Top Law Schools

Hi all, long-time lurker etc. I'm choosing between Michigan and Northwestern and the NU deposit deadline is this Friday so I don't have much time to make a decision.

Some considerations
-I've got $ at both, and more at NU, and I've saved some money...but given the higher COL in Chicago and my financial situation, I'd graduate from either with ~$50K of debt, so there's no real monetary advantage over either.
-I went to undergrad at Michigan, and I grew up in Chicago, so I already know what it's like to live in either area. Considering only the location, I'd much rather live in Chicago than Ann Arbor again.
-I visited Michigan's ASW a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it - Ann Arbor aside, I loved the people I met, the professors, the buildings, etc. - I could really see myself going there. I wasn't able to get off work to go to NU for their ASW and I don't know anyone who goes there. But I've only heard good things about the student body, although I would assume it's a pretty different group of people than Michigan given the older student body, etc. I'm three years out of undergrad myself.
-In terms of student life, I would think Michigan would be more "fun" - I'm kind of concerned about everyone at NU being married/having families/going home at the end of the day and staying there versus everyone being on campus in Ann Arbor. I'm sure that's an exaggeration but, I'm the difference is still there probably, right?
-Trying to get BigLaw, so I know NU's the clear winner there, but I'm worried if I change my mind an NU degree wouldn't be versatile enough if I change my mind - as you can see, I'm not going to be graduating with too much debt and could afford a lower salary if something came my way.
-Also would want a shot at a federal clerkship. The statistics say Michigan's the winner there, but I was reading in the NU questions thread about a new clerkship advisor, so maybe in a few years they'll be more equal in terms of prospects.
-No huge preference as to where I want to practice, but as you can see I'm from the Midwest and think I'd be perfectly happy to stay in Chicago.

I'm sure I'd be happy at either and as you can see there's no huge factor I could make a decision over. Just interested in your thoughts. Thanks!

1. It sounds like your environmental preference is to live in Chicago.
2. It sounds like you want to work in biglaw.
3. You should not be making this decision based upon federal clerkship because both schools have similar stats (8% for Mich and 6.5% for Northwestern). Both schools have professors that can get you a federal clerkship if you get close to them.

You can't really make a wrong choice here, but I would lean slightly towards Northwestern given that you would prefer Chicago and that you want biglaw. I would highly suggest that you visit Northwestern this week before the deadline to see if you like the atmosphere at the school.

Easy, let Michigan's performance tomorrow night dictate the choice.

I did both ASW's and even though the student body at Northwestern was older they definitely seemed like they knew how to go out and have a good time. There were also quite a few current students who told me they chose Northwestern above Michigan. In fact, they didn't seem too fond of Michigan or Ann Arbor at all.

Doorkeeper wrote:1. It sounds like your environmental preference is to live in Chicago.
2. It sounds like you want to work in biglaw.
3. You should not be making this decision based upon federal clerkship because both schools have similar stats (8% for Mich and 6.5% for Northwestern). Both schools have professors that can get you a federal clerkship if you get close to them.

You can't really make a wrong choice here, but I would lean slightly towards Northwestern given that you would prefer Chicago and that you want biglaw. I would highly suggest that you visit Northwestern this week before the deadline to see if you like the atmosphere at the school.

Thanks. I just really wish there was some obvious reason for me to pick one over the other, but even the COA's the same...

I'm confronted with the same exact decision as you. I think Big Law placement is a pretty good reason.

I don't really see what is in Michigan's favor here. I guarantee you the NU social life will not be worse than Michigan. Will likely be better because there is way more to do in Chicago than AA. NU places much better in Chicago and better generally. Seems easy enough to me.

I'd even venture to say that NU has the advantage in social scene. In AA, you can party like an undergrad or...stay home. At NU, you can party like an undergrad or do any of the other bajillion things available to do in Chicago.

After attending Northwestern's ASW, I think the older student body thing is overplayed. Most of them are, like you and me, within 4 years of undergrad. There were a few people in their 30s with kids, but it was hardly a large chunk. On the flip side, some of the professors were surprisingly young. And after living in a college town for 6 years, I'm so glad to be moving to a real city.

The northwestern grad sitting next to me at doc review says no. She's really bright too.

Docreviewsux wrote:The northwestern grad sitting next to me at doc review says no. She's really bright too.

sigh

Docreviewsux wrote:The northwestern grad sitting next to me at doc review says no. She's really bright too.

We count that as big law.

Let's see..... slightly more money at NU than UM, have WE, want to get a job....hmmm..... gee, I wonder?!

Northwestern.

NW places awesome in biglaw and the vibe I got was that it has a pretty social student body despite being older. Michigan just does not have the placement to provide job security IMO.

will be attending NU in the fall. I don't have a wife or kids....that I know of.

feralinfant wrote:will be attending NU in the fall. I don't have a wife or kids....that I know of.

Those late nights in undergrad can be brutal.

Clearly this objective and completely unbiased sampling of TLSers are correct in leaning towards NU.

There is a social life advantage to Northwestern which is this: a much higher percentage of people who spent just long enough in the work force (1-3 years) to know that it blows and want to relive the booze-fueled days of undergrad again for three more years.

GMGP wrote:NW places awesome in biglaw and the vibe I got was that it has a pretty social student body despite being older. Michigan just does not have the placement to provide job security IMO.

I read a lot on here that Michigan's lack of a home market is hurting it now after the legal crash too (and I also read a lot that that's not true and it's self-selection into PI or w/e)...think it's true?

arizonairish wrote:Easy, let Michigan's performance tomorrow night dictate the choice.

lol

MotorcadePolder wrote:

GMGP wrote:NW places awesome in biglaw and the vibe I got was that it has a pretty social student body despite being older. Michigan just does not have the placement to provide job security IMO.

I read a lot on here that Michigan's lack of a home market is hurting it now after the legal crash too (and I also read a lot that that's not true and it's self-selection into PI or w/e)...think it's true?

I don't think it is lack of a home market, Duke and UVA don't have a true home market either and both of them are fine. I think it is just lack of hustle and connections from career services. The selection into PI might just be because they can't go to biglaw.

MotorcadePolder wrote:

GMGP wrote:NW places awesome in biglaw and the vibe I got was that it has a pretty social student body despite being older. Michigan just does not have the placement to provide job security IMO.

I read a lot on here that Michigan's lack of a home market is hurting it now after the legal crash too (and I also read a lot that that's not true and it's self-selection into PI or w/e)...think it's true?

Pretty sure it's not self-selection into PI. PI is not something you just self-select into when the market is bad. PI jobs are just as competitive, if not more so, than big firm jobs.

also interested in this, and pretty surprised at the current poll results, would have guessed they would be more even

Northwestern 1L's don't have assigned seats at lunch. And don't live in a huge dorm together (well, McDorm kinda).