

Professor Factory

A sizable cadre of alumni move back into the academic ranks. For example, the faculty of Washington University (in St. Louis) is laden with U. of Chicago alumni. In fact, the former acting Dean and Professor Dan Keating, graduated with the highest G.P.A. in Chicago Law history.

Given how academically/intellectually oriented Chicago is, it comes as no surprise how many professors count it as their law school alma mater. Some would contend, though, that professors with some practical training/experience can make better teachers.

So if you view law school as a launching pad to practice more than an intellectual/academic bonanza, then Chicago may not be the best pick for you. Many (perhaps most) other schools are more practice oriented.

Prominent Alumni and Related Folks

Prominent alumni of Chicago are legion. One can find many leaders in the legal profession with a degree from the University of Chicago.

For example, Attorney General John Ashcroft got his J.D. at Chicago Law after his Yale undergrad. years. In fact, Chicago is where he met his wife, who now serves as a professor at Howard Law School.

Michael McConnell, who both graduated with flying colors from Chicago and formerly held an endowed professorship there, was nominated for a judgeship on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. U.S. Circuit Courts (FYI) are just below the Supreme Court. McConnell had clerked himself at both the Circuit and Supreme Court levels before.

Going to the top, Justice Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court used to serve as a professor at the University of Chicago. Many more examples could be named.

Politically Correct or Incorrect?

A certain member of the administration forbade the Christian Legal Society from recruiting on campus. This rather specific prohibition seemed to reflect an unfair discrimination against one particular group. I was told by a particular person (who was a student when this ban was implemented) that this unfair policy was the result primarily of this one particular administrator's prejudice. Perhaps it will change in the future as it ought. We'll see.

Concrete Bunker

The architecture of the school is less than magnificent. Some (including alumni) would call it abysmal. The term "concrete bunker" has been pasted on it by its own students. While I wouldn't quite go that far, the building is still far from the most spectacular that I have seen. It is far less august than, for example, the buildings in Michigan's stately law quad. It is, I'm sorry to say, quite a contrast to the architectural museum that the city of Chicago is well-known to be.

So in Closing

Chicago Law is a haven for law and economics interested future judicial clerks pursuing academic careers. I'm not saying you should rule it out if that's not what your calling is. Nor am I saying that it's the only game around if it is your calling. It is however, quite a pick for those so inclined.

However, if you know that you just want to practice law, I would not give it the highest recommendation. There are other schools which are much more practice oriented in their education. There are also schools that, in my opinion, integrate the theoretical/academic with the clinical/practical better than Chicago. One of them happens to also be in the city of Chicago...:-)

If nothing else, Chicago will give you plenty of reading and writing to do, helping to knock out the vice of sloth/indolence/laziness from those who enter its halls. (as a side note, one has generous "deadlines" for papers--even graduation & beyond) Next time though, Chicago will have to find a few more students who can knock softballs out of parks (like say Comiskey) so that when they play that "other" Chicago school...:-)



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