Top Law Schools

Hoping you guys can help me makes pros and cons for each of these schools, here is what I have so far, they are my two options at the moment. Just a note, I am currently not interested in Biglaw, but would like to go into government or PI. I am also notorious for changing my mind on such things, so I wouldn't be surprised if I wanted biglaw in a year or two.

W&L:

Pros: 17k/y scholly, low cost of living, nice rural area, (3rd year program)
Cons: less networking, tougher to get jobs, (3rd year program), middle of nowhere so harder to find internships and summer jobs

BU:

Pros: Better school rankings wise, better professors, metropolitan area, good networking and job prospects
Cons: No scholly, high COL, competition from other Boston schools for good summer jobs, ugly law school tower

Anyone else have any other ideas? Any things I have forgotten? Just telling me which you think would be a better bet would be helpful too. I will be visiting both schools soon so I'm sure that will help me out but I would like some input as well. Thanks.

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If you want to go for a high paying coorporate law gig, then BU wins hands down, as the debt you accrue will be worth it. They place 40% plus into the (in)famous NLJ250 and have job prospects rivaling T14 schools, especially if the economy turns around.

However, if you want to go to DC or go into anything BUT TLS' all-desirous BigLaw, then I'd take W and L.

Thanks for the input, anyone else have any thoughts? They would be greatly appreciated.

Washington and Lee

BU was top 20 last time I checked. When you get closer to number 1 it makes a bigger difference than say 50 vs. 60. There's a reason that it's higher, but all in all you just need to visit or possibly re-visit. I would pick BU though because it will have more mobility, and I actually think you'd have an easier time getting a job in DC with a BU degree IMO, after touring W&L and hearing that not that many people went to DC. Good luck!!

will BU stay ranked that high? i've heard it's pretty questionable...

pollaclc wrote:will BU stay ranked that high? i've heard it's pretty questionable...

also a factor that crossed my mind, but then again W&L could drop as well so I think its kind of a wash at the moment.

84Sunbird2000 wrote:If you want to go for a high paying coorporate law gig, then BU wins hands down, as the debt you accrue will be worth it. They place 40% plus into the (in)famous NLJ250 and have job prospects rivaling T14 schools, especially if the economy turns around.

However, if you want to go to DC or go into anything BUT TLS' all-desirous BigLaw, then I'd take W and L.

Where are these statistics? According to the most recent 2009 NLJ250, both BU and BC were placing equally at 34.6%.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... hbxlogin=1

leraa6587 wrote:BU was top 20 last time I checked. When you get closer to number 1 it makes a bigger difference than say 50 vs. 60. There's a reason that it's higher, but all in all you just need to visit or possibly re-visit. I would pick BU though because it will have more mobility, and I actually think you'd have an easier time getting a job in DC with a BU degree IMO, after touring W&L and hearing that not that many people went to DC. Good luck!!

Just from OCI numbers on LSN looks like W&L has more presence in D.C., I'm not super concerned about location, I like New England and the South equally.

I guess the big question now is biglaw vs. non-biglaw; anyone have any other reasons why BU would be a better choice? Would the educational quality of a #20 school be vastly superior to a #30?

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