Alexandria, va Forum

[badnewsbears]

I hear a lot of talk about if you can't go to a t14, you should go to the best regional school in an area you want to work. What if that area is a place like Alexandria in northern Virginia. Is this basically still dc, or would Virginia schools be just as good if not better? Is a school like mason a solid choice? Or is this area still subject to the ridiculous dc competition everyone keeps talking about?

[msuz]

I hear a lot of talk about if you can't go to a t14, you should go to the best regional school in an area you want to work. What if that area is a place like Alexandria in northern Virginia. Is this basically still dc, or would Virginia schools be just as good if not better? Is a school like mason a solid choice? Or is this area still subject to the ridiculous dc competition everyone keeps talking about?

I can speak a little bit about Alexandria because I interned in DC. Its not even 10 minutes from DC, and I know a lot of DOD and US patent workers are employed there, so I think it is very much involved in DC affairs. Not sure about the legal market though.

[badnewsbears]

thank you- any other opinions?

[lhess218]

My family is from around Alexandria: my father practiced in DC, my mom taught at Mason, and both have a lot of friends that worked in Alexandria. Having said that, I'd probably go with another VA school. Mason's hiring is good, but W&M and to an extent, W&L, are equally as strong (if not stronger). If the cost of tuition is what appeals to you, then I can't really help much because that's totally your call.

But everything I just said was based off of my personal experiences, and I'm sure someone will disagree with me.

[ap613]

I think an important piece of info people need to give you better advice that's missing is what kind of law job you're talking about. If you are just looking at a small local firm in Alexandria then I would think GMU would be fine. I live in Alexandria and there definitely don't seem to be major firms here that I'm aware of, there is the PTO and then some smaller ones but I have been under the impression they're more politically oriented or government relations types. Northern VA biglaw if there is such a thing would be in Tysons I think and I don't know how GMU places there. This isn't to knock GMU at all I'm applying this cycle and its definitely near the top of my list, the tuition is pretty unbeatable for VA residents. I think you would be fine with GMU if you set realistic expectations, there is lots of government work for sure. If you have your heart set on biglaw in DC though and are looking at VA schools the only sure thing is probably UVA then you have W&L and W&M then probably GMU.