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New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:40 pm
by The_Fizzman
Hello all, this is my first post on TLS, and I was hoping someone can answer some really dumb questions. I am currently 21 and will be finishing my senior year of Undergrad at SIUE next fall (Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, about 15mins from downtown St.Louis). It is a mid major school (15000 Students) that just went DIV I athletics about 2 years ago that continues to grow. The School of Dental Medicine is considered top notch, and the School of Nursing is considered the most difficult nursing school in the state. The School of Business is AACSB accredited and considered by US News as one of the best value business schools in Midwest. I am currently finishing my B.S. in Business Economics and Finance at SIUE. This past year i have contemplated many directions I could go after graduation (getting M.S. from SIUE or MBA from St.Louis Univ.) For the past few months, I have more intensively thought of Law school after having a long chat with a friend of mine who is Personal Injury Lawyer here in Illinois. I have registered at LSAC and have looked up what is needed to start a package for Law schools to review. My questions are this
1. Does someone with a B.S. Econ and Finance degree have a good shot at getting into law school? I have read contrasting views that most schools look more for pre-law grads, while other views say that law schools prefer more diverse backgrounds of students (Business, Medical, etc.)
2. My GPA is only 2.85 on a 4.0 Scale going into my Senior Year (I was a Spanish Major my freshman year, until i realized I really had no passion for it). Would a high LSAT score 165+ help that weakness out.
3. The Law school i am interested in attending is Texas Tech (have family in Lubbock), although I would LOVE to Texas @ Austin but I have a feeling I would not be competitive. Does anyone have any advice or experience with Texas Tech?
4. When is the best time to take the LSAT? Fall semester of senior year of undergrad? Summer before senior year?
5. Is getting a LOR or evaluation from your Boss or a Lawyer a good person to get one from? I currently work for the largest supplier of greek apparel on the web (greekgear.com) and i have known the CEO since i was a kid. Just wondering, or is it more of a better decision for your professor to evaluate and write LORs for you.
Thank You for anyone who can help. I appreciate it alot
Tyler
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:52 pm
by Patriot1208
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:58 pm
by tittsburghfeelers
The_Fizzman wrote:Hello all, this is my first post on TLS, and I was hoping someone can answer some really dumb questions. I am currently 21 and will be finishing my senior year of Undergrad at SIUE next fall (Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, about 15mins from downtown St.Louis). It is a mid major school (15000 Students) that just went DIV I athletics about 2 years ago that continues to grow. The School of Dental Medicine is considered top notch, and the School of Nursing is considered the most difficult nursing school in the state. The School of Business is AACSB accredited and considered by US News as one of the best value business schools in Midwest. I am currently finishing my B.S. in Business Economics and Finance at SIUE. This past year i have contemplated many directions I could go after graduation (getting M.S. from SIUE or MBA from St.Louis Univ.) For the past few months, I have more intensively thought of Law school after having a long chat with a friend of mine who is Personal Injury Lawyer here in Illinois. I have registered at LSAC and have looked up what is needed to start a package for Law schools to review. My questions are this
1. Does someone with a B.S. Econ and Finance degree have a good shot at getting into law school? I have read contrasting views that most schools look more for pre-law grads, while other views say that law schools prefer more diverse backgrounds of students (Business, Medical, etc.)
2. My GPA is only 2.85 on a 4.0 Scale going into my Senior Year (I was a Spanish Major my freshman year, until i realized I really had no passion for it). Would a high LSAT score 165+ help that weakness out.
3. The Law school i am interested in attending is Texas Tech (have family in Lubbock), although I would LOVE to Texas @ Austin but I have a feeling I would not be competitive. Does anyone have any advice or experience with Texas Tech?
4. When is the best time to take the LSAT? Fall semester of senior year of undergrad? Summer before senior year?
5. Is getting a LOR or evaluation from your Boss or a Lawyer a good person to get one from? I currently work for the largest supplier of greek apparel on the web (greekgear.com) and i have known the CEO since i was a kid. Just wondering, or is it more of a better decision for your professor to evaluate and write LORs for you.
Thank You for anyone who can help. I appreciate it alot
Tyler
1. Any major can apply for law school. Going into your senior year, I would focus on raising your gpa. GPA is important in admissions and it is important to at least get it up over 3.0. I would also begin studying for the lsat now, however do not take attention away from your gpa. People going strait from UG to law school often take the LSAT in the fall or, better yet, summer before their senior year. Since you have not begun studying yet, and since your gpa is low, I would wait to take the LSAT until next summer. This means you would have a gap year between the end of UG and the beginning of law school. 1 year of work experience will look great, assuming you work, when it comes to admissions. Plus, the extra time you have allowed yourself for studying for the lsat will pay off.
