Syracuse University - College of Law

Syracuse University’s College of Law is armed with a “beautiful” campus, “brand new facilities” and “challenging” courses. Students here love that they have access to a “diverse range of programs and specialties.” After all, that’s a “great way to [discover] which areas of the law interest you.” Students also “appreciate the fact that Syracuse “places strong emphasis on writing and experiential learning.” These courses “train law students to be lawyers, not just graduates of law school.” And, in turn, they allow “Syracuse graduates [to be] more competitive in the job market.”

In general, students find their law professors to be “very knowledgeable,” “extremely competent,” and “at the forefront of their respective legal fields.” It’s also evident that they really want students to become the “best attorneys possible.” Indeed, “they want you to succeed and will make themselves available in order for that to happen.” As one student shares, “I [never] fe[lt] afraid to ask a question in any of my classes...If I went to a professor’s office hours they were always there and would help me to understand a topic.”

Unfortunately, Syracuse’s administration gets mixed reviews. This is partially due to the fact that there’s been a lot of turnover recently. Many people feel that the newer hires are “less focused on student satisfaction than the previous administration, and...more concerned with alumni relations and donations.” Conversely, other students steadfastly assert that the current people in charge have a “clear vision of where they would like [Syracuse] to be down the road and how they will [get] there in the coming years.”

With regards to job prospects, many individuals note that the university’s “alumni connections are out of this world.” Unfortunately, a handful of students also bemoan career services and suggest that it’s “lacking.” Some complain that they’re “only willing to help students with the highest GPA.” Many students are also frustrated by the fact that the major focus is on positions in “central New York” since that’s where the school has the strongest connections. One last lament, “The new director of the office has no people skills. The only person that will work with students directly is the most senior member of the staff, but she is so overworked, that you have to wonder how long she will last.”

Law students at Syracuse view their classmates as “ambitious” and “eager.” Some grumble that these attributes (and the nature of law school), bring out the “competitive” side of their peers. However, others insist that their classmates feel like a “cohesive bunch.” As this pleased student shares, “I have been welcomed into the student body with open arms, invited to numerous events and activities, and been thoroughly engaged both inside and outside the classroom.”

Students do warn that Syracuse itself feels “dark and cold” for a good portion of the year. Fortunately, “the school does a lot to promote mental health in the winter and provides free coffee and breakfast weekly during the academic year and daily during finals.” Additionally, there are “plenty of formal networking opportunities” of which to take advantage. And there’s a “broad range of [clubs] to get involved [with]” as well. One final note, the “law school itself is located right next to the Carrier Dome, and undergraduate sporting events get priority parking.” Hence, it can be a bit of a headache “to get to...class [or simply study]...during football or basketball season.”