Top Law Schools

I'm looking for suggestions/opinions. I'd like to end up in northern California (which explains the unusual inclusion of Davis as an option). Debt is a fairly important factor for me, and moving across the country (currently in CA) would certainly be possible but also somewhat difficult (for financial and relationship reasons). Getting biglaw is not really an important factor for me.

UC Davis - 3-year scholarship/grant offer of roughly $140,000 (full tuition), not based on class rank (which is nice). In the general region I'd like to live/work. Small class size, recent surge in rankings/national visibility. Low cost of living.

Georgetown - Law Center Scholarship of $35k per year plus a first year $24k grant (renewable?). I'm not sure what the scholarship really means - it doesn't show up in Georgetown's My Access Site, and I just got an email about it a day ago (I'll be inquiring about it - it was completely unexpected). High cost of living. It would be very difficult for me to move across the country on relatively short notice. Haven't actually visited the law center. Large class size.

Duke - 70k scholarship.

Penn - Sticker (just got financial aid offer, or lack of offer, today).

USC - Financial aid not yet disclosed, but probably a decent amount (or I could use my other offers to get a decent offer perhaps).

UCLA /Stanford have been quiet. Pretty much giving up on both.

Any thoughts? I'm thinking GULC might be popular in this poll. But I'd like to hear from people.

I voted for Davis based on the ridiculous $$$, the fact that you don't really want to leave Northern California, and aren't gunning for biglaw. Graduating debt-free or close to it can be incredibly freeing, meaning you will be able to take virtually any job offer you get without worrying about how you will have to pay back the loan sharks.

I'm curious though, why no mention of Berk?

i would go to davis. it's free!

I guess, given your goals, that Davis is a decent option. Check out this thread, if you haven't, about employment stats for the top 100. Davis' reported information does not look so hot. I would just be hesitant to go to Davis given your other options, even if that, right now, you think you want Norcal and not biglaw.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=150681

calilaw wrote:I'm looking for suggestions/opinions. I'd like to end up in northern California (which explains the unusual inclusion of Davis as an option). Debt is a fairly important factor for me, and moving across the country (currently in CA) would certainly be possible but also somewhat difficult (for financial and relationship reasons). Getting biglaw is not really an important factor for me.

UC Davis - 3-year scholarship/grant offer of roughly $140,000 (full tuition), not based on class rank (which is nice). In the general region I'd like to live/work. Small class size, recent surge in rankings/national visibility. Low cost of living.

Georgetown - Law Center Scholarship of $35k per year plus a first year $24k grant (renewable?). I'm not sure what the scholarship really means - it doesn't show up in Georgetown's My Access Site, and I just got an email about it a day ago (I'll be inquiring about it - it was completely unexpected). High cost of living. It would be very difficult for me to move across the country on relatively short notice. Haven't actually visited the law center. Large class size.

Duke - 70k scholarship.

Penn - Sticker (just got financial aid offer, or lack of offer, today).

USC - Financial aid not yet disclosed, but probably a decent amount (or I could use my other offers to get a decent offer perhaps).

UCLA /Stanford have been quiet. Pretty much giving up on both.

Any thoughts? I'm thinking GULC might be popular in this poll. But I'd like to hear from people.

your GULC grants is likely just 35K/yr (the 24K grant is already included). So 105K total scholy for GULC.

If Davis is where you'd like to live, it would be a great choice. I'd venture a guess that you'll be getting around 90K at USC, which you can probably negotiate up using your GULC offer.

However, I think GULC or USC would be better choices than Davis (unless you're quite debt averse). While Davis is a great school, many employers group it with other T30-20 schools, while GULC or USC are grouped into T20-10 schools. Depending on what you want to do, Davis may limit your options (almost 25% less students get biglaw, fewer clerkships, less prestigious PI work).