NYU v. UVA for Biglaw? Forum

[sn20]

Is there actually any difference in placement for these two schools for NYC Biglaw? The NLJ 250 and employment numbers are very similar. Would top 25% at both schools open the same doors to the elite firms (V10)?

[MrPapagiorgio]

I would say that it depends on which market you would prefer. Not sure about as high up as V10, but doing well at NYU and UVa will bring offers for biglaw. When I say it depends on the market, I am mostly referring to practical considerations. For example, if you want NYC biglaw, I would go to NYU because it makes housing during the summer much easier (and vice versa for UVa and DC). Also, many of your classmates will self-select into PI from NYU, helping you during OCI. That said, NYC biglaw, in general, will be easier to get than DC biglaw.

Also, scholarship considerations should factor into this decision as well.

[dissonance1848]

It depends what you mean. UVA definitely is better for Southern biglaw than NYU. NYU has the edge over UVA in NYC (for the same class rank, firms in NYC will go deeper into NYU than UVA). Vault is biased to NYC centric biglaw firms, so if you are thinking about Vault, then NYU will be better.

[sn20]

I want Texas Biglaw and the only firms that would keep me from going back to Texas would be the top New York offices of the elite firms (Wachtell, SullCrom, Cravath etc.) for obvious reasons. The Texas firms look at NYU and UVA equally (from speaking with firm recruiters), and I was curious as to whether or not these elite NYC firms do as well. Thoughts?

[turkeysub]

NYU does have seem to have an edge on the super-elite NYC biglaw firms. This thread shows Davis Polk's 2011 summer class. http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=146598

[rayiner]

Top NYC firms look more favorably on NYU than UVA. Most SA's at V5's from NYU or CLS are roughly top 1/4 (Stone at CLS). Most from outside CCN are law review (top 10%-ish at most places). At a place like Wachtell, top 5% or maybe top 10% will put you in contention at CLS or NYU. For non-CCN T14's you need to be more like top 5-10 people.

[ahnhub]

This thread has the school breakdown for several of the higher-ranked Vault firms this past year (c/o 2013): http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=172119

There's several V10-ish firms on the list--Cravath, Skadden, Davis Polk, etc. Just from looking at the breakdowns you would think NYU would have a pretty big advantage with those elite NYC law firms, but as always there are probably all kinds of caveats. (For one thing, it looks like you need pretty stellar grades from anywhere to get a lot of those firms).

[rayiner]

This thread has the school breakdown for several of the higher-ranked Vault firms this past year (c/o 2013): http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=172119

There's several V10-ish firms on the list--Cravath, Skadden, Davis Polk, etc. Just from looking at the breakdowns you would think NYU would have a pretty big advantage with those elite NYC law firms, but as always there are probably all kinds of caveats. (For one thing, it looks like you need pretty stellar grades from anywhere to get a lot of those firms).

The advantage is significant, but less than it seems from those lists. At CLS/NYU, everyone on LR goes to V10 firms. At schools with bigger home markets, people often go for local firms. Top 10% at UVA guns for DC big law, top 10% at NU tends to gun for Kirkland or Sidley Chicago, etc.