Top Law Schools

Hey Everyone,

I quickly need to make a decision. I've gotten accepted into several schools (top school has been Northwestern, but haven't heard about money yet, I assume it won't be much, and I'm pretty set on moving to NYC) but it seems I'm really choosing between either Cardozo or Brooklyn Law with a fully scholly to either. I'm hoping I can get some good advice from TLS that keeps in mind my specifics:

I'm interested singularly in Public Interest work, and additionally clerkships. After ls, I want to have the opportunity to practice PI work as well as engage in policy oriented work. Even more specifically I'm interested in law as it relates to education. I have a Masters in Education Policy and this is the main reason I decided to pursue law school. I would like to pursue a clerkship as well and would like to work as a research assistant at some point throughout my time in law school. I also want to be challenged academically and engage with contemporary legal issues. Lastly, I lean very far to the left politically speaking and would like to be in an environment that allows for that view, though not necessarily encourages it, and that potentially has some faculty who also think the same way.

Both schools have plenty to offer and I've done a heck of a lot of research but I'd really like to hear what the eternal pragmatists of TLS have to say. I will have to take out loans for living expenses.

Thanks everyone!! I really appreciate the advice.
-Mel

Why are you "set on" moving to NYC? Especially for law school, when you will have no income, for one of two bad law schools?

You got into Northwestern. You probably have good numbers. Go to a higher ranked school with scholly.

Beercules wrote:Why are you "set on" moving to NYC? Especially for law school, when you will have no income, for one of two bad law schools?

You got into Northwestern. You probably have good numbers. Go to a higher ranked school with scholly.

yeah don't discount how much it sucks to spend $30,000/year on staying alive and still have a relatively crappy standard of living

1. Retake
2. Brooklyn, as long as you move somewhere deeper into the borough and save on rent

Thanks ya'll. Appreciate the advice.

Given the context, I should have known I needed to state clearly my reasons for not choosing NW. First, I haven't heard about money there yet so I'm not considering it. Second, I've lived in Chicago for 9 years and am done with it. Third, I'm going into public interest which is important for several reasons: 1. I do not want to accrue excessive debt 2. school ranking is much less important (than for biglaw. If the case is made that policy work requires a top school, I'd definitely still like to hear that) 3. Both Cardozo and BLS seem to have great PI offerings. Lastly, I WANT to move to NYC for many reasons related and unrelated to studying law.

Hope this makes it clearer. Thanks again everyone.

No offense hopefully, but I get the feeling you don't know what you want to do. Have you ever personally met someone that does what you want to do? Have they graduated from law school within ten years? The vast majority of "policy oriented work" does not require a JD, and any position that would like a graduate degree you'll already qualify for with your masters.

Have you considered other alternatives to spending three years in school (plus some COA money, I'd guess) to effectively be just as marketable as you are right now?

EDIT> Regardless, either choice >>>>>>>>> Northwestern. Don't do that.

Did you apply to NYU?

I stand by my point that it is expensive as fuq to live in NYC, and I suggest that you avoid it if you can

anyriotgirl wrote:I stand by my point that it is expensive as fuq to live in NYC, and I suggest that you avoid it if you can

Seconded, as an NYC resident.

Choosing any law school because you're "dead set" on moving there while ignoring the financial/career implications is pretty short sighted, IMO.

Thanks again everyone.
I understand that some of you are actually replying with important and pertinent opinions but unfortunately my actual question is going ignored. Two opinions have been presented that I want to reply to though:

1. If you have a master's, make sure you aren't already qualified for what you want to do.
I'm not qualified for what I want to do and I have indeed met people (or have researched them) who have done what I'm interested in doing. It's true that what I want to do isn't fully and completely set but I can confidently say that what I want to do requires a law degree. In the realm of education policy specifically, a professor at Columbia Law who has been advising me on my career himself has stated the importance, if not necessity, of acquiring a law degree to effect change in education, both in policy and in court. Lastly, I know I'm not qualified because I already have gone job hunting. If I sound like I don't know exactly what I want to do, it is only because there are several things I want to do all of which I know fall within what a law degree allows you to do. Either way, I totally appreciate your point Twenty, and it is well taken. I've read your posts in a PI thread and your advice was insightful. Thanks

2. I'm not choosing a particular law school to live where I want to live. I'm clearly choosing BETWEEN law schools in a particular region/market. Living anywhere without a job is expensive (Living in Chicago will only marginally reduce COL, trust me, I know). Finally, I'll be living with a SO in NYC and so my rent will be sub 1k. I'm still waiting to hear from Columbia but seeing as I got rejected from NYU, I think my chances are slim, and again, it will most likely be at close to sticker.


