University of Maryland School of Law

The University of Maryland School of Law, located in downtown Baltimore, represents the best legal education offered in the state of Maryland. Enjoying a rich regional reputation, and standing out in such fields as Healthcare Law and Environmental Policy, Maryland Law easily deserves its top 40 ranking. The school is not without flaw, however, and prospective students should consider such factors as quality of life and national (im)mobility.

Admissions & Tuition

Gaining admission to University of Maryland School of Law is about as difficult as one would expect for a school ranking in the 30-50 range, bearing resemblance to the standards of schools like Wake Forest and the University of Georgia. Only 21% (577 of 2,735) of applicants were granted admission in 2008. Of those matriculating, the 25th to 75th percentile GPA range was 3.37–3.77 and the range for the LSAT was 160-165. The medians for those crucial admissions factors were 3.59 and 163, respectively.

Maryland also accepts applications for its part-time program. And, as is usually the case with part-time programs, the admissions standards were slightly less demanding. GPA’s ranged from 3.29 to 3.67 for the 25th to 75th percentiles, and LSAT scores ranged from 160 to 165. Part-time students made up about 19% of the entering class that year.

In-state students enjoy a nice tuition discount, paying only $22,044 ($16,729 for part-time status). Out-of-staters receive a significantly higher bill, paying a tuition rate comparable to that of many private law schools in the U.S.—roughly $33,323 ($25,188 for the part-time program).

Financial aid at Maryland Law School seems to be on the generous side, especially when combined with the school’s low tuition rates. The median grant received for full-time student, for those who did receive grants, was $11,000 per year. The full range, for the 25th to 75th percentiles, was $5,000-$18,400, according to US News. Part-time students received less than half those amounts. Even with the strong financial aid program, roughly 80% of Maryland students end up borrowing money to finance their legal educations. For those who do borrow, the average indebtedness hovers around $85,000 per student.

Bar Passage & Employment Prospects

Naturally, the majority of Maryland Law School grads take the Bar in Maryland. Of those grads who sat for the bar in 2007, roughly 84% passed as compared to a statewide passage rate of 77%. Surely, an 85% passage rate is not as impressive as T-14 schools who boast passage rates above 95%; but does this relatively lower bar passage rate translate into weak career prospects? Not for all grads.

LSAC reports that upwards of 96% of graduates secure employment within nine months of graduation. This number can be slightly misleading, however, as not all of those who reported employment did so in the legal arena. 16% were reported to be working in fields that don’t even require a law degree. This number is quite high—many schools report a lower percentage of their graduates to be working fields where a JD is not required.

For those who do work in fields requiring a JD, the prospects look good. UMD lawyers working in the private sector in 2007 enjoyed a healthy $82,500 as the median starting salary. And that can only be expected to grow for a lawyer making her name in the rich legal environment that is the DC/Baltimore metro area. For those looking to find work outside of that region, a challenge should be expected. As is the case with most schools outside of the top-25 range, Maryland Law does not place very well nationally. This is certainly something to keep in mind for students who are unsure of where they would like to practice law in the future. An aspiring attorney hoping for employment in San Francisco, for example, may struggle to find work with a Maryland Law degree.

Quality of Life

In order to know what life will be like at Maryland Law, one has to know what life is like in Baltimore. Contrary to most people’s expectations, Maryland Law is not in College Park like the undergraduate campus. It sits a half-hour north in Charm City. The question is “how much charm is there really in that city?” It depends.

The school is located right in the middle of the downtown area. Unfortunately, this translates into high crime rates. Students complain that even though the school’s security force is strong, they wish they “felt safer, especially at night.” Housing can also be a source of frustration for Maryland students. They complain that it is overpriced and often cramped.

The location also can be a plus for Maryland students. The school is right by the Harbor, affording students the opportunity of hopping over to Camden Yards for an Orioles game, or hanging out at one of the many bars on the water. The nearby neighborhoods of Federal Hill and Canton offer an even more diverse bar scene and a bit more of a safe atmosphere. What’s more, DC is only a short train ride away, offering more history and culture than one could possibly absorb in three short years of law school.

As far as the student body is concerned, they seem to be a collectively happy and hard working bunch. They study a lot, but “enjoy having their fun, too” as one 1L reported, “that is, if we can manage to get away from our casebooks.”

Curriculum & Areas of Expertise

Undoubtedly, Maryland Law is best known for its programs in Environmental Law and Healthcare Law. Healthcare Law is especially strong, ranking second in the country according to US News. Perhaps this has something to do with the school’s well-known journal on Healthcare Law & Policy. Environmental Law ranks 11th, ahead of such powerhouses as NYU and UCLA. This is no surprise, as Maryland’s location in the Chesapeake Bay area—not to mention the proximity to Washington, DC, which is a hotbed for environmental advocacy—provides students with a plethora of opportunities for getting involved in local and national environmental issues.

Students often capitalize on the strength of these programs by earning a dual degree. The JD/MA in public policy is popular, as is the JD/MPH (Master’s of Public Health). But the classroom is not the only place where students can satiate their desires for educational nourishment. There is a mandatory clinical program at Maryland, ensuring that all students enjoy the benefits of clinical experience. Also mandatory are the school’s Moot Court program and the Public Interest program. Students looking for more can try out for the National trial team, though they should expect strong competition as it was ranked first in the country last year after winning the National Tournament of Champions in 2006.

Conclusion

Interested in Environmental Law or Healthcare policy? Even better, are you a Maryland resident? If so, Maryland Law may be the perfect school for you. If you don’t think you could be happy in Baltimore, though, or if you want to end up working outside of the Mid-Atlantic region, this may not be your best choice.

Summary & Quick Reference

U.S. News Ranking: 43
LSAT Median: 161
GPA Median: 3.59
Multiple LSAT scores: Higher score accepted
Application Deadlines: 03/01 (Regular)
Application fee: $65
Entering class size: 306
Yearly Tuition: $22,044 (In-state) $33,323 (Out-of-state)
Yearly Part-time Tuition: $16,729 (In-state) $25,188 (Out-of-state)
Bar passage rate in Maryland: 84%
Percent of graduates employed 9 months after graduation: 96.6%
Median private sector starting salary: $82,500