University of Michigan Law School

1.800. 973. 1177

LAW SCHOOL PROFILE

University of Michigan Law School [by Mike Murphy] One of the oldest and most respected law schools in the country, the University of Michigan offers students a top-notch legal education and a close-knit community.

Founded in 1859, the University of Michigan

underground. Built underneath the Legal

law schools. The school boasts six study-

has one of the oldest law schools in the na-

Research building, it offers over 941,000

abroad programs and encourages students

tion; a public, top-ten U.S. News & World Re-

volumes and goes down to three sub-levels.

to initiate their own. Externships abroad are

port-ranked law school nestled in the center

Admission into Michigan Law isn’t easy. For

encouraged and common among students

of one of the nation’s largest universities.

the class of 2006, 5,436 applicants produced

with interest in International law; workshops

a class of 406, the school’s largest since the

in International law and “language lunches”

It’s also in the prettiest part of town. The Wil-

Vietnam War (read: draft) era. Median GPAs

for bilingual students are weekly occur-

liam W. Cook Law Quadrangle is the poster

of 3.6 and LSAT scores of 167 are daunt-

rences.

child of the University of Michigan campus;

ing, but not unassailable; the school prides

pictures of it grace the cover of university

itself on creating a diverse entering class

recruiting materials and end up in countless

and really does take all factors into account

whether in class or in the pages of Michi-

tourist and wedding photo albums. When a

for its admission decisions. The law school’s

gan Law’s several student publications. The

character from the NBC drama ER moved to

admissions policies recently stood up to a

Michigan Law Review is one of the best

Ann Arbor to start medical school, the “law

legal challenge before the Supreme Court. A

and most-cited in the nation. Publishing

quad” stood in for the medical school cam-

June, 2003 decision in Grutter vs. Bollinger

since 1902, its annual book review issue is

pus. It makes sense; the quad is a sheltered

upheld the use of affirmative action by the

traditionally one of the most-cited law review

oasis of green in a bustling part of campus,

law school in its decisions to admit students.

issues. Michigan also offers the Michigan

and its late Gothic architecture really is

Communicating in English is also common,

Journal of Law Reform, Michigan Journal of

breathtaking - so long as you disregard the

Two-thirds of Michigan Law students work

Race & Law, Michigan Journal of Gender &

admittedly ugly addition from the 1970s,

for private firms upon graduation; another

Law and Michigan Journal of International

currently slated for demolition at some point

20% go on to judicial clerkships. The re-

Law and the Michigan Telecommunications

in the future. The law quad also houses

mainder of graduates find work in a mix of

and Technology Law Review. There’s also a

about 260 students in the “Lawyer’s Club,” a

government, public interest, business, and

student newspaper, the Res Gestae (a Latin

law-student only dormitory housing mostly

academia - adding to an employment rate of

term meaning “things done,” a legal term

first-year students.

nearly 100%. For those remaining students

for an obscure rule of evidence that allows

interested in devoting their efforts solely

otherwise hearsay evidence to be admissible

Michigan Law may be considered one of the

to the government or public sector, Michi-

in court) which has been publishing student

best public law schools in the nation; but it’s

gan Law makes an effort to help, offering a

news and commentary for over 50 years.

as expensive as any top private law school

student-funded fellowship program that sub-

- probably because the school receives

sidizes some (not all) of students’ summer

That sort of pedigree, combined with an

virtually none of its operating budget from

jobs in public interest internships. Michigan

average class size of 350 means an extraor-

its parent university. For all intents and pur-

also boasts a progressive debt forgiveness

dinarily large alumni base. With over 19,000

poses, it is a private school. Expected tuition

program in an attempt to offset potentially

alumni, it may be a challenge to find a large

for Michigan Law students in 2003-2004 is

prohibitive large student loan debt.

law firm in America that doesn’t have a

$27,850 for Michigan residents and $32,850

Michigan State alum on staff. Three Supreme

for non-residents. Grants, especially for out-

Michigan Law is proud of its International

of-state students, are not uncommon.

and Comparative law programs. All students

dozen other famous alumni, including Clar-

are required to take a course in Transna-

ence Darrow, Senator Richard Gephardt and

tional Law, a unique requirement among U.S.

conservative columnist Ann Coulter.

