Applying to Stanford Law School
Looking for the perfect campus to study law can be compared to finding a good household appliance: every company tries to outdo the other by showcasing their top features, ultimately confusing buyers all the more. As students work their way to getting into a respected law school, they too become confused into choosing which academic faculty is more suited to their preferences. I’ll try to help minimize the confusion by focusing on Stanford Law School, one of America’s top law schools for 2008 according to USNews.com.
A quick look at Stanford history and alumni
The Stanford Law School is located in California’s Silicon Valley, the area where most high-tech businesses and firms are situated. The school was established in 1893 -the year when former US President Benjamin Harrison became the campus’s first law professor. He was joined by Nathan Abbott who assembled the first faculty to teach the up-and-coming lawyers.
Some of the most famous alumni to come out of the Stanford Law School include Peter Thiel, the founder of Paypal, and Penny Pritzker, one of the world’s billionaires and the CEO of Pritzker Realty. The school also boasts of Michael Jacobson, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Ebay Inc., and Robert Cochran, creator of the popular TV shows Le Femme Nikita and 24, as its former students.
Stanford Law Degree benefits
As with most law schools in the US, Stanford offers various degree programs. It has the standard Juris Doctor program which is the basic course for becoming a lawyer. Stanford also has Joint Degree programs for students who wish to connect the law process with other disciplines. There are also Advanced Degree programs that offer doctoral degrees for foreign graduate students.
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Stanford prides itself in having a low student-to-faculty ratio, thus allowing a more concentrated approach in teaching. It also has mentorship programs wherein students can hone their skills with the help of professionals. Students also get membership to the school alumni network. This is a very essential tool especially for new graduates as they explore opportunities in the competitive world of legal businesses.
Becoming a Stanford Law student
To get into the Stanford Law School, one must understand that there are more applicants than available seats thus completion of forms is an essential. According to the Law School Admission Council, one must be able to prepare the application form, a Law School Report from either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), recommendation letters and application fee. Stanford has an additional requirement of a Personal Statement letter that indicates aspects of the applicant that are not apparent in the other forms.
Please note that since Stanford is in the San Francisco area, it has a high cost of living so do expect pricey rates. Though this may be the case, students will enjoy comfortable benefits such as cutting-edge classrooms and a magnificent view of the San Francisco Bay, palm trees and all. As others may say, studying law can be a brain-buster in itself but with the many features of Stanford Law School -from the degrees to the benefits-, knowing legal matters may not look as hard as it seems.
