Wisconsin or Iowa? Forum

[jjpink]

I am interested in doing international law, preferably focusing on Asia. I fell in love with Madison but I know that Iowa is better ranked. I would like to work in Chicago after I graduate, as well. Any thoughts?

[thepcv]

I haven't really looked at Wisconsin all that much, but I'd imagine that they have a placement in Chicago fairly similar to Iowa's. They're both good schools, so all else being equal, I say go where you think you'd more enjoy going.

[Jerome]

I applied to both (WL at Wisconsin, LOCI in) and assuming I get off the WL, I am in the same boat. That written, I think that Iowa is better respected for Intl. Law than is Wisconsin. I will not pretend to know that for a fact, however. Assuming money is not an issue, I would visit both and see which you preferred.

Then again, Wisconsin seems to have better NLJ 250 placement (if that matters to you)*, yet Iowa seems to place better in Illinois, but Wisconsin seems to place better nationally.** Also, Iowa looks better for clerkships.***

Lastly, it appears that Wisconsin had fewer unemployed students (they may have been pursuing another degree, though, so that may skew the data).****

I think either way, you'll be fine in terms of finding a job, so long as you do well in school. If money is an issue your decision will be more complex.

* - http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... oginloop=o
** - http://law.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent. ... t=expresso (this is dated, but given its methodology, and the echo chamber that is school reputation, I think it is still useful).
*** - http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =1&t=75513
**** - http://www.law.com/pdf/nlj/20080414empl ... trends.pdf

[Simpler Times]

1L at Wisconsin checking in. We're a huge university with a ton of international students so we actually have a fair amount of real international law (i.e. LLB from Beijing getting a degree over here). That said, roundeye, you will not get a job in international law out of either of these schools.

Change your dreams, test higher on the lsat, or find something else you love and go on vacations in your spare time.