Top Law Schools

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It sounds like you know what you want, and USC with 90k isn't crazy at all. Your other options are great, but obviously best for someone who wants to stay on the East Coast. You can pretty much eliminate everything but GULC right off the bat. From there just decide for certain whether you want DC or SoCal. If it's a toss-up, go to GULC.

Any of these options would be solid, but keep in mind that choosing Duke or Georgetown doesn't estrange you from SoCal by any means - your first job may not be in Cali, but if you seek it out, the prestige of those schools will still keep doors open.

just wondering, with those numbers, why not UCLA?

OP, if you are okay with CA and specifically SoCal, I don't think 90k at USC is a bad idea. In fact I think from an objective financial perspective, USC might actually be the winner here over DCG.

So yes, go to USC.

jfb wrote:just wondering, with those numbers, why not UCLA?

Why? UCLA is a peer to USC in every way except with possibly slightly further portability.

I expect/hope to be making a very similar decision soon, tagging this post.

I would go with Georgetown, to be in DC. Your international experience will be a plus there.

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Go to USC. Why not Vandy and Texas with money? They also place in CA.

stylishlaw wrote:Go to USC. Why not Vandy and Texas with money? They also place in CA.

Aye, they probably do, but from everything I have been reading and hearing, trying to get to Cali without ties is going to be really tough. Studying there is probably the best way of beginning to create those ties. If Vandy, then I would argue Duke makes even more sense (similar COA due to higher COL in Nashville). Anyways, moot point since I already withdrew from those two. But the vote so far is overwhelmingly in favor of USC...

The reason the vote favors USC is because you TOLD everyone you are leaning toward USC.

I think Georgetown makes way more sense in your situation.

Danteshek wrote:The reason the vote favors USC is because you TOLD everyone you are leaning toward USC.

No. The vote favors USC because OP told everyone that the leaning is towards LOS ANGELES, not USC.

What's the point of asking people to vote when they don't know where I would like to be? My goal was more to find out if I'm being crazy regarding leaning toward USC for working/living in Southern California, not to find out where the objectively 'better' school is. I think bk187 might have put that more succinctly than I just did... anyway, driving to Georgetown now and visiting Duke on Sunday/Monday, USC probably next weekend. Thanks for your input!

Obviously I'm bias, but it sounds like you're looking for moral support for a decision you've pretty much made, so here it is: Go to USC! With the better financial position, it's less of a risk and you will have a less stressful time (money wise). USC does very well in LA and SoCal, I have a job in biglaw that I can't imagine people from much higher ranked schools didn't apply to, and over half the associates/partners I interviewed with were USC alums, so I really didn't feel disadvantaged.

The most valuable thing for you about USC though is the networking. USC has networking events at least every week (for example, last week Paul Hastings partners came to the school to chat, this week the Entertainment Law Society is going to CAA to meet a bunch of agents and studio execs), and you will really start building your contacts during law school. Especially since you have no ties to the area, if you want to work in Cali I can't see how you wouldn't go to USC.

go to USC and don't look back.