The Best Law Schools For Practical Training, preLaw (Spring 2025):

Preparing students for practice is the signature goal of many law schools. We spotlight 64 schools that excel when it comes to providing hands-on, practical experience through clinics, externships and other offerings. …

Methodology
We graded schools on a number of data points, focusing on key practical training offerings such as clinics, externships, simulation courses, pro bono hours and moot trial participation.

We gave the largest weight (32%) to clinics. We asked schools for the number of students who completed a clinic in 2023-24. If a student was enrolled in two semesters, that counted as two. Extra credit was given to schools where clinic work is guaranteed or required.

Externships were weighted at 25%, and we asked schools how many students completed one in 2023-24. Again, if a student has two externships, that counted as two.

Simulation courses accounted for 20% of the score. We asked for the total enrollment in such courses.

Moot court and pro bono hours accounted for 10%. If a school required pro bono hours, extra credit was given.

Finally, we gave 10% to additional practical training offerings, such as required legal writing. We asked schools to provide us with such information as they saw fit.

If schools did not respond, we used ABA data.

• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2024)
• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2023) 
• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2021)
• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2020)
• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2019)
• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2018)
• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2016)
• The Best Law Schools For Practical Training (2015)

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