Family Law Forum

[eastboundemu]

Code: Select all

Hey everyone, I have been accepted to both KU and UMKC starting in the fall. I am going to law school for the sole purpose of entering family law on Kansas City. Should I attended the tier 1 KU that does not have a family law program, or the tier 3 UMKC which has a large family law program? I am banking on out of state tuition being waved at UMKC because I live 3 streets from state line and they stress that this often is the case. If same price point, what are your thoughts?

[worldtraveler]

What will be your debt from both? And what do you mean by "no family law program"? Every law school has courses in family law.

[Jay2716]

Are you planning on living at home either way?

[Gooner91]

Do you have a family that have a family law practice you are planning to work in?

[eastboundemu]

Some answers to above,the debt will be close to the same for either. I will be living at home regardless and I do have a few friends in the local law market. KU will of course have some family law classes, however UMKC has a emphasis of family law and a high number of dedicated staff along with a guardian ad litum clinic. The basic question is if it is better to go to the higher ranked school, or the the one with the program you want. I have seen it said both ways.

[A. Nony Mouse]

You should probably go to the school with the best employment prospects for the least cost possible. Rankings and specialty programs aren't really the best way to assess a law school. Family exists everywhere, so you will be able to get experience throughout school wherever you go (whether that's through a clinic or a job with a firm or an intern/externship with some other kind of employer).

[worldtraveler]

Some answers to above,the debt will be close to the same for either. I will be living at home regardless and I do have a few friends in the local law market. KU will of course have some family law classes, however UMKC has a emphasis of family law and a high number of dedicated staff along with a guardian ad litum clinic. The basic question is if it is better to go to the higher ranked school, or the the one with the program you want. I have seen it said both ways.

Again, what will be your actual debt?

[eastboundemu]

Still have some aid applications out, but I'm looking at around 25 k a year in debt.