University of Virginia

My experiences so far have been overwhelmingly positive. The faculty and staff are exceedingly helpful. The students are brilliant and bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to the table. The surrounding area includes numerous vineyards, breweries, excellent restaurants, a variety of outdoor activities, and numerous athletic events. My only complaint is that because the area is so awesome, the cost of living is pretty high (although I am originally from NC, which has a really low cost... Read More of living, so I may be biased). Additionally, I have not been super impressed with the bus system nor the parking situation, and the traffic is unusually bad for the size of the community. However, again I am relatively new here, so it is possible I am not used to the system yet. Regardless, I think the University of Virginia and specifically the Law School and the Batten School cannot be beat!

Charlottesville is beautiful, and the student body at the law school has a great sense of community. There are many social events, and housing is not too expensive. This is not the best school to go to in terms of diversity or career support if you are interested in any type of work other than corporate work. Even if you are interested in corporate work, sometimes there is not much guidance on how to take the next steps in preparing for and finding a job. The administration is not particularly supportive... Read More or communicative, and can be downright cold at times. That being said, UVA Law is unique in that it offers public service fellowships to students without jobs after graduation, and has a reasonable loan forgiveness plan. Overall the school is a good place, but if you are not wealthy, white, and corporate-focused, you will likely feel out of place.

UVA Law seems to be an anomaly among top law schools - students seem happier here than at other law schools and are not chained to their books 24/7. Above all, the vibe here is very collegial and cordial. Students interact with each other a great deal, sharing notes, studying in groups, and doing social activities, which includes softball, for which each law school 1L section has a team. The professors and faculty are accessible - students are invited and encouraged to drop into professor's and faculty's... Read More offices and to go out to lunch with them. I can't imagine being this satisfied and content at any other law school. Bottom line is law school here is actually enjoyable and fun, two descriptors that I never expected to be paired with a JD program.