Top Law Schools

I'm at a school I really like in the T20-30 range. After first semester, I was just above top 10%, but feel like I might have messed up one exam this semester, so my best guess is that I will end up around the top 10-15%. I'm looking to go to NYC after graduation. My school places fairly well into NYC, but its not the number 1 market for my school.

Was looking to see what my options would be at CCN and MVP. I actually got into one of CCN when I first applied to law school, but had to turn it down due to personal circumstances that have worked themselves out. Figured this will give me some tiny boost, but not sure. And would it even be worth it to transfer to MVP for NYC? I know Penn places a good amount of students in NYC (and I wouldn't mind Philly as a backup to NYC), but I'm not sure about Michigan, and I'm definitely not sure about UVA. My debt will be very low from my current school, and would go up by about 70K if I switch to any of the above at sticker. Any thoughts whether the move would be worth it for NYC?

Just bumping this to see if anyone has any opinion

I'm guessing you're at BC/BU? If you're in a situation where you're not getting law review but giving up your scholarship, I would probably transfer. (Less so if money is really important, more so if academia or more OCI options is important). I would almost certainly go to any CCN you get into, and even MVP (although that's a closer call).

I think it depends a lot on how OCI is at your current school (assuming that when you say you want to be in NYC you mean biglaw). How did the top 15% fare in finding jobs through on campus interviews this past year? At CCN and MVP you will probably do well as a transfer student at OCI, and your chances of landing a summer job are good.

Also, the difference between top 10% and top 15% may be a big deal. I'm largely speculating here, but I suspect that top 10% makes you a strong applicant for MVP, and gives you a good shot at CCN. On the other hand, top 15% probably makes CCN a long shot and makes even MVP less likely.

My personal and somewhat arbitrary opinion would be that going from a school ranked near 30 to CCN is probably a good idea, but that going from a school ranked around 20 to MVP is a much harder question.

kaiser wrote:I'm at a school I really like in the T20-30 range. After first semester, I was just above top 10%, but feel like I might have messed up one exam this semester, so my best guess is that I will end up around the top 10-15%. I'm looking to go to NYC after graduation. My school places fairly well into NYC, but its not the number 1 market for my school.

Was looking to see what my options would be at CCN and MVP. I actually got into one of CCN when I first applied to law school, but had to turn it down due to personal circumstances that have worked themselves out. Figured this will give me some tiny boost, but not sure. And would it even be worth it to transfer to MVP for NYC? I know Penn places a good amount of students in NYC (and I wouldn't mind Philly as a backup to NYC), but I'm not sure about Michigan, and I'm definitely not sure about UVA. My debt will be very low from my current school, and would go up by about 70K if I switch to any of the above at sticker. Any thoughts whether the move would be worth it for NYC?

Idk, it sounds like you should have no trouble getting the job you want from where you are now and you'll graduate with very low debt. This sounds like the perfect situation to be in... However, doesn't hurt to apply and re-evaluate after finding out what your options are.

The only benefits you are likely going to see with transferring is if you desire a more "prestigious" career down the line. What I mean by this is that certain highly prestigious jobs (of which there are very few) will certainly factor in what law school you attended. I don't think there are that many post-biglaw jobs where this is a factor, but I am still in biglaw and haven't looked at lateral options yet. So, having CCN or MVP may be beneficial. My instinct is telling me that it doesn't really matter unless you get into YHS, but I digress.

Top 10% to 15% at a top 20ish school will definitely get you biglaw in nyc. You will likely be very competitive at all but a handful of firms (v10s may be a bit of a stretch, but certainly not unobtainable in your position). You'll be even more competitive if you land law review (the flagship review obviously).

Unless you have very high aspirations in life, I would suggest staying put. With that said, I have friends from BC that chose opposite paths - one transferred one didn't. They are both at V10s fyi.

Edit: NYC v10s (not satellite offices).