In choosing the best postgraduate law program, you should consider your career and professional goals, the reputation and specialization of each school, as well as whether you will be able to complete your degree quickly, efficiently, and at a reasonable cost. If you want to become a lawyer, you will need to choose a law degree program that is approved by the bar association in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which you wish to practice. If you are already a lawyer or do not wish to be admitted to the bar but need to study law for other reasons, you may have a bit more freedom in choosing a school. If your desire to pursue a postgraduate law program is because you wish to study a specific area of law, you'll want to pay particular attention to the variety of specialized programs offered by a school as well as its faculty. Finally, you should consider whether it is going to be easy for you to attend classes and complete your degree in a timely manner by reviewing the course schedules and financial opportunities at each school.
In some countries, such as the United States, individuals who wish to be licensed as attorneys must complete a postgraduate law degree. In many other countries, however, it is possible to practice law without holding a postgraduate degree. In these countries, some lawyers choose to obtain a postgraduate law degree so that they can enhance their knowledge of specific areas of law or because they wish to become legal academics themselves. In the United States, lawyers may choose to pursue additional postgraduate legal education after completing their law degree for similar reasons. If you are pursuing a law degree so that you can be admitted to the bar, it is crucial that you ensure that the degree is recognized by your bar association and professional licensing authority.
Other considerations include scheduling flexibility and financial affordability. If you plan to attend law school full time and have the economic resources to do so, you may have more freedom in selecting a law school program. Alternatively, if you have a family or must work full or part time while attending school, you should seek out a program that allows you to attend evening, weekend, or even distance-learning classes. Another consideration is whether the school will permit you to take only a partial load of courses, as some schools require all law students to carry a full load of classes. Finally, ask schools about their financial aid programs, because some schools may be far more affordable than others, resulting in less of a financial burden for you and your family.