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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?

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.

Are you planning on living at home either way?

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

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.

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).

eastboundemu wrote: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?

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