What would you do in my scenario? Forum

[Kellanj]

So I've been spending a lot of time thinking about what law school would be the best fit for me, and I haven't been able to reach any conclusions. I thought it might help to see what others would do in my situation.

A little info about me:
Born and raised in California (Not SF/SV/LA if that matters)
Currently living in and attended undergrad in Portland, OR
I have a wife and a young child
My family and my wife's family live entirely in California and the Pacific Northwest.
I have a 173 LSAT with a 3.45 GPA and what I would consider average softs.

I'm definitely interested in biglaw, but more than biglaw I want to be able to work in either SF, Seattle, or Portland so that I can stay close to our family and so that I don't have to move my wife and child across the country. I Also would be willing to work in LA as a last resort since I know my preferred markets are some of the hardest markets to break into.

I would prefer to go to a school that is somewhere in either California or the PNW, but given my GPA I don't think I have much of a shot at Berkeley or Stanford. So this leads me to UW, but they are notorious for not giving out many scholarships and I am wary of going there at sticker, especially since my numbers are good enough to break into the T6. So my other options would be Hastings, (another school that doesn't give out much financial help) UCLA (school in my least preferred market, but might get $$) Lewis and Clarke (shit school, but might get to go for free) or suck it up and move to the east coast to attend a school like NYU without a guarantee that I can get back to the West Coast.


I'm not applying until next cycle so this might be a little premature but it would definitely help to get an educated outsiders perspective on something I'm spending a lot of time thinking about.

So TLS, what would you do if you were me?



TL;DR -

Live in PNW, have family, don't want to move to east coast
For any well paying law job in SF / Seattle / Portland...
UW (possible sticker, possible $)
UCLA ($$)
UC Hastings ($$)
Lewis and Clarke ($$$)
NYU (Sticker)

[Tiago Splitter]

Tricky situation. Do whatever crap Berkeley wants you to do, like tailoring your app specifically to them. That's going to be your best bet. Assuming that doesn't work, I'd look for UCLA/USC, but only with major scholarships. Those may or may be coming, but if you can get into those two you should be able to negotiate some pretty big money, especially if you apply broadly in the T-14 and use other schollies as leverage. Don't assume sticker at NYU; these days money from CCN on down is very possible with your LSAT/GPA combo.

Beyond that, you've really gotta spend some time thinking about your goals and what your family can handle. I can promise you from experience that biglaw anywhere on the West Coast is tough to land even with strong credentials.

[aboutmydaylight]

A 3.45 is below every T14's 25th. I don't know how you're talking like that's guaranteed CCN. I know apps and numbers are down, but you're still a splitter. Your best bet is to apply broadly and take the scholarships at the lower T14. Since you have ties to the west coast and PNW I don't think coming back will be a big issue for you, but you will have to sacrifice 3 years out of the area. I agree with the above poster to tailor your app hard to Berkeley, as rarer things have happened, but given that they're so GPA demanding and being a public school, you're not likely to get any money even on the miracle acceptance.

[jk148706]

A 3.45 is below every T14's 25th.

Nah, not Northwestern.

[aboutmydaylight]

A 3.45 is below every T14's 25th.

Nah, not Northwestern.

You're right.

[BigZuck]

A 3.45 is below every T14's 25th. I don't know how you're talking like that's guaranteed CCN. I know apps and numbers are down, but you're still a splitter. Your best bet is to apply broadly and take the scholarships at the lower T14. Since you have ties to the west coast and PNW I don't think coming back will be a big issue for you, but you will have to sacrifice 3 years out of the area. I agree with the above poster to tailor your app hard to Berkeley, as rarer things have happened, but given that they're so GPA demanding and being a public school, you're not likely to get any money even on the miracle acceptance.

I don't generally like to play the "You're a 0L" card but I think Tiago is uniquely qualified to talk about CCN splitters who want CA big law.

