what's up with this "big law or bust" idea? Forum

[theturkeyisfat]

many, many posts advice people to go to the highest ranked school that they are accepted to at sticker if they're "big law or bust," even if these schools only offer mediocre "big law" prospects and the people seeking advice have good scholarships from lower-ranked schools. this wording dismisses the consequences of living the "bust" scenario, though (where you can't pay off stifling debt).

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

[fatduck]

i don't think "bust" is supposed to be a good outcome

[paulinaporizkova]

not gonna touch this one

[dood]

cause u a pessimist bro.

[dood]

not gonna touch this one

wtf is ur avatar from lololol

[pattonthicke]

I think the posts do take into account the consequences of "busting",ie, not getting big law at a top school, but think the alternative is a worse situation. No matter what anyone says, the only good situation is a significant scholly at a t-14ish school (which is not a possibility for most). Other than that, you can make arguments for paying sticker at a t-14 or taking a scholly at a lower school, but none of those are ideal situations. IMO, they both require a gamble.

[tea_drinker]

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

Because you are in the "bust" situation?

[theturkeyisfat]

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

Because you are in the "bust" situation?

no, i'll go to law school next year. i'm mostly talking about posts that tell people to go to schools in the 20-30 range that have relatively better big firm placement, like bu or fordham, while taking on a shitton of debt "if they're biglaw or bust." it doesn't make sense to me.

[tea_drinker]

Sure. But why should you care? It's internet, and the site is Top Law Schools.

[RVP11]

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

Because you are in the "bust" situation?

no, i'll go to law school next year. i'm mostly talking about posts that tell people to go to schools in the 20-30 range that have relatively better big firm placement, like bu or fordham, while taking on a shitton of debt "if they're biglaw or bust." it doesn't make sense to me.

Because if you're truly "BigLaw or bust" you'll drop out if you're bottom half after 1L or you strike out in 2L OCI.

[Stonewall]

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

Because you are in the "bust" situation?

no, i'll go to law school next year. i'm mostly talking about posts that tell people to go to schools in the 20-30 range that have relatively better big firm placement, like bu or fordham, while taking on a shitton of debt "if they're biglaw or bust." it doesn't make sense to me.

Because if you're truly "BigLaw or bust" you'll drop out if you're bottom half after 1L or you strike out in 2L OCI.

pretty much

[Marionberry]

no, i'll go to law school next year. i'm mostly talking about posts that tell people to go to schools in the 20-30 range that have relatively better big firm placement, like bu or fordham, while taking on a shitton of debt "if they're biglaw or bust." it doesn't make sense to me.

I rarely see anyone give that advice without mentioning what a risky gamble it is. However, it's still true that if all someone cares about is making 6 figures right out of school regardless of any debt, risk, or likely calamity involved, that the advice you're talking about is sound. It's still a bad idea, but it's not incongruent with the priorities that the people express.

[rman1201]

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

Because you are in the "bust" situation?

no, i'll go to law school next year. i'm mostly talking about posts that tell people to go to schools in the 20-30 range that have relatively better big firm placement, like bu or fordham, while taking on a shitton of debt "if they're biglaw or bust." it doesn't make sense to me.

In the context you described, why would someone not go to BU or Fordham if they're "Biglaw or Bust" (meaning they only want biglaw)? These schools would give that person the greatest shot as opposed to a regional school with no biglaw opportunities or a lower ranked school in a saturated market. It's still not wise to take sticker at a 20-30 school, especially hoping for biglaw since the odds are stacked against you, but if someone is 'biglaw or bust' and thats the best they can do, it's worth a shot.

[paulinaporizkova]

not gonna touch this one

wtf is ur avatar from lololol

it's a composite of several different things. what can i say i like $$$$$$$

[tea_drinker]

not gonna touch this one

wtf is ur avatar from lololol

it's a composite of several different things. what can i say i like $$$$$$$

The balloon flew away, huh?

[paulinaporizkova]

not gonna touch this one

wtf is ur avatar from lololol

it's a composite of several different things. what can i say i like $$$$$$$

The balloon flew away, huh?

yep.

[LoyalRebel]

As ridiculous as the "big law or bust" idea is, I hardly expect anything more from a bunch of future lawyers.

"Run along now, you'll never make it. Leave the law school to me; I'm better than you" is the typical response you'll get when you mention this subject.

I think the truly great people end up being those who aren't phased by having the odds stacked against them.

[rman1201]

As ridiculous as the "big law or bust" idea is, I hardly expect anything more from a bunch of future lawyers.

"Run along now, you'll never make it. Leave the law school to me; I'm better than you" is the typical response you'll get when you mention this subject.

I think the truly great people end up being those who aren't phased by having the odds stacked against them.

Just don't complain if things end up in accordance with the odds.

[DeeCee]

TLS (Top Law Schools, hence the name) is like this. Learn to deal with it or don't.........OP, not sure why you started a thread to complain about the obvious and in turn have others tear you down about it.

[flcath]

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

Because you are in the "bust" situation?

no, i'll go to law school next year. i'm mostly talking about posts that tell people to go to schools in the 20-30 range that have relatively better big firm placement, like bu or fordham, while taking on a shitton of debt "if they're biglaw or bust." it doesn't make sense to me.

I have literally never met anyone going into more than about $60K in debt for ND. The schools in this range know how this works, and they give out mad $$$ to stay competitive. Even the kids paying sticker usually have parents who are paying for everything, which, by the way, it does NOT take rich parents to do.

[lisjjen]

I have literally never met anyone going into more than about $60K in debt for ND. The schools in this range know how this works, and they give out mad $$$ to stay competitive. Even the kids paying sticker usually have parents who are paying for everything, which, by the way, it does NOT take rich parents to do.

I wish I had the kind of not rich parents you're thinking of.

[NZA]

I think the equation works something like this:

Big Law = Money

Money = Happiness

Big Law = Happiness

Duh, OP.

[jwrash]

I have literally never met anyone going into more than about $60K in debt for ND. The schools in this range know how this works, and they give out mad $$$ to stay competitive. Even the kids paying sticker usually have parents who are paying for everything, which, by the way, it does NOT take rich parents to do.

I wish I had the kind of not rich parents you're thinking of.

+1

[FiveSermon]

ridiculous.

i just felt like venting.

Because you are in the "bust" situation?

no, i'll go to law school next year. i'm mostly talking about posts that tell people to go to schools in the 20-30 range that have relatively better big firm placement, like bu or fordham, while taking on a shitton of debt "if they're biglaw or bust." it doesn't make sense to me.

LOL@ 20-30 having good placement. It's more like T6 good placement T17 decent placement and everyone else left fighting for scraps.

[DeeCee]

I have literally never met anyone going into more than about $60K in debt for ND. The schools in this range know how this works, and they give out mad $$$ to stay competitive. Even the kids paying sticker usually have parents who are paying for everything, which, by the way, it does NOT take rich parents to do.

I wish I had the kind of not rich parents you're thinking of.

Me too, my parents can't afford to pay shit

And if they could, they wouldn't because they think I should pay my way for grad school.