How much does where you want to practice matter? Forum

[tiggaplease]

A good friend (at USD Law) said I should go to a school where I see myself living long term and working.

My aunt (not a lawyer) says depending on the type of law, where you go to school doesn't really matter.

Who's more right? I see myself living on the west coast (SF, Portland) long term, so how seriously should I consider east coast schools?

For the record,
GPA: 3.34
LSAT: 161

[invisiblesun]

A good friend (at USD Law) said I should go to a school where I see myself living long term and working.

My aunt (not a lawyer) says depending on the type of law, where you go to school doesn't really matter.

Who's more right? I see myself living on the west coast (SF, Portland) long term, so how seriously should I consider east coast schools?

For the record,
GPA: 3.34
LSAT: 161

With those numbers, you'd be best off going to a school that is a strong west coast regional.

[vanwinkle]

It makes a huge difference. If you want to practice on the west coast you should definitely go to a west coast school, the best that you fan get into in the state/region you most want to practice in.

[Adjudicator]

It matters a ton, especially in this economy. Where is your aunt getting this from?

[whymeohgodno]

Your aunt is hilarious (and wrong).

[JJDancer]

Location matters unless you are going to a T-14. Preferably T-6.

With your numbers especially, get into the best school on the West Coast that you can.

[irishman86]

Your friend and aunt are both somewhat wrong. T-14s are generally national and can place anywhere if you have the requisite ties (and grades). Therefore, location of the school with regards to placement doesn't matter for these schools. If you can only get into schools that feed into shitlaw, it helps a lot by going to a local school, although it seems some of these firms are recruiting more from T-14s who have the ties and who get locked out of OCI.

[tiggaplease]

K good to know, I'll think regionally.

Heh, I dunno where my aunt gets her ideas, but I didn't think she was right.

Thanks guys. Now I'll have to decide on whether to retake the LSAT... (posted in the LSAT forum)

[HeavenWood]

Your aunt is hilarious (and wrong).

Your Aunt is living in the past. Once upon a time, where you went to law school was of relatively little importance. My (Philadelphia-based) father has partners who went to Louisville and Arkansas. These days, Louisville and Arkansas grads are lucky to get jobs in their home markets, much less halfway across the country.

[northwood]

go to a school in the region you want to work.

[motiontodismiss]

Retake and profit.