Determine your priorities. Some factors to consider are the prestige of the school, geographic preferences, cost, and the flexibility of the program. If you are set on getting a federal clerkship or working for a large firm in New York, then prestige or ranking will be a definite concern. However, you may be interested in practicing in your hometown. In which case, choosing a regional school may be a better option. If the idea of graduating law school with over $100,000 in debt scares you, you may place more emphasis on cost by taking a look at state schools or schools that are more likely to offer you a scholarship. Further, some schools offer more night classes or extended programs that enable students to spend more time with family or working. In general, prioritize your preferences in order to make the best decision.
Consider the competition. While law schools that receive high rankings in "U.S. News and World Report" get greater attention and there is no denying that they look good on a resume, it is important to keep in mind the added competition at these highly ranked law schools. You should decide if you's rather be an average student at an Ivy League school or possibly stand out at a lesser known school.
Apply to law schools that match your grades and LSAT score. While applying to a dream school is fine and a fallback school at the bottom of your expectations is a good safety net, you should also apply to law schools that match your grades and LSAT score(s). The Law School Admission Council is a great source of information to determine which schools fit your GPA and LSAT score.
Check to see if the law school uses a mathematical formula based on GPA and LSAT scores to determine admissions. Some law schools rely primarily on these two factors to determine admissions and do not place as much emphasis on personal statements or references in making their decisions. If you don't have the GPA and LSAT score to meet the minimum requirement, there's no need to waste your time and money by applying.
If you know you want to specialize in a given area of the law, such as intellectual property or environmental law, look for schools that have programs or certificates in these focus areas. But remember that you may change your mind at some point during your law school career.
Look particularly close at schools that offer practical experience. Most law school classes are based on theory and may not prepare you adequately for post-law school practice. Look for schools that offer clinical experience and internships.
Visit the school and talk to everyone you can. This should include not only the tour guides and faculty, but also students that aren't "selling" the school and even recent alumni.