2. Yes a high LSAT can make up for a low GPA, but as stated above I would concentrate on raising your gpa. You still have time, so raise it while you still can!
3. Get your GPA up, crack 170+ on your LSAT and you have a chance at Texas. Since I think you should take a year off, perhaps you should move to Texas and establish residency since you want to attend law school in Texas? This would end up saving you alot of money in the long run.
4. Stated above.
5. No idea.
6. I'm leaving in a couple hours to go to SIUE to hang out with some friends lol. I have a ton of friends down there, which is why I felt compelled to reply to your OP!
Edit: By the way just so you don't think that I'm messing with you about the SIUE thing, most of my friends live in the apartment complex that is within walking distance to Shaninagans or however you spell that lol.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:02 pm
by richis7
[quote="The_Fizzman"]Hello all, this is my first post on TLS, and I was hoping someone can answer some really dumb questions. I am currently 21 and will be finishing my senior year of Undergrad at SIUE next fall (Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, about 15mins from downtown St.Louis). It is a mid major school (15000 Students) that just went DIV I athletics about 2 years ago that continues to grow. The School of Dental Medicine is considered top notch, and the School of Nursing is considered the most difficult nursing school in the state. The School of Business is AACSB accredited and considered by US News as one of the best value business schools in Midwest. I am currently finishing my B.S. in Business Economics and Finance at SIUE. This past year i have contemplated many directions I could go after graduation (getting M.S. from SIUE or MBA from St.Louis Univ.) For the past few months, I have more intensively thought of Law school after having a long chat with a friend of mine who is Personal Injury Lawyer here in Illinois. I have registered at LSAC and have looked up what is needed to start a package for Law schools to review. My questions are this
1. Does someone with a B.S. Econ and Finance degree have a good shot at getting into law school? I have read contrasting views that most schools look more for pre-law grads, while other views say that law schools prefer more diverse backgrounds of students (Business, Medical, etc.)
You can get into law school with any major... it is all about numbers
2. My GPA is only 2.85 on a 4.0 Scale going into my Senior Year (I was a Spanish Major my freshman year, until i realized I really had no passion for it). Would a high LSAT score 165+ help that weakness out.
Of course it would
3. The Law school i am interested in attending is Texas Tech (have family in Lubbock), although I would LOVE to Texas @ Austin but I have a feeling I would not be competitive. Does anyone have any advice or experience with Texas Tech?
4. When is the best time to take the LSAT? Fall semester of senior year of undergrad? Summer before senior year?
When applying to law schools you want to apply as early as possible, so taking the lsat as early as possible is key. Say you wanted to go into law school fall of 2011, the June of 2010 LSAT would have been optimal as it would allow you to submit your applications the day they came out (or close to it). That said, there is nothing wrong with the October or even December LSAT if you need extra time to study.
5. Is getting a LOR or evaluation from your Boss or a Lawyer a good person to get one from? I currently work for the largest supplier of greek apparel on the web (greekgear.com) and i have known the CEO since i was a kid. Just wondering, or is it more of a better decision for your professor to evaluate and write LORs for you.
Generally schools have different requirements, but I think all schools need at least one LOR from a professor.
Start studying for the LSAT now, and you will have decent options.
Also, check out law school numbers to see how you might stack up to other applicants.
Good luck
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:03 pm
by Wholigan
While it is true that a lot of this is frequently discussed, I'll go.
1. Econ/Finance is as good as any other major, if not arguably better than many.
2. A good LSAT score will get you into plenty of second and third tier schools even with a 2.85. No need to talk specific scores until you actually take the LSAT. Take some fluff classes in the fall if possible to give your GPA a boost.
3. No idea about Texas Tech. But it is a third tier, so see above.
4. June is usually a good idea if you have enough time to prepare. It allows you two retakes within the same cycle if necessary.
5. I think some schools require LORs come from employers or professors. Even if not required, I would not get one from a random lawyer who only knows you as a friend. One from a boss and one from a professor might be a good bet for you.
