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The 鈥渕ostly excellent鈥 professors provide students with practical applications for the workplace and 鈥渇ocus on the real world more than just understanding case law and the bar exam materials.鈥 There are very few professors who 鈥渄on't care about actually teaching you in class, they just get through the material,鈥 but for the most part, 鈥渁ll of the professors really care about your education at USD and are willing to meet outside of class to discuss exams or just to chat.鈥 This 鈥渄iverse, non-judgmental, reputable, and highly knowledgeable鈥 faculty aptly maintains 鈥渁 youthful and inexperienced cognizant approach when proffering to that particular audience,鈥 and 鈥渕ore than make up for any of the limitations with resources.鈥
There are no formal law specialization options at USD; students say that 鈥渟pecialization鈥 here means taking a few 鈥渕ostly overview courses鈥 in Native American or environmental law, for which 鈥渢here is no indication on your degree that you specialized in a particular field.鈥 The administration helps by 鈥渟upplanting our academic needs with a broad range of extern and internships, and facilitate our transition from layman to lawyer.鈥
However, this same administration can often be unresponsive and 鈥渄isorganized,鈥 but hopefully the arrival of a new dean will help set it right. As a smaller school, 鈥渋t's hard NOT to get to know your professors.鈥 The professor that teaches criminal procedure and evidence trains police officers and 鈥渋s one of the best teachers I have ever had,鈥 according to one student. The civil procedure and insurance law professor is 鈥渘ationally renowned in the area of ERISA,鈥 and the Native American Law professor is on the Rosebud Supreme Court. 鈥淣ot only that, but you can watch him read poetry on YouTube.鈥
Understandably, the school has an excellent relationship with the state bar association, the Circuit Court, and the State Supreme Court, which convenes here every year. Unfortunately, Career Services and on-campus recruitment does not fare as well in the students鈥 opinions. There is 鈥渁 constant anxiety over getting jobs because according to one student. Luckily, 鈥渢here is a strong alumni鈥 group that is willing to help students out when and where they can. 鈥淚 think the school does the best with what it has,鈥 says a 2L transfer student.
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With such a small student body, everyone does know everyone, which 鈥渃an be annoying during stressful times of the year, but by graduation time, I have a feeling we will all love each other like a family.鈥 鈥淒uring my first semester there was a death in my family and the whole law-school staff, professors, and students were very supportive. Accommodations and help was readily available from everyone,鈥 says one student. There is still competition among the students, but 鈥渋t is a fair competition that is to be expected in coming to law school鈥攏ot cutthroat and downright mean.鈥
Facilities are universally disliked. They are 鈥渙utdated but functional鈥 because of certain particular drawbacks in some of the buildings. There 鈥渁re no windows in two of the four classrooms,鈥 and the walls are 鈥済ray cinderblock, [so] when you sit in class, it feels like you're sitting in a prison.鈥 The library is transitioning towards 鈥渙ffering more services and relying more on electronic research for non-South Dakota state codes,鈥 but the computer lab is 鈥渟mall and ancient.鈥 Students do like that they each have their own carrel in which they can study in between classes. One student explains that 鈥淸you鈥檙e] able to trust leaving your stuff there when [you鈥檙e] not studying.鈥
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Director of Admissions & Marketing
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390