Which Law School Do I Choose? Forum

[NixiNonna88]

So here are the basics:

I did terrible on the LSAT And, I do mean terrible. I scored a 144. ( I just don't have the money to retake the test.)

But, I have quite a good GPA for a science double major (3.49, Biology and Chemistry) and I go to a top ranked undergraduate college. I'm under 21, an orphan, and a legal guardian to my younger sibling so I have a moving personal statement working in my favor.

Here are the schools of which I was accepted:

Atlanta's John Marshall School of Law

Phoenix School of Law

Creighton Law School

Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Florida Coastal School of Law

Hamline Law School

University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law

Waiting to hear back from:

Vermont Law School

New York Law School

Northern Illinois University College of Law

Appalachian School of Law

Ave Maria School of Law

Mercer University School of Law.

So my question is. Out of these schools (assuming I get into the one's I'm waiting to hear back from) which one should I choose to attend? Are there any other schools you would recommend I apply to? I know these are not top ranked law schools and my LSAT score was pitiful to say the least but I'm just working with what I have.

Thank you, I appreciate your feedback.

[dr123]

Go to Louisville, it's a pretty good school and has a good rep in KY. On a side no offense, but how did you get into lousiville, your lsat is like 10 pts below their 25

[09042014]

If you can't afford to retake the LSAT how the fuck are you going to move to law school?

[Holly Golightly]

If you can't afford to retake the LSAT how the fuck are you going to move to law school?

DF has a good point here...

[TheOcho]

I thought the LSAC has fee waivers for people with extreme financial hardships? Does this apply to the LSAT? I would retake or not go to law school.

[NixiNonna88]

I thought the LSAC has fee waivers for people with extreme financial hardships? Does this apply to the LSAT? I would retake or not go to law school.

Yes It does, I just don't know if that applies to second takes of the test. Are the school choices really that bad? I wasn't expecting to go to a top university to begin with. The debit would crush me, and I still have to put my younger sibling through college. So either way I was expecting to not go to a brand name school.

[Holly Golightly]

I thought the LSAC has fee waivers for people with extreme financial hardships? Does this apply to the LSAT? I would retake or not go to law school.

Yes It does, I just don't know if that applies to second takes of the test. Are the school choices really that bad? I wasn't expecting to go to a top university to begin with. The debit would crush me, and I still have to put my younger sibling through college. So either way I was expecting to not go to a brand name school.

Regardless of the schools you're thinking about, if you can't afford to retake the LSAT then there is no way you can afford to move to go to school.

[NixiNonna88]

Go to Louisville, it's a pretty good school and has a good rep in KY. On a side no offense, but how did you get into lousiville, your lsat is like 10 pts below their 25

No offense taken. I have no idea. I'm suspecting either my personal statement, my GPA or a combination of both. They also contacted me first through CRS, and offered me a fee wavier to apply.

[Grizz]

Basically none of those schools are worth going to for what you will pay for them.

Retake or don't go.

[NixiNonna88]

I thought the LSAC has fee waivers for people with extreme financial hardships? Does this apply to the LSAT? I would retake or not go to law school.

Yes It does, I just don't know if that applies to second takes of the test. Are the school choices really that bad? I wasn't expecting to go to a top university to begin with. The debit would crush me, and I still have to put my younger sibling through college. So either way I was expecting to not go to a brand name school.

Regardless of the schools you're thinking about, if you can't afford to retake the LSAT then there is no way you can afford to move to go to school.

I'm not saying I can't afford to take the test ever again. I'm simply saying I can't afford to take it in February and I was hoping to start school in the Fall.

[09042014]

If you are worried about being cruched by debt you can't go to any of those schools unless you are going for free. They are dog shit.

[MrAnon]

These are not good schools. There is a high probability that actually attending any one of them will make life considerably more difficult in the both the short and long run. I would look for a job in your major.

[NixiNonna88]

These are not good schools. There is a high probability that actually attending any one of them will make life considerably more difficult in the both the short and long run. I would look for a job in your major.

Thank you for the advice.

[r6_philly]

I thought the LSAC has fee waivers for people with extreme financial hardships? Does this apply to the LSAT? I would retake or not go to law school.

