Need serious help in deciding Brooklyn $$$ v. several Top 25 Forum

[20lawschool13]

Ive been researching everything I could find online for the past few weeks and still have no idea where to go. Im from ny and in undergrad majored in finance. I really like the field and would like to work in corporate law. That being said, my first choice would be to practice in nyc (financial capital), with second choices being dc, chicago, miami...
My current options are Brooklyn Law (with $30,000 per year based on top 40%) v. several Top 25 schools (Notre Dame, GW, Emory, WUSTL). Also am WLed at Illinois.
Out of all these schools, Emory seems to have the best program with the transactional law certificate they provide (they however are in a secondary market). WUSTL with Notre Dame seems to have the best name recognition. GW is in a primary market and Brooklyn is in the best market for finance.
Any advice would be appreciated as I could not find any lists or rankings based on corporate law.

[de5igual]

Ive been researching everything I could find online for the past few weeks and still have no idea where to go. Im from ny and in undergrad majored in finance. I really like the field and would like to work in corporate law. That being said, my first choice would be to practice in nyc (financial capital), with second choices being dc, chicago, miami...
My current options are Brooklyn Law (with $30,000 per year based on top 40%) v. several Top 25 schools (Notre Dame, GW, Emory, WUSTL). Also am WLed at Illinois.
Out of all these schools, Emory seems to have the best program with the transactional law certificate they provide (they however are in a secondary market). WUSTL with Notre Dame seems to have the best name recognition. GW is in a primary market and Brooklyn is in the best market for finance.
Any advice would be appreciated as I could not find any lists or rankings based on corporate law.

i wouldn't bank on keeping that $30K/yr esp if BLS section stacks you

[JOThompson]

Don't go with Brooklyn. You may not be able to retain that scholarship if they do truly stack their scholly recipients into the same section. The COL in NY will also leave you with a large pile of debt.

I voted for Emory. Lower cost of living and it's not impossible to go back to NYC if you do well. The certificate may be a very slight boost for your job search, but the TLS consensus is that specialty programs and such aren't much to base your decision on. Notre Dame might also be a good choice. I would be hesitant about GWU, as it's an expensive school with a high COL.

[20lawschool13]

Don't go with Brooklyn. You may not be able to retain that scholarship if they do truly stack their scholly recipients into the same section. The COL in NY will also leave you with a large pile of debt.

I voted for Emory. Lower cost of living and it's not impossible to go back to NYC if you do well. The certificate may be a very slight boost for your job search, but the TLS consensus is that specialty programs and such aren't much to base your decision on. Notre Dame might also be a good choice. I would be hesitant about GWU, as it's an expensive school with a high COL.

Is there a specific reason for Notre Dame besides the name (it doesn't seem to offer much in terms of corporate/banking law)?

Also is section stacking at Brooklyn considered common knowledge like at Cardozo or is it more rumor based?

[CanadianWolf]

If you want to practice law in NYC or New York state, then Brooklyn Law may be your best option.

[20lawschool13]

If you want to practice law in NYC or New York state, then Brooklyn Law may be your best option.

Although I ultimately want to be in nyc, I wouldnt mind working in other major cities. I am more interested in the ability to find a job in my field of interest and right now I think its between Brooklyn, WUSTL, and Emory.

[20lawschool13]

so it would seem that most people would take the t25 over money at brooklyn for banking law?

[erniesto]

All this section stacking stuff is 99% anecdotal bullshit with no credibility.

HTH

[ixkofm]

This is how many NY based firms came to OCI's in 2007-2008 at your top 3 schools from the law school numbers website.

Brooklyn = 89
Emory = 37
WashU = 14

At the same time just because a firm comes to your school is no guarantee you will get a job, also I am not sure what percentage of your class you have to be in to get one of those jobs. IMO you would need to be top 15% at either of these schools to have a good chance to get a good ny firm job.

You might also want to find out how many alums from each of these schools currently work at top firms in NY. Not sure where to find this info. You could just go firm by firm checking each one.

I know that I chose BLS with $$$ over GMU, definitely not comparable to WashU and Emory, but when it came to job prospects I know I want NY and confident that if I make the grades the BLS Alumni network will not disappoint.

Also in regards to section stacking BLS doesn't do it. You must remain top 40% of your entire class to keep the full scholarship. I'm not positive, but I believe it might even include the PT'ers, so basically you would need to be around top 100 grades out of 350ish people.

Hope that helps

[rando]

This is how many NY based firms came to OCI's in 2007-2008 at your top 3 schools from the law school numbers website.

Brooklyn = 89
Emory = 37
WashU = 14

At the same time just because a firm comes to your school is no guarantee you will get a job, also I am not sure what percentage of your class you have to be in to get one of those jobs. IMO you would need to be top 15% at either of these schools to have a good chance to get a good ny firm job.

You might also want to find out how many alums from each of these schools currently work at top firms in NY. Not sure where to find this info. You could just go firm by firm checking each one.

I know that I chose BLS with $$$ over GMU, definitely not comparable to WashU and Emory, but when it came to job prospects I know I want NY and confident that if I make the grades the BLS Alumni network will not disappoint.

Also in regards to section stacking BLS doesn't do it. You must remain top 40% of your entire class to keep the full scholarship. I'm not positive, but I believe it might even include the PT'ers, so basically you would need to be around top 100 grades out of 350ish people.

