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Texas Tech’s School of Law was ranked 19th out of the nation’s almost 200 law schools in Best Value according to the National Jurist.
Out of Texas’ nine law schools, Tech’s School of Law was the only one listed in the magazine’s September 2009 issue.
“We are pleased, of course, that we are recognized in this way,” said Richard Rosen, vice dean of the School of Law. “And I think it shows the quality of legal education we are providing here.”
The magazine determined best value by examining three factors: tuition costs, bar-passage rates above the states’ average and employment rates for graduates exceeding 85 percent within nine months after graduation.
According to the magazine, each of the 65 selected schools had a few qualities in common — small size, strong clinical programs and an emphasis on fostering relationships within the law school community.
Tech’s School of Law focuses a lot of time on preparing its students for actually practicing law and representing clients, Rosen said, and it is important to prepare the students for work after school.
Small class size also attributes to the school’s effectiveness, he said, as well as the faculty’s availability outside of the classroom.
“We have an open door policy where our faculty encourages students to come in and meet with (them) so they can answer questions and mentor students,” he said. “When I was in law school, the faculty disappeared. They didn’t encourage students to meet with them.”
The school has a very active career service center to help students find work, Rosen said. The faculty aggressively help students find jobs as it is a goal of the faculty for every student to find employment.
“We don’t want people to go to school for three years, take the bar and have nowhere to go,” he said. “It is important to us to help our students find the best jobs possible.”
Zach Wavrusa, a second-year law student from Tyler, said he is not surprised at Tech’s rank because of his experiences at the school.
“It’s awesome; we really are getting a bang for our buck,” he said. “I have friends at other law schools who do not do half the stuff we are doing.”
Students are taught skills which can be used in real life, Wavrusa said, and Tech has one of the best trial advocacy programs in the state.
“There is a lot more emphasis on helping us perfect our craft,” he said.
Patrick Sloane, a first year law student from Phoenix, Ariz., said Tech’s School of Law’s positive reputation was one of the selling points in his decision to attend.
“The open door policy is awesome,” Sloane said. “You don’t have to go through the hassle of talking to a TA, you can go straight to the professor.”
Other noteworthy qualities the law school posses is a library that never closes, he said, which allows students a flexible study schedule, and small class size.
“The faculty and class sizes are great,” Sloane said. “It is very different than other schools.”
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