Top Law Schools

Hello!
I am hoping to work Biglaw in DC. UChicago is looking pretty good because they have that new LRAP program. I would like to transition from Biglaw to teaching law at a premier law school. And I want to clerk with a Supreme Court justice. Which law school do you think is my best choice?

note: there is no GPA requirement for any of these scholarships.

happyphone wrote:Hello!
I am hoping to work Biglaw in DC. UChicago is looking pretty good because they have that new LRAP program. I would like to transition from Biglaw to teaching law at a premier law school. And I want to clerk with a Supreme Court justice. Which law school do you think is my best choice?

FYI, Chicago's new LRAP doesn't include academia.

That's true, but I figured if I strike out with Biglaw, then I can do public interest work for ten years. After that, I would apply to become a professor.

happyphone wrote:That's true, but I figured if I strike out with Biglaw, then I can do public interest work for ten years. After that, I would apply to become a professor.

Not a realistic plan.

(1) Academia requires better than big law numbers

(2) The sweetspot for entering academia is after 2-3 years of practice.

The stereotypical path nowadays for top academic positions:

Top of Class -> COA clerkship-> 2-3 years at a V10 -> Fellowship -> Assistant Professor

Your plan is not realistic. I say this as a former 0L who dreamt the same way you did.

(1) Going into Academia is not a real option, unless you go to Yale. Otherwise, you must be in the top 2% at a T3, or 1% at T6.*

(2) Getting a Supreme Court clerkship will require that you are top 1% in your graduating class from a T6 school.*

*Numbers are not completely accurate, but that's the general quality of people who get these positions.

More realistically, your career path will look like this:
- Year 1: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 2: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 3-5: Biglaw Associate
- Year 5+: Doors are wide open. You can go DOJ, Smaller Firm, Stick with a large firm, go corporate, go into politics, start your own company, etc...

Take UChicago; it's leaps and bounds above the other schools in terms of post-graduation job placement, quality of the school and faculty, and is not that much more expensive.

Hyde Park is actually very enjoyable. At a minimum, its no worse than any of the other cities you're considering.

UChicagoStudent wrote:Your plan is not realistic.

This.

You do have another option as a path to academia though, which would be doing well (but not necessarily top 5%) at a top school and combining your JD with an SJD or other certain other advanced degrees.

While I think the goals in your OP are a bit idealistic, you should go to Chicago.

happyphone wrote:Hello!
I am hoping to work Biglaw in DC. UChicago is looking pretty good because they have that new LRAP program. I would like to transition from Biglaw to teaching law at a premier law school. And I want to clerk with a Supreme Court justice. Which law school do you think is my best choice?

Then Iowa is the clear choice, obv.

happyphone wrote:I want to clerk with a Supreme Court justice.

I kinda want to be an astronaut.



But seriously, you have like a 1-in-500 shot of doing this out of U-Chicago and a 1-in-5000 shot out of any of the other schools. Do you really think you will be the very best student in your class? Not realistic enough to give much credence with regard to this decision.

UChicagoStudent wrote:More realistically, your career path will look like this:
- Year 1: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 2: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 3-5: Biglaw Associate
- Year 5+: Doors are wide open. You can go DOJ, Smaller Firm, Stick with a large firm, go corporate, go into politics, start your own company, etc...

Oh man, I didn't know being a Big Law associate for 5 years was so helpful with regard to starting one's own company.

If anyone wants to start their own company, a word of advice: don't waste 3 years on law school and certainly don't waste 5 years in Big Law. Making your own life miserable for nearly a decade with no particular reason or reward is not a good path to take if you're just going to go into business for yourself anyway.

Starting your own firm is not a bad idea at that point, but you'd have been much better off outside of Big Law and at a smaller firm where you actually got to be in the courtroom and stuff.

