Top Law Schools

Congrats to everyone who has decided to attend DU and good luck to those waiting or trying to decide.

I have not been on here for a couple months, sorry about the delay, at JTX stated, its finals hell weeks (3).

If you guys have any updated questions let me know and hopefully I can help. Just to answer a few questions posed in the last few pages:

Lightrail: I lived downtown by Coors Field all year (1L) and I took the lightrail every day. Not going to lie, it wasn't worth it living downtown, I would save that till 2L or 3L. The lightrail is great though, its only 20 minutes to downtown and the DU stop only is a short 10 minutes walk to the law building.

Grad "Dorms": I'm guessing you're referring to Vista Lofts, they are ok, a lil odd in the way they are setup, but they are close and I know at least 20 people who live there. They love how close it is. Another reason why it sucks to be downtown, I have leave early from the bars to not miss the last train home. The lightrail leaves closer to bar close from downtown, closer to 1am from DU to Union, although you can go to the other downtown stops later. I'm not the best person to listen to on living arrangements though, I had rent that was way too high and too far from campus, so what did I do, bought a house for next year farther away with a more expensive payment then my rent. That being said, I would suggest the University Apartments, they are close and pretty nice. I know about 10 people who live there and they love it.

So, now I'm going to make a shameless plug. If anyone has questions about International Law or wants to be involved, let me know. This last year I was on the board for the Int'l Law Society and will be again next year, but I am also the President of the International Law Student Association (ILSA) for 2011-2012 and would love to assist anyone who is interested in international law.

Also, if you have question about the Student Bar Association, let me know, I can tell you how I was elected for it as a 1L Senator and again for next year as VP of Fundraising. To be honest, a big way I was elected was because of TLS and the 10 people I met from this site.

Withdrew, hope someone on TLS gets my money.

My 20k scholarship is 3.0 stipened per semester which is really harsh i think if teachers are curving there grades. However I have had a lot of success negotiating for better scholarships at a number of schools. I am going to attend denver but would like more money however I was wondering if the higher scholarships have a higher gpa requirement will you please let me know because I am thinking about asking on monday??? If anyone needs advice on negotiating for a better scholarship I have gotten 3 schools to increase their offers after they told me they do not negotiate.

jduds wrote:My 20k scholarship is 3.0 stipened per semester which is really harsh i think if teachers are curving there grades. However I have had a lot of success negotiating for better scholarships at a number of schools. I am going to attend denver but would like more money however I was wondering if the higher scholarships have a higher gpa requirement will you please let me know because I am thinking about asking on monday??? If anyone needs advice on negotiating for a better scholarship I have gotten 3 schools to increase their offers after they told me they do not negotiate.

I tried negotiating my scholly, and so did a number of other people and we all got the same standard response that more scholly is unlikely but they'll but our names in for consideration should more funds become available. At least in my experience DU seemed pretty unwilling to increase scholarships.

As to the higher GPA requirements I dont think they go higher than requiring a 3.0. Good luck though, maybe more funds have become avalaible recently with all the people withdrawing.

The 3.0 requirement is for all scholarships, regardless if its 5k or a full ride. Also, the 3.0 requirement isn't really that harsh, its top 50% as the curve is set at 3.0. I know other schools that have top 25% or top 33% to keep the scholarships, those seem harsh. The only part about DU's scholarships that suck is that you lose the whole thing if you're under a 3.0, whereas some other schools have tiered reductions; ie, 3.0-100%, 2.9-75%, 2.8-50%, etc.

I'm basically ready to move to start at DU but I just got offered $7500 at Santa Clara which puts it at about the same as DU over 3yrs. Can I try to request DU to reconsider offering me some $$...seems like everyone has offers... Would anyone choose Santa Clara over DU?

por2al wrote:I'm basically ready to move to start at DU but I just got offered $7500 at Santa Clara which puts it at about the same as DU over 3yrs. Can I try to request DU to reconsider offering me some $$...seems like everyone has offers... Would anyone choose Santa Clara over DU?

People who want to live in California.

Go to the school that's in the region you want to work in. Tier 2, it (almost always) means more than where it ranks.

por2al wrote:I'm basically ready to move to start at DU but I just got offered $7500 at Santa Clara which puts it at about the same as DU over 3yrs. Can I try to request DU to reconsider offering me some $$...seems like everyone has offers... Would anyone choose Santa Clara over DU?

