The Marine Corps of Law Schools: Rigorous Practice for Practice
Written: Oct 21 '04 (Updated Jan 02 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: teaching emphasis, practice development, Texas base
Cons: If you want to go outside of Texas, you won't have as strong a base.
The Bottom Line: Baylor is exceptionally focused on functioning as a teaching law school that raises up tough, fine attorneys and counselors at law.
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| mht's Full Review: Baylor University School of Law |
Baylor, called the "Marine Corps" of law schools by the Princeton Review, is one of the premiere teaching law schools for future practitioners. If you want to practice law in any of its multitude of areas, Baylor emphasizes practical education for future attorneys and counselors at law.
Teaching Priority
Unlike most U.S. law schools, Baylor has a faculty unified around teaching as a priority. Most U.S. law schools reward research more than teaching: Baylor is a conspicuous exception. Students who crave profs. who focus on teaching ought to take a close look at this school.
Dream Team Building
A team of lawyers hauled in billions of dollars through tobacco litigation. Three of the lawyers (all Baylor alums) on this "dream team" were the lead donors for the new law school building. Their combined 20 million buckaroos of donation have enabled Baylor to have more space/law student than just about any law school around.
I recently visited the new home of Baylor Law. The faculty offices are found on the third floor, the Dean's office and Career Services Office is located on the 2nd floor, while the 1st floor has various places for students to "hang-out" (read: study). It is a bright, spacious building with a large parking area and a view of a body of water. I read that they purchased room to expand.
High College GPA's Favored
Baylor has one of the highest GPA ranges of any law school in the country. While other law schools seem to place greater emphasis on LSAT scores (162 median at Baylor), Baylor likes to take those whose GPA is sky high.
Required
About 60% of the courses for graduation are required. A minority of about 40% of the courses are reserved for electives. The required courses are on the higher side for a top tier law school.
If you are looking for a wide range of electives, look elsewhere. For example, Baylor has a grand total of 2 international law courses--with no introductory international law course, no human rights course, no public international law course.
Texas Concentrated
Most of the students and alumni are concentrated in the Republic of Texas. Given Texas' size and history, it it probably more like a separate country than any of the continental U.S. states. I understand that Baylor alumni fill more judgeships in Texas than the alumni of any other law school. If the Lonestar State doesn't interest you, you might want to think again before going with Baylor, even though it provides a rigorous legal education.
Baptist Roots
Baylor University has Baptist roots, which the present President of the university is trying to revive. The law school mission statement indicates its solidarity with the larger university's mission. The Dean's written reflections for the building dedication express this affiliation as well. How thoroughgoing this commitment is, or will become, is yet unclear to me.
Bar Prowess
Baylor often pulls the highest bar passage rate of any Texas law school. Its required core presumably plays a significant role in the high bar passage rates. There are times when the bar passage rate couldn't be higher: literally 100%! Other times, such as in one administration in 2004, they are bested by University of Texas.
Competition
Princeton Review's student survey also found Baylor the #1 Most Competitive law school around. They looked at student responses to factors such as how much the students responding studied, and how much they perceived their fellow students studied. Baylor has a reputation for hardworking students.
Practice
Baylor has an outstanding trial advocacy program. Leon Jaworski, the famed Watergate prosecutor, is counted among their alumni. When I visited the Dean's suite, I saw plaques for strong performances in moot courts and client counseling competitions. Baylor emphasizes the development of practice skills. If that's what you're looking for, Baylor could be a good fit.
Conclusion
Baylor is a teaching law school dedicated to raising up good practitioners of the law. It is clear and united in that institutional focus. If one is looking for that, especially with desires to remain in Texas, it's a solid pick--disciplined practice for future practice.
Recommended:
Yes
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mht
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Member: Morse Tan, Esq.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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