Anyway- As someone who had to factor a spouse into the law school equation, I know how tough this can be OP. I think you should apply to the T14+UCLA/USC and see what happens. HYS aren't happening and probably not Berkeley either but you have to apply to Cal for obvious reasons and maybe Harvard too for the YOLO factor. Outside of that I wouldn't bother with any other CA schools, their placement just isn't good enough. I'm also suspicious of UW's placement, especially for non-WA residents. If you can't snag Berkeley but UCLA/USC pull through with money that might be your best option. Or a T14 might pull through, in which case you need to make a personal decision about uprooting your family. Trade offs/sacrifices might have to be made from both parties if you want to pursue this whole law school thing. Feel free to PM me if you want to hear about my own thought process when I had to make a similar decision.

[Kellanj]

Yeah I definitely said that my numbers were good enough to "break into" the T6, which they are. Look at the last few years of similar applicants on mylsn. Im on my phone so I can look now but I think something like 70% got into NYU RD and the percentage is better for ED applicants. So I don't think I'm being over confident here.

Thanks for the advice though guys, I really appreciate it. I guess my best is to just see what my offers are and decide from there.

[anyriotgirl]

I don't know anything about CA biglaw, but I do know that UW just got a huge donation that may impact their generosity in the near future. http://www.law.washington.edu/macdonaldgift/

[Big Dog]

apply broadly and consider any $$ offers. Boalt is highly unlikely.

While NYU is possible, you probably won't get any money from them. To me, NYU would not be worth sticker, particularly if you desire the PNW.

If you don't want to up-root the family, Northwestern is a much shorter flight to the West Coast. However, downtown Chicago is expensive.

UCLA/USC won't do much in the PNW.

[Crowing]

We have a few people from the PNW at Chicago. From what I can tell they did fairly well with 1L positions out there but I can't speak beyond that. Chicago is also cheaper and closer than NYC. It's at least an option worth considering in your position imo (since atm you seem to be between either coast).

[twenty]

I'd be pretty surprised if you didn't get one of CCN at sticker, personally.

Maybe this is just an unmarried 21-year old guy talking, but in the worst case scenario, I'd rather be employed in a region I don't really like making 80k-100k/yr (factoring in debt payments) with the ability to lateral back to California after 2-3 years than have spent three years on a JD that's going to be a line on my resume when I'm trying to get into the San Francisco Police Department.

Alternatively, go to a regional school for free (ideally with your wife working), save up lots of money while you're in school, and start a solo practice or something if nothing else works out. You're not going to be making a lot of money doing that, but at least you'll have no debt and you'll be in a region you want to be in. If that's more important to you, maybe do that.

[Chrysogonus]

I would just go to the cheapest T14 or Uwash.

Cornell, Duke or wherever with significant discount would be nice. Maybe ED Northwestern for dat scholly.

[worldtraveler]

Just apply and see what happens. This is really impossible to answer without knowing your options. And I got into Berkeley with a 3.45. It's worth an application.

[Kellanj]

Just apply and see what happens. This is really impossible to answer without knowing your options. And I got into Berkeley with a 3.45. It's worth an application.

Getting into Berkeley would be my dream scenario. Do you mind sharing what you think got you in, despite having a low GPA? You can PM me if you want.

[sipy26]

Seattle will require either (1) being from there or (2) good grades. I hear Seattle is very receptive to those with ties (the more extensive, the better) and outsiders will be viewed with caution or as flight risks. In that sense UW would help. Good grades will overcome lack of ties in Seattle (true story, friend from UVA + Law Review will be summering at Biglaw there without ties)

SF will require (1) really good grades, period. SF is considered a very tough market to break into. Getting to SF Biglaw from UCLA is not impossible, but you would need great grades (top 15-20% ish). With Hastings / UW, probably need to be top 5-10% to be competitive. I've never heard of Lewis and Clark; given your glowing description, probably need to be in the top 1-3 (not %, rank #1 or #2 in your class) for SF.

Can't speak for Portland.

As for sucking it up and going east (CCN / Penn / UVA), it's completely viable getting back to the West Coast. Biglaw obsesses about prestige, so provided you get decent grades at these schools + assuming you have ties to the area (which it seems like you do), getting back won't be a problem at all. I myself will be returing to Southern Cali for Biglaw, going to UVA currently with Socal ties. Also know of many people doing the same (but to be fair, most stories are Socal based, as opposed to Norcal / Northwest)