Which law school should I go to?

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: Adam8281

Originally posted by: CptObvious
Hmm, I'd probably pick Duke. Thinking long term, the highest ranked school would probably give you the most post-grad job options. Congrats on getting in. I graduated from UF a couple years ago, and have been working in a small commercial litigation firm for about 14 months now.

How do you like working there? Are the hours crazy or reasonable? Do you think going to a top law school and doing pretty well (say top 20% of your class) looks better than going to a lower ranked school, being at the top of your class, and being on law review, etc.? Is it really true that the name is more important than your performance?

Name is more important than performance, but you should not have illusions. Being a law prof is maybe the hardest job to land in the entire world, short of fortune 1000 C-level jobs. There are only 180 law schools in the nation, and generally speaking, they are not "hiring." You are going to have to KILL the competition to get a law prof job. Expect also to have to get a phd as well. I go to USC and am looking at academia as well, but it is almost impossible based on my grades/ranking/school etc etc etc.

Well... Actually most Law Professors dont have advanced degrees, some but the majority dont. All it takes is a JD and typically a lot of clerking...

You have to get an LLM and then a JSD, and it takes a long time to get a JSD... JSD's are rare, not many under 50 have them...

 

[maziwanka]

congrats on getting into some fine schools. have fun while you can. law school blowwwwwws.

 

[Adam8281]

Well, I just mailed my deposit to Duke I visited it and Georgetown a couple weeks ago - they were the two I was considering most seriously - and I liked Duke the best. I am currently waitlisted at 4 schools: University of Chicago, U Penn, U Michigan & UVA, which is kind of frustrating because they say I probably won't hear back until mid to late summer. Being the married man that I am, I can't very well have us waiting until late summer to find out where we're moving to. Plus my wife, who is finishing her final year of law school, needs to take the bar this summer, and the latest you can sign up for a state bar exam is early to mid May which is earlier than I'll probably hear back from my waitlisted schools. Honestly, I'd rather be rejected than waitlisted, just for the closure. If I end up getting into U of Chicago I'll feel a little twinge because that has been my dream school this past year.

I really like Duke though, and it places a lot of students in clerkships, which is something I think I might be interested in. My wife and I are southerners as well, and it will be nice to get out of Boston and be closer to our families. Anyway, just thought I'd update this old thread.

 

[sindows]

Get into the best damn school you can. Always shoot for the top and never settle for less...

 

[aberdeen5]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
Well, I just mailed my deposit to Duke I visited it and Georgetown a couple weeks ago - they were the two I was considering most seriously - and I liked Duke the best. I am currently waitlisted at 4 schools: University of Chicago, U Penn, U Michigan & UVA, which is kind of frustrating because they say I probably won't hear back until mid to late summer. Being the married man that I am, I can't very well have us waiting until late summer to find out where we're moving to. Plus my wife, who is finishing her final year of law school, needs to take the bar this summer, and the latest you can sign up for a state bar exam is early to mid May which is earlier than I'll probably hear back from my waitlisted schools. Honestly, I'd rather be rejected than waitlisted, just for the closure. If I end up getting into U of Chicago I'll feel a little twinge because that has been my dream school this past year.

I really like Duke though, and it places a lot of students in clerkships, which is something I think I might be interested in. My wife and I are southerners as well, and it will be nice to get out of Boston and be closer to our families. Anyway, just thought I'd update this old thread.

Congrats and goodluck :beer:

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: ed0ggyd0gg
"Higher ranked schools WILL get you better jobs."

What, exactly does this mean? Is it better pay? Choice of what you want to specialize in? Nicer co-workers? Easier time finding a job?

If the only difference between higher ranked schools and lower ranked schools is starting salary, then going to a lower school isn't all that bad. Just get your foot in the door and then pwn everyone like you're on Boston Legal.

I assume the "better" has more meaning than just "more money". Anybody care to divulge?

potentially all of the above, but it all depends on the specific circumstances. basically, you'll have an easier time getting jobs... this can translate into better pay, an easier time getting into an area of law that you are interested in (depending on how competitive it is), more choice so that you can be pickier about your coworkers, etc. there are some jobs (like at wachtell) that are basically impossible to get from lower ranked schools... not many, but they exist. other than those jobs, the lower ranked school you go to, the harder you have to work to get the same opportunities as those in higher ranked schools. the one exception is if you are comparing two non-national (top 14) schools... then geographic factors come into play, you go school in whatever market you want to work in.