ETA: Above posters pretty much covered it.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:06 pm
by The_Fizzman
tittsburghfeelers wrote:The_Fizzman wrote:Hello all, this is my first post on TLS, and I was hoping someone can answer some really dumb questions. I am currently 21 and will be finishing my senior year of Undergrad at SIUE next fall (Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, about 15mins from downtown St.Louis). It is a mid major school (15000 Students) that just went DIV I athletics about 2 years ago that continues to grow. The School of Dental Medicine is considered top notch, and the School of Nursing is considered the most difficult nursing school in the state. The School of Business is AACSB accredited and considered by US News as one of the best value business schools in Midwest. I am currently finishing my B.S. in Business Economics and Finance at SIUE. This past year i have contemplated many directions I could go after graduation (getting M.S. from SIUE or MBA from St.Louis Univ.) For the past few months, I have more intensively thought of Law school after having a long chat with a friend of mine who is Personal Injury Lawyer here in Illinois. I have registered at LSAC and have looked up what is needed to start a package for Law schools to review. My questions are this
1. Does someone with a B.S. Econ and Finance degree have a good shot at getting into law school? I have read contrasting views that most schools look more for pre-law grads, while other views say that law schools prefer more diverse backgrounds of students (Business, Medical, etc.)
2. My GPA is only 2.85 on a 4.0 Scale going into my Senior Year (I was a Spanish Major my freshman year, until i realized I really had no passion for it). Would a high LSAT score 165+ help that weakness out.
3. The Law school i am interested in attending is Texas Tech (have family in Lubbock), although I would LOVE to Texas @ Austin but I have a feeling I would not be competitive. Does anyone have any advice or experience with Texas Tech?
4. When is the best time to take the LSAT? Fall semester of senior year of undergrad? Summer before senior year?
5. Is getting a LOR or evaluation from your Boss or a Lawyer a good person to get one from? I currently work for the largest supplier of greek apparel on the web (greekgear.com) and i have known the CEO since i was a kid. Just wondering, or is it more of a better decision for your professor to evaluate and write LORs for you.
Thank You for anyone who can help. I appreciate it alot
Tyler
1. Any major can apply for law school. Going into your senior year, I would focus on raising your gpa. GPA is important in admissions and it is important to at least get it up over 3.0. I would also begin studying for the lsat now, however do not take attention away from your gpa. People going strait from UG to law school often take the LSAT in the fall or, better yet, summer before their senior year. Since you have not begun studying yet, and since your gpa is low, I would wait to take the LSAT until next summer. This means you would have a gap year between the end of UG and the beginning of law school. 1 year of work experience will look great, assuming you work, when it comes to admissions. Plus, the extra time you have allowed yourself for studying for the lsat will pay off.
2. Yes a high LSAT can make up for a low GPA, but as stated above I would concentrate on raising your gpa. You still have time, so raise it while you still can!
3. Get your GPA up, crack 170+ on your LSAT and you have a chance at Texas. Since I think you should take a year off, perhaps you should move to Texas and establish residency since you want to attend law school in Texas? This would end up saving you alot of money in the long run.
4. Stated above.
5. No idea.
6. I'm leaving in a couple hours to go to SIUE to hang out with some friends lol. I have a ton of friends down there, which is why I felt compelled to reply to your OP!
Edit: By the way just so you don't think that I'm messing with you about the SIUE thing, most of my friends live in the apartment complex that is within walking distance to Shaninagans or however you spell that lol.
Thanks Man. I actually commute to Eville from my hometown now, but I use to live downtown eville by courthouse. I know the apartments your talking about. Shaninagans is the place on thursday nights. Thanks for the advice. I may just stay the extra year here at SIUE and get my M.S. econ and finance (it is a one year program here) and go to Law School after getting Masters. I would love to go to Texas, but i would have no problem attending Tech.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:13 pm
by TheOcho
-Focus on raising your GPA
-A high LSAT can compensate for a low GPA, however
-Get LORs from people that know you well. Professors and advisers are often recommended.
-I think taking the LSAT in June is ideal. You can study during your Spring semester and then really gear up for a few weeks once you're done with class. Plus, you can retake it in October and still have plenty of time to get your applications in early. I did.
Good luck!
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:02 pm
by Magnolia
I don't know if it's possible for you at this point in school, but you should try as hard as possible to get your GPA over 3.0. Lots of schools have a 3.0 GPA floor and if you're under it, you'll be out of the running, regardless of LSAT score.
Honestly, your chances at UT are not good. The lowest non-URM GPA accepted this cycle was a 3.3. Unless you're a URM or can get your GPA above that floor, you won't get in. Spend some time on lawschoolnumbers.com. It can give you a pretty good idea of the numbers you'll need for various schools, and can tell you which schools have a hard GPA floor.
