preLaw Magazine - Winter 2008 - (Page 26) A variety of public and private law schools now offer part-time programs, including top-ranking universities including Tulane, Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and George Mason. And more are adding them on a regular basis. Each has its own unique qualities, so students should invest the time to find the right program for them, legal education experts agree. “Just because (a student chooses to attend) part-time doesn’t mean they have to give up certain aspects of law school,” said Jon Garon, dean of the Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minn. Based on a review of the nation’s parttime law programs, an effective part-time program usually includes: •Ample time to complete the program while working or raising a family. At the Mississippi College School of Law, a new program gives students five years to complete their degree. Some programs even stretch that to seven years. •A well-rounded curriculum that pro- vides the same access to electives and registration for classes that full-time students enjoy. At the Thomas M. Cooley law School, students are surveyed at least twice a year to determine their preferences for electives and what time slots and locations are preferred, said Ann Miller, associate dean for planning, programs and assessment. •Opportunities for extra-curricular activities such as clinics, clerkships and law journals. Making sure part-timers have these important line items on their resumes is a top concern at Hamline, Garon said. •Schedules that meet a part-time student’s needs. For example, Hamline and Thomas M. Cooley Law School both have weekend programs that allow students to earn a law degree by attending class on Saturdays and Sundays only. It wasn’t always this way. Part-time law programs have evolved over the past decade in response to student concerns. Some worried that part-timers were treated as secondContinued on page 29… Most welcoming of older students Based on the average age of entry of law school students and student reports of how many years they spent out of college before enrolling in law school. City University of New York—Queens College Lewis & Clark College University of the District of Columbia Seattle University William Mitchell College of Law Willamette University Georgia State University Hamline University University of New Mexico University of Utah INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW “BEST 170 LAW SCHOOLS” 2008 EDITION Drexel University College of Law Scientia, Ars, Officium Knowledge, Skill, Duty Drexel Law T For more information: 215-895-1LAW • www.drexel.edu/law Preparing Lawyers for the Real World he Drexel University College of Law incorporates Drexel’s renowned co-op program, giving students real-world professional experience in a variety of fields before graduation. The College’s initial concentrations in intellectual property law, health care law and entrepreneurial business law take advantage of the University’s academic strengths. Roger J. Dennis, Founding Dean 26 preLaw http://www.drexel.edu/law http://www.drexel.edu/law
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