Top Law Schools

I graduated over a decade ago from USAFA with a rather poor uGPA. I only scored a 162 on my LSAT, which further limits my options. However, I do have the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which is amazing. Anyways, I am wondering how people would go about picking a law school when cost is not an option? Would you do it based solely on rank?

Loyola Chicago (Free including housing)
Tennessee (Free including housing)
Maryland (Free including housing)

One more option if a miracle happens
Notre Dame ( but only 30k in assistance a year) - Currently waitlisted

where do you want to live/practice

Honestly, I would love to live in any of those places. I have heard Loyola does a better job of planting their grads in high paying jobs. I am leaning toward LUC simply because of this and because it is in Chicago, which is a huge market. The only doubt in the back of my mind is the fact that there are so many other top law schools in Chicago.

Tennessee is beautiful, and the people at the school seem great. Starting salaries are really low though, but you are a bigger fish in a much smaller pond.

Maryland also competes in a really competitive market.

If anyone has visited these schools (I have not been to the schools yet), is there an opinion on which one is best?

I'd recommend spending some time on Law School Transparency. While LUC has high reported salaries, they're missing salary data for approximately 75% of their graduates. UMD and UT, meanwhile, each have reported salaries for 40-50% of the class.

Personally, I'd go to one of the state schools, and specifically I'd be more inclined to go to Maryland. There is a sizable enough difference between Maryland and Tennessee/LUC in the rankings that, all things being equal (COA, ties, desired market) I think it's an easy decision. Plus, state schools have huge alumni networks - imagine what percentage of hiring partners in Maryland went to UMD for either undergrad or law school (or at least have a kid going there) compared to how many in Chicago have a significant tie to LUC. This (plus your military background) could help you overcome the challenge of moving to a region without significant pre-existing ties.

Tennessee.

Where are you from and where do you have ties

Where do you have ties?

I was born in California, but I went to USAFA in Colorado for college and I am in the military so I pretty much have lived everywhere. I have family all across the country so I suppose I have ties everywhere. Who doesn't like to make new friends though?

I just checked out that transparency page. Very interesting. More to think about. Is Maryland and Tennessee a nice place to go to school? I visited Pacific in Sacramento since I was accepted there too, but I didn't care for the "feel" of the school.

Also, would anyone pay 20-25k a year for Notre Dame if they could go to Maryland for free?

h2oplyer7 wrote:I was born in California, but I went to USAFA in Colorado for college and I am in the military so I pretty much have lived everywhere. I have family all across the country so I suppose I have ties everywhere. Who doesn't like to make new friends though?

I just checked out that transparency page. Very interesting. More to think about. Is Maryland and Tennessee a nice place to go to school? I visited Pacific in Sacramento since I was accepted there too, but I didn't care for the "feel" of the school.

Also, would anyone pay 20-25k a year for Notre Dame if they could go to Maryland for free?

Congrats on the full rides! I came from a military family, grew up in Colorado Springs as well and go to UMD Law.

I can tell you that if you are interested in government contracts, military, or administrative law, due to the unique legal environment in Maryland you are going to get an outstanding education there.

Remember, we are less than an hour from the Pentagon, the Naval Academy, and almost all of the nation's biggest defense contractors.

If you have any specific questions about the school or living in Baltimore feel free to PM me.