Top Law Schools

Hey,

Received big money at Nebraska and Michigan State, heard back from Iowa I'm guessing Ill be paying full price if I decide to attend there.

My plans are to practice law at a large firm, and not to have a mountain of debt if things don't go according to plan.

One of my LoR works at a NLJ top 250 and gave me the impression Nebraska is enough if I perform well, though he did say Iowa I would probably just have to be top half of my class, he couldnt provide me info on MSU

Any comments are welcome.

Looking at the current market, at any of those schools you'll probably have to be in the top 10-20% if you want a good shot at biglaw. Considering some median level students in the T14 aren't getting biglaw during this economy, I doubt that just above median at Iowa is good enough.

retake. The only planning on working at a large firm and not having a lot of debt is even remotely realistic is by going to a T13 with a large scholarship. If you could raise your LSAT 13 points you'd be in the running for a full ride from some T13s.

The problem is that none of those schools feed directly into any major BigLaw markets...you should have considered that when you were applying. Iowa kind of has a link to Chicago, but a lot of Chicago-area TT grads are beating them out for jobs. Hiring is local; firms have favorites in their immediate area and they go to them year after year (Ref: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cypress ... t1111/#/16). That being said, Iowa may still be your best bet. Just don't have your heart set on one particular market because you might have to apply to several.

You have spent four years of your life to obtain a 4.0 GPA in college. Take one year to study the LSAT, kill it, and go to a school where more than 15% of the class gets a market paying gig.

What about a school like George Mason (accepted today) or William and Mary. I was waitlisted at Virginia, but i know my chances of getting in there are not great.

I agree being top half of my class at Iowa would probably not in itself get me in, but I think he was referring to the other things I had on my resume and the how his firm would view it.

To the LSAT, I still haven't ruled out taking it again!

Thanks for the link mrtoren, very informative, and recent

InGoodFaith wrote:You have spent four years of your life to obtain a 4.0 GPA in college. Take one year to study the LSAT, kill it, and go to a school where more than 15% of the class gets a market paying gig.

This is a good idea. If you don't like this option, then ask yourself if you are REALLY set on biglaw and why.

If you just want to work a job in a law-related field, taking the money at one of MSU or UNL isn't a horrible position if you fully understand the risks (e.g. that your first job might be as an assistant county attorney in Bumfuck, Nebraska and you'll have to work up in your career from there).

The Iowa option sounds like the worst all around. I go to Iowa, and about 12% of students here get biglaw. It's just not a good chance. On top of that, there is no significant home market. Even Des Moines pulls from Drake Law about as much as Iowa Law.

Wait, you got WL'd at Virginia? So you're probably URM? Generally, white dudes who don't get full rides at Iowa get outright rejected at UVa.

If you are URM, the re-take LSAT option looks even better.

Consider retaking the LSAT to complement your 4.0 LSDAS GPA.

Forgive me, this is posted via a flip phone.

Sebastian, I'm not a urm, I can't say exactly how I was waitlisted at Virginia, but this adds to why I won't get into virginia off the waitlist! Ha

Full rides at nebraska, creighton, michigan st with these tls mediocre #'s. I agree it may be smart to just take one of those because I'm sure you hear this all the time but I studied my ass off for the lsat and got a 160 twice. My practice average was 168 I can't beat it. And now I'm not sure if I should waste a year with a degree that is surely to get me a job as a cop, probation officer, or corrections (cj explains the high gpa) the degree is dirt. I took classes with complete idots that's why I finished top of my dept.

I'm especially greatful for the insight into iowa and the misbelief that it is a feeder into the big markets, while maybe it is but not to the extent that every one thinks or just the naïve such as myself. I may still get money from there. I've heard through lsn that many other people just received admission without scholarships at the time.

I got into wake forest with money as well. And depaul. But after researching depaul it looks like the worst thing I could do.

I'm from nebraska, was hoping to get out. Add that into our discussion, so regional reach is somewhat preferred, but free law school is hard to give up.

If you are biglaw or bust you must retake, its that simple. Top 10% at any of these schools are the only chance you even get an interview. Also, lol at Iowa top half being enough for ANY job, let alone biglaw. Iowa top 3rd kids are unemployed at times. If you are fine with working in non biglaw I would just pick whether you like Nebraska or Michigan to live in permanently and go to the corresponding school, just understand that there is a very small chance you'll ever sniff biglaw from those schools.

I don't know if you're still deciding on schools, so maybe I'm late to offer any advice. I too am originally from the Midwest although I went to the west coast for undergrad and grad school. At first, I was really reluctant to head back to the Midwest (sounds like you are somewhat reluctant to stick around). Despite all that reluctance, I have no doubts Nebraska was the best school for me, not only because of their amazing and supportive alumni and impressive facilities, but also because of the cost. I think you have the right approach to not enter into a mountain of debt--regardless of where your law degree takes you (large firm, small firm, corporate counsel, etc.). You might even find that your plans change as you get into law school and start clerking at firms. As a 3L graduating in just over a month, I can tell you that your concerns over debt repayment are real and shouldn't be minimized. "Free law school is hard to give up"--couldn't have said it better myself!

Feel free to personally message me if you want more perspective into life as a law student at Nebraska, etc.!

Ill tell you how you got WL at UVA. Check http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com and UVA page. They love splitters.

Did you ED there? I think with an ED you might be able to get in without a higherlsat score. I would retake and ED next year at UVA. Non URMS get in all the time to UVA with a 3.9x and low 160s.

The jobs prospects coming out of UVA are infinately better than the schools you listed above.