Chances: UCLA Law to BigLaw in NY? Forum

[Champion]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

[JoeMo]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

Negative. If you want NY go to Fordham or Cardozo, assuming you can't get into CLS, NYU.

[Veyron]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

LOL, "forced" to stay in LA. LA biglaw is going to be more difficult to get, especially for a non-local. That being said, top 1/3 bro to have a reasonable shot.

Half your problem is that less big NY firms do OCI at UCLA than schools on the east coast meaning that you're going to have to get a lot of interviews via mass mailing which is tough.

[johansantana21]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

Negative. If you want NY go to Fordham or Cardozo, assuming you can't get into CLS, NYU.

[Champion]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

LOL, "forced" to stay in LA. LA biglaw is going to be more difficult to get, especially for a non-local. That being said, top 1/3 bro to have a reasonable shot.

Half your problem is that less big NY firms do OCI at UCLA than schools on the east coast meaning that you're going to have to get a lot of interviews via mass mailing which is tough.

Yea that's the thing that's making me skeptical about UCLA. My ability to head back to NY for BigLaw. And from the profile it seems pretty easy to do, but that's coming from representatives of the school. And when I say "forced" I mean like seeing that BigLaw in NY isn't going to be possible and having to stick to going hard for the LA market.

[ahduth]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

When faced with this choice, I had to take CLS/NYU over UCLA, even with the enormous amount of money they were handing me. I just don't trust the Cali market really (I also have no ties out there, so that factored in too).

[Veyron]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

LOL, "forced" to stay in LA. LA biglaw is going to be more difficult to get, especially for a non-local. That being said, top 1/3 bro to have a reasonable shot.

Half your problem is that less big NY firms do OCI at UCLA than schools on the east coast meaning that you're going to have to get a lot of interviews via mass mailing which is tough.

Yea that's the thing that's making me skeptical about UCLA. My ability to head back to NY for BigLaw. And from the profile it seems pretty easy to do, but that's coming from representatives of the school. And when I say "forced" I mean like seeing that BigLaw in NY isn't going to be possible and having to stick to going hard for the LA market.

What I'm saying is that the CA legal market is SO fucked up that NY will STILL be easier to get. Can't you get a 1/2 ride to Fordham or go to Cornell or something?

[tennisking88]

If you must have NY, even though it's horrifically oversaturated, yeah, I would take Cornell or money at Fordham over UCLA. If you're not totally married to NY, I'd consider UCLA because I believe it is slightly more portable than Fordham.

[Champion]

And it's looking like UCLA is going to give me a relatively good package. I think I have a shot a NYU or Columbia. So we'll see. I'm in at UCLA, Texas, and UGA so far.

[bk1]

If you really want NYC don't go to UCLA, no matter how much $ they give you.

If you really want biglaw don't go to UCLA, no matter how much $ they give you.

[BeenDidThat]

If you really want NYC don't go to UCLA, no matter how much $ they give you.

If you really want biglaw don't go to UCLA, no matter how much $ they give you.

Weird conditional is weird.

[JoeMo]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

Negative. If you want NY go to Fordham or Cardozo, assuming you can't get into CLS, NYU.

Just curious, I thought Cardozo's employment prospects were pretty decent in NY, no?

[bk1]

If you really want NYC don't go to UCLA, no matter how much $ they give you.

If you really want biglaw don't go to UCLA, no matter how much $ they give you.

Weird conditional is weird.

Maybe it's my own personal biases but I think you should at least give yourself a coinflip's chance if you want something. If you can get into UCLA you can get either get into a school that places better in biglaw or you can retake, score a few points better, and then get into a school that places better in biglaw.

[thexfactor]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

If it isUCLA vs Cornell then it would be easy... go to cornell.

However, if it is UCLA vs Fordham.. I would probably choose UCLA. Their NLJ250 stats are much better than Fordham. Sometimes getting a job is a hell of a lot more important than choosing a top location....
Plus, LA isn't exactly detroit or cleveland......

[de5igual]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

If it isUCLA vs Cornell then it would be easy... go to cornell.

However, if it is UCLA vs Fordham.. I would probably choose UCLA. Their NLJ250 stats are much better than Fordham. Sometimes getting a job is a hell of a lot more important than choosing a top location....
Plus, LA isn't exactly detroit or cleveland......

+1

why is this a UCLA v Fordham debate? someone with UCLA #s should be able to get into Cornell. if it really does come down to UCLA vs Fordham, I'd choose UCLA just because it keeps California open as a possibility (i.e., ties) but doesn't really foreclose NYC too much. True, more NLJ250 firms in NYC recruit at Fordham, but for firms that go to both, they'd dig deeper into UCLA's class (at least this is the case at Texas).

[undeclared]

if you really like UCLA, ask Admissions to put you in touch with students/young alumni who have biglaw NY jobs. They are the friendliest Admissions I dealt with during my law school apps process.

I chose UCLA over Cornell b/c they gave me $ and I wanted to work in CA. (Also being in a city means I can do part time externships) I wont lie, biglaw is tough in this market but its a recession everywhere. If you are say, top 20% the 2Ls this year had a really good shot with biglaw. Below that...mixed, really based on WE, fit, etc. Firms in NY do recruit here, but of course not as much. However, I and another NY friend were successful in getting screeners through direct apps and resume books. I know of a handful of people who summered in NY last year, a lot of it is just choice b/c most people in CA dont want to leave.

So really, its based on performance and you're willingness to do more legwork. If you can get the grades then you should be able to get biglaw in NY. Not sure? Stay in NY. If you can get into CLS, NYU, Cornell, go there. I really don't know about NY schools ranked below Fordham and dont recommend it if you got into ucla. There's a Fordham transfer in my class and if you want, PM me your specific questions.

[Grizz]

LOL just try to get ANY biglaw.

[Errzii]

I want to practice BigLaw in NY.

Based off of just that, I'm going to agree with others and say go to Cornell over UCLA if it's an option.

[Champion]

In at Berkeley and Michigan. If nothing else happens for me this application cycle, I'll be choosing one of those two. I should be good in regards to making it back to NY either way.

[dixiecupdrinking]

I really do love UCLA, and have been accepted for c/o 2015. However, I'm not too sure about going all the way out there since I want to practice BigLaw in NY. I really wouldn't to be "forced" to stay in LA to do BigLaw straight out. Any input??

Negative. If you want NY go to Fordham or Cardozo, assuming you can't get into CLS, NYU.

Just curious, I thought Cardozo's employment prospects were pretty decent in NY, no?

No. Anecdotally, I have heard from friends that Cardozo is not weathering the economy well. I've heard the same about Fordham, actually. CLS and NYU are still pretty safe but the gulf has really widened.

[Hawkeye Pierce]

In at Berkeley and Michigan. If nothing else happens for me this application cycle, I'll be choosing one of those two. I should be good in regards to making it back to NY either way.

Take Michigan

[Champion]

In at Berkeley and Michigan. If nothing else happens for me this application cycle, I'll be choosing one of those two. I should be good in regards to making it back to NY either way.

Take Michigan

Any particular reason for taking Michigan? All input would be great!

[Hawkeye Pierce]

In at Berkeley and Michigan. If nothing else happens for me this application cycle, I'll be choosing one of those two. I should be good in regards to making it back to NY either way.

Take Michigan

Any particular reason for taking Michigan? All input would be great!

1) Look through the NALP directory for NY firms that interview at OCI at Mich and Berkeley -- Mich has more.
2) Less expensive to attend Michigan
3) Michigan historically places more graduates into NY firms