Top Law Schools

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Even with being debt adverse, I think that your best bet is to go to USC. ~26K just isn't enough (for me) to tilt the scale in favor of Loyola. I also question how well Loyala truly places outside of LA given competition from similarly ranked schools.

loyola would have to be free before i would recommend passing up usc

unless, as he said, he absolutely doesn't want biglaw. Although that seems odd, because IP law (AFAIK)seems dominated by biglaw and boutique firms (with equal or higher standards.) Plus, given the conventional wisdom of making the choice under the assumption that you'll lose the scholarship USC would seem the clear winner.