I am currently recruiting in beautiful New Orleans, home of fabulous Cajun cuisine (which I can’t wait to try!). LSAC forums and college fairs offer a wealth of information. Law school representatives from across the nation are available to answer your questions and introduce you to their school. But what do you say to that person across from you?

Look beyond admission standards, they are printed everywhere. Ask about things that aren’t as apparent. Here are a few pointers:

Atmosphere. What is the atmosphere like? Are students competitive, supportive, or stressed? Can you schedule a tour and class visit? Is there on campus housing? Widener accommodates individual appointments and class visits. We encourage you to stop by and see for yourself what we have to offer.

Bar Passage Rate. How many first time test takers passed the last bar exam? The vast majority of Widener Law students pass the exam on the first try; we are consistently above 80% for the Pennsylvania bar exam. For the July 2009 administration, 94% of first time test takers from the Harrisburg campus were successful!

Career Options. Where do students usually find jobs? Most of our students are employed in various regional and national law firms. Clerkships are also popular. Many seek opportunities in corporate, health or governmental law.

Specialties. If you want to practice in a particular field, does the school offer programs that relate to it? Are you looking for a joint degree? Widener Law has many specialty programs to accommodate your interests. They include corporate law, health law, law and government, trial advocacy and technology, environmental law, international programs, and public interest. Our joint degrees include JD/MPH, JD/MBA, JD/MSLS and JD/PsyD.

These are just a few of the topics to discuss; you may want to do some more research online to see what is important to you. I hope you are able to stop by your local law fair and look forward to meeting you!