Sydney Chapman, ’24, Writes About the Clerkship Experience
Employment Clerkships: University of Chicago Law School Tops the List
I am not surprised that UChicago is ranked #1 in most categories! We have some of the best and most cited faculty in the nation, an amazing track record for securing federal clerkships, and excellent firm employment.
UChicago’s successful firm employment placement was most important to me when I was deciding among law schools. I wanted to have the best chance of a seamless firm employment process and it has been nothing short of that. Firms want UChicago grads and the school has been very helpful in my process of starting my career at an amazing firm.
Other factors that influenced my decision were location and the small class size. Chicago is an amazing city with so much culture and plenty of activities, which is great when I need a break from studying. The small class size was particularly attractive to me because it fosters a tight-knit student community and allows students to develop personal relationships with their professors. I can go to any of my professors and get feedback on my work, talk about clerkships and employment opportunities, or have a personal conversation. In my opinion, the small class size makes the J.D. more valuable because only a small number of professionals (when compared to other larger schools) can say they graduated from the University of Chicago Law School.
The Black Law Students Association has been instrumental to the inclusivity of Black students at the law school. The organization cultivates a safe space for students to access academic and professional resources, develop mentor relationships and long-lasting friendships, and also have a community of students who share similar experiences. Additionally, the faculty put forth enormous effort to get to know students through informal social outings. These experiences have made me feel extremely welcomed and included in the Law School community
Read more at Black Guide to Law Schools (pg. 94)