Law Schools
6 Best Law Schools in North Carolina| Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
North Carolina is the 9th most populous state in the USA, and home to some of the best law schools in the country.
A prestigious and fulfilled law career begins with attending the best of law schools. And, law schools in North Carolina has proven over the years to be quite outstanding.
North Carolina law schools appear on the top list of most international students. However, settling for the best can be quite tasking.
In this article, you will find relevant information that can inform your decision of selecting the best law school in North Carolina for you.
Are There Law Schools in North Carolina?
North Carolina is home to law schools that have the goal of imbuing academic excellence and training with a sense of justice and interest in the public good. There are 8 law schools in North Carolina and they are;
- Charlotte School of Law
- Duke University School of Law
- Elon University School of Law
- North Carolina Central University School of Law
- Richmond Hill Law School
- University of North Carolina School of Law
- Wake Forest University School of Law
- Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
Read Also: 10 Best Law Schools in Nevada | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
What are the requirements for law schools in North Carolina?
Requirements for law schools vary from school to school. However, there are general requirements that cut across law schools in North Carolina. And, subsequent paragraphs explains in details.
#1 Research the role of a lawyer.
Being a lawyer is a good decision because of all it comes with. Before this decision, it is advised that thorough research be made about the law and the people that practice it.
Lawyers and Law students go through very serious and rigorous training. They are not just taught to know but are taught to know and to practice. It is by trying to search and know some of these, that you know what is involved in getting into law school and becoming a lawyer thereafter.
#2 Get Your North Carolina Undergrad Pre-Law Major.
The completion of undergraduate work is necessary for admission to a law school that has been approved by either the Council of the North Carolina State Bar or the American Bar Association (ABA). This entails getting at least a bachelor’s degree, in any subject
#3 Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
The Law school admission test is one of the requirements of all schools until very recently, The average cost of the LSAT is $500. an applicant does not only need to sit for the test and pass but to pass well. There are different acceptable scores for different schools so passing well expands your chances. To help with your preparation you could;
- lookup free study materials available on the LSAT website or prep courses in North Carolina which you will have to pay for and some of them are;
- LSAT Prep Course, Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte
- LSAT Test Prep, North Carolina State University, in-person and online
- LSAT Prep, Wake Forest University Pre-Law Professions Program. This offers prep courses both in-person and online.
#4 Request your official transcripts.
Official transcripts are acquired from any or all undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs before applying to law school. The cost of each of the copies is about $10 to $20. Because it will take a couple of days to get, it is advised that you start on time to request it. it is important to know that you need to pay all your fees to your graduate or undergraduate school for them to grant your request.
#5 Write a personal statement.
The personal statement is another requirement for admission to law schools in North Carolina. it is a document that gives an applicant the opportunity to express himself and his abilities. It is in this statement that an applicant gets the opportunity to convince the people in charge of admission to accept his application.
#6 Obtain letters of recommendation.
Law schools generally require at least one letter of recommendation while some particular ones bench it at two letters and not more than four. These letters are more appreciated and given more relevance if a professor or a senior lecturer writes them. In a situation where you have left grad school for quite some time, your employer could write one too.
#7 Apply to law schools.
To increase your chances of acceptance into any law school in North Carolina it is advised that you should consider applying to no less than five schools.
While deciding what schools to choose it is important to bear these mind;
- The total financial cost
- The viability of the school’s location
- Your specific career goals
- Ensure American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation
How Much is the Tuition of Law Schools in North Carolina
Depending on the university, tuition of law schools in North Carolina ranges from $24,522 – $68,400. Generally, private institution pay more tuition than private universities. Below is a list of law schools in North Carolina 2024 and their tuition. It is worthy to note that these tuition are subject to change.
- Charlotte School of Law (currently on probation)
- Duke University School of Law – $68,400 (full-time)
- Elon University School of Law – $47,358 (full-time)
- North Carolina Central University School of Law -$18,863 (in-state, full-time)
- Richmond Hill Law School -$51,510(full-time)
- University of North Carolina School of Law -$24,522 (in-state, full-time)
- Wake Forest University School of Law – $49,276 (full-time)
- Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law – $46,230(full-time)
- Campbel University – $46,230 (full-time)
Read Also: 15 Best Law Schools in South Florida | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
What are the Best Law Schools in North Carolina?
Going through law is serious enough for a person to be in a place he doesn’t enjoy being in. In choosing what law school to attend, an applicant should consider variables like the cost of tuition and every other fee, what area of law the target school concentrates on, the LSAT score, and most especially if the school is ABA-approved.
Some of the schools that qualify as the best schools in North Carolina include;
#1. Duke University School of Law
Duke University is one of the top law schools in North Carolina. It is not only a good school but also has ABA approval. At Duke, students’ growth is encouraged through rigorous scholarship, cooperation, and support. The student-faculty ratio is 5.5:1.
