(1) Georgia State College of Law graduates are among the most employable in the country.
College of Law graduates had the top Georgia Bar passage rate in the state in February 2020. According to the American Bar Association, 189-of-201 2019 graduates are already employed. The College of Law’s Center for Professional Development & Career Strategies begins preparing students to find their careers from their first year of law school. With services including speed networking events, career mapping and on-campus and virtual interviews, CPD sets students up for success.
(2) Learn in a diverse environment.
Georgia State Law is one of the most diverse law programs in the nation. Students are encouraged to bring their full selves to the classroom, because diversity enriches the learning environment. The latest class consisted of 43 percent men, 57 percent women and 38 percent were minorities. Students come to the College of Law from 71 different undergraduate institutions with 64 different undergraduate majors. Nearly a quarter of the students are also part-time. The College of Law was named a top school for Black students by the Black Student’s Guide to Law Schools & Firms.
(3) Get practical experience before you start your career.
Students have several opportunities to get hands-on experience before graduation through the experiential learning program. They work alongside professionals in a real legal environment through 30+ practice and simulation courses, externships and six clinics. Two experiences unique to the College of Law are the interdisciplinary Urban Fellows Program and the Legal Analytics Lab. The Urban Fellows Program allows students to gain course credit while examining issues related to urban growth; and the Legal Analytics Lab lets student work with law firms to mine legal data for research projects. For those looking to give back, Georgia State offers one of the most comprehensive and well-funded pro bono programs in the country.
(4) Learn from a wide variety of legal experts.
With 70 full-time faculty members, including four Fulbright Scholars, the College of Law maintains a 6.2: 1 student-faculty ratio. All of our faculty members have practice experience and serve as mentors for students. The college houses four faculty led research centers and two initiatives, all of which offer certificate programs for students to deep-dive into an area of their choice. They are the Center for the Comparative Study of Metropolitan Growth, Law, Health & Society, Access to Justice, Intellectual Property, Legal Analytics and Innovation, and Entertainment, Sports & Media Law.
(5) Take advantage of one of the best values in legal education.
With tuition as low $14,068 for in-state students-- before scholarships or financial aid-- Georgia State has been consistently recognized as a best-value law school by National Jurist and PreLaw magazines. Georgia State has remained among the top 10 law schools where graduates’ starting salaries exceed student loan debt by U.S. News & World Report.
(6) Increase earning potential.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for lawyers in 2019 was $122,960, compared to between $50,600 and $87,850 for those with only a bachelor’s degree. Georgia State College of Law alumni have gone on to be judges, politicians, entrepreneurs and partners at major law firms. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms and Dawn Jones, president of the State Bar of Georgia are both Georgia State Law alumni. Our expansive alumni base, coupled with a growing industry and an evolving curriculum, give graduates earning potential that continues to grow.
Written by Alex Resnak