Another school choosing poll (Toronto, Duke, Michigan) - !
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:42 pm
At this point, it looks like I will be choosing between Toronto, Duke, and Michigan. I may have other options, but I'll deal with that if it happens (check http://lawschoolnumbers.com/sach1282).
First off, take the debt figures at face value. I have financial help and those are the final numbers.
There is also the possibility that something might come through and lower all these debt figures by ~20k.
So here's some info about me:
1) I do not want biglaw. The hours are insane, I want nothing to do with it.
2) I want a clerkship. I know I'll have to have top grades to do this, but I want to clerk more than anything else.
3) My hometown is a small city with an average legal market (Buffalo, NY)
4) Academia is attractive, though I know chances are slim.
Here's what I have thought of so far for pros and cons:
Toronto:
+Access to a much healthier Canadian legal market and culture (including lower billable expectations, free heath care, and lower taxes)
+I am completely in love with the city
+Can practice in NY, MA and CA, as well as Canada
-Lower salary (~95k is market)
-Relatively large debt compared to the salary, due to the fact I am ineligible for financial aid as an international applicant
Michigan:
+Summer Start - the social situation, earlier start date, as well as the ability to choose electives earlier is very enticing
+Lowest debt of all 3
+Fantastic LRAP
+Mini-seminars
+The ability to represent clients in court as part of clinicals after just 1L
-Nothing significant
Duke:
+MA in Philosophy in just 3 years + summer start!
+The aforementioned summer start (same reasons as Michigan)
+Prefer NC weather
-Higher debt load due to the joint degree
First off, take the debt figures at face value. I have financial help and those are the final numbers.
There is also the possibility that something might come through and lower all these debt figures by ~20k.
So here's some info about me:
1) I do not want biglaw. The hours are insane, I want nothing to do with it.
2) I want a clerkship. I know I'll have to have top grades to do this, but I want to clerk more than anything else.
3) My hometown is a small city with an average legal market (Buffalo, NY)
4) Academia is attractive, though I know chances are slim.
Here's what I have thought of so far for pros and cons:
Toronto:
+Access to a much healthier Canadian legal market and culture (including lower billable expectations, free heath care, and lower taxes)
+I am completely in love with the city
+Can practice in NY, MA and CA, as well as Canada
-Lower salary (~95k is market)
-Relatively large debt compared to the salary, due to the fact I am ineligible for financial aid as an international applicant
Michigan:
+Summer Start - the social situation, earlier start date, as well as the ability to choose electives earlier is very enticing
+Lowest debt of all 3
+Fantastic LRAP
+Mini-seminars
+The ability to represent clients in court as part of clinicals after just 1L
-Nothing significant
Duke:
+MA in Philosophy in just 3 years + summer start!
+The aforementioned summer start (same reasons as Michigan)
+Prefer NC weather
-Higher debt load due to the joint degree