I understand that teaching is not easy, but I definitely want the best chance at an elite firm. I also want to make sure I will be able to practice law on the East Coast. The debt at Chicago will be tough so it makes Iowa and BC look somewhat more appealing to me.

happyphone wrote:I understand that teaching is not easy, but I definitely want the best chance at an elite firm. I also want to make sure I will be able to practice law on the East Coast. The debt at Chicago will be tough so it makes Iowa and BC look somewhat more appealing to me.

If you want the best possible chances at a V10 firm, go to Chicago. Seriously, take the other schools off your list.

happyphone wrote:I definitely want the best chance at an elite firm. I also want to make sure I will be able to practice law on the East Coast. The debt at Chicago will be tough so it makes Iowa and BC look somewhat more appealing to me.

U of Chicago dominates the other schools in elite firm placement, even on the east coast. There is no real question here, as the extra $50k debt really isn't that much in the long run. Go to UChicago and don't look back.

happyphone wrote:Hello!
I am hoping to work Biglaw in DC. UChicago is looking pretty good because they have that new LRAP program. I would like to transition from Biglaw to teaching law at a premier law school. And I want to clerk with a Supreme Court justice. Which law school do you think is my best choice?

You should either get into Yale and excel, or get lower goals.

Attorney wrote:

UChicagoStudent wrote:More realistically, your career path will look like this:
- Year 1: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 2: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 3-5: Biglaw Associate
- Year 5+: Doors are wide open. You can go DOJ, Smaller Firm, Stick with a large firm, go corporate, go into politics, start your own company, etc...

Oh man, I didn't know being a Big Law associate for 5 years was so helpful with regard to starting one's own company.

If anyone wants to start their own company, a word of advice: don't waste 3 years on law school and certainly don't waste 5 years in Big Law. Making your own life miserable for nearly a decade with no particular reason or reward is not a good path to take if you're just going to go into business for yourself anyway.

Starting your own firm is not a bad idea at that point, but you'd have been much better off outside of Big Law and at a smaller firm where you actually got to be in the courtroom and stuff.

You are kidding calling that idea laughable, right?!? A number of our professors at U Chicago have made millions of dollars with their own consulting companies. The Dean of Columbia has done that as well. The creators of the World Series of Poker and TMZ are UofC alumnus. David Rubenstien, who just donated $10m to the school, made his money in a private equity fund. That's just a small sample of people off of the top of my head. Yes, starting your own company is a very realistic option.

Calling 3 years on law school and 5 years in BigLaw a 'waste' is simply wrong.

Back to the point of the thread: Go to Chicago. This shouldn't be an issue

UChicagoStudent wrote:

Attorney wrote:

UChicagoStudent wrote:More realistically, your career path will look like this:
- Year 1: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 2: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 3-5: Biglaw Associate
- Year 5+: Doors are wide open. You can go DOJ, Smaller Firm, Stick with a large firm, go corporate, go into politics, start your own company, etc...

Oh man, I didn't know being a Big Law associate for 5 years was so helpful with regard to starting one's own company.

If anyone wants to start their own company, a word of advice: don't waste 3 years on law school and certainly don't waste 5 years in Big Law. Making your own life miserable for nearly a decade with no particular reason or reward is not a good path to take if you're just going to go into business for yourself anyway.

Starting your own firm is not a bad idea at that point, but you'd have been much better off outside of Big Law and at a smaller firm where you actually got to be in the courtroom and stuff.

You are kidding calling that idea laughable, right?!? A number of our professors at U Chicago have made millions of dollars with their own consulting companies. The Dean of Columbia has done that as well. The creators of the World Series of Poker and TMZ are UofC alumnus. David Rubenstien, who just donated $10m to the school, made his money in a private equity fund. That's just a small sample of people off of the top of my head. Yes, starting your own company is a very realistic option.

Calling 3 years on law school and 5 years in BigLaw a 'waste' is simply wrong.