I would recommend 2 LOR's from professors and a third from an employer who you've worked with for a while. Use the academic LOR's with your initial app and save the third as additional material to send in case you get WL'ed. You could consider sending in all 3 for reach schools, if they allow that many.
Also, apply as early as possible in the cycle, even if it means you have to take a gap year. As someone who applied late and under-performed her numbers, trust me, it can make a huge difference.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:48 pm
by The_Fizzman
Magnolia wrote:I don't know if it's possible for you at this point in school, but you should try as hard as possible to get your GPA over 3.0. Lots of schools have a 3.0 GPA floor and if you're under it, you'll be out of the running, regardless of LSAT score.
Honestly, your chances at UT are not good. The lowest non-URM GPA accepted this cycle was a 3.3. Unless you're a URM or can get your GPA above that floor, you won't get in. Spend some time on lawschoolnumbers.com. It can give you a pretty good idea of the numbers you'll need for various schools, and can tell you which schools have a hard GPA floor.
I would recommend 2 LOR's from professors and a third from an employer who you've worked with for a while. Use the academic LOR's with your initial app and save the third as additional material to send in case you get WL'ed. You could consider sending in all 3 for reach schools, if they allow that many.
Also, apply as early as possible in the cycle, even if it means you have to take a gap year. As someone who applied late and under-performed her numbers, trust me, it can make a huge difference.
Thank you Magnolia for your advice...UT is my reach(dream) school but, I more so want to go to Texas Tech (i believe it is a third tier) for the financial Value (i have paid my way through undergrad, which from what i heard having low debt going into Law school is a plus), the dual MBA programs they offer and for the fact i will have more of an environment to succeed in (Live with family instead of alone or with roomate, trust me it makes a WORLD of difference even in undergrad BIZ school).
Additionally, I more so plan to move back to Illinois after law school. I have heard Tech offers students to take bar test for any state, and if i am correct, Illinois allows out of state BAR to practice in state (i believe this is called reciprocity agreements), so even a Texas BAR would be awesome.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:57 pm
by richis7
The_Fizzman wrote:Magnolia wrote:I don't know if it's possible for you at this point in school, but you should try as hard as possible to get your GPA over 3.0. Lots of schools have a 3.0 GPA floor and if you're under it, you'll be out of the running, regardless of LSAT score.
Honestly, your chances at UT are not good. The lowest non-URM GPA accepted this cycle was a 3.3. Unless you're a URM or can get your GPA above that floor, you won't get in. Spend some time on lawschoolnumbers.com. It can give you a pretty good idea of the numbers you'll need for various schools, and can tell you which schools have a hard GPA floor.
I would recommend 2 LOR's from professors and a third from an employer who you've worked with for a while. Use the academic LOR's with your initial app and save the third as additional material to send in case you get WL'ed. You could consider sending in all 3 for reach schools, if they allow that many.
Also, apply as early as possible in the cycle, even if it means you have to take a gap year. As someone who applied late and under-performed her numbers, trust me, it can make a huge difference.
Thank you Magnolia for your advice...UT is my reach(dream) school but, I more so want to go to Texas Tech (i believe it is a third tier) for the financial Value (i have paid my way through undergrad, which from what i heard having low debt going into Law school is a plus), the dual MBA programs they offer and for the fact i will have more of an environment to succeed in (Live with family instead of alone or with roomate, trust me it makes a WORLD of difference even in undergrad BIZ school).
Additionally,
I more so plan to move back to Illinois after law school. I have heard Tech offers students to take bar test for any state, and if i am correct, Illinois allows out of state BAR to practice in state (i believe this is called reciprocity agreements), so even a Texas BAR would be awesome.
Just be careful about going to a law school out of the region you plan to practice in. Even if you pass the bar exam, that doesn't mean you will have a job... and that is what this is all about. Not saying you cant get a job in Illinois with a law degree from texas tech, it would just probably be easier to find employment in texas.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:00 pm
by kalvano
All of this is meaningless speculation without an LSAT.
Tech is not a good choice, though.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:00 pm
by Wholigan
The_Fizzman wrote:Thank you Magnolia for your advice...UT is my reach(dream) school but, I more so want to go to Texas Tech (i believe it is a third tier) for the financial Value (i have paid my way through undergrad, which from what i heard having low debt going into Law school is a plus), the dual MBA programs they offer and for the fact i will have more of an environment to succeed in (Live with family instead of alone or with roomate, trust me it makes a WORLD of difference even in undergrad BIZ school).
