Berkeley ($45k/total) vs. Columbia Forum

[thisishoping]

I went to Cal undergrad and loved it, but have heard that it does not look very good to employers to see that you have attended the same LS as UG. Also, I'm planning on going into Biglaw for a few years out of LS (and then likely transitioning into general counsel or something else), and I know Columbia is a top Biglaw school. Ultimately I want to return to California after law school, so Berkeley may be a stronger candidate in that sense. Any perspectives?

[Poopface]

I don't think it wouldn't look good to an employer to see that you went to the same UG and LS when it's a great institution like Berkeley. If you want to stay in CA for sure, then Berkeley is prob the look

[BigZuck]

Go Bears

Poopface is a great username and I'm disappointed in myself/everyone else for not schwooping it up sooner.

[shifty_eyed]

I don't think it wouldn't look good to an employer to see that you went to the same UG and LS when it's a great institution like Berkeley.

I think that's only a thing when you want to go into academia (in a real field, not law).

[Mack.Hambleton]

I don't think it wouldn't look good to an employer to see that you went to the same UG and LS when it's a great institution like Berkeley.

I think that's only a thing when you want to go into academia (in a real field, not law).

This. It only matters for graduate school not professional school.

[jbagelboy]

Cal instate w/ aid vs CLS sticker will be a decently wide cost differential (as long as you live in east bay and don't try some SF shit). Columbia is better for biglaw overall, but I think Cal is a fine choice given your goals.

If this is debt-financed, you are still facing quite a price tag.

[PrideandGlory1776]

Cal instate w/ aid vs CLS sticker will be a decently wide cost differential (as long as you live in east bay and don't try some SF shit). Columbia is better for biglaw overall, but I think Cal is a fine choice given your goals.

If this is debt-financed, you are still facing quite a price tag.

+1 Berk is better for your specific goals > cali placement

[HP5450]

Go to Berkley.

[thisishoping]

Thanks for the input - I would be happy to go back to Cal, but I am nervous about the difference btw Boalt and CLS' employment prospects. It sounds like if you go to CLS you have a Biglaw job no matter what, but at Cal you may graduate without a job under your belt, or you may be forced to leave California. Is this a reality, or am I just stressing for no reason?

[BigZuck]

If all you want is big law (strong possibility it will be in NY if your grades aren't particularly good) then go to Columbia

[BerkChuy]

Howdy. I'm currently a 1L at Berkeley and I couldn't be happier. As far as Big Law jobs, last year Berkeley placed 54% and Columbia 64%, according to LST. I'd go where you would feel most comfortable and would see yourself the happiest. My roommate and two other friends all got admitted to Columbia, visited, and said hell no. None of them regrets their choice to come to Berkeley. Hope you can make it to ASW!

[thisishoping]

Thanks for the replies BerkChuy and BigZuck! BerkChuy, I'll be at Cal's ASW and will be checking out Columbia's ASW as well, so hopefully my visits will make my choice for me

[lecsa]

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[Big Dog]

Boalt is a no-brainer if you want to be in California.

[thisishoping]

I heard from several hiring partners at biglaw firms who said columbia is the no brainer on this one, so I'm very surprised to hear that tls thinks berk is the choice here. The hiring partners said since law is such a prestige-based path that columbia is undoubtedly going to open more doors. They also said that going to the same LS as UG is not viewed well.

[rpupkin]

I heard from several hiring partners at biglaw firms who said columbia is the no brainer on this one, so I'm very surprised to hear that tls thinks berk is the choice here. The hiring partners said since law is such a prestige-based path that columbia is undoubtedly going to open more doors. They also said that going to the same LS as UG is not viewed well.

I basically faced your situation several years ago. I talked to two partners at big law firms, but they said the opposite of what the several partners all told you. And one of the two partners was a CLS alum.

They both said the same thing: If you want to work in California, go to Boalt. If you want to work in New York, go to Columbia.

Also, I'm a little skeptical of this statement: "They also said that going to the same LS as UG is not viewed well." Really? Several hiring partners said that?

[jbagelboy]

I heard from several hiring partners at biglaw firms who said columbia is the no brainer on this one, so I'm very surprised to hear that tls thinks berk is the choice here. The hiring partners said since law is such a prestige-based path that columbia is undoubtedly going to open more doors. They also said that going to the same LS as UG is not viewed well.

I basically faced your situation several years ago. I talked to two partners at big law firms, but they said the opposite of what the several partners all told you. And one of the two partners was a CLS alum.

They both said the same thing: If you want to work in California, go to Boalt. If you want to work in New York, go to Columbia.