Back to the point of the thread: Go to Chicago. This shouldn't be an issue

Top experts in their fields charging high consulting fee's isn't exactly starting a firm. And the World Series of Poker and TMZ seem like they are totally unrelated to practicing law, backing up exactly what Attorney was saying.

Do you think Rubenstien learned how to manage private equity funds in his two years at big law? Really?

These people accomplished would have done the same things without law school.

Thanks for all this great input. The cost of UChicago will be around 200k, but I guess it will be worth it considering all of your opinions.

Seriousllllyyy????



UChi

Hopefully I can increase my scholarship from 8k to more $$$

Desert Fox wrote:

UChicagoStudent wrote:

Attorney wrote:

UChicagoStudent wrote:More realistically, your career path will look like this:
- Year 1: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 2: Biglaw/Clerking (more than likely BigLaw)
- Year 3-5: Biglaw Associate
- Year 5+: Doors are wide open. You can go DOJ, Smaller Firm, Stick with a large firm, go corporate, go into politics, start your own company, etc...

Oh man, I didn't know being a Big Law associate for 5 years was so helpful with regard to starting one's own company.

If anyone wants to start their own company, a word of advice: don't waste 3 years on law school and certainly don't waste 5 years in Big Law. Making your own life miserable for nearly a decade with no particular reason or reward is not a good path to take if you're just going to go into business for yourself anyway.

Starting your own firm is not a bad idea at that point, but you'd have been much better off outside of Big Law and at a smaller firm where you actually got to be in the courtroom and stuff.

You are kidding calling that idea laughable, right?!? A number of our professors at U Chicago have made millions of dollars with their own consulting companies. The Dean of Columbia has done that as well. The creators of the World Series of Poker and TMZ are UofC alumnus. David Rubenstien, who just donated $10m to the school, made his money in a private equity fund. That's just a small sample of people off of the top of my head. Yes, starting your own company is a very realistic option.

Calling 3 years on law school and 5 years in BigLaw a 'waste' is simply wrong.

Back to the point of the thread: Go to Chicago. This shouldn't be an issue

Top experts in their fields charging high consulting fee's isn't exactly starting a firm. And the World Series of Poker and TMZ seem like they are totally unrelated to practicing law, backing up exactly what Attorney was saying.

Do you think Rubenstien learned how to manage private equity funds in his two years at big law? Really?

These people accomplished would have done the same things without law school.

You're right. In no way/shape/form will law school or biglaw lead you to opening that Subway Franchise you've been dreaming about you're entire life.

UChicagoStudent wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Top experts in their fields charging high consulting fee's isn't exactly starting a firm. And the World Series of Poker and TMZ seem like they are totally unrelated to practicing law, backing up exactly what Attorney was saying.

Do you think Rubenstien learned how to manage private equity funds in his two years at big law? Really?

These people accomplished would have done the same things without law school.

You're right. In no way/shape/form will law school or biglaw lead you to opening that Subway Franchise you've been dreaming about you're entire life.

If you really think that law school and Big Law leads to starting your own business ( ), then there isn't much that anyone can do for you. But look at the business accomplishments of graduates from the Chicago GSB (Booth) and then look at those of the graduates of the lawl school. If you had any inclination to start a company, you should have gone to business school.

You've got one big name who went into PE from lawl, versus hundreds of big names in PE from Booth. Then you have a couple of big consultants from lawl, versus hundreds of big consulting fish from Booth. There is absolutely no contest here, and law school was the wrong decision if business is what you are interested in instead of law.

Especially if you don't have an undergrad business or econ degree.

I wonder if there is a way to apply to the business school after starting law school. I will look into this.

If I got BC to give me full tuition, would you all still say go to UChicago? Is anyone familiar with the financial aid app..it asks how many courses for each quarter and I'm not sure what to put...

happyphone wrote:If I got BC to give me full tuition, would you all still say go to UChicago?

Yep, I'd still say U-Chicago.

But it'd probably be a lot closer vote if you could get BC/Vandy to give you full tuition.