Santa Clara was very transparent with me in regards to their employment numbers. That said, their numbers were atrocious. I asked several times and DU wouldn't release their employment numbers to me despite the fact I know they had them (they told me on the phone they were waiting and trying to track down about "50 people" IE those 50 people are unemployed and we still don't want to tell you how many were employed). Even though I couldn't imagine that DU's numbers were going to be as bad as Santa Clara's, I didn't like the vibe I got and it was one of the main reasons I withdrew from DU.

Also one thing to consider-- scholarships at Santa Clara seem to be impossible to keep. Their admissions lady told me this in an email "Generally, scholarships are continued if the student maintains a superior level of performance in law studies by placing in the top 15 to 20 percent of the class." I responded to the extent of : so you can finish in the top 15 percent and there is still a chance you won't have your award renewed? She didn't respond to that.

I would consider that $7500 a one time gift, and unfortunately, considering only 23% of SCU grads nine months out found full time legal employment in the class of 2009, I would run away from Santa Clara. Of course, perhaps you are very wealthy and just really like the campus or something, then of course it would be fine. Great campus FWIW.

Looking for a roommate for next fall. Please pm me if you are interested. I am 22 year old male graduate from ASU looking to find a 1l male or female who is more interested in studying than partying for the next year. Also trying to find a 2 or 3 br place really close to the law school and a person or persons who I can study with. I am from phoenix so I don't have a very good idea about the good places to live in Denver but I will be making a number of trips there in the near future so I can check a bunch of places out. Hope to here from you guys.

Wow that's not very good news.. though if Santa Clara is really that bad I'd hate to see t3 and t4 schools. Given my gpa I wasn't really expecting a scholarship so I'm not as concerned about the scholarship aspect- though it would have been nice for DU to offer $$.

@chrisbru, location has been a main driving force..I think the San Fran/Santa Clara and Denver areas are hard to beat..I just need to choose which one now.

por2al wrote:Wow that's not very good news.. though if Santa Clara is really that bad I'd hate to see t3 and t4 schools. Given my gpa I wasn't really expecting a scholarship so I'm not as concerned about the scholarship aspect- though it would have been nice for DU to offer $$.

@chrisbru, location has been a main driving force..I think the San Fran/Santa Clara and Denver areas are hard to beat..I just need to choose which one now.

Ah, well... If you aren't tied down to either one... THEN DENVER!!! I was almost sold on Denver until Iowa ended up giving me a full-ride. If Denver would have done a full for me, I would have even turned down Iowa to go there. Great school, great city, great place to live your life.

chrisbru wrote:

por2al wrote:Wow that's not very good news.. though if Santa Clara is really that bad I'd hate to see t3 and t4 schools. Given my gpa I wasn't really expecting a scholarship so I'm not as concerned about the scholarship aspect- though it would have been nice for DU to offer $$.

@chrisbru, location has been a main driving force..I think the San Fran/Santa Clara and Denver areas are hard to beat..I just need to choose which one now.

Ah, well... If you aren't tied down to either one... THEN DENVER!!! I was almost sold on Denver until Iowa ended up giving me a full-ride. If Denver would have done a full for me, I would have even turned down Iowa to go there. Great school, great city, great place to live your life.

I second Denver. I feel like the area is less inundated with lawyers than CA and it seems to be a better atmosphere, though, that aspect is a personal choice. If ever in doubt, look at employment stats for the two on --LinkRemoved--. That's how I made my decision.

crossarmant wrote:

chrisbru wrote:

por2al wrote:Wow that's not very good news.. though if Santa Clara is really that bad I'd hate to see t3 and t4 schools. Given my gpa I wasn't really expecting a scholarship so I'm not as concerned about the scholarship aspect- though it would have been nice for DU to offer $$.

@chrisbru, location has been a main driving force..I think the San Fran/Santa Clara and Denver areas are hard to beat..I just need to choose which one now.

Ah, well... If you aren't tied down to either one... THEN DENVER!!! I was almost sold on Denver until Iowa ended up giving me a full-ride. If Denver would have done a full for me, I would have even turned down Iowa to go there. Great school, great city, great place to live your life.

I second Denver. I feel like the area is less inundated with lawyers than CA and it seems to be a better atmosphere, though, that aspect is a personal choice. If ever in doubt, look at employment stats for the two on --LinkRemoved--. That's how I made my decision.

