Top Law Schools

Hi everyone,

I am in a bit of a conundrum, I need your help in order to choose between American University and The College of William & Mary for law school.
Basically, my dilemma has to do with my background. I am a foreign attorney graduated in a civil law country; I wish to get a JD degree from a U.S. law school in order to have two countries in which I can practice law, in this way, I wish to focus on transnational/international/comparative law because those are the areas of the law where having two nation's bars (one civil law, the other common law) would make me "special" to employers.
So here we go, if I need to chose between American University, which is ranked 45th overall, and W & M, which is ranked 28th, which one should I pick? It would seem that W & M is the obvious choice (better ranked, cheaper, cheaper cost of living etc.). BUT, American University is ranked 8th nationwide on international law, and W & M is not even top 10.

So I guess, the point at issue is, which is more valuable, graduating from a school better ranked overall or better ranked in the specific field in which one wants to practice?

What do you guys (and gals) think?

Cheers.

Scholarships?

W&M, don't pay any attention to specialty rankings.

The specialty rankings mean relatively little, if not nothing at all. Yeah, American stresses I-Law, which means there are more classes to take/professors with an interest in I-Law, but the William & Mary name will go farther and it still has plenty of courses on the subject. Definitely W&M IMO.

WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

Agreed with all of the above. But the OP is an international student and finances are a little more difficult in their situation. These can't be ignored and need to play a central role in the OP's decision.

webbylu87 wrote:

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

Agreed with all of the above. But the OP is an international student and finances are a little more difficult in their situation. These can't be ignored and need to play a central role in the OP's decision.

Isn't that another plus on the W&M side?

bk187 wrote:

webbylu87 wrote:

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

Agreed with all of the above. But the OP is an international student and finances are a little more difficult in their situation. These can't be ignored and need to play a central role in the OP's decision.

Isn't that another plus on the W&M side?

Possibly but what I mean is that international students can't take out federal loans without a US co-signer. They may need loans from their home country. It's MUCH more complicated for international students to finance a law degree and therefore the OP may need to take the LS with the larger scholarship depending on his/her financial circumstances. I agree though that W&M is the better investment and the better choice if the OP can afford it.

webbylu87 wrote:

bk187 wrote:

webbylu87 wrote:

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

Agreed with all of the above. But the OP is an international student and finances are a little more difficult in their situation. These can't be ignored and need to play a central role in the OP's decision.

Isn't that another plus on the W&M side?

Possibly but what I mean is that international students can't take out federal loans without a US co-signer. They may need loans from their home country. It's MUCH more complicated for international students to finance a law degree and therefore the OP may need to take the LS with the larger scholarship depending on his/her financial circumstances. I agree though that W&M is the better investment and the better choice if the OP can afford it.

I can take federal loans and grants since I am here under a green card, so I am not as concerned about money as to which school would be better for me, foreign attorney seeking to work in international/transnational law. So, even though W & M is not as well known in the international/transnational arena, it still beats American because overall reputation beats specialty reputation? Even if one definitely wants to work in the international law field?

Thank you much to all who replied, its really appreciated.

Cheers.

This

A'nold wrote:W&M, don't pay any attention to specialty rankings.

and This

OneKnight wrote:The specialty rankings mean relatively little, if not nothing at all. Yeah, American stresses I-Law, which means there are more classes to take/professors with an interest in I-Law, but the William & Mary name will go farther and it still has plenty of courses on the subject. Definitely W&M IMO.

also this

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

superflush wrote:This

A'nold wrote:W&M, don't pay any attention to specialty rankings.

and This

OneKnight wrote:The specialty rankings mean relatively little, if not nothing at all. Yeah, American stresses I-Law, which means there are more classes to take/professors with an interest in I-Law, but the William & Mary name will go farther and it still has plenty of courses on the subject. Definitely W&M IMO.

also this

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

You all made it very clear, thanks!!

danieltorrey wrote:

superflush wrote:This

A'nold wrote:W&M, don't pay any attention to specialty rankings.

and This

OneKnight wrote:The specialty rankings mean relatively little, if not nothing at all. Yeah, American stresses I-Law, which means there are more classes to take/professors with an interest in I-Law, but the William & Mary name will go farther and it still has plenty of courses on the subject. Definitely W&M IMO.

also this

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

You all made it very clear, thanks!!

I wish all questions were this easy, TLS ftw!

Teoeo wrote:

danieltorrey wrote:

superflush wrote:This

A'nold wrote:W&M, don't pay any attention to specialty rankings.

and This

OneKnight wrote:The specialty rankings mean relatively little, if not nothing at all. Yeah, American stresses I-Law, which means there are more classes to take/professors with an interest in I-Law, but the William & Mary name will go farther and it still has plenty of courses on the subject. Definitely W&M IMO.

also this

Blindmelon wrote:WM >>>>> American. The disparity between American and WM is more than the rankings would suggest.

You all made it very clear, thanks!!

I wish all questions were this easy, TLS ftw!

Oh, I am sure I have asked some way trickier in other posts hahaha!

danieltorrey wrote:

webbylu87 wrote: Possibly but what I mean is that international students can't take out federal loans without a US co-signer. They may need loans from their home country. It's MUCH more complicated for international students to finance a law degree and therefore the OP may need to take the LS with the larger scholarship depending on his/her financial circumstances. I agree though that W&M is the better investment and the better choice if the OP can afford it.

I can take federal loans and grants since I am here under a green card, so I am not as concerned about money as to which school would be better for me, foreign attorney seeking to work in international/transnational law. So, even though W & M is not as well known in the international/transnational arena, it still beats American because overall reputation beats specialty reputation? Even if one definitely wants to work in the international law field?

Thank you much to all who replied, its really appreciated.

Cheers.

Then, yes. W&M all the way.

webbylu87 wrote:

danieltorrey wrote:

webbylu87 wrote: Possibly but what I mean is that international students can't take out federal loans without a US co-signer. They may need loans from their home country. It's MUCH more complicated for international students to finance a law degree and therefore the OP may need to take the LS with the larger scholarship depending on his/her financial circumstances. I agree though that W&M is the better investment and the better choice if the OP can afford it.

I can take federal loans and grants since I am here under a green card, so I am not as concerned about money as to which school would be better for me, foreign attorney seeking to work in international/transnational law. So, even though W & M is not as well known in the international/transnational arena, it still beats American because overall reputation beats specialty reputation? Even if one definitely wants to work in the international law field?

Thank you much to all who replied, its really appreciated.

Cheers.

Then, yes. W&M all the way.

Alright, thank you much, I am convinced!!

Cheers