Top Law Schools

Serious question--is this a blatantly poor decision? I'm obviously aware of the rankings and differences in prestige, but feel that I would fit in quite a bit more at Berkeley. The cost of attending either school would basically be the same. Can I justify this?

If you want to work in NYC or really anywhere on the east coast, then no. If you want to work in CA and like Berkeley more, then absolutely. CLS is better, but Berkeley isn't exactly a TTTT.

Well, people pick NYU at sticker over CLS at sticker all the time, and I don't think that Berkeley and NYU are all that different.

As was already suggested, you would be crazy to turn down CLS if your goal is to work in NYC. Otherwise, I don't see a problem with going to the school that you think would be a better fit for you.

I would've made this choice in a heartbeat. Seriously. I want SF area PI though.

The following scenario is the only one in which you would regret your decision:

You wind up doing poorly, but not bottom of the class, in law school - and career employment is anything 6 figures in NYC.

For that goal, you will have much more latitude at CLS.

If you do median or better and/or aren't gunning for biglaw - any biglaw - in NYC then the differences between the two aren't very large at all.