Top Law Schools

I've been a lurker on these forums for the past eight months, trying to soak up as much information as possible so that I could make an informed decision on where I choose to go to law school. Now, the time has come to solicit some advice. Here's my situation:

I moved down from the Northeast to attend a small, well respected liberal arts school in Florida with an overall GPA of 3.4. I took the LSAT twice, and my highest score was a 157. My application was well rounded, and I have impressive softs. During this cycle, I sent out a slew of applications, and was waitlisted at many of my top choices, including UF, FSU, UNC-Chapel Hill and Wisconsin-Madison. I was accepted at Seton Hall, Brooklyn Law School, Rutgers-Newark, the University of Miami, and LSU. I sent out my apps in November, and since that time, I have re-evaluated my goals and decided that I would like to remain in the South. Therefore, at this point in my application cycle, it comes down to a decision between LSU with a scholarship, bringing the COA to $24k, or Miami at sticker. I have a significant sum of money saved to put toward my education, but the difference between the two cost-wise merits some serious deliberation, and unfortunately I'm quickly running out of time to decide.

My main concern is that LSU, with its unique focus on civil and common law, might put me at a disadvantage if I wanted to move to a neighboring state, and would essentially relegate me to practicing in Louisiana for for a large portion of my career. Can anyone on TLS speak to whether or not the dual J.D./D.C.L. offered at LSU would put me at a disadvantage if I wanted to move out of LA to East Texas, or if I wanted to return to FL? I know, based upon ABA reports on Law School Transparency that some students from LSU do indeed go on to Texas, but I was hoping that someone on here could give me some first hand knowledge.

rolleiflex wrote:I've been a lurker on these forums for the past eight months, trying to soak up as much information as possible so that I could make an informed decision on where I choose to go to law school. Now, the time has come to solicit some advice. Here's my situation:

I moved down from the Northeast to attend a small, well respected liberal arts school in Florida with an overall GPA of 3.4. I took the LSAT twice, and my highest score was a 157. My application was well rounded, and I have impressive softs. During this cycle, I sent out a slew of applications, and was waitlisted at many of my top choices, including UF, FSU, UNC-Chapel Hill and Wisconsin-Madison. I was accepted at Seton Hall, Brooklyn Law School, Rutgers-Newark, the University of Miami, and LSU. I sent out my apps in November, and since that time, I have re-evaluated my goals and decided that I would like to remain in the South. Therefore, at this point in my application cycle, it comes down to a decision between LSU with a scholarship, bringing the COA to $24k, or Miami at sticker. I have a significant sum of money saved to put toward my education, but the difference between the two cost-wise merits some serious deliberation, and unfortunately I'm quickly running out of time to decide.

My main concern is that LSU, with its unique focus on civil and common law, might put me at a disadvantage if I wanted to move to a neighboring state, and would essentially relegate me to practicing in Louisiana for for a large portion of my career. Can anyone on TLS speak to whether or not the dual J.D./D.C.L. offered at LSU would put me at a disadvantage if I wanted to move out of LA to East Texas, or if I wanted to return to FL? I know, based upon ABA reports on Law School Transparency that some students from LSU do indeed go on to Texas, but I was hoping that someone on here could give me some first hand knowledge.

By no means should you even be considering Miami at sticker. As for LSU, that $24k COA seems suspiciously low, as it would imply a scholly that is disproportionately high to your 3.4 / 157. Would you mind walking us through the steps of how you arrived at that $24k COA?

LSU at 24k (if that is the true COA) is a pretty great deal considering your #'s and their employment #'s. While it will probably limit your transferability to Louisiana and some parts of the neighboring states, it's still the best option you have.
Miami at sticker=never.

Is that $24K per year?

What are your softs, by the way? Most people overestimate the strength of their softs.

If LSU is $24k total COA, go there because at least that debt won't ruin your life when you can't find a job because nobody in nawlinz trusts some yank to do their legal work. If it's per year, don't go, and don't go to Miami at sticker under any circumstances.

LSU, hands down. Miami is a festering TTT.

LSU, but I wonder how outsider status will play with small firm employers.

Yes, the COA would be around 24k per year. I would graduate with minimal debt. That's all I'm at liberty to disclose with regard to the finances. Can anyone speak to the regional degree portability of LSU? Would the Houston market be accessible to an LSU grad, for instance? Is LSU well regarded in neighboring states?

rolleiflex wrote:Yes, the COA would be around 24k per year. I would graduate with minimal debt. That's all I'm at liberty to disclose with regard to the finances. Can anyone speak to the regional degree portability of LSU? Would the Houston market be accessible to an LSU grad, for instance? Is LSU well regarded in neighboring states?

Liberty to disclose? WTF is this stuff?

If you want to work in Texas, go to UT. Houston and SMU are defensible if they are very cheap and you have ties.

Either go to a tippy top school (ideally for as cheap as possible) or go to a strong regional for as close to free as possible in a region where you have strong ties to and are willing to live and work in long term.

BigZuck wrote:Liberty to disclose? WTF is this stuff?

If you want to work in Texas, go to UT. Houston and SMU are defensible if they are very cheap and you have ties.

Either go to a tippy top school (ideally for as cheap as possible) or go to a strong regional for as close to free as possible in a region where you have strong ties to and are willing to live and work in long term.

It simply means that I'd rather not go into any more detail on a public forum. I'm sorry if I came off as being rude. I appreciate your advice, and thank you for your input.

Just out of curiosity, you're actually gonna go aren't you?

OP that's not what at liberty means.

But on a more serious note, neither of those schools are worth either of those prices.

LSU will absolutely limit you to Louisiana. Furthermore, that impressive employment statistic they put up is from firms hiring in-state students.

If you are not from Louisiana and intend to stay in Louisiana do not go to LSU.

Oh yeah, and don't go to Miami either.

rolleiflex wrote:Yes, the COA would be around 24k per year. I would graduate with minimal debt. That's all I'm at liberty to disclose with regard to the finances. Can anyone speak to the regional degree portability of LSU? Would the Houston market be accessible to an LSU grad, for instance? Is LSU well regarded in neighboring states?

The COA is $24k/yr., huh? That makes more sense. IMHO, LSU isn't worth it at that price, especially if you don't have significant ties to that area. Some of those southern states can be rather insular.

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I actually think it's a sweet deal, especially with OP's numbers.

Louisiana's COL ain't so bad, LA isn't government driven, LSU is a fun school, and the debt load is manageable.

OP does not have Lousiana ties. LSU is out.

Dr. Dre wrote:I actually think it's a sweet deal, especially with OP's numbers.

Louisiana's COL ain't so bad, LA isn't government driven, LSU is a fun school, and the debt load is manageable.

What if he'd gotten into Berk at equal COA?

run away

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UF and FSU are festering TTT

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=florida
http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=fsu


and the state of Florida is in a financial mess. Not as bad as california, but still—a mess.

Dr. Dre wrote:http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=lsu

LSU pulls more than its weight for a TTT

I wouldn't consider LSU a TTT. Just cause it is not ranked so high doesn't mean shit.

THe UC law skewls are ranked too damn high. I guess the US NEWS just likes schools in liberal states. . .