Twenty, just to clarify. You are suggesting definitely not going to Northwestern?

Thanks again everyone.

If you can truly live at sub 1k/mo, I don't see how either Cardozo or BLS is a bad choice. I would probably pick whichever one was closer to your SO's residence, considering the schools are about an hour away from each other. All else being equal, very slight edge to BLS.

If you want to work on ed policy, go work for a district or a charter network. Don't go to law school. There are practically no legal jobs related to education policy (maybe with an exception for special ed, but IDEA isn't what most people think of).

Thanks Twenty and Nelson.
To be clear, I can get a rent at less than 1k, definitely not live for sub 1k.

Assuming no stips (and if you have them, get rid of them), is it possible to see if you can negotiate yourself into a sweet-sweet tax free stipend or a night program where you can work? I think both schools are comparable enough that you have leverage. If you can keep your total debt low (and you trust your SO enough that you won't get the boot when your a mooch), I say go for whichever school pays the most, enjoy 3 (or 4) years of extended adolescence, and hope for the best.

Meanwhile, see if you can start early working with a Phd.Ed. on some empirical articles so that you can graduate with enough cred and know-how that the JD is seen as a sweetener.

Thanks everyone.

Any more advice? Especially in terms of comparing Cardozo vs BLS for public interest.

Yes, when choosing between cardozo and Brooklyn, it is helpful to remember they are both really bad.

Ha, this is turning out worse than I expected.
Any actual advice is welcome and very appreciated.
Thanks

anyriotgirl wrote:

Beercules wrote:Why are you "set on" moving to NYC? Especially for law school, when you will have no income, for one of two bad law schools?

You got into Northwestern. You probably have good numbers. Go to a higher ranked school with scholly.

yeah don't discount how much it sucks to spend $30,000/year on staying alive and still have a relatively crappy standard of living

Not sure where this number comes from. On campus living arraingements start at 13k a year. Is food costing 17k a year? And that's a 'crappy' standard of living?

CaveCanem wrote:

anyriotgirl wrote:

Beercules wrote:Why are you "set on" moving to NYC? Especially for law school, when you will have no income, for one of two bad law schools?

You got into Northwestern. You probably have good numbers. Go to a higher ranked school with scholly.

yeah don't discount how much it sucks to spend $30,000/year on staying alive and still have a relatively crappy standard of living

Not sure where this number comes from. On campus living arraingements start at 13k a year. Is food costing 17k a year? And that's a 'crappy' standard of living?

have you ever lived in NYC?

anyriotgirl wrote:

CaveCanem wrote:

anyriotgirl wrote:

Beercules wrote:Why are you "set on" moving to NYC? Especially for law school, when you will have no income, for one of two bad law schools?

You got into Northwestern. You probably have good numbers. Go to a higher ranked school with scholly.

yeah don't discount how much it sucks to spend $30,000/year on staying alive and still have a relatively crappy standard of living

Not sure where this number comes from. On campus living arraingements start at 13k a year. Is food costing 17k a year? And that's a 'crappy' standard of living?

have you ever lived in NYC?

Yes. living on $1,000 a month for 10 months a year is more than reasonable as a full-time student.

Literally every single law school in the country will be okay with left-leaning political views. You say you want to clerk. If you want a federal clerkship you need to be a top 10 overall student. Not top 10%, top 10 overall. You'd be happy at either of these schools but reaching your above stated career goals will be hard from any school.

this is what you do.

Write Cardozo on one piece of paper and Brooklyn on the other. Put them next to each other on the wall. Throw a dart and which ever one it hits, is the one you go to. If it hits neither, then wait a year.

Let the fates decide

CaveCanem wrote:

Not sure where this number comes from. On campus living arraingements start at 13k a year. Is food costing 17k a year? And that's a 'crappy' standard of living?

have you ever lived in NYC?[/quote]


Yes. living on $1,000 a month for 10 months a year is more than reasonable as a full-time student.[/quote]

That figure is for sharing a one bedroom dorm with someone else. I would say that yes, that is a pretty crappy standard of living. Its gonna run you about $15k to get your own bedroom in that dorm, and then you still have to stay alive for the two other months of the year, so let's call it $17k. Most 1L summer positions don't pay, and plenty of 2L summer positions don't either. I guess $30k was a little high, but you're still going to hit $25k easily with food, transportation, etc. for the rest of the year.