Also, I'm a little skeptical of this statement: "They also said that going to the same LS as UG is not viewed well." Really? Several hiring partners said that?

I never know really how to interpret what you say and all your firm anecdata, because while some of your information seems reasonable and valuable, you've been known to hardcore troll on here in the past.

As another person who made the Cal v CLS choice, I'll give an alternative to the above:
There will be more Boalt attorneys in CA, but that doesn't necessarily mean the degree is more valued there. I think in SF/SV, Berkeley will have the most pronounced dominance. But even in some of the top shops, like MoFo SF or Skadden SV, summer classes show a lot more strength for CLS/HLS than the geography would suggest. In LA and especially OC, large firms will be just as if not more desirous of a Columbia/Harvard/Chicago student with strong ties than a Boalt student at the same grade level (the SoCal office I'll be at this summer has more Harvard and Columbia kids than Berkeley or Stanford, of course class size is some of this but it's telling nonetheless). And of course as you noted, in New York it's not even comparable.

Anyway, I still voted Berkeley here so I'm not even really disagreeing with you. Hiring is just not as simple as Berkeley for CA, CLS for NY.

[rpupkin]

I never know really how to interpret what you say and all your firm anecdata, because while some of your information seems reasonable and valuable, you've been known to hardcore troll on here in the past.

I'm certainly guilty of the occasional hardcore troll, but when I troll I intend it to be obvious. I'm never trying to deceive someone who is genuinely seeking advice.

In any event, I did not troll (or make-up) the story. One partner was a cousin; the other was a friend of my brother. But they were indeed partners (though not hiring partners) at V15 firms. I spoke with them when I was a 0L looking for advice about where to attend law school. Like you said, they're just anecdotes. But so are the OP's stories about the several hiring partners he spoke with. And I guess I'm just more than a little skeptical that several hiring partners would say the exact same thing about Boalt vs. CLS, as well as the exact same thing about how an applicant would be viewed unfavorably for having attended the same institution for undergrad and law school.

[thewaves]

Boalt is a no-brainer if you want to be in California.

[thisishoping]

I spoke with one higher up in a top firm who then spoke with four hiring partners at his firm in the LA, Chicago, and Ny offices who said they would recommend I choose columbia over cal, without a doubt. In fact they were not even considering my acceptance to cal but weighting btw CLS and my acceptance to Michigan. ( I assume this is at least in part due to my having gone to UG at Cal). I would be happy to learn what the CLS partner grads said about the dispute btw CLS and Cal. Personally, it would be simpler for me to choose Cal over Columbia and be able to stay in California. However, it's feeling quite difficult to make that choice, according to what the partners I spoke with mentioned.

[thewaves]

I spoke with one higher up in a top firm who then spoke with four hiring partners at his firm in the LA, Chicago, and Ny offices who said they would recommend I choose columbia over cal, without a doubt. In fact they were not even considering my acceptance to cal but weighting btw CLS and my acceptance to Michigan. ( I assume this is at least in part due to my having gone to UG at Cal). I would be happy to learn what the CLS partner grads said about the dispute btw CLS and Cal. Personally, it would be simpler for me to choose Cal over Columbia and be able to stay in California. However, it's feeling quite difficult to make that choice, according to what the partners I spoke with mentioned.

What were their reasons?

[jbagelboy]

I spoke with one higher up in a top firm who then spoke with four hiring partners at his firm in the LA, Chicago, and Ny offices who said they would recommend I choose columbia over cal, without a doubt. In fact they were not even considering my acceptance to cal but weighting btw CLS and my acceptance to Michigan. ( I assume this is at least in part due to my having gone to UG at Cal). I would be happy to learn what the CLS partner grads said about the dispute btw CLS and Cal. Personally, it would be simpler for me to choose Cal over Columbia and be able to stay in California. However, it's feeling quite difficult to make that choice, according to what the partners I spoke with mentioned.

Your boomer partners have just sufficiently discredited themselves as sources. Michigan is not in play here at all unless you received $75K+ from them.

I can see the different alumni network advantage, but at the same time, if you are targeting SF anyway it hardly seems as relevant.

[lecsa]

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[thisishoping]

I got $75k from Mich. The hiring partners went to several different schools, but seemed to be consistent in thinking that CLS would be able to provide the best opportunity to any incoming law student. They mentioned that it would not be impossible, or even too difficult perhaps, to be wildly successful in biglaw at Mich or Berk but that CLS would set me up with the best opportunity to work in top biglaw firms. Still waiting to hear from other top lawyers in the field. Also, regarding costs, the partners I spoke to said I should not take school costs too much into consideration if considering a career in biglaw and private practice.

[lecsa]

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