The law library is rather new and, literally,

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Court Justices are alums, as well as several

continued on back

1. 800. 973.1177

LAW SCHOOL PROFILE

Ann Arbor is widely regarded as a cultural

degree to law school, and the admissions of-

hub of the Midwest; its art fair in the summer

fice at Michigan understands that.

months attracts thousands of visitors. It’s a town whose population increases by one-and-

Michigan Law is also surprisingly accom-

a-half times its size (to about 115,000) from

modating for clinics, externships and studies

August to April. The University of Michigan

abroad. Joint degree students are also

football team is a perennial contender for

common; the University of Michigan has top-

both the Big Ten title and National Champion-

ranked programs in business, medicine and

ship; Michigan students know better than to

science. Non-joint degree students can take

try and drive in or out of the city on football

up to nine credits pass/fail from outside of the

Saturdays. (Nearly 115,000 fit into Michigan

law school. Many students take advantage of

Stadium to see a football game against Notre

this option to study a language or take a busi-

Dame last year). The closest major airport,

ness course (or two). In any given year, 60-75

Detroit Metropolitan, is 30 minutes away.

students earn joint degrees.

Students needing a break from the smaller atmosphere of Ann Arbor can go to Detroit

The social scene among Michigan Law stu-

and its large metropolitan area 50 miles to

dents is surprisingly congenial and helpful for

the east, or take a train or bus to Chicago in a

a school of its reputation. A wireless network

couple of hours.

covers about 75 percent of the school and is free for students; laptops are ubiquitous in

Students hailing from a warm climate should

class and instant messaging is an art form

be warned -- Michigan winters have been

among classmates. Michigan Law students

arguably mild in recent years, but are gener-

help each other succeed, and students who

ally not for the faint of heart or the easily

sacrifice friendships among classmates in

chilled. Cold snaps and snowfalls of several

exchange for better class performance are

inches are not uncommon a few times each

rare and generally not popular. Students of

winter. An old wives’ tale has it that long ago

different ethnicities and sexual orientations

M-Law students once sued the University for

are widely accepted and their differences

their tuition money back after a snow day of

overlooked; few students hail from the sur-

canceled classes; regardless of the story’s

rounding area, but most feel at home.

veracity, classes haven’t been canceled due to inclement weather in anyone’s memory. Most

In the same vein, Ann Arbor may be extraor-

Michigan Law students live at the law quad

dinarily friendly and progressive, but it also

in ample (not cheap) student housing a short

isn’t too large of a city. The upside is that it’s

walk from campus; that short walk can seem

difficult for one to go to Michigan Law and

long and dangerous on icy mornings and late-

not make close friends for life, the downside

night returns.

is that it’s not uncommon to have a difficult time trying to get away from one’s class-

Michigan is one of few national schools to

mates. With a large portion of the first year

offer a summer starter program; about one-

class living in the same dormitory, mere feet

fourth of each year’s entering class matricu-

from the library and classrooms, life as a

lates in late May. Summer starters enjoy a

Michigan Law student can quickly resemble

relaxed first-year class schedule and the

life in a fishbowl. That said, it’s all in good

opportunity to take a semester off or gradu-

fun. Michigan Law students are generally a

ate a semester early; the program is offered

positive, sociable bunch who learn together,

mostly to students who’ve taken a break

eat together, and go out together; and the

between undergraduate study and their law

University of Michigan is more than an accom-

school career. Most students wouldn’t want to

modating environment for who they are and

go directly from graduating with a bachelor’s

what they do.

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