Emory University - School of Law

“Everyone is generally very welcoming and understanding” at Emory Law, and “every type of person who is dedicated to the legal profession can thrive in this environment.” The professors are “incredible” and “unbelievably smart;” “they are the heart and soul of the institution [and] I would not be where I am now without their kinds hearts and dedication to the field.” Students praise professors overall who “seem to truly enjoy teaching,” though say that “some of the adjuncts shouldn’t be there.” Whether students are looking to pursue a traditional academic path or a take a more specialized route, Emory Law offers a wide range of options with its multiple academic programs, from the Center for Transactional Law and Practice, which educates students on topics related to business transactions, to the Global Health Law and Policy Project, a multidisciplinary platform for developing global healthcare initiatives, and the Child Rights Project, which aims to teach students about advocating for juveniles in the court system. Students praise Emory’s externship program, which “gives you lots of options” in these specialized areas within the Atlanta legal community and is “easily the best part about Emory.” For students “interested in the private sector, the opportunity to get experience working in-house at places like Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, and GE, to name a few, is invaluable.” Public sector opportunities exist as well, “such as working at the FTC, the SEC, and a host of other government and non-profit options.” Emory Law “provides a very wide range of legal education.” In addition to externship opportunities, there are “extracurricular activities such as Mock Trial, Moot Court, Journal, and diversity practice societies/organizations,” all of which help foster “a great [sense] of community among students.” With the help of professors and Emory’s alumni network, one student confidently says, “I feel like I am ready to wow potential employers both in formal interviews and informal networking occasions.”
Despite a “strong alumni network,” students have few positive things to say about Emory Law’s career center, which “seems to do the bare minimum” and might be “great when you’re a 1L and need resume advice but they don’t really help you find jobs.” While one student calls the administration “a near-constant bureaucratic frustration,” others describe it as “accessible and friendly,” noting that “the school is very well run [and the] administration does a lot to cater to the students.” Some students would like the school to devote more energy “helping the students who are not in the top of the class realize that they still have great opportunities to find work,” noting that “sometimes the middle-of-the-road students feel like the opportunities for career [development] are less because the focus is not on mid-size and small firms.” Facilities are “up-to-date” and “up to par with competitive law schools,” though one student regrets that the “library the law school is not open often enough,” particularly on the weekends.

Students praise the “strong sense of community” at Emory Law and point to a top-notch faculty that “tend to be engaged with the law school community.” One student, “after hearing experiences of my friends at other law schools,” was “so surprised how welcoming everyone was,” underscoring that “this was by far the aspect that has set Emory apart for me.” With a plethora of student activities, from academic endeavors like the Student Bar Association to social events like the Harvest Moon Ball and the Barristers Ball, “there is always something to look forward to” at Emory. In general, the atmosphere at Emory Law is “welcoming” and students under score “the friendliness of the faculty.” As one transfer student says, although [Emory Law] was much more expensive, it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” citing the friendly atmosphere on campus and the fact that “the school has so many clubs to cater to any interests.” While there are a little over 800 students at the law school, Emory’s total enrollment is closer to 14,000, meaning that students can usually find something social to do on campus. Though one student describes fellow Emory Law students as “pretty much rich and uptight,” others praise the “diversity of the student body.”