University of North Carolina

The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Law, or Carolina Law, was established in 1843 and has one of the lowest costs of attendance in the AdmissionsConsultants Top 25 Law Schools. With just under 600 students, the population is small enough to foster close bonds between students. This tightness is also fostered by small class sizes, with 130 faculty including 52 full-time professors. Students are encouraged to work hard in and outside of the classroom.

Carolina Law offers traditional degrees, along with dual degrees including a J.D/M.A. in Sports Administration through the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, a J.D./M.B.A. through the Kenan-Flagler Business School, and a J.D./Master of Public Policy through the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. Other joint degrees include an MPA, MSLS, and MSIS. In the traditional JD programs, first-year students are required to take torts, contracts, constitutional law, and other standard classes. Although first years don’t get much say in their courses, second and third-year students can determine their own curriculum.

Students gain real-life experience with the many clinics on campus. These clinics include the Community Development Law Clinic, Juvenile Justice Clinic, Immigration Law and Policy Clinic, and the Domestic Violence Representation Project. Students can also get involved in Carolina Law’s many centers including the Center for Banking and Finance, Center for Civil Rights, and the Center for Law and Government. Many students choose to participate in the pro bono program, which allows them to receive special recognition at graduation. Through this program, they can work with other organizations like the Center for Death Penalty Litigation or N.C. Prisoner Legal Services. Students who choose to go into public work can enroll in the Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

Carolina Law also offers a variety of extracurricular activities. Individuals often choose to write for one of the five student law journals on campus including “North Carolina Law Review” and “North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology.” There are also many opportunities for fun, with more than 50 student organizations on campus. The topics are varied, so pretty much everyone can find an activity they enjoy. Every year is marked by the Fall Fest celebration, in which all the clubs set up booths to recruit new members. This event helps to get students involved on campus. Students interested in a public law school with a variety of clinics and organizations should look into Carolina Law.