Duke University is the top law school in North Carolina, so you can rest assured that you are getting a top-notch education here. Some dual degree programs it offers include; JD/LLM in International and Comparative Law, JD/LLM in Law and Entrepreneurship, JD/MA in Bioethics and Science Policy, and JD/MBA. An application fee of $80 is charged from the student for their JD applications.
Ranking-#11
Acceptance Rate: 20%
LSAT Score -169
GPA-3.80
#2. University of North Carolina School of Law.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is been counted as one of the best law schools in North Carolina its been in existence since 1945. it is a good school and it is ABA-approved. the students in this school can either choose to do the full-time or part-time program.
UNC also offers dual degree courses like JD/MBA, JD/MA in Sports Administration, and JD/ Masters in Public Policy. The university clinic’s specializations include different branches of law and a one-semester externship program. UNC-Chapel Hill charges a $75 application fee. The student-faculty ratio is 6.9:1
- Ranking-#23
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- LSAT Score -164
- GPA-3.7
#3. Wake Forest University School of Law
According to US News rankings, Wake Forest University is ranked as one of the top 50 law schools in North Carolina. Students at this school are made to hone their lawyering skills while bringing value to their community when they are encouraged to take pro bono cases.
Multiple joint degrees that an applicant can also apply for are; JD/MBA, JD/MA in Bioethics, and JD/M. Div (master of divinity). WFU offers resident study abroad programs in countries like London, Venice, and Vienna, and makes which just makes it one of the best law schools in North Carolina.
- Ranking-#37
- Acceptance Rate: 18%
- LSAT Score -163
- GPA-3.73
#4. Campbel University Raleigh
Campbell University is located in Buies Creek. it is a Baptist university that ABA-approved just every other law school that has appeared on the list of top schools. The Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University unlike many law schools charges no application fee.
Students at this school are provided with several opportunities that help them gain a global perspective and experience. Negotiation and arbitration are part of the practical skills student at this school are imbibed with.
- Ranking-#147-192
- Acceptance Rate: 62%
- LSAT Score -152
- GPA-3.36
#5. Elon University School of Law
Elon University School of Law was founded in 2006. The law school is ABA-approved and has been since 2008. Its graduates have the qualification to seek admission to the bar in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Elon University is a good law school to attend because it offers moot courts, bridge-to-practice, and term-based legal courses and it also aims at collaborating with non-profits and public agencies.
- Ranking-#147-192
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- LSAT Score -150
- GPA-3.30
#6. North Carolina Central University School of Law
North Carolina Central University is ranked among the 1- 200 universities in the US. An application fee of $50 is charged. It is AB-approved and so will be a good choice to make.
With not more than 600 students, a candidate who has a choice of small class sizes with closer interaction with school faculties should probably choose North Carolina Central University.
- Ranking-#147-192
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- LSAT Score -146
- GPA-3.24
How to Apply to a Law School in North Carolina.
To get into laws in North Carolina an applicant does not need any specific curriculum, major, or courses required for admission. A broad educational background is rather encouraged to aid easier learning. To apply, an applicant must:
#1. Have acquired a bachelor’s degree from a college or university that is fully accredited by the time of anticipated enrollment.
#2. Have made certain of the availability of LSAT scores by taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) which is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and within the last five years.
#3. Have registered with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Registration with CAS includes law school report preparation, letter of recommendation and transcript processing, and access to applications for all law schools that are ABA-approved.
How Long is a Law School in North Carolina?
Graduating from law school is as exciting as it sounds. The duration for graduation differs according to what type of program a student is doing. Full-time students typically graduate within 3 years of being accepted into law school and part-time students graduate after 4 to 5 years.
When a student resumes an academic session can determine how fast a student can finish. When part-time students enroll in summer courses, They can finish the part-time program in four years, and taking up extra courses can also shorten the time of graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally fulfilling a career or treading a career path at any time of a person’s life is never too late let alone at 30! It’s not too late in life to apply to law school. in as much as Although most applicants are under 25 and fresh from grad school, roughly 20% are 30 or older, according to the Law School Admission Council. A person could decide to pursue law as a second degree and it is also an excellent idea.
The bar exam just like any other exam should be prepared for in order to be able to pass it. It is administered nationwide across all states and U.S. territories, the bar exam is widely known to be a test with an extremely high degree of difficulty. it is important to know that the nationwide pass rate for the bar exam recently climbed to 79.64%
Going by the 60 hours of study they do per week, a law student can still get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. But you might have to forego much of the fun activities that go on, on campus like partying, TV-watching, gaming, and part-time work during law school.
Conclusion
Choosing a law school where there are many options can be a bit confusing especially when you do not know how to go about it. Sufficient information has been provided in this article to aid your choice-making and the processes involved.
References
- bestschoolnews.com – 7 Best Law Schools in North Carolina
- collegegazzette.com – The Best Law Schools in North Carolina
- magoosh.com – Best Law Schools in North Carolina (2022 Rankings)
- en.wikipedia.org – Category: Law schools in North Carolina
- lawschool.uslegal.com – North Carolina Accredited Law Schools
