Top Law Schools

Which is "better"? Anyone have any thoughts (or know of any old threads) on this age old debate?

Rory1987 wrote:Which is "better"? Anyone have any thoughts (or know of any old threads) on this age old debate?

I think Hastings has slightly better placement and alumni network. But other than that the preference comes down to city v. suburban lifestyle, their facilities, and the kind of academic environment they have - Hastings being the more cutthroat of the two.

UCD and UCH are regarded as virtually identical by employers. Davis is a small, laid-back college town with a much lower COL, which some people prefer. SF is an amazing city, the New York of the West Coast, which other people prefer. I went to Davis and don't regret it, but I know others who made the opposite choice and also don't regret it.

Whichever one you pick, your grades will be what matters, not whether you got those grades at Davis or Hastings. I would just recommend visiting both schools and choosing the one which gives you a better "feel" so to speak. Any difference in rankings (especially considering that they flip-flop all the time) is totally meaningless.

Caveats: Biased, currently drunk, slight existential crisis.

Schools are identical in employer prospects, regardless of whatever marginal ranking differences may emerge in the next few years.

Opinion: Davis will rise in the rankings in the next few years. Why? Smaller class size lends to greater selectivity. New building for Fall 10. Faculty is ranked around 25 for scholary impact. Students may generally be rejects from Berkeley, but that doesn't detract from the fact that they are motivated and smart. (Personally, I know guys at Harvard, Yale and NYU--don't get carried away.)

Go where you will be happier. Really!