Hope that helps

From what I recall there were ~ 15 NYC firms at Emory OCI this year. Can't imagine other similarly ranked schools outside of NYC are faring much better.

[BarbellDreams]

I like Notre Dame here, but honestly please please please do not go to Brooklyn. I would choose ANY school on your list @ STICKER if necessary over Brooklyn.

[20lawschool13]

This is how many NY based firms came to OCI's in 2007-2008 at your top 3 schools from the law school numbers website.

Brooklyn = 89
Emory = 37
WashU = 14

At the same time just because a firm comes to your school is no guarantee you will get a job, also I am not sure what percentage of your class you have to be in to get one of those jobs. IMO you would need to be top 15% at either of these schools to have a good chance to get a good ny firm job.

You might also want to find out how many alums from each of these schools currently work at top firms in NY. Not sure where to find this info. You could just go firm by firm checking each one.

I know that I chose BLS with $$$ over GMU, definitely not comparable to WashU and Emory, but when it came to job prospects I know I want NY and confident that if I make the grades the BLS Alumni network will not disappoint.

Also in regards to section stacking BLS doesn't do it. You must remain top 40% of your entire class to keep the full scholarship. I'm not positive, but I believe it might even include the PT'ers, so basically you would need to be around top 100 grades out of 350ish people.

Hope that helps

I actually took the top 20 corporate law firms from last year and looked at the alums from each school.

Brooklyn Law WUSTL Emory ND GW U of Illinois

1. SKADDEN ARPS SLATE MEAGHER & FLOM New York 20 13 4 10 36 3

2. JONES DAY Washington, D.C. 10 24 44 81 53 38

3. CRAVATH SWAINE & MOORE New York 4 0 1 2 5 1

4. WACHTELL LIPTON ROSEN & KATZ New York 0 0 1 1 2 0

5. SULLIVAN & CROMWELL New York 18 0 2 0 9 1

6. WEIL GOTSHAL & MANGES New York 11 1 23 3 29 7

7. GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER Los Angeles 4 16 4 4 13 3

8. KIRKLAND & ELLIS Chicago 14 19 12 30 47 49

9. LATHAM & WATKINS Los Angeles 5 1 12 10 25 13

10. FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI Houston 3 3 1 4 15 2

11. BAKER & MCKENZIE Chicago 10 4 2 5 14 24

12.O'MELVENY & MYERS Los Angeles 9 0 5 2 17 1

13. DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL New York 15 3 2 1 10 0

14. WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI Palo Alto ? ? ? ? ? ?

15. SIDLEY AUSTIN New York 17 12 12 14 44 44
-
16. SHEARMAN & STERLING New York ? ? ? ? ? ?

17. PAUL WEISS RIFKIND WHARTON & GARRISON New York 9 2 1 1 2 0

18. COVINGTON & BURLING Washington, D.C. ? ? ? ? ? ?

19. HOGAN & HARTSON Washington, D.C. 7 4 4 17 52 5

20. FRIED FRANK HARRIS SHRIVER & JACOBSON New Yor 25 0 1 2 17 0


TOTALS: 181 102 131 187 390 191
# ENTERING (3yrs): 1,211 831 697 558 1,398 587

Now I know that this doesn't translate to current hiring practices but usually the greater the number of alums, the greater the number of new associates from a school. When factoring in the class size, it would seem like Notre Dame has highest percentage.

I like Notre Dame here, but honestly please please please do not go to Brooklyn. I would choose ANY school on your list @ STICKER if necessary over Brooklyn.

Any specific reasons against Brooklyn?

[keg411]

The only reliable BigLaw firm that hires from Brooklyn is Cahill.

I would pick the cheapest of your T25's and put NYC on hold temporarily (I too like ND here because COL will be the cheapest, but if you like one of the others better that's fine; they're all peer schools anyway).

[ixkofm]

If you do end up picking brooklyn over those higher ranked schools be prepared to be flamed on by the majority of people on this board. They are all entitled to their opinion...

Based on the data you collected if you only use the NY firms Brooklyn stands out, as does GW. What I gather from the data is if you make the grades you have a chance and outside of the T14 what more can you ask for in a school?

I hesitate to mention this because I have nothing to back it up, but I imagine it is tougher to be in the top 15% at a school like GW, Emory, or WashU based solely on the fact that their student body has better numbers.

Think about your goals, where you see yourself in the future, and the right choice will come. All of these schools offer different things, but everything is contingent on your performance. Seriously good luck, and if you would let us know where you end up choosing... just for kicks.

[pearl_earrings]

Wow. I really don't know. I just wanted to say that this is one of the closest polls I've seen!
Also, I'd be careful about accepting a scholarship with stipulations.
You've got a lot of great options here... good luck with your decision.

[blsingindisguise]

Section-stacking is myth but people regularly lose their scholarships by not doing as well as they thought they would so it's still a risk. Although you have to do really bad to lose ALL of your scholarship since there are different levels.

[20lawschool13]

finally made a decision and am going to emory (unless i get the a fellowship and extra money from brooklyn). i figured that for nyc corporate law i would need to be in the top 10% at all of my choices. if im in top 10% at emory i can transfer to a t10 and if not the col in the south would be much better with a lower starting salary.