Yes It does, I just don't know if that applies to second takes of the test. Are the school choices really that bad? I wasn't expecting to go to a top university to begin with. The debit would crush me, and I still have to put my younger sibling through college. So either way I was expecting to not go to a brand name school.

You get 2 LSAT registrations for free when you get the LSAC waiver. It's like they expect you to retake.

[user08132021]

I thought the LSAC has fee waivers for people with extreme financial hardships? Does this apply to the LSAT? I would retake or not go to law school.

Yes It does, I just don't know if that applies to second takes of the test. Are the school choices really that bad? I wasn't expecting to go to a top university to begin with. The debit would crush me, and I still have to put my younger sibling through college. So either way I was expecting to not go to a brand name school.

You get 2 LSAT registrations for free when you get the LSAC waiver. It's like they expect you to retake.

+1

[ran12]

If you really want to be a lawyer then go to law school. I would recommend Louisville. You'll have to prob stay in KY but it's not a bad school and if you work hard enough, you can be successful out of there. Due to its reputation, you'll have to do a lot of networking on your own though.

[NixiNonna88]

If you really want to be a lawyer then go to law school. I would recommend Louisville. You'll have to prob stay in KY but it's not a bad school and if you work hard enough, you can be successful out of there. Due to its reputation, you'll have to do a lot of networking on your own though.

Thank you. I appreciate the advice and it seems like Louisville will be it for me.

[luckyme]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html

[3ThrowAway99]

No offense intended to OP, but what is it with the tons of 130/140 LSAT inquiries?

[MrAnon]

No offense intended to OP, but what is it with the tons of 130/140 LSAT inquiries?

Applications are down over 10% this year. The schools are taking people with lower scores in order to keep the money flowing.

[3ThrowAway99]

To be more constructive for OP if it's a genuine inquiry, which I suppose it well could be, if you are dead set on going to one of the schools you got into, go to one in an area you will be comfortable living afterwards. I wouldn't have very high hopes in the way of getting a legal job out of those schools upon graduation though. I think it's possible it could work out for you, but I would really research the risks further, and with that LSAT I would def advise retake.

[3ThrowAway99]

No offense intended to OP, but what is it with the tons of 130/140 LSAT inquiries?

Applications are down over 10% this year. The schools are taking people with lower scores in order to keep the money flowing.

I hadn't heard that. LOL but kind of sad too. Where did you get that info?

[NixiNonna88]

To be more constructive for OP if it's a genuine inquiry, which I suppose it well could be, if you are dead set on going to one of the schools you got into, go to one in an area you will be comfortable living afterwards. I wouldn't have very high hopes in the way of getting a legal job out of those schools upon graduation though. I think it's possible it could work out for you, but I would really research the risks further, and with that LSAT I would def advise retake.

Thank you. I've bounced around a lot in foster care so I'm sure I could adapt anywhere if need be. If I get into Vermont I would highly consider there because I really want to study Environmental Law, and there suppose to have one of the best specialized programs. Otherwise, I'm going to take other posters advice and seriously consider Louisville.

I really am thankful for the feedback.

[concurrent fork]

Phoenix School of Law

Is there really an online JD program?

[albanach]

Thank you. I've bounced around a lot in foster care so I'm sure I could adapt anywhere if need be. If I get into Vermont I would highly consider there because I really want to study Environmental Law, and there suppose to have one of the best specialized programs. Otherwise, I'm going to take other posters advice and seriously consider Louisville.

I really am thankful for the feedback.

Here's a para from Anna Ivey's website:

You should go to law school only if you like the idea of being a lawyer. A real lawyer, not a lawyer that exists only in your head, or only on TV. If what is drawing you to law school is the adjective rather than the noun -- "international" or "corporate" or "environmental" or something else rather than "lawyer" -- then go explore that world first: work at the State Department or the Peace Corps, work in a corporation, intern at an environmental group. Don’tgo running off to law school until you’ve done that. I’ve written about that more in a posting called “Law School for Non-Lawyers.”

[/quote]

Seriously, put off the LSAT, retake in. June when you've had a bit more time to revise your study methods.