The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - School of Law

The School of Law at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is, according to students, “one of the best public law schools in the country.” Many claim that “the faculty here couldn’t be more down to earth and accessible.” They have “a literal ‘my-door-is-open-all-the-time policy’ and never hesitate to “[take] the time to talk to every single student before class.” Still, some students feel that “there is a strong liberal bias at the school” and that professors sometimes “bring their political views with them into the classroom.” To correct this, they are calling for the law school to “improve on fostering a more diverse political atmosphere.” UNC Law’s “excellent” and “accessible” administration is “unparalleled” in its efforts to promote a “positive and supportive environment for the study of law.” Everyone here seems to practice “the ‘We’re all family at UNC’ motto to a fault.”
Most UNC survey respondents are pleased about their employment prospects. One student credits the Career Services Office as being “the greatest strength of UNC. Even when they are too busy for a brief meeting about résumés or cover letters, you can just leave your stuff under the door, and someone will get it back to you by the next day with recommendations about what you should fix.” However, some feel that it could “stand to improve, particularly with communicating jobs to 1Ls.” Jobs in North Carolina and neighboring states are fairly abundant, though, in large part because the law school maintains “strong connections” with in-state employers.
Student organizations and learning opportunities are aplenty. According to one student, “There are lots of organizations to get involved in, and the pro bono program is one of the best.” About 73 percent of all students do some kind of pro bono work—many during the summer or during winter or spring breaks. Students who have performed more than seventy-five hours of pro bono service receive certificates of acknowledgment from the state bar association, and those who perform more than 100 hours of pro bono service get special shout-outs at graduation. Other notables include UNC’s clinical programs, in which students handle more than 350 civil and criminal cases every year and “really get a lot of hands-on experience” along with “solid academic[s]” in the process. Joint-degree programs include the standard JD/MBA as well as Master of Public Policy science and a handful of others. UNC also offers a summer program and semester-long programs in Europe and Mexico.
The general consensus is that facilities at UNC are middling, but in terms of the availability of information, “the resources are outstanding.” Also, “The school is improving the technology of each classroom every year.” In the meantime, a cry of “more parking!” can be heard throughout campus.

“Carolina offers a healthy balance between academic and student life.” UNC is home to “diverse, interesting, charming, and intelligent people.” One student exclaims, “I am constantly amazed by how interesting my classmates are.” Most agree that “everyone gets along” in this “very friendly” and “very cooperative” academic atmosphere. “It is competitive but not necessarily with each other. It seems we all want to see everyone do well,” explains one student.
Students insist that “there is no better college town in the United States than Chapel Hill,” a Southern hamlet of about 54,000 souls that offers a good supply of part-time jobs, affordable housing, and a mild climate. These fine qualities have not gone unnoticed: Money magazine has before named the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area the “Best Place to Live in the South,” in 2000, and Sports Illustrated named Chapel Hill “the Best College Town in America” a few years earlier. “It’s a great place to live,” says one student. “The people are amazing” and the “campus and city are breathtaking.” As one student puts it, “While you don’t go to law school for the social life, it makes a big difference to have something to do when you actually do find free time.”
“Social life is good” at Chapel Hill because “on the whole, students are very social outside of class.” There are always a multitude of “school-sponsored social events in town” and “parties being thrown by law students to celebrate a wide array of milestones” (for instance, there is a “we just took our second practice exam” party). However, some students lament that there is little to do “for someone who does not drink.”