Top Law Schools

Summer start at both. Nearly matching scholarship offers. Except Duke's covering the dual-degree LLM program there as well.

Looking to get back to California ASAP (to practice BigLaw or clerk).

Visited both schools.

Loved Ann Arbor, felt way more livable than Durham. Felt less isolated there. Problem: the weather is absolutely terrible.

I like the lay prestige of Duke, though most people seem to say "I hate their basketball team" and "Tucker Max, right?"

That's not important to my decision though.

Both law schools are beautiful in their own ways. Duke is, as another TLSer has said, a swanky office park, and Michigan is Hogwarts.

Really torn here. Both great schools. What do you think?

Have you negotiated with Duke for more money? I got more from Duke with the same Michigan scholarship.

I have not done that yet. How much more would they be amenable to give?

Don't ask me, I'm just a random student on the Internet. If you want a real answer, contact the Duke financial aid office directly. They tend to be quick in their response times (as per my personal experience and that of other TLSers in the Duke thread).

It sounds like you like the environment of Michigan more...

At equal price, just choose the school you like better. They'll be pretty similar to get back to CA.

I don't think an LLM really adds value for CA biglaw unless you want to do tax, so I would doubt that it should figure into your decision.

Decided to accept Michigan's offer! GO BLUE!!! Anyone is welcome to PM me if they have a similar decision to make.