Fordham Law or BU Law Forum

[DazedAndConfused718]

So i have the following dilemma:

BU Law has given me 28K over 3 years while Fordham has given me 24K. I am very money-conscious, and assuming I am interested in BigLaw in the Northeast/Atlantic region (but no one city in particular), which would be best for my future job prospects making market value at a big law firm? Any and all advice is appreciated since deposit deadlines are coming up. Also, if I go to fordham I could live with family so the COL would be negligible.

[bk1]

BU. Cheaper, better chance at biglaw.

[DazedAndConfused718]

thanks...anyone else??? opinions appreciated

[whymeohgodno]

BU. Cheaper, better chance at biglaw.

Read. COL negligible at Fordham. I vote Fordham.

[bk1]

BU. Cheaper, better chance at biglaw.

Read. COL negligible at Fordham. I vote Fordham.

Good catch, I didn't see that.

If you're really debt averse then I change my mind: Fordham.

[alumniguy]

I'm going to have to say BU, despite the cost of living savings that you would have at Fordham. This is a really tough call though.

I think BU because at a minimum, you are opening up the Boston market (which I don't think Fordham will get you to). IMHO, BU places as well in New York as Fordham. You're going to need to be top 1/3 at both to have a shot (or get lucky).

* * *

As a practicing attorney (mid-level biglaw), curious as to your desires for law school. $100k+ in debt, plus three years of lost wages is a mighty high price to pay for a 50/50 odds of making $160k. Biglaw is not a walk in the park. It is very, very demanding (I'd venture to say more demanding than law school for a number of reasons - lack of adequate training means a sink or swim type mentality, required 24/7 availability for work, potentially long, long hours, mind-numbing tedious (and IMHO often trivial) work). Most associates don't last more than 2-3 years and there is no way you're going to pay back $100k+ in debt in 2-3 years (our bonuses just aren't big enough anymore). You're looking at about $7k after taxes take home per month at $160k. Factor is high housing and food costs, new business clothes/new furniture for your apartment and about $1500 a month in minimum loan payments, any you'll be lucky to save $2000 or $3000 a month.

I find that I didn't fully appreciate the burden of having $100k+ in student loans. Let me tell you, it is a heavy burden.

[2011Law]

Fordham, because you'd be able to live in NYC without paying for the living.

Just to clarify though, how much of the CoL would be covered by family? Virtually all of it (even going out money), just room and board, or what? Even if it's just room and board, it's definitely a great deal for you.

Also, you better be sure you'd be fine living with your family during law school if you decide to do that. Figuring out during the semester that it won't work seems like it would really really suck.

[alumniguy]

Fordham is 5K more expensive in tuition than BU (45k vs. 40k.) Add in another 1.3k for the pro rated scholarship and BU's tuition (not included living expenses) is 6.3k less than Fordham. If I thought that the two offered the exact same job prospects, I would say definitely choose Fordham based on the fact that you could save money living with the 'rents.

But, IMHO, BU is going to give you a broader reach of firms to apply to. Either way, I think you'll need top 1/3rd to have a legitimate shot and BU just gives your more firms to apply to. So no, despite the fact that you could save about $10k or so living at home and going to Fordham, this shouldn't be a big consideration IMHO.

[tram988]

BU without a doubt. Less debt, better shot at big law > Fordham

[Slevin Kelevra 2011]

If you want to work in NYC, go to Fordham.
If you want to work in Boston, go to BU.
If you want to work anywhere else, go elsewhere.


Also, how much cheaper is Fordham going to cost?

[bk1]

BU without a doubt. Less debt, better shot at big law > Fordham

As noted above, Fordham is probably cheaper for the OP.

[MrPapagiorgio]

How many Fordham vs. BU/BC posts are we going to see on this board?