Additionally, I more so plan to move back to Illinois after law school. I have heard Tech offers students to take bar test for any state, and if i am correct, Illinois allows out of state BAR to practice in state (i believe this is called reciprocity agreements), so even a Texas BAR would be awesome.
You may want to revisit your law school pecking order if you plan to move back to IL. Law school is nothing like undergrad, where you can go to a random out of state school, come home and find employment. Unless you already have a job lined up or something, I imagine it is going to be VERY difficult to find any job in IL with a JD from a third tier school in Texas. There are a ton of law schools in IL & St. Louis that are T1/T2, and plenty of people from those schools are having trouble finding legal employment even with their large alumni networks in the area. Every school that is ABA accredited allows you to take the bar in any other state. That is nothing special Texas Tech has to offer.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:00 pm
by czelede
The_Fizzman wrote:Magnolia wrote:I don't know if it's possible for you at this point in school, but you should try as hard as possible to get your GPA over 3.0. Lots of schools have a 3.0 GPA floor and if you're under it, you'll be out of the running, regardless of LSAT score.
Honestly, your chances at UT are not good. The lowest non-URM GPA accepted this cycle was a 3.3. Unless you're a URM or can get your GPA above that floor, you won't get in. Spend some time on lawschoolnumbers.com. It can give you a pretty good idea of the numbers you'll need for various schools, and can tell you which schools have a hard GPA floor.
I would recommend 2 LOR's from professors and a third from an employer who you've worked with for a while. Use the academic LOR's with your initial app and save the third as additional material to send in case you get WL'ed. You could consider sending in all 3 for reach schools, if they allow that many.
Also, apply as early as possible in the cycle, even if it means you have to take a gap year. As someone who applied late and under-performed her numbers, trust me, it can make a huge difference.
Thank you Magnolia for your advice...UT is my reach(dream) school but, I more so want to go to Texas Tech (i believe it is a third tier) for the financial Value (i have paid my way through undergrad, which from what i heard having low debt going into Law school is a plus), the dual MBA programs they offer and for the fact i will have more of an environment to succeed in (Live with family instead of alone or with roomate, trust me it makes a WORLD of difference even in undergrad BIZ school).
Additionally, I more so plan to move back to Illinois after law school. I have heard Tech offers students to take bar test for any state, and if i am correct, Illinois allows out of state BAR to practice in state (i believe this is called reciprocity agreements), so even a Texas BAR would be awesome.
If you are hoping to find an Illinois job out of law school, I would not advise attending Texas Tech. Just my $0.02.
Everything else on here has been very credited. The higher the LSAT, the more your GPA will be forgiven. GPA floors at 3.0 for many schools.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:05 pm
by tittsburghfeelers
The_Fizzman wrote:Magnolia wrote:I don't know if it's possible for you at this point in school, but you should try as hard as possible to get your GPA over 3.0. Lots of schools have a 3.0 GPA floor and if you're under it, you'll be out of the running, regardless of LSAT score.
Honestly, your chances at UT are not good. The lowest non-URM GPA accepted this cycle was a 3.3. Unless you're a URM or can get your GPA above that floor, you won't get in. Spend some time on lawschoolnumbers.com. It can give you a pretty good idea of the numbers you'll need for various schools, and can tell you which schools have a hard GPA floor.
I would recommend 2 LOR's from professors and a third from an employer who you've worked with for a while. Use the academic LOR's with your initial app and save the third as additional material to send in case you get WL'ed. You could consider sending in all 3 for reach schools, if they allow that many.
Also, apply as early as possible in the cycle, even if it means you have to take a gap year. As someone who applied late and under-performed her numbers, trust me, it can make a huge difference.
Thank you Magnolia for your advice...UT is my reach(dream) school but, I more so want to go to Texas Tech (i believe it is a third tier) for the financial Value (i have paid my way through undergrad, which from what i heard having low debt going into Law school is a plus), the dual MBA programs they offer and for the fact i will have more of an environment to succeed in (Live with family instead of alone or with roomate, trust me it makes a WORLD of difference even in undergrad BIZ school).
Additionally, I more so plan to move back to Illinois after law school. I have heard Tech offers students to take bar test for any state, and if i am correct, Illinois allows out of state BAR to practice in state (i believe this is called reciprocity agreements), so even a Texas BAR would be awesome.
