Top Law Schools

Here's the deal guys....

I can live in any of the locations, but may be looking to start a family within the next decade of my life, so location needs to factor that in. This makes SD a concern as i wouldn't want to raise a family there, even though I love living in SD. I just visited Portland and love the city. Never been to Tallahassee. Weather at any of the three won't matter, I just need to be near water.

My main concern is debt, and trying to limit it. I'm not chasing BIGLAW and realize IF I can get a job, it will likely pay less than I expect.

CWSL is offering a full ride, on a two year program, but TTTT.
Lewis and Clark gave me 5k, and apparently has great LRAP and other back end help.
USD at sticker.
FSU at sticker (which is almost a scholly in itself), and I hear good things of FSU's job placement.

What school and some thoughts on why, please. Thanks guys!

Where do you want to live/work?

cool of law wrote:Where do you want to live/work?

i could live in any of the three. i used to live in SD and loved it, but i don't see myself having a family there. i'm in portland now, and could live here. trying to visit florida next week, but i expect i can live there too.

at the moment i would lean towards portland, but it also leaves me with the second most debt.

You really would be happy living in Portland or Florida? I can't think of two places in America more different from each other.

sundance95 wrote:You really would be happy living in Portland or Florida? I can't think of two places in America more different from each other.

i only need to be near water. i live in phoenix currently. as long as i'm AWAY from phoenix, i'm good.

how much post grad debt relief can i get? is attending L&C feasible? if i like portland, will attending LC trap me under debt with a low paying (if i'm lucky enough to work) job?

whereas, if i go to FSU do the low tuition and higher job prospects put it ahead?

nice initial poll voting.

you guys are supposed to be HELPING me! lol. a 25% split??????

alright, i'm seeing some votes and LC has taken the early lead. those of you that are, what are your reasons for selecting your choice? LC leaves me with the highest amount of debt(after USD) and isn't ranked as highly as USD or FSU, so why is it ahead?

a breakdown for costs of attendance.

CWSL-zero debt (if i can meet scholly stips)

FSU- 60k debt upon graduation

Lewis & Clark- 95k debt upon graduation

USD- one billion dollars! (kidding, but lots more)

so guys, why are you picking what you're picking? also, how much should these numbers influence my choice?

Just a guess, but people might be voting for L&C because it has less competition in its market. It's the highest-ranked school in Oregon, the only school actually IN Portland, and the nearest higher-ranked school is 180 miles north in Seattle, a totally different market. California and Florida have a lot of law schools competing for jobs. Would you rather compete for jobs with grads from Stanford or University of Oregon?

Or because you sound like you'd be happy in Portland.

^^^i think you might be right. both make sense, but do you or anyone think that those factors can overwhelm the pull that should me making me pay less at a better rank in FSU, or ignore the "get out of debt free" card offered by CWSL?

six figures in debt makes a loud case for itself, so please keep voicing your opinions as they are very welcome.

anyone willing to throw in some thoughts on my post above^^^^^^???

have any thoughts that you think i should consider when you see my situation?

last bump for any insight people may have.

i'm going to visit FSU tomorrow, will be making mailing in my seat deposit next week.

anything people would warn about regarding one of the institutions listed above? anything i should take into consideration? don't just vote guys, give me your thoughts too.

lee4 wrote: i only need to be near water.

OP's an amphibian. Amphibians don't go to law school and everybody knows it. /thread.

On the off chance that OP is not an amphibian I will add that stipends are a pretty big deal. As a rule when looking at financial prospects of any option you should assume median class rank at best, which probably puts you in the area of losing that scholarship and coming out with more like ~80-120k in debt (I'm not sure if you are calculating in COL, or you have that covered in some other way.)

Also, I was raised in a mix of San Diego and Salt Lake, which is supposed to be a great place to raise kids, and I would choose San Diego for raising children. But there are tons of preference issues that go into that, just throwing in my two cents.

YaSvoboden wrote:On the off chance that OP is not an amphibian I will add that stipends are a pretty big deal. As a rule when looking at financial prospects of any option you should assume median class rank at best, which probably puts you in the area of losing that scholarship and coming out with more like ~80-120k in debt (I'm not sure if you are calculating in COL, or you have that covered in some other way.)

