Top Law Schools

I'm assuming that Stanford, Berkeley, and Texas would probably lead the pack (Maybe UCLA/USC?), but I'm not sure. Any others?

this is not something that should in any way factor into someone's law school decision

Hey, water's getting scarce in Cali. And LA's suing everyone up the Colorado to make sure they get their fair share--How long till San Diego and Las Vegas start doing the same thing? Firms will need people who're coming out of school understanding the law (esp. in Cali, where the state government's system for water rights would make the Byzantines blush).

And there's Texas, which'll be a whole 'nother market for litigation and investment in a few years.

Yale

Really depends, OP. I'm guessing you're more into prior-appropriation WR than riparian, so you'll want to go to Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. But if you are thinking riparian and you want to make bank, then obviously Vermont Law School.

snagglepuss wrote:Really depends, OP. I'm guessing you're more into prior-appropriation WR than riparian, so you'll want to go to Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. But if you are thinking riparian and you want to make bank, then obviously Vermont Law School.

And to neither, if you ever want to get a job as a lawyer.

I hear Cooley is actually really strong in Water Rights. Just imagine how many volumes of Water Rights books they have in that wondrous library!

The Water Law prof at UT used to give everyone A's pretty much cuz no one took the class cuz LOL water law so it was off the curve but now lots of people want to take it cuz easy A and it has to be curved mandatorily. I guess the class itself kinda sucks and isn't even worth enduring anymore.

So yeah, not Texas

Go to the best school you can. I go to CCN and was able to get a 2L summer offer from the best water rights firm in Sacramento. Coursework did not matter one bit as we have no courses related to water. It might not seem fair, but the name of my school opened the door wide open.

I hear Princeton has a good water rights program.

Whatever school can help you land internships/SAs/jobs that you want. I'd be happy to add a little more info on an anonymous forum (close friend works in the field, not me), but you basically want to be vouched for by professor in the field with some clout/connections outside academia. You tend to find these professors like this at the better schools.

Also read Unquenchable, if you haven't already. Great book.

Hm. That's interesting. I'd assume that Stanford would have a similar advantage in Water as it does in tech.

You seem to be operating on the assumption that people learn stuff in law school and that that stuff can be useful for practice.

Grim reality is that you learn very little in law school and very little of that is useful. Law school is basically just a 3 year hazing ritual/extended vacation.

If you want a job in water law, go to whichever school gives you the best shot at getting a job in your desired market (assuming it is at an appropriate cost). Taking one or two water law classes isn't going to make a difference.

BigZuck wrote:If you want a job in water law, go to whichever school gives you the best shot at getting a job in your desired market (assuming it is at an appropriate cost). Taking one or two water law classes isn't going to make a difference.

Agreed. Look, in a true tie-breaker situation, it might make sense to consider whether the school offers classes in your area of interest. Let's say you're considering between UCLA and USC at equal cost, and USC (but not UCLA) has a professor that specializes in water law. You'd probably want to go to USC—not because you'll necessarily learn anything in your water law class, but because that professor is more likely to have connections in the field and thus could improve your chances of landing a job.

But aside from that scenario, you shouldn't make your decision based on a school's water law offerings.

I dated a woman who worked as a paralegal for several weeks. I stopped seeing her immediately after she told me that Water Law in a Nutshell was one of her favorite books.

ditch digger wrote:I dated a woman who worked as a paralegal for several weeks. I stopped seeing her immediately after she told me that Water Law in a Nutshell was one of her favorite books.

That is a really, really bad reason to stop banging a chick.

ditch digger wrote:I dated a woman who worked as a paralegal for several weeks. I stopped seeing her immediately after she told me that Water Law in a Nutshell was one of her favorite books.

Twist: She was actively trying to get rid of you with that line.

MarkinKansasCity wrote:

ditch digger wrote:I dated a woman who worked as a paralegal for several weeks. I stopped seeing her immediately after she told me that Water Law in a Nutshell was one of her favorite books.

Twist: She was actively trying to get rid of you with that line.

lol

FWIW OP my firm has a water law practice group and does a ton of water work and I don't think we would ever hire someone because they went to a "top water law school." Just go to a good law school, get good grades, and if you're still boned up about riparian rights three years from now figure it out then.

SBL wrote:FWIW OP my firm has a water law practice group and does a ton of water work and I don't think we would ever hire someone because they went to a "top water law school." Just go to a good law school, get good grades, and if you're still boned up about riparian rights three years from now figure it out then.

Yeah. And a water-based law school curriculum will dry up quick anyhow.

TTH wrote:

SBL wrote:FWIW OP my firm has a water law practice group and does a ton of water work and I don't think we would ever hire someone because they went to a "top water law school." Just go to a good law school, get good grades, and if you're still boned up about riparian rights three years from now figure it out then.

Yeah. And a water-based law school curriculum will dry up quick anyhow.

I understand. How about if I rephrase the question in light of all the recent developments:

Which T14 schools have professors with connections to water law firms? I'm not sure if anyone will actually know that, but it may be useful.

(Note: Based on GPA and school quality [I know it doesn't matter all that much, but it is an indicator], I will be within T14 range assuming I don't screw up my LSAT)

BigZuck wrote:If you want a job in water law, go to whichever school gives you the best shot at getting a job in your desired market (assuming it is at an appropriate cost).

+1

Sounds like you want to be in CA. If you want to work at a "water law firm" then go to Stanford. Failing that, Berkeley.

You're going to premise a decision this big on the hopes that if you suck some random professor's dick well enough as a 2/3L he'll introduce you to some partner who practices water law?

Dude, go to the school that offers the best combination of general placement power, geographic placement for your preferences, and cost of attendance. This simply should not be a significant factor at this point.