Don't go to Tech if you want to come back to IL. If you want to stay in southern IL, Carbondale isn't a bad option. Carbondale has reach up to Springfield or Decatur and places well throughout southern Il. Of course, you won't be getting a large salary out of Carbondale, but you shouldn't have issues finding a job. For the STL metro area, I would advise SLU. There are a ton of SLU lawyers in the STL Illinois burbs (Edwardsville included). Otherwise UIUC is obviously the flagship university that places throughout the state. If you're looking for Chicago, it's a much different game.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:34 pm
by The_Fizzman
tittsburghfeelers wrote:The_Fizzman wrote:Magnolia wrote:I don't know if it's possible for you at this point in school, but you should try as hard as possible to get your GPA over 3.0. Lots of schools have a 3.0 GPA floor and if you're under it, you'll be out of the running, regardless of LSAT score.
Honestly, your chances at UT are not good. The lowest non-URM GPA accepted this cycle was a 3.3. Unless you're a URM or can get your GPA above that floor, you won't get in. Spend some time on lawschoolnumbers.com. It can give you a pretty good idea of the numbers you'll need for various schools, and can tell you which schools have a hard GPA floor.
I would recommend 2 LOR's from professors and a third from an employer who you've worked with for a while. Use the academic LOR's with your initial app and save the third as additional material to send in case you get WL'ed. You could consider sending in all 3 for reach schools, if they allow that many.
Also, apply as early as possible in the cycle, even if it means you have to take a gap year. As someone who applied late and under-performed her numbers, trust me, it can make a huge difference.
Thank you Magnolia for your advice...UT is my reach(dream) school but, I more so want to go to Texas Tech (i believe it is a third tier) for the financial Value (i have paid my way through undergrad, which from what i heard having low debt going into Law school is a plus), the dual MBA programs they offer and for the fact i will have more of an environment to succeed in (Live with family instead of alone or with roomate, trust me it makes a WORLD of difference even in undergrad BIZ school).
Additionally, I more so plan to move back to Illinois after law school. I have heard Tech offers students to take bar test for any state, and if i am correct, Illinois allows out of state BAR to practice in state (i believe this is called reciprocity agreements), so even a Texas BAR would be awesome.
Don't go to Tech if you want to come back to IL. If you want to stay in southern IL, Carbondale isn't a bad option. Carbondale has reach up to Springfield or Decatur and places well throughout southern Il. Of course, you won't be getting a large salary out of Carbondale, but you shouldn't have issues finding a job. For the STL metro area, I would advise SLU. There are a ton of SLU lawyers in the STL Illinois burbs (Edwardsville included). Otherwise UIUC is obviously the flagship university that places throughout the state. If you're looking for Chicago, it's a much different game.
Thanks for all the advice everyone...i really appreciate it. I have looked at SLU, but according to the latest rankings, tech is higher then SLU. After hearing your advice, i will probably stay here at SIUE and get my MS Econ and Fin before Law School (rather thats Tech or somewhere else). But i will take the LSAT this fall 2011 (my Senior year undergrad) and if need be have plenty of time to take again. Thanks Again all.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:25 pm
by Magnolia
The_Fizzman wrote:Thanks for all the advice everyone...i really appreciate it. I have looked at SLU, but according to the latest rankings, tech is higher then SLU. After hearing your advice, i will probably stay here at SIUE and get my MS Econ and Fin before Law School (rather thats Tech or somewhere else). But i will take the LSAT this fall 2011 (my Senior year undergrad) and if need be have plenty of time to take again. Thanks Again all.
OP, please please please don't pay attention to the USNWR rankings. They are beyond meaningless, especially at the level of schools you're considering. Only the top 18-20 schools have any real national portability. Beyond that, everything is regional.
If you want a job in Illinois, you need to be looking at schools in Illinois. Texas Tech is not going to get you there, even if it is ranked higher. The only thing the rankings are good for is comparing schools in the same general geographic location, and even then, they don't tell the whole story. Really you should be comparing employment prospects of the schools in the region where you want to work and choose a school that balances the best prospects and lowest debt possible. The rankings shouldn't be factoring into your decision even a little bit. Seriously.
Re: New to All and have some Dumb questions
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:18 pm
by Wholigan
Magnolia wrote:The_Fizzman wrote:Thanks for all the advice everyone...i really appreciate it. I have looked at SLU, but according to the latest rankings, tech is higher then SLU. After hearing your advice, i will probably stay here at SIUE and get my MS Econ and Fin before Law School (rather thats Tech or somewhere else). But i will take the LSAT this fall 2011 (my Senior year undergrad) and if need be have plenty of time to take again. Thanks Again all.
OP, please please please don't pay attention to the USNWR rankings.
Don't worry. He didn't pay attention to them. St. Louis is #104 and Texas Tech is #117.