Top Law Schools

Assuming all is equal financially, which is better for me

Markets in order of preference: NYC, DC, Philly, northern NJ, Boston, Chicago, NOVA, San Fransisco---ties to northern NJ, NYC and a little bit to DC/NOVA

Jobs (no order of preference, how the ef would I know as a 0L)-Biglaw, federal gov't (regulatory agencies, DOJ), PI (civil rights, land use, environmental), soft IP, immigration

Debt is not an issue (I would be spending 529 and other savings)

In terms of portability: Emory is superior. Its name carries well to NY, Boston, NJ, DC, and to lesser extents VA and Philly.

Job Prospects:

You list a lot of "elite" jobs. Emory has better placement in those positions than Cardozo. BUT, neither school is a sure bet. If you don't land something through Emory OCI, which close to 80% of the class likely will not, then you are stranded in the SE while your intended market is the NE. In such a case, Cardozo would be better since you could either network or intern your way during the school year into a small or mid sized firm.

So if you are feeling like big-law or bust, or have legit connections, go Emory. Better name. Better program. Better job placement in the more "elite" categories.

If you do not have connections and are concerned about striking out ( which as a reasonable person you should be), go to Cardozo for the ability to work, live, and intern during your law school experience in the market you want to end up. GL on your decision.

Neither is worth sticker, but Emory is better. It's the best school in an metropolitan area. But don't go to Emory if you are not okay with Atlanta.

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Neither is worth sticker, but Emory is better. It's the best school in an metropolitan area. But don't go to Emory if you are not okay with Atlanta.

Neither is sticker. But I am looking long term---investments are only worth what they have for quality of life.

And your last sentence is what worries me---I have NO idea if I can stand Atlanta---I hated Houston, and Miami seems hard to stomach long term (great to visit though)

What is Atlanta comparable to?

Retake in June, aim for that 169 you said you could have gotten, if you get it go to BU/BC/Fordham/GW or whatever other strong regional you prefer, if you get higher aim for T14, if you end up with 167 or lower then go to Cardozo (I guess, considering you hate ATL).

bk187 wrote:Retake in June, aim for that 169 you said you could have gotten, if you get it go to BU/BC/Fordham/GW or whatever other strong regional you prefer, if you get higher aim for T14, if you end up with 167 or lower then go to Cardozo (I guess, considering you hate ATL).

That is an option---however I am not so sure if getting a 164/166/168 will improve my prospects at schools that already waitlisted me once

ballpop wrote:

bk187 wrote:Retake in June, aim for that 169 you said you could have gotten, if you get it go to BU/BC/Fordham/GW or whatever other strong regional you prefer, if you get higher aim for T14, if you end up with 167 or lower then go to Cardozo (I guess, considering you hate ATL).

That is an option---however I am not so sure if getting a 164/166/168 will improve my prospects at schools that already waitlisted me once

If their median LSAT is a 167 it very well may, possibly even if their median is 168. Schools, especially in this range, just care about your highest LSAT.

I'm of the opinion that you should at least try as you have nothing to lose other than the time you spend studying and a couple hundred bucks to pay for the LSAT again. On the other hand, you do have a lot to gain.

I chose Emory over Cardozo and am heading back to the NE. Yes, it will require a lot of legwork on your part to get a job in NYC, but not so much that it's not realistic (in my opinion). Also, I visited both schools and did not like Cardozo's campus. Can you visit Atlanta before you have to decide? You'll have much more peace of mind about being here if you like Atlanta. I think that's important given that there's always a possibility that you'll end up working here.

Hmmm well on the one hand you have Cardozo -- It gets no respect from BIGLAW firms and most BIGLAW types don't know where the school is located. Of course if you want small law in NY it is the place to be. Emory, on the other hand, is in Atlanta, Georgia, so, you know, its about as northeastern as you would expect a school in Atlanta, Georgia to be and one has to look hard to find Emory grads in high places (beyond associate level) in the northeast.

MrAnon wrote:Hmmm well on the one hand you have Cardozo -- It gets no respect from BIGLAW firms and most BIGLAW types don't know where the school is located. Of course if you want small law in NY it is the place to be. Emory, on the other hand, is in Atlanta, Georgia, so, you know, its about as northeastern as you would expect a school in Atlanta, Georgia to be and one has to look hard to find Emory grads in high places (beyond associate level) in the northeast.

Pretty obvious you know little about the legal market.

ballpop wrote:

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Neither is worth sticker, but Emory is better. It's the best school in an metropolitan area. But don't go to Emory if you are not okay with Atlanta.

Neither is sticker. But I am looking long term---investments are only worth what they have for quality of life.

And your last sentence is what worries me---I have NO idea if I can stand Atlanta---I hated Houston, and Miami seems hard to stomach long term (great to visit though)

What is Atlanta comparable to?

Next to Houston its the best southern market, just ahead of Austin or Dallas (unless you want to do IP/Patent), and Charlotte (unless you want to do real estate or in-house financial services down the road). Atlanta is its own beast because it has some of everything just like S.F. Bay Area. The only difference, as is the case with Austin, is that it isn't as strong in IP/patent firms. Atlanta might compare to Seattle, as well...but Seattle firms also have a stronger IP/Patent base.

jamaicanjynx wrote:I chose Emory over Cardozo and am heading back to the NE. Yes, it will require a lot of legwork on your part to get a job in NYC, but not so much that it's not realistic (in my opinion). Also, I visited both schools and did not like Cardozo's campus. Can you visit Atlanta before you have to decide? You'll have much more peace of mind about being here if you like Atlanta. I think that's important given that there's always a possibility that you'll end up working here.

Atlanta is a fantastic city...and truly diverse, as opposed to other places that call 13% minority polulation "diverse".

PDaddy wrote:

ballpop wrote:

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Neither is worth sticker, but Emory is better. It's the best school in an metropolitan area. But don't go to Emory if you are not okay with Atlanta.

Neither is sticker. But I am looking long term---investments are only worth what they have for quality of life.

And your last sentence is what worries me---I have NO idea if I can stand Atlanta---I hated Houston, and Miami seems hard to stomach long term (great to visit though)

What is Atlanta comparable to?

Next to Houston its the best southern market, just ahead of Austin or Dallas (unless you want to do IP/Patent), and Charlotte (unless you want to do real estate or in-house financial services down the road). Atlanta is its own beast because it has some of everything just like S.F. Bay Area. The only difference, as is the case with Austin, is that it isn't as strong in IP/patent firms. Atlanta might compare to Seattle, as well...but Seattle firms also have a stronger IP/Patent base.

Not talking about the legal market---more about quality of life. It seems to be a "white/black" city of the Chicago ilk---very few Asians and just a few more Hispanics. It also seems to be a freeway city with traffic issues like Houston...

How much is the market and social culture based on good old boy links and the like (people I have met from the South seemed obsessed with where you went to school/college, who you know etc, but that could CERTAINLY be the areas I was in)

How is the art/music/nightlife scenes there---comparable to what level of city (I am assuming not on the NYC/LA/SF type tier, but is it on the level of Chicago or a bit lower?)

I will be visiting Atlanta for the ASW but three night four days seems difficult to check out a whole city and commit for what could be 5-10 years--any recommendations on things to do that would be part of my social life while I am there?