Top Law Schools

Any thoughts? No diff in money; I am lured to Hastings by its health law program, and to Seattle U by its legal writing program. Eventually, would like to stay on the West Coast. Thanks for any input

Do you want to work in the Bay Area or in Seattle?

Each of those schools is regional enough that where you want to stay long-term should be your primary consideration.

UCLAtransfer wrote:Do you want to work in the Bay Area or in Seattle?

Each of those schools is regional enough that where you want to stay long-term should be your primary consideration.

+1. And keep in mind that there are a lot more law jobs in the SF Bay Area than in Seattle. There are, of course, more law schools in SF as well.

At the University of Seattle, you're outranked by U of W; At Hastings, you're outranked by Berkeley and Stanford.

I'll say this: If I didn't have a preference for SF or Seattle, and if my goal was to land a good-paying firm job, I would take Hastings over Seattle U without thinking twice.

Hastings is the clear choice. Hastings actually does quite well throughout CA.

MD/JD2B wrote:Any thoughts? No diff in money; I am lured to Hastings by its [strike]health law program[/strike] seksiness

Duh Jk, good luck deciding.

I think this is a no brainer, Hastings gives you way more opportunity in way more markets, in any kid of law

eaters333 wrote:I think this is a no brainer, Hastings gives you way more opportunity in way more markets, in any kid of law

+1. OP, if this is actually a question, you need to do more research on law school in general. This is coming from someone that knows SU (not the University of Seattle, there is no such school) and loves the city of Seattle.

Are you getting any money from either?

Hastings tuition is ridiculous, and Seattle Univ isn't a juggernaut even in Seattle.

Also, why would you go to a lower tier 2 ranked school because of its legal writing? Sounds a little delusional to me.

MD/JD2B wrote:Any thoughts? No diff in money; I am lured to Hastings by its health law program, and to Seattle U by its legal writing program. Eventually, would like to stay on the West Coast. Thanks for any input

conventional wisdom says Hastings all the way... though it's kind of surprising there is no diff in money.

Hastings dominates SF.

Berkeley and Stanford grads have national options and many go to other markets, whereas Hastings is limited to the West. Hastings has strong alumni all over CA particularly in SF.

jetlagz28 wrote:Hastings dominates SF.

Berkeley and Stanford grads have national options and many go to other markets, whereas Hastings is limited to the West. Hastings has strong alumni all over CA particularly in SF.

While I wouldn't pay sticker for either of the two, I agree with the above.

jetlagz28 wrote:Hastings dominates SF.

Berkeley and Stanford grads have national options and many go to other markets, whereas Hastings is limited to the West. Hastings has strong alumni all over CA particularly in SF.

Something like 85%+ of Berkeley grads stay in California...Hastings does not "dominate" SF. A lot of other top 14 students work in SF as well.

Seattle is a smaller market and it's very hard to break into. Top 14 grads do try to work in Seattle. (If it weren't so difficult to get into, it'd be my top choice market.) At sticker, both are very risky. I'd probably pick Hastings if I HAD to, but neither is going to be good for a job ITE.

fortissimo wrote:

jetlagz28 wrote:Hastings dominates SF.

Berkeley and Stanford grads have national options and many go to other markets, whereas Hastings is limited to the West. Hastings has strong alumni all over CA particularly in SF.

Something like 85%+ of Berkeley grads stay in California...Hastings does not "dominate" SF. A lot of other top 14 students work in SF as well.

Seattle is a smaller market and it's very hard to break into. Top 14 grads do try to work in Seattle. (If it weren't so difficult to get into, it'd be my top choice market.) At sticker, both are very risky. I'd probably pick Hastings if I HAD to, but neither is going to be good for a job ITE.

Yeah, Hastings does not dominate SF. There are more than 800 T14 grads going to California every year (including more than 500 just from HYSCCNB), not to mention UCLA and Davis. Almost 70% of Berkeley grads and 43% of Stanford grads stay in California.

im_blue wrote:

fortissimo wrote:

jetlagz28 wrote:Hastings dominates SF.

Berkeley and Stanford grads have national options and many go to other markets, whereas Hastings is limited to the West. Hastings has strong alumni all over CA particularly in SF.

Something like 85%+ of Berkeley grads stay in California...Hastings does not "dominate" SF. A lot of other top 14 students work in SF as well.

Seattle is a smaller market and it's very hard to break into. Top 14 grads do try to work in Seattle. (If it weren't so difficult to get into, it'd be my top choice market.) At sticker, both are very risky. I'd probably pick Hastings if I HAD to, but neither is going to be good for a job ITE.

Yeah, Hastings does not dominate SF. There are more than 800 T14 grads going to California every year (including more than 500 just from HYSCCNB), not to mention UCLA and Davis. Almost 70% of Berkeley grads and 43% of Stanford grads stay in California.

Yeah. Probably a good analogy to Hastings is Fordham in NYC. You've got two T10 schools in the area right above you, with graduates of lots of other top schools interested in your market. That doesn't mean that Hastings or Fordham are bad choices, but neither school comes close to dominating its market.

Thanks for all your thoughts.
Likely Hastings and I hope my MD/JD combination will make me competitive vs Stanford or Cal grads. As per other people I've talked to with that combination in the Bay Area, it should. Don't know any MD/JDs in Seattle for comparison.

BTW, thanks for the correction--Seattle U and NOT University of Seattle. Must have eaten a bad oyster.