Pepperdine University - Rick J. Caruso School of Law

At Pepperdine University’s Caruso Law in Malibu, California, students receive a co-curricular legal education rooted in the Christian faith and designed to graduate students practice-ready. “The school seeks to train you to be both a good person and a good lawyer,” and focuses on the “development of ethical change-makers.” All JD degrees are supplemented by the experiential learning of “widely available and very high quality” externships, internships, and practicums offered via the Clinical Education Program. Students also have the opportunity to practice law and work with real clients through the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic and Legal Aid Clinic. And for even more experience, there's the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution—a premier institution for conflict resolution teaching—and the Parris Institute for Professional Formation, which helps first-year students to develop the skills necessary to succeed. Students find these offerings to be a boon: “Legal writing workshops are available and encouraged" and “the library, librarian, and research facilities are excellent and want for nothing,” with easy access from the undergrad campus. Those wanting more of a global education, which Pepperdine highly encourages, can spend semesters studying in London or take part in study tours of Europe and Asia, among others.,p>Professors “are experts in their respective fields" and though they remain busy with research, students still find them to be “incredibly accessible and willing to help at almost any hour of the day.” They're a vital campus resource, “very helpful in making connections and giving advice for your future,” and this seems to be true "even if you're not in their class." They also seem to be fair-minded in that they “always invite students to openly disagree with them and have beneficial, enlightening discussions that make students grow in their own beliefs.” Overall, the “administration is responsive and attentive,” and does "an impeccable job striking a balance between the interests" of those who teach and attend, as well as in "supporting our Christian heritage but [accommodating] all students regardless of beliefs.” Additionally, “many of the classrooms have been recently upgraded and have excellent integration of technology.”

It’s hard not to love your time at Pepperdine when the “campus is set in an absolutely beautiful location,” and students appreciate their “Wonderful peers as a result of such a warm environment.” While “the competition is extremely high,” “The student body is generally very warm.” The staff also “promotes both personal and intellectual growth:” “The leadership and location are unmatched. Pepperdine’s School of Law has been an extremely welcoming environment.”
As a Christian university, Pepperdine leans right and could, according to some, be “more open to diversity in viewpoints,” but “in my three years at Pepperdine I have never once felt out of place as a non-religious, liberal Democrat.” Even if higher-ups tend in conservative directions, “there are plenty of conservatives and liberals alike among the students,” which creates a vibrant culture of discussion. “Because most students who choose Pepperdine share its religious values, it can create a dividing line among students. That being said, the faculty, staff, and students are all very welcoming and kind to every single student at Pepperdine regardless of their religious and political affiliations.” Pepperdine is also “second to none among law schools in America today” in its commitment to making its law education available to veterans: “From being one of three top tier law schools in the country to offer full Yellow Ribbon support, housing allowance based on the Malibu Beach zip code, to dinner at the Dean’s house on Veteran’s Day, this law school truly strives to serve those who have served their country.”