Top Law Schools

Emory: Scholarship 24k/year
BC: Scholarship 30k/yr
UNC Chapel Hill: 14k/yr + instate years 2 and 3
GW: no scholly yet but not terribly optimistic

From: Mid West, strong ties to Chicago, DC, sort of NYC.

Goals: Big Law (i know unlikely) open own practice back home, politics

Debt: none, financed by college fund started by my grandfather in the mid 90s, parents cover COL

Numbers: At or above 75th percentile LSAT for all 4 schools, poor GPA so top 14 unlikely even with retake. Not really interested in retaking anyway.

You guys have been really helpful with my previous threads, have eliminated several options and have updated scholarship info in this one. Just visited all of these schools in the last month, clear final 4 for me.

Thank you

I think you should go to a midwest school. Hopefully one in your hometown.

Biglaw isn't likely. Your more likely to open a practice back home and attempt to enter politics. I don't think you should go far away from home with that as your back-up goal. Going far away will prevent you from making crucial connections.

Basically, pick between practicing in Boston or the south and go with BC or Emory accordingly. If "back home" is the midwest, would probably lean Emory.

Thank you for the responses! I agree I think it is coming down to BC and Emory. Really encouraged by national law journals employment stats on BC, 29% big law is pretty hard to beat outside of the top 14s it seems like

why so little consideration of Emory? I loved BC but am really concerned by the ranking

Since you don't have to pay, big law is the goal, and you're from the Midwest, I vote Northwestern.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:why so little consideration of Emory? I loved BC but am really concerned by the ranking

For someone who actually wants to be a lawyer for a career, rankings do not matter. Employment outcomes matter. But since you're going to jump ship in 3-5 years and return home to go solo, take the family business, or be in politics (I'm a little unclear on your life aspirations), rankings might be more meaningful. I think the best course is staying in the Midwest, but you don't seem have that as an option. What do you think has closer ties to Michigan - New England or the South? Choose BC versus Emory accordingly.

By the way, as a Southerner I would hazard a guess that New England has a stronger network with Michigan than the South.

I have/had options to all big ten schools aside from michigan and still waiting on northwestern. Ready for a change though, not very impressed with Minnesota (freezing) Indiana and Wisconsin (unless I want to live in Wisconsin, which I don't)

Ngoblue2014 wrote:I have/had options to all big ten schools aside from michigan and still waiting on northwestern. Ready for a change though, not very impressed with Minnesota (freezing) Indiana and Wisconsin (unless I want to live in Wisconsin, which I don't)

That being the case, you should choose the school that has closer ties to Michigan. What are your plans if you do not get BigLaw (as is likely given both schools)?

sit out a year, work, re-take, apply to NU and WUSTL, low GPA won't matter for either if you break 170 and the WE will be a small boost at NU.

I think you need to define your goals more.

Big Law and Solo Practice are virtually opposite things. These schools may give you a shot a BigLaw however, if you strike out it is going to be tough to get the mentorship/guidance to set up a solo practice in the midwest.

You should apply to a midwest school

Cellar-door wrote:sit out a year, work, re-take, apply to NU and WUSTL, low GPA won't matter for either if you break 170 and the WE will be a small boost at NU.

don't use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend's forehead, bro.

Wash U is still an option just not crazy about the campus and st louis in general

Ngoblue2014 wrote:Wash U is still an option just not crazy about the campus and st louis in general

You know what I'm crazy about? Employment.