Going to law school at the University of Michigan will surely change your life. For the next three years, most of what will occupy your conscious and subconcious thoughts are getting through the rigors of law school. Law school isn't as intense as was dramatically portrayed in the book One-L (Scott Turow), but it's definitely a major commitment in terms of money, time, emotional, and life.

But you're probably past that stage and considering attending UofM. One could write a treatise about all the different aspects of law school at Michigan, but I'll try to keep it more general. From the moment you arrive here, you'll quickly realize how preeminent of an institution the entire place is. Set apart from the rest of the campus by a breathtaking gothic-architecture quadrangle, the law school indeed commands respect and attention. No doubt about it, grads from here proudly speak of their UofM pedigree. Congratulations on your acceptance!

The law school's facilities are unmatched by any national law school. Supported by a generous corporate and personal endowment, the buildings, classrooms, dormitory, halls, library, etc. evoke historical prestige yet are functionally modern. Every detail, from the massive trees to the carefully pruned landscaping to the stained glass to the gnomes, are all meticulously taken care of. It's just awesome.

The teaching, like most other top schools, is classically Socratic. Large first year classes of about 100 students make learning tough and discussion forced. The method has it's pros and cons, but one thing's for sure, it's here to stay. The law school teaching mentality is somewhat stodgy and conservative, but what can you expect from professors who thrived under the system when they went through it? The grade curves are rather strict and you'll be amazed how much grades matter, even well after you've graduated and are seeking your second job. But the school's midwest style nicely surfaces itself quite a bit during your first year: several professors will host dinners and parties at their houses in your class' honor.

There's definitely a homey and hospitable feel here at times. You'll also meet new friends and stay with them for the rest of your lives. The comraderie is great, although it can be too much at times when you know who's dating who, and rag on what each person said during class earlier that day.

There are two major problems with Michigan law school: location and job prospects. Ann Arbor, while a great haven for undergrads getting away from home, is definitely not a major urban area that excites the post-grad. It is literally surrounded by vegetable farms, and lacks much of the offerings you would expect out of urban life. Chicago is 4 hours away, so forget it. Detroit is close, but you'll never go there unless it's for the newly legalized gambling. It's also very cold and dreary during the winter (Dec.-April), although the fall colors are stunning. (I'm from CA, so one winter was plenty for me.) However, Michigan's sports are very popular (football and basketball; good intermural sports and gyms). More important than that though is the lack of proximity to a major legal market. You'll find that all the New York schools are "feeders" for the New York firms. Also, the career services office puts far less effort in coordinating non-law firm placement. Accordingly, the burden will be much more on you to secure that non-traditional legal job. Most Michigan grads do get jobs reasonably quickly, but it can be very tough for some, especially if your grades are below average.

The law school offers so many activities, events, professional opportunities, and resources for you. It's really what you make of it and how much you take the initiative to get what you want out of it. Best of luck!



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