Don't, because LST doesn't have full/part time consideration. Ton's of grads from DU and SCU don't get a full time gig and that throws off their numbers.

mrwarre85 wrote:Don't, because LST doesn't have full/part time consideration. Ton's of grads from DU and SCU don't get a full time gig and that throws off their numbers.

They recently added the Full-Time/Part-Time divisions for the class of 2009 on there. Go to the Summary Charts. Both are pretty rough with PT positions, though Santa Clara is markedly worse with only 23% with Full-Time, Bar Required positions. DU it's near about 50%. Not stellar, but better than 23%.

Well, got off the wait list for Miami...close to home and better connects in FL... so my spots up for grabs...g/l

Anybody attending the New Student Reception at Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons tomorrow?

regaljuris wrote:Anybody attending the New Student Reception at Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons tomorrow?

Will be there. At least one other I know will be there as well. Of course, the real question should be: Anyone attending the After New Student Reception tomorrow?

Ah damn LSAT tomorrow. This reception would have been the perfect excuse to come out to Denver for a weekend.

lawlec48 wrote:The 3.0 requirement is for all scholarships, regardless if its 5k or a full ride. Also, the 3.0 requirement isn't really that harsh, its top 50% as the curve is set at 3.0. I know other schools that have top 25% or top 33% to keep the scholarships, those seem harsh. The only part about DU's scholarships that suck is that you lose the whole thing if you're under a 3.0, whereas some other schools have tiered reductions; ie, 3.0-100%, 2.9-75%, 2.8-50%, etc.

this is the closest representation of lawlec online i could find:
--ImageRemoved--
"hey guys DU law school is awesome!"

Just got in from the New Student Reception...I felt the employment outlook, as spoken from the dean and several members of the firm, was coined in a lighter perspective than the true reality. Although, this is one case in which I hope I'm wrong.

I also went to the reception today. I never got the chance to speak to any of the alumni but I did speak to 3 of the attorneys who work at Rothgerber.

The bottom line is you have to be in the top 10% of your class at DU to have a shot at a firm like that. But, almost everyone "figures something out" eventually regardless of where they place in their class.

i.e. i think while some people may have more trouble than others finding higher paying jobs out of school (depending on how you place in your class) its not like you graduate law school with so much debt you're left homeless begging on the street. It works out one way or another for most people.

Still, for those of you like me who are shooting for larger sized firms, it seems to be a clear message - top 10% you're bound to land somewhere. I would imagine top 20% you still have a shot too but it might take some more effort / networking.

ktc88 wrote:The bottom line is you have to be in the top 10% of your class at DU to have a shot at a firm like that. But, almost everyone "figures something out" eventually regardless of where they place in their class.

The numbers would not refute this.

ktc88 wrote: Still, for those of you like me who are shooting for larger sized firms, it seems to be a clear message - top 10% you're bound to land somewhere. I would imagine top 20% you still have a shot too but it might take some more effort / networking.

Unfortunately, the numbers refute this. Far less than 10% of DU has been getting that type of firm job. Maybe like 3% to 5% in the last few years. You should definitely try to be top 10% but you aren't "bound to land somewhere" if that somewhere you are referring to is a biglaw firm. I bet back when those guys graduated that was true, but it is not true now.

mrwarre85 wrote: Unfortunately, the numbers refute this. Far less than 10% of DU has been getting that type of firm job. Maybe like 3% to 5% in the last few years. You should definitely try to be top 10% but you aren't "bound to land somewhere" if that somewhere you are referring to is a biglaw firm. I bet back when those guys graduated that was true, but it is not true now.

TITCR. I get the feeling that, while top 10% is something to strive for, it in no way guarantees Denver biglaw. It seems that, in general, it is unrealistic to expect anywhere near a six figure salary right out of law school anymore, with maybe the T14 or even just the T5 being the exception. Also, while its obvious, not everyone can graduate in the top 10%.

Now people have to go to law school because for other reasons. Like they want to make the world a more just place, or something.

mrwarre85 wrote:Unfortunately, the numbers refute this. Far less than 10% of DU has been getting that type of firm job. Maybe like 3% to 5% in the last few years. You should definitely try to be top 10% but you aren't "bound to land somewhere" if that somewhere you are referring to is a biglaw firm.

I hear that, just echoing what they seemed to be telling me...

mrwarre85 wrote:I bet back when those guys graduated that was true, but it is not true now.

exactly