Top Law Schools

All other things being = (which they may not be once the dollaz come in), from what school is it easier to nail Mountain West Biglaw? My gut tells me NYU but I have come across some strong arguments in favor of Penn, mostly concerning its small class size and the relative scarcity of this degree in the Mountain West. Also, for the record, I have visited each and think both schools are fuckin’ awesome. I could see myself being very content at either so that is not really a factor.

Full ride at Colorado.

Le bump

OGR3 wrote:Full ride at Colorado.

TINTCR.

how is NYU's national reach? to say cali for example? how is penn's?

To California both are fine but California does not equal the mountain west

Veyron wrote:I have come across some strong arguments in favor of Penn, mostly concerning its small class size and the relative scarcity of this degree in the Mountain West.

sounds like an argument for NYU

Both degrees are pretty scarce in the Mountain West.

Stanford.

What is this Mountain West Biglaw thing you speak of?

As somebody with similar interest, I would say that if you have connections to the Mountain West, it won't matter much if you go to NYU or Penn. Go wherever you will leave with the least amount of debt. I am facing a decision of Michigan vs. Duke vs. NYU and am fairly sure I will be picking either Mich or Duke unless NYU comes through with $$$ (which I doubt).

If you wanted to work in NYC things might be different. However, when you get to a market like the Mountain West there won't be much difference in placement with large firms.

JetstoRJC wrote:What is this Mountain West Biglaw thing you speak of?

As somebody with similar interest, I would say that if you have connections to the Mountain West, it won't matter much if you go to NYU or Penn. Go wherever you will leave with the least amount of debt. I am facing a decision of Michigan vs. Duke vs. NYU and am fairly sure I will be picking either Mich or Duke unless NYU comes through with $$$ (which I doubt).

If you wanted to work in NYC things might be different. However, when you get to a market like the Mountain West there won't be much difference in placement with large firms.

Generally, this is TCR. Firms in Salt Lake, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, etc. aren't getting so many T14 grads that they place many meaningful distinctions between them. Obviously, Stanford is king, and Yale and Harvard aren't far behind. But I doubt there's going to be huge difference between Columbia and Duke, for example. You'll want to be around median or better no matter where you're coming from.

With the current economy, you need to consider the possibility that you might not get to your target secondary market straight out of law school, though. There aren't enough firms in these small markets, and not enough of them coming to OCI, for you to feel secure that you will get a big firm job in your desired market. In that case, you'll want to pick a major market where you'd most like to be.

The least expensive option. You'll be in great shape either way.