Also, I was raised in a mix of San Diego and Salt Lake, which is supposed to be a great place to raise kids, and I would choose San Diego for raising children. But there are tons of preference issues that go into that, just throwing in my two cents.

living expenses are considered and covered. tuition increases are the only factor that will increase my totals.

when i say i don't want to raise a family in SD, it is not due to the place. living in SD for me only counts if i'm living west of I-5. to do that with a family is not financially practical, especially when taking into account that i am NOT chasing a check with my career. i COULD live in el cajon or some other miserable place (for me, if you enjoy it...cheers to you) but if that's the case i may as well stay in phoenix.... for less... with a nicer place.

on a side note, i just got done touring FSU and tallahassee in general. i absolutely love it here. UG campus aside (which i hear is fun) i love the town, capitol facilities, and law building. with FSU utilizing the old district court across the street next year it will make for a very interesting campus. it's funny because everyone always comments on the UG's when referring to FSU law, but really after the tour it feels more separated from the UG and more attached to the capitol/supreme/gov facilities across the street. is this just me???

anyone have any NEGATIVES regarding FSU, because i feel sorta blinded by love and need some outside opinions (srs)

lee4 wrote: living in SD for me only counts if i'm living west of I-5.

I-5 is close to the sea. For those not familiar with the area, OP is saying it's necessary to live within waking distance of the beach, more or less.

voice of reason wrote:

lee4 wrote: living in SD for me only counts if i'm living west of I-5.

I-5 is close to the sea. For those not familiar with the area, OP is saying it's necessary to live within waking distance of the beach, more or less.

in SD, correct...if only just for me.

lee4 wrote:

voice of reason wrote:

lee4 wrote: living in SD for me only counts if i'm living west of I-5.

I-5 is close to the sea. For those not familiar with the area, OP is saying it's necessary to live within waking distance of the beach, more or less.

in SD, correct...if only just for me.

Cal Western's curve is notoriously (notorious in SD) brutal, so keep that in mind. There's a reason why they boast a competitive bar passage rate, and sometimes much better passage rate, than USD even though they let in people with much weaker numbers.

However, Cal Western has been in talks about partnering with UCSD for some time, which would be a huge jump in the school's credibility. So, that's also something to consider.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... aw-school/

Keep in mind that this has been going on for some time, so it may not happen while you're even there, but it's still something to consider.

As for USD, there are more many more long term job prospects since people in SD know that USD has been the top school in the county for so long. But you'll still be competing with Pepperdine, UCLA, USC, Loyola, or NorCal grads that are looking to trickle down the state. You'll also be competing with grads from across the nation too, so the market is going to be competitive regardless of whether you go to USD or Cal Western.

EstboundNDwn wrote:

lee4 wrote:

voice of reason wrote:

lee4 wrote: living in SD for me only counts if i'm living west of I-5.

I-5 is close to the sea. For those not familiar with the area, OP is saying it's necessary to live within waking distance of the beach, more or less.

in SD, correct...if only just for me.

Cal Western's curve is notoriously (notorious in SD) brutal, so keep that in mind. There's a reason why they boast a competitive bar passage rate, and sometimes much better passage rate, than USD even though they let in people with much weaker numbers.

However, Cal Western has been in talks about partnering with UCSD for some time, which would be a huge jump in the school's credibility. So, that's also something to consider.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... aw-school/

Keep in mind that this has been going on for some time, so it may not happen while you're even there, but it's still something to consider.

As for USD, there are more many more long term job prospects since people in SD know that USD has been the top school in the county for so long. But you'll still be competing with Pepperdine, UCLA, USC, Loyola, or NorCal grads that are looking to trickle down the state. You'll also be competing with grads from across the nation too, so the market is going to be competitive regardless of whether you go to USD or Cal Western.

checking out the SD campusii tomorrow and through the end of the week. while talking with cal west i really want to see or get some hard figures out of them while i'm there. also, without some sort of removal of stips i'm not sure i can make the leap of faith SD would be requiring of me (at an unranked program) that a first tier school (in FSU) doesn't for a similar result in total cost of attendance.

still hoping someone has something bad to say about FSU or tallahassee in general.