Top Law Schools

So, I've narrowed my choices down to Cornell at sticker or W+L with a full tuition scholarship. Attending Cornell would leave me with roughly $210,000 in debt, while I'd finish W+L with only $50,000 in debt. I have no undergraduate debt.

I am intent in working in a large city (with my top three choices being New York, Boston and DC) and, at least for the moment, have absolutely no desire to work in Virginia. Regarding salary, I don't need to make market, but after almost ten years of post-secondary education (bachelors, masters and JD) I honestly just can't settle for 50k.

I'm not sure exactly what type of law I wish to practice but have an interest in consumer protection and anti-trust law.

I would really appreciate some guidance because I lack any real financial sense and tend to always go for the prestige.

Thanks in advance!

I'd say the rational financial decision is W&L. But I think in your case you should take Cornell and accept that you have a 50% chance or so of being fucked by debt.

downpour wrote:I honestly just can't settle for 50k.

If you can't settle for 50k starting, I wouldn't go to either of these schools. Heck, I probably wouldn't recommend law school at all. Not saying that other fields are any better, but that even coming from Cornell you have a decent chance of ending up with this salary.

According to W+L's employment statistics, just under 23 % of the class of 2009 is employed in New York, Massachusetts and DC. Roughly 35 % in Virginia.

When I visited W&L, I talked to a few 2Ls, and they are heading to Atlanta and Birmingham after graduation. Are you open to work in the South if you can't secure jobs in DC, NY, or Boston?

What other options do you have? BU or BC? W&M?

Thanks for both of your responses.

I don't want to say that I'm not open to work in the South given that I've never spent any substantial period of time there. But I have always lived in the Northeast, so I admit that the idea is not very appealing.

As for other options I have BU sticker and W&M with $60,000 or roughly $100,000 in debt at graduation.

I was hoping W&M will give you a full ride and a paid fellowship. I agree with what bk said that Cornell may give you the best chance at big law out of these options. After that is BU>W&L>W&M. However, it is really expensive and if you fail to get a big law gig, you will end up with a 50K job anyway.

This may not work, but have you tried negotiate money from BU using Cornell acceptance?

bk187 wrote:I'd say the rational financial decision is W&L. But I think in your case you should take Cornell and accept that you have a 50% chance or so of being fucked by debt.

downpour wrote:I honestly just can't settle for 50k.

If you can't settle for 50k starting, I wouldn't go to either of these schools. Heck, I probably wouldn't recommend law school at all. Not saying that other fields are any better, but that even coming from Cornell you have a decent chance of ending up with this salary.

This. OP,adjust your career expectations accordingly.

Did you apply to GW?

Go to Cornell. Sticker is a lot, but W&L won't even get you close to what you want.

W&M nlj numbers >W&L last year.... 14% vs 10%

TyrodTaylor wrote:W&M nlj numbers >W&L last year.... 14% vs 10%

Yeah, I has a hunch that W&M is a bit better, but was too lazy to look it up last night. Although neither will be relevant that much to OP.