UC Irvine

[uci2013]

For any current students at UCI, is anyone attempting a dual degree? I went to admit day and, I believe, they said something about a possible MBA/JD degree (possibly just wanting to start providing that as an option), but I don't believe anyone was going for that yet.

I know one student is getting a dual degree, I forget which program though - I want to say social ecology, but I could be wrong there. Also, the school will have official joint JD/MBA and JD/MPP - I don't know much about either program except that they exist. And you can design an ad hoc dual degree (like the one student has done) with other programs.

[greg737]

I just looked back at the info they gave us at preview day.

For this upcoming summer for the 2L class, it looks like 12 students got jobs at NLJ250 law firms (out of a class of 60) and 19 others got jobs at smaller firms.

For the upcoming summer of the 1L, 2 people got NLJ250 jobs and two others are working at law firms.

When the 1Ls were going into their first summer, only 1 worked at a law firm and it wasn't a top one.

Are these good numbers or are those rates (about 20 percent working at NLJ250 firms) and not many until the second summer lower than schools Irvine is trying to compete with (or even the lesser LA schools)?

[JusticeHarlan]

Are these good numbers or are those rates (about 20 percent working at NLJ250 firms) and not many until the second summer lower than schools Irvine is trying to compete with (or even the lesser LA schools)?

It's somewhat hard to gauge. Employment rates for the most recent graduating classes are here. As you can see, 20% would be about top 25.

But the numbers in that chart are at graduation, which will always be lower than 2L summer: some people will be clerking, some will be no-offered, some will decline their offer, etc. In particular, that class did OCI in 2008, and got blasted by no-offers. Also, those UCI 2Ls (class of 2012) did OCI this past summer/fall, where (some markets, at least) were supposed to be improving; without 2L data for the other schools, we don't know how that compares.

Then there are UCI specific questions: can they keep rates up with a larger class, getting lower numbered student with smaller scholarships? Can they continue calling in all their favors, year after year? I'd imagine if they're increasing their class size substantially (don't know if they are or aren't for class of 2014) it's probable the placement rates will go down, but it's impossible to say one way or the other on all these variables.

tl;dr: Who knows?


EDIT: One thing not to worry about is the 1L summer placement at firms; while there is some of that, most hiring for biglaw revolves around 2L summer.

[greg737]

Well, thanks for the advice.

I did see a graph that said 20 % (at graduation) is right up there with some of the best schools.

It is a risk to go to UCI, but I guess, the employment stats of the 2L class does show they get opportunities. I mean, once you get the opportunity, it's up to you to perform well? It's not as if they were shut out from biglaw by any means, so that is encouraging.

[JusticeHarlan]

Well, thanks for the advice.

I did see a graph that said 20 % (at graduation) is right up there with some of the best schools.

It is a risk to go to UCI, but I guess, the employment stats of the 2L class does show they get opportunities. I mean, once you get the opportunity, it's up to you to perform well? It's not as if they were shut out from biglaw by any means, so that is encouraging.

Well, I guess that depends on how you define "best schools."

As for having an opportunity, sure, but remember:

1) Every student is doing their best to "perform well."

2) The entrance criteria (LSAT and GPA) are quite clustered for students at each school.

3) By definition, even if 20% are getting big law, that means 80% aren't.

Put that together, and there really isn't anything separating you from everyone else. There's a four times greater chance of not making the biglaw cutoff than of making it.

I'm not saying don't go, I'm saying have a realistic expectation that, odds are, you won't get biglaw. If you're going for biglaw, then this probably isn't the right financial decision. Make sure the money works, make sure you have some other interests, consider retaking, do your research, and make the best decision.

[greg737]

Oh, believe me, I'm under no impression I will automatically land at biglaw.

The hesitation I had about Irvine, as I'm sure is the case with a lot of people, is that of the risk of possibly not being looked at for jobs b/c it is a "new school." However, seeing the numbers I found proves, at least, that the students are getting the opportunity for the top jobs.

So, the opportunity is there, which is what I wanted to see. After that, it's up to the student to take it from there. Makes me more comfortable going there.

[pimpsdontcry]

Well, thanks for the advice.

I did see a graph that said 20 % (at graduation) is right up there with some of the best schools.

It is a risk to go to UCI, but I guess, the employment stats of the 2L class does show they get opportunities. I mean, once you get the opportunity, it's up to you to perform well? It's not as if they were shut out from biglaw by any means, so that is encouraging.

Well, I guess that depends on how you define "best schools."

As for having an opportunity, sure, but remember:

1) Every student is doing their best to "perform well."

2) The entrance criteria (LSAT and GPA) are quite clustered for students at each school.

3) By definition, even if 20% are getting big law, that means 80% aren't.

Put that together, and there really isn't anything separating you from everyone else. There's a four times greater chance of not making the biglaw cutoff than of making it.

I'm not saying don't go, I'm saying have a realistic expectation that, odds are, you won't get biglaw. If you're going for biglaw, then this probably isn't the right financial decision. Make sure the money works, make sure you have some other interests, consider retaking, do your research, and make the best decision.

But how many are pursuing it? I think the question that has the most weight at this point is really of those who attend UCI law and want big law, how many within that group actually get those jobs? I spoke with a good number of students at UCI, and I was surprised to find out that most of them weren't actually interested in doing biglaw and did in fact want to work in PI. But then i could be wrong and slightly buzzed